Alumni Interview Series

Rohan Suppal’s (MSA 2011) journey from a graduate student at UMKC to his current role at Alvarez & Marsal in Chicago is a testament to his dedication and adaptability. After completing his Master of Science degree in 2011 from the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, he began his career at EY as a staff auditor. Within a year, driven by his desire to live in a larger city and motivated by his wife’s educational pursuits, he made the decision to transfer to the Chicago office. “I always wanted to live in a bigger city, so moving to Chicago was an easy decision especially in light of my wife’s transition to Chicago from UMKC to complete her Master’s.”

“I spent two years in the audit practice specializing in the audits of private equity funds and mutual funds. While doing that work, I was exposed to the new world of M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) transaction advisory which sparked my interest to do something different.” This prompted his first transition into the strategy and transactions group at EY in 2015. Over the subsequent years, he refined his skills and expertise, giving him valuable experience.

In 2021, Rohan transitioned to a role within a private investment firm in Chicago, where he served as an in-house advisor, assisting with various financial initiatives related to M&A and portfolio company operations. Currently, he is employed at Alvarez & Marsal, a global consulting firm, and serves as an M&A advisor to his clients.

Reflecting on his journey, Rohan emphasizes the importance of positive attitude and continuous learning. He advises current students to approach their careers with a positive mindset, ready to absorb knowledge and put in the hard work necessary for success.

Networking emerges as another crucial aspect of career development in Rohan’s story. He encourages students to proactively engage in networking activities and to approach relationships with intentionality, recognizing the immense value they can bring to one’s professional development.

Moreover, he urges students to develop skills in analytics and data science, alongside their core accounting and finance knowledge. He emphasizes the increasing demand for professionals who can utilize tools beyond Excel, such as Power BI, Tableau, and coding languages like SQL. Rohan regrets not mastering these skills earlier in his career and advises students to take risks and explore new opportunities, even if it means stepping out of their comfort zones. Suppal shared, “Even though you’re not a computer science major, accounting and finance are moving in that direction and learning those skill sets are imperative for new professionals. If you want to take risks, go for it, and try to do them much earlier in your career.”

Rohan expresses gratitude to his professors at Bloch for their inspiring teaching methods, which ignited his passion for accounting and prepared him for his successful career. His career path serves as a reminder to students that with dedication, a positive attitude, and a willingness to adapt, they too can carve out fulfilling careers in their chosen fields.

By: Payton Covert (she/her), Alumni Director

UMKC Alumni Relations