Ankita Balyan is a Director with Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) India’s Corporate Solutions Group. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Kriori Mal College, Delhi University, and a master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. 

In the Q&A below, Ankita discusses how she returned to the firm while expecting her first child, what she’s most looking forward to about being a new mom, and a career highlight she’s proud of. 

What led you to pursue a career in consulting? Were there any notable “ah-ha” moments that led you to that decision?

I made the decision to pursue consulting almost a decade ago. At the time my motivation in choosing a career in consulting was that it would build my skill set with universal applicability around problem-solving, stakeholder management, critical thinking and quantitative analysis. I knew it would provide a launchpad for my career and would allow me to keep my options open until I discovered what I was truly passionate about. Little did I know, at the time, that I would end up enjoying it so much that it would become my profession of choice. 

Tell us about your experience in BTS (PEPI + CDD & Strategy) India and the skill sets you strengthened/acquired while at A&M?

The most important skill that I have gained and refined over the years is being comfortable with ambiguity and the ability to develop an objective forward-thinking perspective on present-day problems. The ability to use predictive techniques to validate investment theses for clients and deliver performance improvement mandates has resulted in favorable outcomes on the majority of my projects.

You recently rejoined A&M in September 2022. What were some of your reasons for returning? What would you tell someone who has left and is contemplating coming back?

I left the firm in 2019 because I was relocating from Mumbai to New Delhi. At that time, A&M didn’t have an established presence in New Delhi. I attended an alumni dinner that the firm hosted in New Delhi. At the dinner, I learned that the firm had grown a considerable presence in New Delhi and was looking to bolster its capabilities within the financial services sector. Since leaving the Mumbai office, I had gone on to specialize in this sector while working at other firms and saw this as a mutually beneficial opportunity to return to the firm. 

What’s a career highlight you’re most proud of?

I returned to A&M several months pregnant. I am proud of how I have been able to seamlessly manage my pregnancy and reacclimated to A&M. I am extremely fortunate to have a supportive ecosystem at home and work. I am proud of what my team has been able to create at the firm and, more important, am excited about what is to come. 

What is the office culture like in New Delhi? 

It’s a new office and we are working on building a culture that parallels A&M’s Mumbai office: one big family. The New Delhi office is non-hierarchical. You can easily find employees across roles, teams and titles interacting seamlessly with one another. The employees enjoy each other’s company, and many have known their colleagues for several years and formed close relationships inside and outside of work. Most folks at the office can easily be found bonding over sports, hobbies and social activities during coffee breaks and lunch. 

How does A&M differ from other consulting firms?

A&M allows its team members to bring their different personalities to work. In fact, I think we thrive because we have professionals who bring their true selves to work. A&M is by far the most entrepreneurial in its approach toward business. Coupled together, this encourages employees to take ownership, build teams, cultivate independent thought and orchestrate value-additive, superior outcomes for our clients. 
A&M also takes the responsibility of working with clients on the ground and driving co-developed ideas to execution. Doing this helps clients to a better outcome; they would have faced challenges executing in isolation with only a report outlining the blueprint, peppered with advice.

What energizes you about your career?

Three things really stand out to me among many other aspects — focused problem solving, meeting diverse professionals and team building. I thoroughly enjoy interacting with new personalities, be they clients, business leaders, industry experts, team members, students during campus recruitment or prospective team members during lateral hiring. I enjoy the diversity that a career in consulting has to offer. No two projects or days are alike; each time it’s a different story, different challenges and a new personality. This is one aspect of my career that has kept me motivated. It goes without saying that the relationships and professional education I have received along the way are the most valuable. 

You returned to A&M while expecting your first child. What are you most looking forward to about being a new mom? And how do you feel the office will support you in this new life-changing endeavor? 

I am excited about experiencing the joy of motherhood and the unconditional love and bonding that you feel toward your child. Honestly, there are also days when I feel anxious and sometimes overwhelmed thinking about the tremendous responsibilities that are coming my way, but then I think about the beautiful relationship I share with my parents and hope to develop the same with my baby. The office and the larger firm have already been supporting me through this journey in so many ways, allowing flexible working hours and breaks during the day to rest and attend doctor’s appointments. 

Additionally, folks at the office haven’t made me feel any different during a regular office day. Yet they are subtly making space to accommodate my unique requirements speaks about the culture we have at our firm. I feel very comfortable with my pregnancy because I know that the leadership will continue to view me the same way, and I will continue to have access to equitable opportunities as any of my other colleagues at the firm. The fact that the firm is offering me flexibility that it hasn’t come at the cost of truncated opportunities, but rather with the intent to enable continued career growth outcomes, makes me excited about the journey ahead with the firm.

What was your favorite class in business school and why?

I really enjoyed my business strategy-associated subjects. These were the courses where I would always read the material ahead of the class, make notes and prepare answers to the assigned cases. It was like reading different mini-stories, and the solutions were never straightforward; each case was unique, and I liked thinking through alternate outcomes or what might have been “scenarios.” The fact that possibilities are endless and how sometimes outcomes are serendipitous always inspired my curiosity to explore each case more with the professors and within the class study groups. 

What are some of your hobbies and passions outside of work?

I am passionate about swimming. It has helped me maintain my health over the years alongside a demanding career, especially in the early years of my consulting career and more recently during my pregnancy. It is an activity that has really helped me de-stress and continue to bring the best version of myself to work every day. Aside from sports, over the weekends I am often found entertaining friends, family and colleagues at home or exploring new restaurants, exhibitions, events and galleries in the city with them.

What are some random fun facts about you?

I need to read before I sleep, even if it is for a short while, I find it very difficult to sleep without having read at least a few pages. This results in a heavily cluttered bedside table, and strangely I can quite easily read two to three books at the same time. I can easily switch between plot lines, genres, authors and characters, sometimes even academic reading in areas of my interest. Aside from this random habit, I am also a diarist and have been writing since I was 10. I inherited this quirk from my parents, and sometimes I can be found reading their or my old journals. I enjoy drawing parallels with how we as individuals observed and recorded the same life events, and if very differently, appreciating our unique perspectives.