This is the story of Anusri Allam, someone who started out studying Geography at Miranda House, Delhi University. On paper, her path looked quite different from most people who enter the world of finance. She didn’t have a background in commerce or accounting. She hadn’t done any big-name internships in investment firms or consulting. But what she did have was a strong sense of curiosity and a quiet determination to explore something new.
During college, Anusri had picked up an interest in how businesses work. It started with a few online courses here and there, just out of curiosity. Slowly, she found herself getting more and more interested in how companies make decisions, how they plan their budgets, and how they measure growth. The more she explored, the more she felt drawn toward finance.
But switching into a completely new field is never easy, especially without formal experience. Anusri knew she had to build the right skills and gain some practical exposure. She decided to take up a course in financial modeling, where she could learn how to work with company data, understand financial statements, and build reports that businesses use to plan for the future.
That step changed everything. She worked hard, stayed consistent with practice and slowly started becoming comfortable with Excel, numbers and company analysis.
Today, Anusri is Placed at Climate Care, where she helps make sense of financial data and supports real business decisions. But none of this came easy. Her journey is all about figuring things out, step by step.
Below is our conversation with Anusri— Straight from her experience
Q: Anusri, you studied Geography. What made you want to shift to finance?
I didn’t plan this from the beginning. During college, I started doing some online courses in Excel and basic business finance. At first, it was just out of curiosity. But the more I studied, the more I realised that I enjoyed working with numbers and understanding how businesses grow. I found it interesting to see how companies make financial decisions. That’s what pulled me in.
I didn’t have a clear path, so I started looking for a way to learn finance properly. That’s how I found out about financial modeling which is basically learning how to build simple tools and reports that help understand a company’s finances better.
Q: What is financial modeling, for someone who’s never heard of it?
Good question. When people hear “modeling,” they think of fashion. But financial modeling is totally different. It’s a way of using Excel or similar tools to understand how a business is doing and where it might go in the future.
Let’s say a company wants to know what happens if they open a new store next year. A financial model helps them test that idea using numbers — how much they might earn, what they’ll spend, and whether it will be profitable. So, it’s like creating a calculator for business decisions.
Q: Was it difficult to learn, coming from a non-finance background?
In the beginning, yes. The first week felt a bit overwhelming because I had never worked with real company data before. I didn’t know much about profit and loss statements or balance sheets. But I took it one day at a time. I revised every evening and practiced as much as I could.
The classes were hands-on. We weren’t just listening. We were building things in Excel and learning how to link different parts of a company’s financial story. The more I practiced, the more comfortable I became.
Q: What part of the course did you enjoy the most?
I think the part I enjoyed the most was forecasting. That’s where we try to estimate what a company’s financials might look like over the next few years based on their current performance and past data. It felt like solving a big puzzle, but with real-life meaning. You’re not just doing maths for the sake of it. You’re trying to understand how a business might grow or struggle depending on different situations.
At first, it was confusing because there were so many things to think about. But once I got the hang of it, it became really interesting. I liked figuring out how one small change in revenue or cost could affect the entire outcome. It helped me realise how important it is to think carefully about assumptions.
I also enjoyed building the full reports from scratch. We would link the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement together in Excel. When everything finally connected and the numbers made sense, it felt like a big achievement. I remember one day I was stuck on a small error for hours and when I fixed it taking my teacher’s help and saw everything balance perfectly, it just felt so satisfying. Those little moments gave me a lot of confidence.
Q: Looking back, how do you feel about your decision to step into finance?
It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It was scary at first because I didn’t have any background in this field. But now that I’m working in finance, I feel like I’ve found something I genuinely enjoy. Every day I learn something new.
What I love the most is that I can see the impact of my work. When I make a report or help with a financial analysis, I know it helps the company make better decisions. That feels good.
Q: What would you say to someone who doesn’t have a finance background but wants to switch into it?
Don’t let your background hold you back. I studied Geography and still made it here. What matters is your willingness to learn. Start with the basics. Try a short course or video. Learn Excel properly and understand how money moves in a business.
And be patient with yourself. It’s okay to feel lost at first. I did too. But if you stay consistent and keep practicing, it gets easier. Also, ask for help when you need it. That made a big difference for me.
Q: Do you feel learning financial modeling helped you in getting placed?
Definitely. Before doing the course, I wouldn’t have known how to answer even half the questions that were asked in the interview. Most of what I said during the placement process came from what I had practiced while building models and working on company reports.
Financial modeling gave me the structure and language to talk about a company in a proper way. I could explain what revenue means, how profits are calculated, how to estimate costs, and even how small changes in business plans can affect future results. I think that’s what the interviewer wanted to hear — not big fancy answers, but clear thinking.
Also, just being able to open up Excel and build something from scratch gave me confidence. I didn’t feel like I was guessing or just saying things I had memorised. I actually understood what I was talking about, and that made all the difference.
From maps and mountains to models and markets, Anusri’s journey is all about following curiosity and being open to change. She didn’t take shortcuts. She didn’t wait for everything to fall into place. She just started, stayed steady and slowly created her own path.
Her story is a reminder that your degree does not define your future. What defines it is your effort, your mindset, and the steps you choose to take next.
You can connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allamanusri
