Aishwarya Sandhya, Consultant

We’re honored to showcase our team’s diversity, talents, and interests at AG Consulting Partners. This month, learn more about our Consultant Aishwarya Sandhya, her experience on the AGCP team, words of wisdom, and how she went from living on India’s tropical Malabar Coast to rainy Washington.

What’s your background, where did you grow up, and what do you enjoy doing?

I’m an only child who grew up in Kerala, a state in South India, for most of my life. That’s also where my professional work experience began. I worked in communications and then moved into a marketing role where I wore many hats to gain experience across healthcare, manufacturing, and technology industries. I moved to London to work on achieving my MBA, then I moved back to a different state in India to put my degree to use. By January 2020 I got married, and about a year later I moved to the US with my husband.

I’ve learned that I really enjoy traveling and watching movies or tv shows. In the past 9 years, I’ve traveled to 8 countries. Since I’ve moved to the US, I’ve only traveled locally within Washington and Oregon state due to COVID-19 restrictions, but I hope to continue traveling again soon to hit my goal of visiting 10 countries in 10 years. As far as movies go, I enjoy rom-coms and comedies and can watch the same thing repeatedly, with my top favorites being The Hangover, Just Go with It, the Friends series, along with a few Indian films.

Tell us about your experience at AGCP.

My experience so far has been amazing! When I started looking for my first job in the US, I wanted to be mindful of finding a place that was inclusive, friendly, and productive, and that’s exactly what I found with AGCP. Although I’m mostly working remotely, I’ve met many people in person during AGCP events, and because everyone was so warm and inviting it didn’t feel like I was meeting anyone for the first time.

I was also surprised and unfamiliar with the concept of an onboarding buddy, and though I initially thought it would be a formal meeting with someone on a regular basis for my first few months, it was really helpful and just what I needed. I was able to get many of my questions answered, feel heard and supported, get guidance around career opportunities and key skills to develop, and most importantly, get the chance to make a connection outside of the smaller group of coworkers who I collaborate with on a regular basis. I’m excited to be a part of this fast-growing and supportive community.

What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

“Make mistakes, but don’t repeat them.” This advice was given to me by a manager in one of my previous roles in India. It’s great advice to refer to whenever starting a new project or role as it emphasizes that you can’t learn anything without making mistakes. And while people are always willing to help you learn, no one has the time to continuously retrain you on the same thing repeatedly. I greatly appreciate getting this advice as it is both compassionate and provides a little kick in the butt.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why?

I would go back to 2014-2015 when I was 21 and decided to move to London for my MBA. I was the youngest one in my MBA class, and it was the first time I had left my friends and family – not to mention travelling alone. I was scared and homesick at first, but I made new friends and had experiences that forever changed my perspective on life. It’s also when I became a frequent listener and follower of English pop music and gained the confidence to leave home again to move to the US. Although I went through a rollercoaster of emotions, I would go back to do it all over again and more.

Thank you, Aishwarya, for the energy and enthusiasm that you bring to the team, as well as your hard work and continued dedication to AGCP. If you’re interested in joining our team of outstanding consultants, we’d love to chat! To learn more about our openings at the firm right now, click here. We look forward to hearing from you soon!