Harshitha Kumar
Harshitha graduated from Queen Mary with a BEng in Materials Science and Engineering in 2018, and then undertook a masters in Management at LSE. She is now a Vice President at Goldman Sachs. She talks to us about how her time as a student prepared her for this high-pressure career.
From Queen Mary to global banking...
"Studying at Queen Mary exposed me to a diverse group of people from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, which helped me develop strong interpersonal and communication skills - essential in the global corporate world. Engineering as a discipline taught me resilience, analytical thinking, and teamwork, all of which are crucial in problem-solving and project execution in my current role.
From the start, I knew I wanted to explore opportunities beyond traditional Engineering roles. My journey began as a Technology Risk Consultant at a Big4 firm, where I gained exposure to risk management, regulatory frameworks, and business processes. This experience paved the way for my transition into Project Management within a top Investment Bank, where I now lead high-impact initiatives in regulatory risk.
I am now a Vice President at Goldman Sachs, working in the Change Management team within the Global Banking & Markets Division. I lead multiple projects focused on US Regulatory Risk & Remediation, driving strategic initiatives and ensuring compliance with evolving financial regulations.
One of my proudest achievements was being selected for a highly competitive short-term assignment (STA) at Goldman Sachs’ New York headquarters within just one year of joining the firm. STA opportunities are extremely limited, making this a rare and prestigious recognition. Being entrusted to work directly with the New York team and key stakeholders, purely based on my performance and merit, was a significant milestone in my career."
How Materials Science prepared me
My Materials Science & Engineering degree equipped me with a strong foundation in problem-solving, analytical thinking, and structured decision-making, all of which are crucial in my current role. Additionally, it taught me:
- Resilience – tackling complex challenges and learning to adapt under pressure.
- Teamwork – collaborating across disciplines to achieve common goals, much like working with diverse teams in a corporate setting.
- Attention to Detail – precision in experiments translated into a meticulous approach to project execution and risk management.
- Working Under Pressure – balancing demanding coursework and lab work prepared me for high-stakes environments in banking.
Moments of laughter...
"The best thing about Queen Mary was the people - they challenged me, taught me valuable life lessons and created some unforgettable memories. My favourite memories from my time there are simply spending time with friends at Drapers Bar after lectures - those moments of laughter and camaraderie made my university experience truly memorable. Many of the friends I made there remain my closest friends today."
My advice...
"For students stepping into the professional world, here are a few key takeaways:
- Maintain a positive and ‘can-do’ attitude - it makes a difference.
- Be proactive - opportunities come to those who seek them.
- Communicate openly and frequently - over-communication is better than under-communication.
- Follow through on your commitments - your word is your credibility."