What did you study at ANU and when did you graduate?

For International Women’s Day 2019, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific is celebrating the achievements of the College’s outstanding alumnae. CAP student correspondent Dorothy Mason spoke to recent alumna Aanchal Chopra, who is currently an Associate at Boston Consulting Group.

Bachelor of Philosophy in Asian Studies, majoring in Economic Studies and with a research focus in South Asian tourism (graduated 2018).

What inspired you to get into your field and why? How did you end up in such an offbeat, unconventional and interesting career?

In strategy consulting, I was particularly inspired by the emphasis on developing ‘thinking’ and problem solving skills rather than content-driven learning, complementing the very specialised knowledge I picked up at university. Public sector consulting also presents an arena where commerce and humanities come together to create complex but exciting problems.

Original Link:

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/news-events/all-stories/inspiring-women-cap-aanchal-chopra

Who is a woman in your field that you look up to?

I have come across many inspiring woman in this field, so it would be difficult to pick one. A quality among them that I find inspiring is their ability capture an audience (client or otherwise) with powerfully presented ideas.

What was the best thing about studying at ANU?

The variety of courses and flexibility of the degree gave me the opportunity to learn broadly and deeply. While in Asian studies, I was able to take courses in economics, science, and business which helped contextualise the country-specific content of the degree.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

I see it as a day to celebrate how far we have come, and reflect on how far we have left to go in addressing gender inequities