Born and brought up in Delhi, Mansha Nagpal is an alumna of Apeejay School of Management (ASM). Currently pursuing Chartered Accountancy, Mansha is also working as the Business Banking Relationship Manager with ICICI Bank. The Delhi University graduate says, “the financial industry is booming in India and there is a lot of demand for freshers.” In an interview, Mansha shares her fondness towards finance and accounting and how ASM played a game-changing role in developing her overall personality. Edited excerpts:

What made you choose a career in Finance? 

I was a Commerce student in school. And since the beginning I had an inclination towards accounts and finance. It was something that always attracted me. I love numbers, financial modelling, and concepts. That’s how I chose CA immediately after my 10+2 along with my graduation in Commerce. I wanted to learn numbers in-depth. And then I went for my MBA in Finance and Human Resource. I enjoy the subject and hence, when the opportunity came with HDFC Bank I cracked it. They were offering a finance-based profile which required a lot of financial knowledge and acumen to handle such a role. 

How did pursuing an MBA in Finance and HR from Apeejay help?  

At Apeejay School of Management, we were trained by highly-qualified and experienced faculty. There was Divya Jindal Ma’am. I think she isn’t associated with the institute currently. However, she was one of the key faculty members who encouraged me at every step and guided me with the path I should follow. Then there were Priya Ma’am and Parul Garg Ma’am. In fact, all of them were great mentors. 

What would be your advice to an aspirant willing to pursue a career in the Financial sector?

First, anyone aspiring to be in the financial sector should have a strong inclination towards it. Else, it may be a bumpy road for them. Moreover, anyone who enjoys financial management and accounting should opt for this course. Second, constantly building your knowledge about finance is imperative. And most importantly, put that knowledge into practice.  Third, anyone who wants to get into this field should be prepared to work hard. Remember, the initial phase of your career is a learning process. Aspirants are required to keep updating themselves on the latest amendments related to income tax or related to companies act.  

Is it mandatory to be good in Mathematics to build a career in Finance? 

No. In fact, in my job profile, if you know how to do simple calculations, you are a good fit. In your Master’s courses, you anyway have access to calculators. So, there is no hard and fast rule that one should be really great in Mathematics; it’s just a myth. You just need to love numbers and calculations. Besides, the financial sector is hiring a lot of freshers these days. They are hiring aspirants who have forward-looking and innovative ideas. 

What are some of the best learning experiences from the Apeejay School of Management?

At ASM, there is a lot of focus on case studies and live projects. We used to work on actual company data and projects. I worked on one of the data of ITC Ltd. I took the latest reports available and that’s how I learnt. Students should focus on working on live projects as these help them understand concepts better, help in developing analytical skills, problem-solving skills, leadership skills, and so on. By the third semester, we were prepared to face interviews confidently. Moreover, I experienced an overall personality change when I was leaving ASM. I had come from a Chartered Accountancy background wherein I believed it’s only about studying within the four walls of the room. But at Apeejay I learnt, studying is one side of the coin but on the other side, shaping up one’s overall personality is equally important to be a part of the dynamic job market. Holistic development is imperative and that’s what Apeejay offered me. 

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