Kiran Bhondi Interview

February 21, 2018

This month we have asked Kiran Bondi, Analyst here at Bluebox a range of questions getting to know his background and motivations behind choosing a career in Corporate Finance.

 

  1. What was your background prior to joining Bluebox?

I graduated from the University of Nottingham in July 2017, where I studied a BSc Hons in finance, accounting and management. During my time at university I had the privilege of working with organisations that provided strategic and financial support to social enterprises, which ultimately allowed me to embark upon incredible trips to both Peru and Cameroon.

 

  1. What were your motivations behind choosing a career in Corporate Finance?

Having worked with multiple social enterprises to solve problems such as sourcing materials to build water kiosks and biosand filters through to improving market share and profitability, these experiences gave me great exposure to the world of business and the need for companies to continually evolve and grow. Working in Corporate Finance allows me to work with a variety of extremely interesting management teams and individuals to ensure that we find the right strategic partner to help the business develop further. For the short period of time I have been working in this industry, I can honestly say that there is nothing more rewarding than being able to deliver the right advice to your client so that their company can achieve its vision.

 

  1. What does a typical day look like for you and what are you currently working on?

A typical day can vary depending on what stage of the deal cycle we are at with our clients, but this is what makes our job interesting. Typical daily tasks can include: client meetings, preparing marketing documents, financial modelling, speaking with potential investors and so much more. Since joining I have developed a portfolio of clients that range from healthcare to the music industry. All my clients are at different stages of the deal lifecycle, with some looking for a strategic partner and others raising capital. This creates tremendous variety in my work and means I am constantly tackling new challenges.

 

  1. What is your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?

Being part of a team that helped give around 200 people in rural Cameroon access to clean water.

 

  1. What motivates you to come to work every day?

The opportunity to tackle new challenges and continue to push myself to learn as much as I can. I always remember a saying that an entrepreneur once said to me ‘business has two currencies: cash and experience. But take as much experience as you can whilst you are young because if you get that right then the rest will fall into place’.

 

  1. Other than London, what city would you like to live/work in and why?

New York! It is undoubtedly another global hub for finance. I would relish the opportunity to take on all the challenges that are presented to me in the city that never sleeps.

 

  1. If you could be given a superpower for the day, what would you choose and why?

Teleportation – when issues arise on a deal it would be incredible to just be able to transport yourself to the top of a quiet mountain, collect your thoughts for a few moments and gain a wider perspective. More importantly I would make sure that I teleport to all the wonders of the world on my bucket list.

 

  1. Looking forward, where do you hope to be in your career in 5 years time?

An Associate Director at Bluebox who has become a vital member of developing the businesses processes to enable us to continually improve the client service we deliver. I also hope to be in a position where I am able to generate a strong pipeline of deals for the company.

 

  1. We finish the interview and you step outside the office and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning £10 million. What would you do?
  • £250,000 to charity/sports foundation
  • Invest £2m in to UK residential property
  • Invest £1m in International property
  • £1.75m for investing in small businesses
  • Continue working in M&A having put aside the remaining £5m into savings

 

Quick fire

  1. Favourite rugby team? Munster
  2. Ketchup or brown sauce? Ketchup
  3. Favourite film? Inception
  4. How would your friends describe you? Tenacious, down to earth and thoughtful

Kiran Bhondi, Analyst at Bluebox

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