Position: Manager
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Any advice for seniors currently in the interview process?
Pay attention to the people – when I talk to other friends in the workforce, they say that the people you work with is the most important part of what you do. Our recruiting process gives you a good opportunity to meet a lot of people in the company. Many bigger companies you just meet with HR and you don’t get a good sense of the culture. You could be doing your dream job, but if you’re with people you don’t like, then you’ll be miserable. The Pathstone team has been my favorite part of the job. There’s a strong feeling of investing in each other, investing in the client, and doing the best that you can.
Where did you go to school and how did you decide your major?
I went to Indiana University (the best school in Indiana). I didn’t know anything about Indiana but applied because I wanted to go to a Big 10 school and the campus was pretty. I unknowingly applied to the Kelley School of Business, and got in direct admit into the program, but didn’t know anything about the business school’s good reputation.
I started as a finance major because I was good at math. However, I knew I wanted to have a more balanced focus on both math and people. I talked to my counselors, and they suggested supply chain. I’ve stuck with it ever since.
How did you choose healthcare consulting while in the business school at IU?
I’ve always liked working with people with special needs. I started volunteering at Misericordia in 8th grade, continued with similar programs through high school, and worked as a camp counselor and inclusion aid for the Chicago Park District. I thought healthcare would be the closest industry. I have a very logistical way of thinking, so supply chain played well into that.
I had no interest in consulting junior year when I was looking at internships. I thought consulting was just a daunting word, because who am I to help someone else with their job when I have never done it myself? However, during my internship at Cardinal Health, I was able to help with a few projects, had the opportunity to build some tools and even teach them to others. I enjoyed that experience and started to think differently about the idea of consulting.
Can you talk about your recruiting process?
I had a semi offer from Cardinal Health after my internship. I was told to go back to them in March/April to work out that role, so I knew I had that fallback plan. When I went through recruiting senior year, I was able to cast a small net without worrying whether something would stick. The work I was doing with Cardinal Health was focused on operations analytics, far from patient impact, which was important to me.
I applied to Pathstone in November and received an email from Pathstone about an interview. I had a great initial conversation! Andy came down to IU for on-campus recruiting, so I was able to do the case interview in person.
How did you know what you wanted in a company?
I didn’t actually know what I wanted in a company, but I knew what words I was looking for: supply chain, healthcare, consulting. I was looking for buzz words.
I naturally started leaning towards smaller, more specialized companies. I had the opportunity to meet with several companies that specialized in different areas. Though they were great conversations, they were not the perfect fit I found in Pathstone.
While recruiting, it’s important to pay attention to the people you talk to. It should feel natural, especially since we’re a small team. At some of the bigger firms you may not have the same opportunity to meet the types of people you would be working with in the interview process, but I had some interviews with other companies I did not feel a strong connection.
What is one thing you’re good at/proud of, but doesn’t really matter to anyone else?
Making extremely complicated analysis for things that aren’t important to anyone else. It’s fun!
Consulting has opened your food palate since you’re frequently on the road eating out. What is one food you didn’t have before you starting consulting, but now cannot live without?
Avocado. I even bought it for the first time and ate it at my apartment. I made tacos and avocado toast, and they were both beautiful.
I’ve definitely also tried foods that have not landed. Jackfruit tacos. Never again. Raw oysters. It was fine. I feel like I’ve still stayed pretty true to my palate.
You grew up around the Chicago area. If you had a weekend in Chicago, what would you recommend to do?
It depends on the time of year. Right now? Sit inside and do nothing since it’s so cold!
Kidding! If it’s rainy and cold, there’s many great museums in the museum campus, like The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, or The Museum of Science and Industry. Baseball or football games are also a lot of fun! But preferably on the south side.