Aviraj Shukla, a consultant from Mumbai, shares insights into his life at L.E.K. Mumbai. He outlines his career journey, discusses the Global Education Practice, and explains why the Mumbai office is synonymous with camaraderie and fun.
Tell us about yourself and your journey to L.E.K.
I was born and raised in Lucknow, North India. My family is mostly comprised of educators, so education has always been important in my life. I'm the first in my family to enter the corporate world. Growing up, engineering was seen as the ultimate career in India, but I never felt passionate about it. So, eventually, I chose economics for its career prospects and the college's reputation.
My college years were transformative. Coming from a Tier 2 city, educational opportunities were limited by affordability and social status. I had to work hard to access quality education. After college, I worked at an investment banking firm but soon felt I wasn’t a good fit for the culture there. Honestly, it was a bit toxic. Luckily, aiming for a career in consulting, I sent my CV to L.E.K. and found an opportunity in L.E.K.’s Global Education Practice.
Can you give us a brief overview of a day in the life of a Consultant in Mumbai?
My day typically begins by waking up, working out, and taking some personal time because I know the day will be busy. A workout and coffee on my balcony help me relax before getting into it.
When my workday starts, I focus on my goals. I break them down into smaller tasks and evaluate the team I'm working with, especially if I'm coordinating with associates and Senior Associate Consultants. I assign tasks based on strengths and maintain regular check-ins to monitor progress. I stay in constant communication with senior managers to ensure alignment on progress, identify gaps, and act as a liaison between associates and seniors.
Our office is fun and vibrant, and we often take breaks, like going out for coffee, or playing games in the cafeteria, to keep things enjoyable. At the end of the day, I assess whether we achieved our goals. If tasks spill over, we plan how to tackle them the next day.
What does the Global Education Practice do?
Our work is divided into private and public sectors. In the private sector, 55-60% of our work is due diligence for school groups and private equity clients looking to sell parts of their portfolio or entire companies. We perform vendor and buy-side diligence to assess assets for purchase. Additionally, we offer strategic advice to education-related entities, helping them grow revenue, expand into new regions, or solve other business problems.
In the public sector, much of our work comes from Saudi Arabia and Dubai. We collaborate with key public sector players, including the private school regulator in Dubai, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Culture. We provide government advisory services to help achieve visions for cities or countries.
The practice operates globally with a recent focus on the Middle East, especially Dubai and Saudi Arabia. I am heavily involved in our Middle East and Dubai practice. We also work in Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia.
What is the culture in the Mumbai office like?
I was pleasantly surprised by how L.E.K. has lived up to its promises of fostering a great culture. Our team is small, about 70-80 people, which helps us build close relationships. We work together and hang out outside of work. We have weekly activities like the beer trolley and Friday breakfast with pancakes, sandwiches, and various regional cuisines of India. We also host smaller events like a mango festival and clay therapy sessions with pottery.
We also have offsite trips, with the last one being to Thailand. Those two days were immense fun and unforgettable! We frequently organize case team events too. After every case, we go out for lunch, dinner, bowling, or whatever the team chooses based on the budget. If a case has a significant budget and decent profit margin, the entire case team goes on an offsite trip within India. We recently had an employee on swap from the Boston office who became a great friend. We showed him around India, and he experienced a few L.E.K. Mumbai parties, which he found extraordinary!
We'll conclude with a somewhat broad question. What's your favorite part about working at L.E.K. Mumbai?
The best part is the people and the culture here. I always tell new hires about this. Unlike other corporate environments, this place is amazing. In my previous job, I'd often dread going to work. Here, I wake up excited to go to the office. Having great friends at work is fantastic, and the atmosphere isn't cutthroat. We aren't isolated and grinding away all day; it's chill and enjoyable. The work environment, culture, and people are all fantastic. Everyone is approachable, from peers to partners. There's no strict hierarchy, and no one's out to get you.
A good attitude is highly valued here, even more than aptitude. If you work hard, excel, and are present, you're supported. I was promoted to consultant (from SAC) in only six months because my partners recognized my passion and dedication. I've been here for three years, and I've seen many examples where a positive attitude makes a big difference.