I caught up with Shriyansh Maniar, an MBA graduate who has worked across audit, consulting, and financial services, to talk about numbers, networking, and why communication often matters more than credentials.

📍 Q: You’ve moved across audit, consulting, and financial services. When did you realise storytelling was as important as numbers in your career?

Shriyansh: “For me, it wasn’t about moving industries, they’re all interconnected. I realised early on that numbers are never just numbers. They represent context. They show decisions made, risks taken, outcomes achieved. Finance tells the story of how a business arrived at a certain point.

Growing up around family businesses shaped that thinking. But it really clicked when I started networking and pushed myself outside my comfort zone. I realised every person has a story too. If you want to genuinely connect, you have to look beyond the figures and understand the journey behind them.”

📍 Q: Looking back at your MBA journey, what skill mattered more than the degree itself?

Shriyansh: “Communication. And I don’t just mean speaking well. I mean understanding the room. Adjusting your style depending on who you’re talking to.

It’s easy to connect online and hit ‘follow.’ But real connection takes awareness. You need to sense how someone communicates and meet them there. When you communicate as a storyteller rather than just a professional listing achievements, you naturally stand out.”

📍 Q: Many early-career professionals feel pressure to have everything figured out. What would you tell someone who feels ‘behind’ right now?

Shriyansh: “Trust yourself. Do the hard work. Stay curious. Be flexible where you need to be.

Seek advice, but don’t follow it blindly. What works for someone else may not work for you. You have to adapt it to your own journey. Everyone’s timeline is different.”

📍 Q: One message for the world

Shriyansh: “Set the right intent. Do what it takes. Avoid the noise and stay true to yourself. And be smart about how you move.”

✨ Key Takeaway:

Shriyansh reminds us that careers aren’t built on numbers alone, they’re built on context, connection, and clarity of intent. When you combine technical skill with emotional intelligence, you don’t just analyse the story, you become part of it.