When Ashish Shrestha looks back on his 25-year finance career, it’s not just the big wins or tough moments he remembers—it’s the lessons that shaped him.
Here’s what he learned from boardrooms, bankruptcies, and baking cookies.
The Wins That Mattered Most
Ashish spent nearly two decades at Deloitte, working on everything from corporate restructuring to the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy.
Biggest highlight?
✨ Leading teams through chaos and watching companies recover.
✨ Traveling the world for work—three months in Japan, three in Australia.
✨ Meeting his wife Kyoko in the audit department (yep, office romance FTW).
“It’s not just about the deals you close. It’s about the relationships you build along the way.”
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The Challenges That Changed Him
Ashish doesn’t sugarcoat it: corporate restructuring was grueling.
📉 16-hour workdays
🍽 Midnight steak dinners as the only break
💥 Making decisions that could save—or cost—jobs
“It’s rewarding but heavy. You’re not just fixing numbers; you’re dealing with people’s lives. That stays with you.”
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What He’d Do Differently
If he could go back?
✅ Start exploring marketing and entrepreneurship earlier
✅ Focus more on work-life balance (“I gained 20 pounds in one engagement—never again.”)
✅ Take more risks outside his comfort zone
“You don’t have to stick to one path forever. Reinventing yourself is scary but worth it.”
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Advice
Ashish’s career didn’t follow a straight line, and that’s his biggest message:
“Your first job won’t define you. Stay curious, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to pivot when the time feels right.”