Show Me the Right Path

Right path chosen, doubts fade, purpose moves forward

One day, long before he became the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi Ji was an ordinary BJP worker in Ahmedabad. He travelled across city on a scooter, speaking with people, observing lives, and learning from the ground. On one such day, as he recounts, he stopped near a two-way point and met a tribal man standing in hesitation. The man was visibly worn—his clothes were tattered, his feet bare, and he looked like he hadn't eaten a proper meal in days. Yet, in his eyes, was clarity of purpose.

The man asked, "Can you tell me which road leads to Porbandar?"

Modi ji looked at him, puzzled. "Do you have money to travel 400 kilometres? You're barefoot. How will you reach there?"

The man smiled and said, "That's for me to figure out. Just show me the right path."

That moment stayed with Modi ji for life. It wasn't the resources that mattered but the certainty of direction. Once the path is correct, the destination becomes reachable, no matter how distant or the odds.

That story is not just political folklore. It's a parable for decision-making; especially when choosing a career. And for today's aspiring business students, especially those at the crossroads of specialization, the question is similar: Which road will take me to my Porbandar?

For many, that Porbandar is a career in finance. But standing at the junction, doubts cloud the way; Am I eligible? Do I have the right background? I'm from engineering, not commerce. I've never studied accounting formally. Can I make it?

Let me say it: if finance is your desired destination, don't obsess over what shoes you're wearing; focus on the path.

A finance career doesn't require a commerce degree; it requires curiosity, courage, and the willingness to make sense of complexity. It's not about where you start but what questions you're willing to ask and what skills you're ready to build. Like the tribal man trusted his legs and determination, trust your hunger to learn.

Because finance isn't about counting money; it's about making decisions under uncertainty. Those decisions, when made well, create value not just for businesses but for societies.

Think of finance as a vast ocean. You don't need to be born a sailor. You need to learn how to navigate, read the tides of data, steer under risk, and, most importantly, find the compass of value.

I often tell my student's finance is the art of torturing numbers until they confess the truth. It is about discerning what a balance sheet hides, what a stock price reflects, what a strategic merger could unleash, or how a portfolio can be optimized so the risk doesn't drown return. If these questions excite you, don't worry whether you come from engineering, literature, or liberal arts. You belong in finance.

It's not a myth that engineers often excel in finance. Their comfort with quant models, problem-solving mindset, and structured thinking make them natural in investment banking, corporate finance, and quantitative research. The only barrier is self-doubt—not background.

Imagine finance as a gym. The dumbbells are balance sheets. The treadmill is a risk-return tradeoff. The protein shakes are data sets. Now, some people walk in with natural strength—they're the commerce students. But others, like engineers or humanities grads, may have never lifted weights. Does that mean they can't be fit? Of course not. They need the right trainer, consistent reps, and a plan. Eventually, they benchpress complex valuation models and sprint better than the rest through risk scenarios. Finance, like fitness, rewards effort—not pedigree.

So what will you do in this gym?

You'll build frameworks to help companies decide whether to expand organically or acquire a competitor. You'll analyze capital markets and design portfolios to maximize returns and minimize volatility. You'll project cash flows for a solar startup or evaluate the risk of a sovereign bond in Latin America. You could help a struggling conglomerate restructure its debt and avoid bankruptcy.

In short, you'll create value. And you'll learn to do it at every level—from individual wealth to global markets.

Still worried if you have what it takes? Just look at who shaped finance.

Benjamin Graham was a professor who mentored Warren Buffett, whose entire life is a testimony that calm thinking trumps noise. Charlie Munger showed that elementary, worldly wisdom—from psychology, economics, and ethics—makes better financial decisions than any textbook. Harry Markowitz built modern portfolio theory not from accounting ledgers but from mathematical curiosity and a vision of risk diversification.

They didn't begin with wealth—they started with clarity.

And like Modi ji realized on that day—the path matters more than the shoes.

As an educationist who's guided hundreds of students into roles in investment banking, fintech, wealth advisory, and corporate finance, let me assure you: your degree doesn't define your destiny. Your mindset does.

Let your destination—your Porbandar—be the guiding star. If you want to build a career in finance, you can. Learn the skills. Practice the tools. Ask the right questions. Find mentors. Intern. Read. Experiment. Fail fast. But never stop moving forward just because you doubt your starting point.

The world needs more value creators—people who don't just manage money but multiply impact. Finance is not just about profit—it's about purpose. If you want to decode that purpose, you can take this road.

As that tribal man said, "Don't worry about my limitations. Just show me the right path."

To every young dreamer reading this: finance could be your road. And the world awaits your arrival.

“If you already know your Porbandar, what’s stopping you from choosing the path?”