Sayo Folarin is a Mergers and Acquisitions Associate at The AES Corporation. With a background in Civil Engineering, his passion lies at the intersection of infrastructure and finance. Sayo's first significant exposure to the field came during his time at Arup Nigeria, where he gained hands-on experience in civil engineering design. While he found the technical aspects engaging, he realized that his true interest lay in the financial and developmental facets of infrastructure.This realization led Sayo to transition into the energy sector, where he spent four years working in operations and finance. To build on this foundation, Sayo also pursued an MBA at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, where he honed his skills in finance, strategy, and leadership, leading to where he is today: working on transactions that shape the future of energy and infrastructure as part of the M&A team at The AES Corporation.

This presentation will explore the journey of transitioning from a technical background to a career in finance, with a focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors. Drawing on personal experiences and lessons learned, Sayo will provide actionable insights for young professionals seeking to pivot into new roles or industries.