Campus Spotlight: Muskaan Vaishnav
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Change: An Analyst's Journey Transitioning from Academia to the Professional World
Muskaan Vaishnav is an Analyst with Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Corporate Performance Improvement (CPI) practice in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Georgia Tech.
In this Q&A, Muskaan discusses the valuable lessons she learned in college that shaped her career, the unique and welcoming recruiting process at A&M that drew her to the firm and Atlanta's supportive and fun office culture. She also shares advice for recent graduates, emphasizes the importance of soft skills and highlights the significance of genuine networking. She concludes with insights on personal growth, her approach to professional relationships and her goal of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Reflecting on your college experience, what unexpected lessons or insights have you gained that have significantly impacted your career?
The critical thing I learned in college that has significantly impacted my career at A&M is that all problems are solvable. We face many challenging academic situations in school, and success lies in our ability to think through them and find our way out. This has been a valuable lesson because it changed my mindset about how I approach challenges regularly.
Why did you choose to intern at A&M?
I chose to intern at A&M because we recruit differently from anywhere else. During the recruiting process, no other firm took the time to host candidates for happy hours and offer dinners. These events can help candidates feel seen beyond their resumes. The humanization of the process is what drew me to A&M.
What motivated your decision to join A&M full-time?
When I finished my internship, I knew without a doubt that I would return to A&M. The internship experience was incredible; A&M put a lot of time and thought into making it as valuable and educational as possible. I developed technical skills and got real client experience while still a student. Not only that, but everyone made the experience as fun as possible, from planned golf outings to happy hours. A&M curated an incredible environment in which to learn and grow.
Which office are you based in, and how would you describe the office culture?
I’m based in the Atlanta office, and I would describe our office culture as fun and tight-knit. We’re surrounded by leaders who want to see us succeed and a group within the Advancing and Cultivating Emerging Leaders (ACE) program who value the relationships we’re building with each other.
How to Effectively Navigate Early Career Challenges
Reflecting on your career's early stages, what unexpected challenges did you encounter, and how did you navigate them to emerge stronger?
The biggest challenge in my career so far has been struggling with imposter syndrome. This has challenged me through my internship and into starting full-time. What helped me navigate this is remembering that we’re here for a reason and can deliver quality work.
What advantages or gains have you experienced as a participant in A&M's ACE program?
The ACE program allows young people just starting out in their careers to find a community of peers with whom to grow into their roles. The networking opportunities and training they plan are invaluable in bridging the gap between full-time academia and full-time work.
How do you stay updated on industry trends and developments, and what resources do you rely on for continuous learning and growth?
I am new to being more attentive to current events, industry trends and developments, but I do this by subscribing to services that summarize events and updates at the beginning of every day. To continue to learn and grow, I’ve relied on A&M’s learning and development hub and LinkedIn learning.
Essential Skills to Ensure Success in the Consulting Industry
What crucial skills or qualities do you believe students should prioritize developing to thrive in the consulting industry, and how can they best prepare themselves?
I think it’s most valuable for students to focus on their soft skills in school. Effectively working with teams, developing strong time management skills and becoming efficient communicators are keys to becoming successful consultants.
Looking back, what advice would you offer recent graduates about effectively transitioning from academia to the professional world?
Embrace the change. Going from being a full-time student to a full-time employee is a big change in your life, but you should lean into it. I would also say it’s essential to ensure you’re still making time for the people and activities important to you outside of work. There’s a lot less free time than in college, so make sure you can prioritize what’s important to you.
What personal attributes or traits are essential for success in your field, and how do you continually nurture and develop these qualities within yourself?
I think the most important traits for success in this field are a desire to learn and the motivation to dive into challenges headfirst. It’s important to have a desire to learn because no two days are the same, and you will often be put in situations where you must be motivated to learn quickly as you go.
How do you approach networking and building professional relationships, and what tips would you offer to others just starting?
My approach to networking is building upon relationships I already have by following up consistently and staying connected. My biggest tips to others starting are to be genuine and well-prepared with questions. It can feel like a very artificial process at first, but the more authentic you are, the better the relationships you build will be.
What's the best advice you've ever received, and how has it influenced your life?
The best advice I’ve ever heard is: If it won’t matter in five years, don’t spend more than five minutes thinking about it. It’s given me perspective on my approach to work and life.
What's something on your bucket list that you hope to accomplish in the next five years?
I just added the goal of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to my bucket list in the next five years. I want to start training within the next year and make the trip in 2026.
