Alum Nina Zhao: Curiosity has taken me far

Who are you, and what did you study at Aalto University School of Business?

I’m Nina, and I work at EY People Advisory Services in New York. I graduated from the School of Business in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Information and Service Management and a master’s degree in Global Management, which included the CEMS MIM program and an exchange semester at ESADE Business School in Barcelona.

When I was deciding what to study after high school, I wasn’t sure what was right for me. I had always been equally drawn to the humanities and the natural sciences, but in the end, business studies felt like a middle ground that could take me anywhere. Looking back, that uncertainty wasn’t confusion – it was curiosity. It meant I saw many paths open to me and I wasn’t afraid to explore them.

How did you end up in consulting?

When I was in middle school, I read Cub Pilot on the Mississippi, a short story by Mark Twain, which had a huge impact on me. Twain describes how he benefited from the variety of tasks during his apprenticeship, writing:

'I am to this day profiting somewhat by that experience; for in that brief, sharp schooling I got personally and familiarly acquainted with about all different types of human nature that are to be found in fiction, biography, or history.'

I thought it was a beautiful way to face the world – that every experience, no matter how unrelated, can deepen your understanding of people and life. Over the years, I’ve worked in a café and on a cruise ship and done accounting, financial management, and research work. Eventually, consulting turned out to be the perfect environment for someone like me: I get to learn about new businesses, industries, and people all the time, and no project is ever the same.

What advice would you give to current students?

I think students today often feel pressure to optimize every decision. Everyone wants to be in the top league, aiming for prestigious titles and perfect internships. But it’s enough to make a good decision, not necessarily the best one. It’s better to move forward than to stay paralyzed by options.

I’ve spent a lot of time wondering what I want to do in life, and I still don’t have a fixed answer. But I’ve realized that drifting a little can be good, every experience counts if you learn something from it. And if you do have a goal, go after it fully.

I’d also tell students that what you’re really choosing for your first job is your superiors and team. They should genuinely support your growth and invest in you. Everything else is superficial.

What has been your career highlight, and what do you hope for in the future?

Moving to New York has been my biggest career milestone so far. But in some ways, it also feels like starting from zero again, and I like that. It reminds me that growth often begins with uncertainty, and I’m ready for new experiences. 

The ever-changing nature of consulting is what first drew me to it and what keeps me motivated today. I don’t know exactly where I’ll end up, but I’m okay with that – curiosity has taken me far.