Welcome to Decentralised Success Story Series Episode 4
What inspires me are not PR-heavy billionaire tales, but everyday people who carve out success without legacy – just sheer grit.
Meet my friend Chirag Karia
Born in tier-2 city of Jamnagar, he moved to Mumbai to pursue CA coaching at J K Shah Classes
It was not easy, 5 weeks after the CA Inter results and after 16 interviews at mid-size firms…
He finally got what he wanted “๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฎ๐ EY“
With his mom a homemaker & dad running a small paint business, Chirag became the first in his family to step into consulting
Balancing college, Big4 articleship, Karate Black Belt and a bachelor life in Mumbai, he attempted CA final but alas – Didn’t make it.
Down but not Out, he continued in the role of Statutory Audit at EY as client support specialist, given to “Half CAs” where he spent 10 months doing audits.
๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฒ๐
๐ฎ๐บ, he got the role of an Associate at EY in the Financial Due Diligene team (Strategies & Transactions Dept)
I remember our first meet, he was in the Ruby tower balcony, nervous & anxious before the interview…
He ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ญ๐ด ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐ working on buy-side mandates with clients like Apax Partners, Wipro, Warburg Pincus.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฃ – ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐ฏ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐, he moved to ๐๐ฌ’๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด (๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ) and executed multiple ed-tech deals with popular names like PhysicsWallah, Allen Career Institute, upGrad.
After spending 3 years at EY – IB, few months back he made a big leap to a buy side role i.e Private Equity.
He now proudly works in the coveted PE role as an AVP at Hornbill Capital
PE interviews are tough – specialised firms like Native focus only on PE hiring, making the process even more competitive.
Out of 300+ top quality CVs, handful got interview calls, 8 reached the case study round, and just 1 (our boy) made it through.
The odds may not be in your favor, but remember: you only need one ‘yes’.
Thatโs: Audit โ Diligence โ IB โ PE in a span of 6 years.
A path many CA/CFA/MBAs dream of but few actually execute.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐? Chirag’s NETWORKING SKILLS!
He always knows the right people, the right intel on salaries & bonuses & job roles. He builds authentic relationships.
๐ Proof that a kid from Jamnagar, with no legacy network, no tier 1 colledge, no rank in CA – with just patience, hardwork and relentless efforts can go from Audit to IB to PE.
Chirag you are a role model for all CAs. Proud of your journey, brother.
Youโre what I call a decentralised success story.
Letโs bring more of these stories out ๐
You can reach out to Chirag here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiragkaria/
My Original LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/amtechinmaya_consulting-chinmayaamteexcel-activity-7370087494228357120-Lk63/
Timestamp: August 2025
#ChinmayaAmteExcel
