Vishal Venkatesh

Bachelor of Business, Master’s in Business Administration (Finance)

What’s your background?

I was born and raised in Chennai, India. After completing my Bachelor of Business at Vivekananda College, I started my professional journey as an External Auditor at Deloitte. The role provided a strong foundation in communication, attention to detail, stakeholder management, and analytical thinking. While I valued the experience, I soon realised that audit was not where my long-term interests lay.

Wanting to challenge myself and continue learning, I moved to Australia to pursue a Master’s degree at Swinburne University of Technology. Having gained experience across audit, business, and sales, I developed a strong interest in problem-solving and helping organisations navigate complex challenges, which ultimately led me towards a career in consulting.

What has been the most valuable part of the Grad Program?

The most valuable part of the Grad Program has been the mentorship and guidance I’ve received. The environment encourages you to reach out to anyone who can help with your professional development, and people are always willing to make time for you. My manager and buddies have been significant points of contact for anything and everything, helping me settle into the organisation quickly and feel comfortable within my first few months. That support gave me the confidence to take on opportunities early in my career, including joining a client engagement in my third week. I was lucky and grateful to work on such an interesting project with a fantastic team. I was challenged, appreciated, and given constructive feedback that I’ve continued to apply in future projects. Starting on a project like that so early gave me a real understanding of the firm’s values and culture, and what stood out most was seeing those values consistently demonstrated by everyone on the team.

How has the Grad Program prepared you to kick off a great career in consulting?

The experience has helped set me up for success by providing a strong balance of learning, client exposure, and involvement across the firm. Through weekly seminars, development sessions, project work, and social activities, I’ve been able to continuously build my skills while contributing meaningfully to teams. It has given me opportunities to learn from different people, work across clients, and develop both professionally and personally.

What is a highlight from your time in the Graduate Program so far?

One of the highlights of my experience has been the flexibility and the ability to voice my interests when it comes to the type of work I’d like to do. You’re encouraged to raise your hand, get involved, and contribute to different aspects of the firm. Combined with the supportive culture, this has made the experience especially rewarding. Everyone is genuinely caring, approachable, and willing to help, and they go out of their way to ensure you feel welcomed, supported, and part of the organisation.

What would you say to someone considering the Escient Grad Program?

For anyone considering applying to the Escient Grad Program, I’d simply say: don’t think twice. Escient is genuinely focused on its people, and that’s not just a tagline on the website. With the right people around you, the support and resources to help you grow, and opportunities to challenge yourself, you’ll be in a great position to succeed both professionally and personally.