Position: Associate
Follow Pranav on LinkedIn
Where did you go to school and how did you decide to attend that university?
I went to the University of Michigan. I found it at the top of my list given how it has a strong balance of both academic rigor and fun extracurriculars. It finally came down to two schools and I ultimately decided on Michigan since they were located close to a city and had the better program for my major.
What was your major and how did you decide on it?
I studied mathematics and economics. Since my freshman year, I was keen on mathematics. It’s been one of my stronger subjects and I found it to be one of the few majors that involved a lot of creativity and logic. Problems usually flow from a hypothesis to a specific final answer. I enjoyed how I was able to tackle a lot of math from multiple perspectives, even if the final solution is the same. The logic, the flow and the problem solving where also the reasons why I liked consulting. My fondness towards economics came from math as it allowed me an avenue to express what I learnt through real world applications.
What was your recruiting process like?
I was first looking out for PhDs since I enjoyed math a lot. When I did finally decide on entering the workforce, I wanted something familiar, that aligned with my math background, and so consulting was a no-brainer. My dad used to work in healthcare as well and so I was always intrigued to see how his day-to-day looked like. I wasn’t too sure what healthcare consulting entailed until I started recruiting for Pathstone. It had everything I was looking for – boutique, young and with solid leadership. After attending such a large university like Michigan, I was searching for a smaller firm where I have a stronger sense of community and where I can contribute in significant ways.
What has been your favorite Chicago memory?
The Chicago Film Festival was a major highlight. You get a flavor of all the upcoming releases and also some of the favorites going into Awards season. As an amateur screenwriter myself, I love to explore the film festival circuits and converse with like-minded individuals who share my passion. Although the expensive tickets, it was great to spend a lot of my free time in and out of theaters for a few weeks.
What is your favorite movie(s) of all time?
A Brighter Summer Day. It’s a 4-hour coming of age tale/tragedy of a Taiwanese teenager. It beautifully captures parallels between Taiwan’s history and the trials of growing up in an unstable household. It’s a film that is really close to me and something I regularly turn on for a rewatch whenever I seek inspiration.
Is this job what you expected? Why or why not?
Yes and No. I was able to talk to a lot of my peers at Pathstone about the day-to-day before joining the firm. And since my father has experience in this field, I was able to gauge and manage my expectations to a certain degree. But as a recent college graduate, it is always hard to know for sure what to expect from the workplace.