Senior Analyst,
Washington, DC
Antitrust Practice
BA in Economics, Industrial Engineering, and Operations,
Columbia University
The NERA environment in ten words or less:
Fast-paced, detail-oriented, intellectually stimulating, and academic.
On why I chose NERA:
I initially found out about NERA through my college career center. The interview process was extensive, to say the least! But my second-round interviews left me feeling energized about the company and the type of work I would be able to do. I just knew that NERA would be a great fit for me.
On my orientation and training experience:
From day one, NERA provided me with a solid foundation. When I started, I attended a global firm-wide orientation, which gave me instant exposure to other offices and practice areas. I was introduced to NERA’s standards and research methodology, and when I returned to my local office, I learned the protocols that were specific to my group. No one threw me in and told me to figure it out; on the contrary, someone showed me exactly what to do and laid out the expectations very clearly. There were always people willing to answer questions and guide me along the way.
On the diversity of project work:
No two projects are alike, so everything I’ve worked on has provided me with new challenges. I am constantly learning about new industries, new econometric tools, and new Excel functions and shortcuts. In addition to the diversity of experience, I work with a diverse group of people in several different roles. On some projects, I work directly with a senior vice president; on others, I work with a team of eight people. On some projects, I am the manager; on others, I am the programmer running regressions. The combination of interesting projects and different team structures prevents work from ever feeling stale or old.
On describing what I do to friends:
I tell people that I play with numbers all day and solve puzzles! My antitrust work is broken into “pre” and “post” antitrust violations. The “pre” work relates to mergers, when the government preemptively evaluates whether a merger will be anticompetitive. The “post” work relates to lawsuits in which companies are being sued for antitrust violations.
On how my responsibilities have evolved at NERA:
During my three and a half years here, I have been a member of teams large and small, and have recently begun to manage teams of researchers. In addition to my project work, I now train all U.S. new hires in NERA’s research methodology and standards. I have edited journal articles for senior colleagues, attended ABA sessions on antitrust-related topics, and prepared presentations for prospective clients about NERA’s areas of expertise. NERA has provided me with countless opportunities for professional growth, and the firm continuously challenges me to deepen my expertise and broaden my skills.
On the advice I’d give to a prospective colleague:
Be open to learning new things! No one expects you to know all the answers; all that is expected is that you are open to learning and comfortable asking questions.
