Position: Associate
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Where did you go to School and how did you decide your major?
I went to the University of Michigan and graduated in 2021. I tried a lot of different subject areas: finance, the school of information, computer science and decided upon economics. Economics always appealed to me because it provides theory and quantitative applications to many real-world issues.
I come from a big Michigan family. About 10 of my family members went to Michigan so I have always been a big fan of the football team. I ultimately chose the school since it’s a good mix of strong academics and great football (more so since I left Ann Arbor!)
How did you choose healthcare consulting and what was your recruiting process like in college?
I knew I wanted to do consulting coming out of college. Consulting appealed to me since I didn’t want to get stuck in one role or subject area. I wanted to apply myself in many categories to build upon my expertise and skillset early in my professional career. My interests in healthcare are primarily driven by the desire to increase affordability and access, the overarching effect healthcare has on everyone’s lives, and the opportunity to understand a complex economic ecosystem.
I actually started at Pathstone as an intern in Summer 2020 during the peak of the pandemic. I found the summer internship on Handshake, recruited with core members still with us today, and was super excited to join the team in Chicago. Of course, this internship ended up being virtual, but I found myself very excited about Pathstone’s work and team. Ultimately, I accepted a return offer to join full time in summer 2021.
What would you recommend to someone who is interested in consulting?
I like to point out two key attributes that could help young professionals interested in consulting. First, a curious and adaptable mind is critical for early success and continued interest in the field. Consulting moves at a fast pace – a curious mind will be able to take on a new project quickly and an adaptable mind can help with the nuance involved with each client’s challenges. Second, the ability to story-tell is very helpful coming into a consulting role. Lots of early-stage consultants are quantitatively sound, yet numbers and data don’t mean anything without the context of your client’s goals and challenges.
How does the associate role compare to your internship at Pathstone?
Responsibility. An intern is exposed at a surface level. They are given wide exposure to understand core competencies and to see our strategies. The Associate role involves a lot more ownership. Associates can own projects more fully: they create the story with data and drive value for the client.
You’re a big foodie. Where are some of the best restaurants you’ve tried in Chicago?
One of the first restaurants I went to in Chicago was La Scarola. I went with my aunt and uncle who live in the Northern Suburbs and know the good spots given they have lived in the Chicagoland area for 20+ years. La Scarola is a classic old school Italian spot with great dishes and solid red wine choices.
Another great spot was Cabra. I went with coworkers and the place had a great ambiance with delicious Peruvian dishes. And last but certainly not least, you can find me at Small Cheval for a burger and a beer with consistency.
What would your ideal weekend in Chicago be?
First of all, the weekend must be in summer. Chicago in the summer is the best city to be in by a mile. To kick it off, the weekend would begin with some beach volleyball at sunset with friends followed by drinks in Old Town. Saturday would start by hitting the Lincoln Park farmer’s market to get fresh food for lunch. After that, it would be time to head to Duffy’s to watch the Michigan game or any other sport with friends. To finish off the weekend, a game-time decision between going out with friends and 12 hours of sleep will be made.
What’s something about you that not many people know?
I’m a big racquet sports player. I’ve always had fun playing tennis with my grandfather, mother, father, brother, etc. I say racquet since it’s not just tennis but also paddle, pop tennis, and pickleball. I love to watch and play.