From Mumbai to McKinsey, to building decks and community... ✍🏼

Welcome to the TWENTY-FIFTH episode of The Smart Money Show! We’re joined this week by Vedika Akhramka, a London-based consultant at McKinsey & Company and founder of What’s Her Network, a thriving community of 300+ young women professionals. Her story is an exemplar of agility and inclusivity. She has shaped strategy across industries, spanning aerospace to live music, while also championing spaces that empower women to connect and lead with purpose.

Vedika shares her journey into consulting and the lessons she's learned from working across diverse sectors. She also reflects on why building supportive, women-led networks matters just as much to her as climbing the corporate ladder. This is a conversation about resilience and creating the kind of purposeful community you want to belong to.

Guest Contacts:

Vedika Akhramka - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vedikaakhramka/

🎥 Recorded: 3rd Sept

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

2:49 - The "Bollywood Banker": An Early Start in Finance 🎬

3:45 - The First Internship & The Pivot to Consulting 🤔

5:00 - From Mumbai to the UK: A Journey of Independence ✈️

8:30 - University Lessons: Why Extracurriculars Matter More Than Your Degree 🎓

12:10 - The Strategic Master's: Reclaiming Uni Life Post-COVID 📚

17:51 - Inside Consulting: Luck, Networking & The McKinsey Toolkit 💼

23:20 - A Consultant's Life: From Live Music to Aerospace 🌍

28:46 - The Most Defining Factor for Your Career (It's Not Your Degree) ✨

32:11 - Founding "What's Her Network?": A Community for Women in Business 🤝

37:53 - The Future of Work: Overcoming Barriers for Women 👩‍💼

40:45 - Final Reflections & Career Advice 💡

43:22 - The Biggest Takeaway: Find What Truly Fulfills You 💌

44:47 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so