So picture this:
You’re fresh out of high school in Nepal.
You barely know what you wanna do in life (business? economics? something in between?).
Next thing you know, you’re in small-town Ohio, surrounded by cornfields, trying to figure out American life—and your entire career.
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Sounds intense, right? That’s exactly how Ashish Shrestha’s journey started. Fast forward 25 years, and he’s done it all—big finance gigs, corporate rescues, international projects, and now helping run a Boston bakery.
Here’s how he went from Kathmandu streets to corporate boardrooms (and what he learned along the way).
From Nepal to Ohio: The Leap
Back in 1996, Ashish packed his bags for Ohio Wesleyan University. Why? Two reasons:
- They gave generous scholarships (crucial when you’re an international student).
- His parents were like: “Big cities are distracting. Go somewhere quiet.”
But here’s the twist—Ashish had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. That’s where the US liberal arts system came in clutch.
“You didn’t have to choose your major right away. I could explore philosophy, sociology, econ… and THEN decide. That freedom was huge.”
The Reality Check: Culture Shock x100
Ashish imagined America as NYC or LA. Instead?
Delaware, Ohio. Population: 8,000. Surrounded by cornfields.
“It was a total culture shock. But because there wasn’t much to do outside campus, it pushed me to build deeper friendships. We kept each other entertained.”
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Lucky for him, there was a crew of Nepali students on campus—including a long-lost best friend from elementary school. Total movie moment.
Stumbling Into Finance (Literally)
Did Ashish always dream of finance? Nope. In fact, accounting wasn’t even on his radar.
“One of my Nepali friends told me, ‘Dude, major in accounting. It’s easier to find jobs.’ So I listened,”
It wasn’t passion—it was strategy. And it worked.
By senior year, with no internships or campus recruiters in sight, Ashish went full DIY mode:
📞 Cold-called Deloitte’s Boston office.
✈️ Asked for an interview during spring break.
✅ Got hired.
“They said, ‘We’ve never hired someone this way, but we liked you.’ That’s when I learned—it’s not just about your resume. People hire people they vibe with.”
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Leveling Up: 25 Years in Finance
Ashish spent years at Deloitte, first in audit, then corporate restructuring. He helped companies navigate bankruptcies (like Lehman Brothers—no big deal 👀) and worked in Australia and Japan.
But now? He’s using his business brain to help his wife run Petite Sakura, a French-Japanese bakery in Boston.
“It’s a different kind of challenge, but equally rewarding. Plus, who doesn’t love cookies?”
Ashish’s Advice
If you’re figuring out life (same), here are his top tips:
- Start your job search early (like… 2 years early).
- Be proactive. Internships. Networking. All of it.
- Attitude > Skills. People remember energy and effort.
- Pivot if you want. Your first job won’t be your last.
“Your career doesn’t have to be straight. Mine zig-zagged all over—and I loved every turn.”