PwC Scholar alumni spotlight: Saba Siddiqui ’14

Saba Siddiqui ’14 is a senior consultant with EY’s Strategy practice. During her time at Binghamton University, she participated in the PwC Scholar program while earning degrees in both financial engineering and global management.

How did you choose your career path after graduation?

I’m currently a senior consultant with EY’s Strategy practice, where I focus on helping our clients develop strategic plans and create organic and inorganic growth strategies. I’ve been lucky enough to work with clients across industries, though I have a special affinity for clients in the automotive, diversified industrial, and aerospace and defense markets.

As a sophomore at Binghamton I interned with the strategic development team at BAE Systems. The role was a mix of market analysis, reporting to senior leadership, and evaluating potential acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships. I loved it, and when I got to EY as a Business Advisory Program recruit, I hoped to do similar work.

Because of my quantitative degree, I was assigned to start with the structured finance practice. I spent two years with the practice, specializing in providing due diligence for asset-backed and residential mortgage-backed securities. Though I enjoyed building models and doing the heavy analysis work, I didn’t love the audit aspect of the job. I missed being an adviser to my clients and having the opportunity to develop and present my own point of view on client issues and the market. I also learned that I wasn’t necessarily passionate about the financial services industry, and I really wanted exposure to clients across market segments.

Eventually, I was able to make the switch over to the national strategy practice, where I’ve since been able to find my passion.

How have your experiences at Binghamton University helped you in your career?

Binghamton is really unique because students are given so much latitude to create and lead organizations, and my involvement with programs like the PwC Scholars and Beta Alpha Psi really helped me develop my soft skills. From delivering presentations to learning how to work in teams effectively, extracurricular involvement reinforced the skills I learned in class.

What about your job motivates you?

Fundamentally, my job is to help our clients structure unstructured problems. I love the challenge of helping to address complex and open-ended questions. From researching new markets to addressing threats from emerging technologies, each project brings the opportunity to learn a new talent or industry.

What are some obstacles that you have had to overcome so far?

Transitioning between teams at large firms can be very challenging. When I was looking to leave the structured finance practice, it took over six months to fully complete a transfer — and this was considered an incredibly accelerated timeline!

I had been lucky to develop strong connections and advocates early in the process, and even luckier that they had given me a shot. Any time not devoted to my full-time structured finance work was devoted to assisting in creating proposals, researching and drafting white papers and networking. There were a few times where my weekly workload hit over 100 hours. But at the end of the day, being able to work with an awesome team on projects I was passionate about made it a worthwhile effort.

Do you have any advice for current students and/or new professionals?

It’s all about the people! Developing relationships through integrity, openness and strong performance is incredibly important. The trust you build with your peers, leaders and clients directly impacts the future opportunities you have.

You can start doing this as a student by working with classmates and alumni in clubs and classes. When you graduate, they will become your peers and your seniors in the professional world. You’ll already have a start to your network.

The first thing I’ve done at any new job or project is understand the tools, resources and information at my disposal. Learning the lay of the land early has helped me gain information that would otherwise be challenging to find. And where we may not have sources, it makes it easier to either find alternative information we can use as a substitute or create our own models and assumptions. Being self-sustaining has also helped set me apart from my peers, in that I’ve needed less guidance in navigating resources.

Own your career. I heard this piece of advice a million times when I was at Binghamton, but didn’t really understand it until I started working. Understanding what you’re passionate about, your ambitions and how you can get there is key to building a rewarding career. Additionally, make sure you’re open about opportunities and interests so others can help you along the way.

Where would you like to see your career go?

I’m incredibly passionate about what I do, and I’m excited to stay in the corporate strategy space! One of the cool things about EY’s strategy practice is that it’s rapidly growing and the opportunities are constantly evolving. I’m looking forward to developing deeper industry-specific and functional experience, especially in the automotive, and aerospace and defense space.

What was the best piece of advice you have ever given or received?

One of the greatest benefits of being a Binghamton student is the connected and engaged alumni network. Take advantage of it and reach out to alumni in the industries and companies you might be interested in. Most are more than happy to give you time, advice and encouragement. The only expectation is that you pay it forward when you’re in a position to do so.

What’s your favorite memory from Binghamton?

It’s hard to choose just one memory! I actually grew up in Binghamton and lived three minutes away from campus my whole life. My college and high school graduations were both at the Events Center!

What’s your favorite place to eat in Binghamton?

Laveggio Roasteria has the best coffee I’ve ever drank.

What else were you involved with at Binghamton University besides PwC Scholars?

I spent a lot of time with the Dean’s Mentoring Program, and I’d recommend that any freshman or sophomore apply. It’s a rigorous professional-development boot camp and a great opportunity to hit the ground running. For juniors or seniors, it’s also a great opportunity to give back to Binghamton by mentoring the future superstars.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I love cars and have a deep affinity for Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG. You can occasionally find me trying to drive my very slow car very fast at autocross events. I once tried to sell my soul to Lamborghini at the New York International Auto Show, but they wouldn’t take it.

I also really enjoy learning about South Asian history and literature. Drop me a line if you ever want to talk about old Urdu poetry!