From College Graduate to Finance Professional: Gorangavi Kolhe’s TWSS Journey

Starting out in corporate finance as a fresher can often feel like jumping straight into the deep end of a pool without knowing how to swim. You have the college degree, you know the basic theories, but the moment real-world client portfolios and valuation models enter the picture, things get real, fast.

For Gorangavi Kolhe, a B.Com graduate from Mumbai University and a CFA Level I candidate, making that transition meant turning textbook finance into real-world confidence. After working as a Financial Advisor at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, advising over 100 clients and dealing with market volatility, Gorangavi decided to sharpen his core technical toolkit by enrolling in the Investment Banking Program at The WallStreet School (TWSS).

Here is Gorangavi's story on learning the ropes, getting a reality check on industry expectations and finding the fun in financial modeling!

Q: Hey Gorangavi! To kick things off, what was the transition like moving from college straight into financial advisory at a firm like Motilal Oswal?

Gorangavi: It was an eye-opener, to say the least. In college, you study finance in a very neat and structured environment. But in the real world, when you’re managing real portfolios for over 100 clients and explaining options hedging strategies while markets are moving, you realize quickly that theory is only 20% of the job.

I enjoyed the client-facing energy, but I knew I wanted to go deeper into core corporate finance, valuation and investment analysis. That’s where I felt I needed a dedicated push on the technical modeling side.

Q: What made you pick TWSS to bridge that gap, and how were the actual learning sessions?

Gorangavi: Honestly, my overall experience with TWSS was truly amazing and enriching.

The learning sessions with Himanshu Sir were extremely insightful and helped me build a much stronger understanding of the concepts. He has this way of breaking down complicated financial frameworks so that they actually make sense instead of feeling like endless formulas. You stop memorizing steps and start understanding why the numbers move the way they do.

Q: As a fresher coming into a practical investment banking program, was there any point where you felt overwhelmed?

Gorangavi: As a fresher, getting the opportunity to learn from Anand Sir was particularly valuable. The insights he shared about the finance industry and its expectations from professionals were truly eye-opening.

He didn't sugarcoat things. He gave us a raw, realistic picture of what senior managers and recruiters actually look for when you walk into an interview– how you present your logic, how you structure a valuation sheet and how you handle data under pressure. It completely changed my mindset from just "studying for a certificate" to "preparing for a career."

Q: Building DCF models and running sensitivity analyses can sound pretty intimidating on paper. How was hands-on modeling in class?

Gorangavi: Once you start doing it, it’s actually really fun! Building a dynamic model where all three financial statements link up seamlessly feels like solving a massive puzzle.

We worked on relative valuations, trading comps, and discounted cash flows on live company data. The best part was learning how to build assumption sheets that don't crash when you tweak key drivers. Going from staring at a blank Excel sheet to building a full valuation dashboard yourself gives you a huge confidence boost.

Q: Looking back at the whole journey so far, how do you feel about your career trajectory now?

Gorangavi: Overall, TWSS has been a great learning experience for me. Combining my B.Com foundation, my CFA Level I preparation and the practical modeling skills from TWSS has given me a complete toolkit.

I don't feel like a confused fresher anymore. I feel ready to step into core investment analysis and corporate finance roles with complete clarity on what I bring to the table.

Q: What’s your key advice for other recent freshers or college grads trying to break into finance?

Gorangavi: Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone early! A degree gives you the starting line, but practical skills– like knowing your way around Excel, understanding business drivers, and learning from industry veterans—are what actually get you across the finish line. Find good mentors early, get your hands dirty with real data, and enjoy the learning process!