Kayo Sethna is an analyst with Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Restructuring (NACR) group in Chicago, Illinois. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree from the University of Virginia and Esade.

In the following Q&A, Kayo shares the importance of knowing how to use Microsoft Excel, how he started his career at A&M and his goals and aspirations for the future. 

What skills or experiences did you gain during college that have been valuable in your career thus far?

School has been immensely helpful in my transition to working life. I had various classes that practiced real-world skills, such as Excel classes that taught the basics and shortcuts, presentations classes that helped my public speaking skills and investment banking courses that taught me to financial model and understand the finance industry.

Additionally, I had multiple internships while in school, providing various lessons. I worked at an equity research firm in London the summer before my freshman year. Living away from home and learning how to look at industries and companies was exciting. I spent the summer of my sophomore year at a hedge fund in New York City. While there, I learned to understand fixed-income securities better and create “client/investor ready” materials.

Finally, I spent the summer of my junior year at an investment bank. They taught me how to handle myself in a professional environment.  

What led you to pursue your chosen field of study?

Finance had long been a passion of mine. I found the idea of “what makes a business successful” very exciting. Looking at different businesses and understanding what about them has led them to success or failure is endlessly exciting to me.

Why did you choose to join A&M full-time?

I chose to join A&M full-time because I was excited about working with the largest clients in their toughest moments. I also got along well with the NACR Midwest team and was excited about joining the group going forward.

How did you start your career, and what were some of the biggest challenges you faced early on?

Although I have only been at A&M for a little less than a year, I have learned and grown tremendously. However, getting started was difficult. To begin, A&M didn’t offer me an interview slot. I was an alternate that only got an interview because there were two open interview slots. Then, after making it to the Superday, I was rejected by two of my classmates. Through the interview process, it became clear that A&M was the place I wanted to work.

I decided to pursue a master’s degree for one year to have another chance at recruiting (both at A&M and other employers). After receiving admission to my master’s program, I contacted the Midwest recruiting leads and asked how to improve. Fortunately, that conversation led to an internship offer for the following summer which was then converted to a full-time role.

From a recruiting perspective, learning to market myself effectively was difficult. Once on the job, it was difficult to manage different managers and expectations. As an intern, it is easy to get away with just doing your best on an assignment; as an analyst, expectations are significantly higher. Now, I am expected to figure it out myself and get the job done.

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments, and what resources do you rely on for ongoing learning and growth?

I used Petition at one point. I mainly keep up with The New York Times Dealbook and The Wall Street Journal. Following the right people on Twitter is supremely effective in getting relevant news quickly and seeing interesting commentary.

What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment so far in your career?

Getting a job was difficult and felt like a major achievement. Not having to sacrifice or compromise on interesting work, strong culture and career prospects was a huge achievement for me and why I was so excited to start at A&M.

What advice would you give to university students looking to work in consulting?

Network. At the end of the day, the professional world is relationship-based. Having the highest grade point average and most relevant experience is great, but I have found that most employers prefer the candidate who is truly excited about their firm versus the one with the best resume.

Being a consulting analyst isn’t intellectually intensive; it is about doing the simple things right, communicating effectively, having a positive attitude and limiting errors.

Although you should get as good at Excel as possible before graduation because it will put you far ahead of your peers.

In hindsight, what advice would you give your college self or other recent graduates about navigating the transition from school to work?

I had a rough transition. Since Covid-19 happened during my junior year of college, it was easy to lose motivation. The simple responsibilities like attending class, taking in-person exams and attending recruiting events all stopped—leading to an incredibly stress-free lifestyle. This contributed to a bit of a wake-up call once work restarted.

At first, I struggled to get back into the habit of having tasks with short-term deadlines and having full days’ worth of commitments—on top of needing to travel every week. To that end, I recommend students stay busy with extracurriculars and sports outside the classroom. The more experience you have, the better you will be at solving problems on the job, and the more used to being busy, the better your stamina will be.

Again, I strongly recommend learning Excel. It is a fundamental skill for analysts in finance roles.

What are your career goals and aspirations for the next few years?

I hope to work my way up at A&M. I have found a great fit for myself both professionally and personally and I want to see how far along I can go on this road. My goal is to get as involved as possible in networking, working with different groups within the firm, and progressing as quickly as possible through the ranks.

Can you tell us about a mentor or advisor who has influenced your career development, and what did you learn from them?

A&M’s culture of mentorship and training has been incredible. Before I started at A&M, I had multiple conversations with Davis Jochim, an associate in Chicago, who was always available to talk and answer any questions I had while recruiting.

While at A&M, informally, I have enjoyed getting to know the other junior staff who are always around to provide guidance. On my project, the person who took me under their wing was Dan Webber (Director, Chicago). Dan ensured I was quickly up to speed, from properly addressing an email to working with a three-statement model. I cannot describe how beneficial it was to have someone mentoring and pushing me during the first few months of my career.

How do you approach networking and building professional relationships, and what tips would you offer to others starting?

It’s just like making a friend. All people respond well to kindness, respect and competence, and I try and present those qualities in every interaction.

A tip I would give people starting to network, which I personally struggled with, is not to be afraid to be a little annoying at first. When you are young, nothing is as impressive as someone who really wants it, so if there is a company you really want to work for or a team you want to join, don’t be afraid to have multiple calls and follow up. Lots of times, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  

What's your favorite hobby or activity outside of work, and how did you get into it?

I closely follow Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the National Hockey League (NHL). I have been a diehard Detroit Red Wings fan since 12. My best friend took me to a New Jersey Devils game, and I fell in love with the sport. UFC is a more recent interest; my high school friends were all wrestlers, and they were always talking about it.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

The ability to time travel would be amazing. Having adventures across time, seeing ancient and future societies, and uncovering mysteries from the past are all very exciting to me.

If you had to eat only one type of cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Spanish food. I have studied abroad in Spain and have always loved the cuisine. I enjoy Tapas and being able to try many different dishes. I love the use of simple flavors to make amazing dishes.

What are some fun facts about you?

I have the privilege of holding dual citizenship in the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition to my dual citizenship, my adventurous spirit has led me to live in eight diverse locations over the past six years: New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Charlottesville, Madrid, Barcelona, London and Chicago.

I also take great pride in the discipline and dedication that have helped me achieve a black belt in Taekwondo.