We spoke with Manisha to find out why she joined Clearwater and how her first year is going.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background
I am an Executive at Clearwater International and joined as a graduate in September 2021. Prior to this, I completed a 12-week internship at the firm over the summer in 2021. This was after completing my graduation at the London School of Economics, where I finished my BSc in Economic History.
What originally attracted you to Clearwater?
Clearwater has a strong reputation within mid-market M&A and completes transactions across a range of sectors. I was keen to work at a firm where I would be given early exposure to a range of businesses, and my work would not be confined to an Excel spreadsheet. Instead, I would be able to engage closely with private equity firms and help mid-market entrepreneurs achieve their growth vision.
How did the intern scheme set you up for a successful career with Clearwater?
The internship was hugely insightful into the work involved at Clearwater and the typical tasks that would be assigned to me as a Graduate Executive. I gained exposure to a range of workstreams, which began at pitching and origination efforts, all the way to deal execution. I was also able to have conversations with people from all teams and levels, giving me a better understanding of Clearwater.
How is the graduate scheme supporting your development?
The graduate scheme is helping me to develop both in my technical skills, but also with aspects such as pitching and presenting to clients. I am able to develop my technical skills due to a combination of external training, but also the internal willingness for everyone to support the junior members of staff. Further, being given the opportunity to present to clients the work that I have completed is particularly rewarding. I am able to directly see the impact that my involvement in a particular workstream has had on overall client satisfaction.
What do you enjoy most about working at Clearwater?
I enjoy working across a range of workstreams. Whilst one day I might be working with the Deal Origination team, the next I could be working closely with Market Intelligence. I particularly value the flexibility that we are given, and that at times we are able to guide our personal work pipelines. It could even be that I express interest in a certain project, and it is accommodated to the extent that it can be.
What advice would you give to applicants looking to start their career at Clearwater?
Clearwater is an entrepreneurial firm that values people who are curious and willing to learn. Most of the learning takes place on-the-job, so asking questions and being interested in the wider corporate finance world is critical.
What do Clearwater’s values / culture mean to you?
Clearwater’s values emphasise the importance of collaboration. Whilst this is naturally important internally, it is also extremely important externally. As advisors, stakeholder management is crucial to the role, so being able to work well in a team is a skill that will improve the overall quality of your work and make the job enjoyable.