Q&As with our 2024 Summer interns at Windrose
Q&As – with Amol Jhala (Left) and Ushaan Turel (Right) , Summer Interns at Windrose Consulting Group
In our Q&A’s with the team at Windrose, we delve into careers, advice and what it’s like to work at Windrose.
In this edition, we speak to our two summer interns at Windrose: Amol Jhala and Ushaan Turel
Amol Jhala
Tell us about your life journey so far…
I am a Senior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Health Care Markets and Finance along with minors in Data Science and International Relations. I am heavily involved in biomedical and healthcare research at Penn, most recently being involved in Dr. Carl June’s lab where I am researching the use of generative AI for the development of a human-to-mouse gene signaling dictionary. My interest and involvement in healthcare, economics, and the life sciences led me to work at Windrose!
What moment in your studies are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the research I have pursued, most notably my work on developing a model for the economic optimization of point-of-care COVID-19 testing, aimed at improving both surveillance screening and the efficient use of supply chain resources for diagnostic testing. This research led me to be the only undergraduate ever to present at the American Society for Health Economists annual meeting.
What’s the best piece of academic advice you’ve been given?
The best piece of academic advice I’ve been given is from my mom who told me to always review my mistakes and my successes, which I have been able to apply to both my academic and professional careers.
What has your life been at Windrose so far?
While it has been a busy summer, it has also been educational, rewarding, and very fun! I learned a lot from the learning modules and applied those skills to the team projects I worked on throughout the summer. Further, my independent project has been extremely interesting and has provided to me a plethora of insights about the healthcare ecosystem.
What has been your favourite thing since you’ve been interning at Windrose?
My favorite thing at Windrose has been the environment of the office. Whether it was having lunch with different people in the office, the socials after work, or just random chats about golf, I always felt welcome and part of the team.
And finally for fun… which talent would you most like to have?
As a person who loves music, I would love to be able to play any instrument well so I can play different types of music all around the world!
Ushaan Turel
Tell us about your life journey so far...
I was born in Mumbai, spent most of my childhood in Hong Kong, and am now entering my final year at Imperial College London, pursuing a degree in Medical Biosciences! Throughout my degree, I have been taught to approach medical drug development from a scientist's viewpoint, however this summer, I wanted to challenge this perspective by exploring the industry from a different angle. Windrose provided me with the opportunity to do just that.
What moment in your studies are you most proud of?
This past academic year has been particularly tough for me. Balancing exams, coursework, career planning, along with sporting and extracurricular commitments, often left me feeling burnt out. Midway through the year, I realized that my academic performance was not where I wanted it to be. Rather than blaming the situation, I took control of my own actions and focused on making incremental improvements. As a result, I was able to mount an academic comeback, ultimately surpassing my own expectations.
What’s the best piece of academic advice you’ve been given?
"Aim for excellence, not perfection." While this may be a well-known quote, I first heard it from my father. Whenever I am confronted with a seemingly daunting challenge, this piece of advice reminds me that I am allowed to make mistakes and do not have to be flawless.
What has your life been at Windrose so far?
It has been both very enjoyable and very lively. I have not only had the opportunity to work on a client project, but have also been actively contributing to my own internal project that directly supports Windrose's technological enablement. In spite of the many challenges, I would say I have gained even more learnings!
What has been your favourite thing since you’ve been interning at Windrose?
Despite it sounding cliché, I have to say the people. From my very first day, I felt not only welcome but genuinely appreciated. Whenever I needed advice or guidance, everyone was more than willing to go out of their way to assist. It is no surprise that the company's annual 'All-Hands' retreat, which I was fortunate enough to attend, was the highlight of my internship. I would go so far as to say I have made a few friends for life!
And finally for fun… which talent would you most like to have?
I would love to become a talented painter. Painting has been a creative outlet for me, and I often turn to it as a way to de-stress. Instead of just hanging up my paintings in my room, which I have been doing so far, I could consider starting a side business!