This is the story of Vaishnavi, a finance enthusiast who pursued her BBA and MBA with a clear dream of building a career in the finance world. But as placements neared, she found herself stuck as she had degrees but was not sure how to stand out from the crowd.

Everything changed when she decided to go beyond the traditional classroom experience and dive into financial modeling. Today, she’s working at Capital League and her journey proves that even the most confident dreams need a little direction and a lot of determination.

Below is a transcript of her interview with us:

1. Congrats on your job at Capital League! Can you tell us about your background and why did you choose finance as a career?

Thank you! I come from a commerce background and pursued my BBA and then an MBA with a specialization in Finance and Business Analytics.

During my academic journey, I realized that I genuinely enjoyed working with numbers, understanding financial markets, and doing investment-related research. That naturally pulled me toward finance. I didn’t consider it just a subject—it felt like a space where I could build something meaningful.

2. When you were doing your MBA, what made you interested in financial modeling?

During my MBA, I observed something was missing. I had learned a lot of theory but when I looked at job descriptions or heard industry professionals speak, I realized I didn’t have the tools or confidence to apply those concepts practically.

That really hit me hard. Especially during placement season, when I realized just how competitive the job market was. I sent out applications, but deep down, I knew I wasn’t quite ready. Each rejection felt like it was chipping away at my confidence. I started to wonder if all those years of education had really prepared me enough. 

That’s when I found a financial modeling course. I began to read about how it helps in valuing companies, gives you a deeper understanding of financials and truly prepares you for roles in core finance.And what surprised me was that even MBA students like me could do this to get jobs in core finance. That was a moment of realization. I thought, “This is precisely what I need to bridge that gap.” So, I decided to jump in and learn it inside and out.

3. What were some challenges you faced either during your MBA journey or doing a financial modeling course, or while applying for jobs?

There were definitely a lot of challenges. First off, there was the emotional weight of it all. Everyone around me was busy applying, interviewing, and getting callbacks, while I was just sitting there with an empty inbox. It felt like I was missing out on a bus I should’ve been on.

Then, I faced the struggle of proving my practical skills. I had the degrees but employers were looking for evidence that I could actually analyze businesses, make sense of numbers, and navigate Excel like a pro. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that hands-on experience to back it up.

Even starting the financial modeling course was challenging and I kept thinking, “What if I still don’t understand? What if this doesn’t work out?” But once I dove in, those worries began to fade away. The course provided me with step by step guidance, practice and most importantly, confidence. I finally felt like I was creating something that would catch people’s attention.

4. How did learning financial modeling help you get selected by Capital League?

The course gave me exactly what I was looking for: real and  practical skills. I learned how to build financial models, analyze companies, and even make pitch decks like they do in actual finance jobs. So when I went for the interview at Capital League, I wasn’t just repeating what I had read in books. I could actually talk about the projects I had worked on, explain the models I built and why I made certain assumptions. Those explanations really helped me impress the recruiters and I finally cracked my interview.

5. Do you think doing the financial modeling course made a real difference in your placement journey?

Yes, absolutely. I always say it was the turning point in my career. Before the course, I felt stuck. After that, I felt ready to apply for jobs. It gave me not only technical knowledge but also the language and confidence to speak like someone who belongs in the finance industry. Honestly, without that experience, I doubt I would have been able to grab the opportunity at Capital League.

Vaishnavi’s journey is a reminder that degrees give you a foundation but it’s the skills you build beyond the classroom that truly make you job-ready. From self-doubt to self-confidence, her story shows what can happen when you stop waiting for the right opportunity and start preparing for it.

You can connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaishnavee-darokarr-530495232/