Coming from a small college in Karnataka, Praful never imagined that his career would eventually move toward investment banking–style roles. He began his journey with a simple commerce background, built it further during his MBA in Malaysia and then stepped into the corporate world through a credit management role where he handled real financial decisions every day. That experience taught him how businesses behave beyond textbooks, especially when it comes to risk, numbers and judgement.
Even with that strong base in finance, he always felt there was a bigger side of finance, he hadn’t explored the side where deals are analysed, valuations are built and models drive decisions. That curiosity eventually pushed him to strengthen his technical skills through a structured financial modelling course at The Wall Street School.
From struggling with high-speed modelling in the beginning to finally building complete valuations with confidence, his journey has been full of learning and self-discovery. Today, Praful has successfully made his way to Verity Knowledge and his story shows how the right skills can completely change the direction of a career.
Here’s what Praful shared about his journey-
1. Praful, before you joined The Wall Street School, what was your background like? Can you share your journey from B Com to MBA Finance and then working as a Credit Manager?
Before joining The Wall Street School, I came from a core commerce and credit background. I completed my B Com from SDM Degree College Ujire Karnataka, then went on to do an MBA Major in Finance from ELM B-school under Help University country is Malaysia, which gave me a strong base in accounting, corporate finance and financial statement analysis. After my MBA, I worked as a Sn. Credit Manager at Aditya Birla Finance Limited where I indulge in Credit Loan underwriting, Risk Assessment, Financial statement analysis, Financial Fraud control and took exposure decisions with a clear risk–return mindset. Over time, this role sharpened my analytical skills and judgment, but I always felt drawn towards front‑end finance and deal‑driven roles, which is what eventually pushed me towards investment banking.
2. Since you already had an MBA in Finance, what made you feel that financial modeling was the next step for you?
Even with an MBA in Finance under my belt, I realized my credit management role in general banking focused on loan underwriting and risk assessment lacked the deal-making precision required for investment banking. IB interviews and job descriptions repeatedly emphasized hands-on financial modeling skills like building integrated 3-statement models, DCFs, LBOs, and comps tables from scratch, which go far beyond theoretical finance knowledge. I saw financial modelling from TWSS as the critical bridge to transition equipping me to handle M&A valuations, pitch books and scenario analysis that define IB analyst work making me competitive for those front-office roles.
3. When you started the financial modeling course, what were some of the challenges or struggles you faced in the beginning? It could be with concepts, confidence or managing your routine.
At the beginning of the course my biggest challenge was unlearning the “presentation-level” Excel I used at work and moving to completely keyboard‑driven, high‑speed modelling. Initially, structuring a blank Excel sheet into a clean, linked 3‑statement model felt intimidating and I would often get stuck on circularity, error checks or linking schedules correctly. Another struggle was managing time and energy – balancing long, intensive classes or practice sessions required discipline, especially on days when my models did not reconcile and my confidence dipped. But gradually repetitive practice tired me out and helped me push through that phase.
4. Was there any moment during the course when you felt that your skills were improving and you were moving in the right direction?
There was a clear turning point when I was able to build a model without constantly looking at solutions or asking for help. The first time my income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement tied perfectly with all checks turning green, it gave a strong sense that I was finally thinking like an analyst, not just a student. Another moment was during case discussions, when I could independently explain drivers like revenue, assumptions, capex and working capital changes and how they flow into valuation at that point I knew I was moving in the right direction for an IB profile.
5. How did you feel when you completed your first few models or valuation assignments? Did it make you more confident about entering roles in investment banking or valuation?
Finishing my first few full fledged models and valuation assignments was a big confidence boost. Earlier investment banking and valuation roles felt “out of reach” but once I had actually built DCFs, trading comps and transaction comps on real companies, the JD bullet points started feeling relatable instead of intimidating. It made interview preparation far more structured, because I could walk through my own models, justify assumptions and talk about valuation ranges rather than giving textbook answers. That practical exposure is what ultimately made me feel genuinely ready to sit in front of an interviewer and say, “Yes, I can do this work from day one.”
6. What advice would you like to give to other students who feel stuck in their career and are looking for a fresh start with financial modeling?
For anyone feeling stuck in their career the first step is to accept where you are, but not accept that this is where you have to stay. Be honest about your skill gaps like if you can’t build a basic DCF or read financial statements fast. Pick one solid course like financial modelling and stick to it daily. Practice models on real companies and analyse companies reports, start simple like sales as % of revenue. Don’t skip Excel basics learn shortcuts, links and error checks to save time later. Staying patient for 3-6 months of steady work can land you in IB or valuation roles and can fix ten years ahead.
Praful’s journey is a reminder that you don’t need a perfect start but just need the courage to upskill and stay consistent. If you’re willing to learn, the finance world has room for you too.
You can connect with him on Linkedin here : https://www.linkedin.com/in/praful-m-b-ab4bb9190/
