TFAS Alumni Profile – Pranav Kurapati ’24

Discover the enriching journey of TFAS alumni Pranav Kurapati ’24, a healthcare management and policy major from Indiana University – Bloomington, who discovered a whole new world during his transformative summer in Washington, D.C. As a standout intern at Mehlman Consulting, Pranav delved into the heart of lobbying and gained hands-on experience that would shape his career path. Living in such a historic city, he found enjoyment in exploring the various museums, fostering lifelong friendships and embracing his new era of professionalism.

πŸŽ“ University:  Indiana University Bloomington
πŸ“š Major:  Healthcare Management and Policy
πŸ“ Hometown:  Katy, TX
🧭 Program Track:  Business + Government Relations
πŸ’Ό Internship: Mehlman Consulting

What was the most interesting thing you did at your internship?

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’Ό The Importance of Salesmanship
The most exciting aspect of my internship was sitting in on client acquisition meetings. These meetings let me meet some top executives at notable firms and gave me a peek into the corporate consulting world. I discovered that salesmanship is in every aspect of professionalism, in this case, selling why our firm was the best to fit the needs of this corporation. Whether or not there was a prior relationship with the potential client, it was all hands on deck to ensure that a frame of trust and cooperation could be developed between our potential client and our consultants and team. I learned that it is essential to build and maintain your reputation and that while it is vital to develop hard skills, it is infinitely important to be able to market those in the right way as well.

What did you like most about living in Washington, D.C.?

πŸ—ΊοΈ Exploring with TFAS Friends
My favorite part of D.C. was the amount of exploring that I could do. I could have spent every minute of my time in D.C. visiting museums and seeing the sights, and I would still have so much to see. My favorite that I’ve been able to see is the Spy Museum. It strikes the perfect balance of being interactive and informative, and I’ve never had so much fun visiting a museum. However, my experiences with my peers are even more significant. All TFAS students are looking to make friends, and whether it be going out to museums with my suitemates or hanging out in my affinity unit, I had the most incredible time meeting and engaging with some people I know I will consider my lifelong friends.

How did you grow professionally during your time in Washington, D.C.?

🧠 Networking, Relationship Building, Analytical Thinking, Oh My!
While in D.C., I significantly enhanced my networking and relationship-building, strategic communication, analytical thinking and project management skills. I was fortunate to have a mentor, Roy Matthews, who provided invaluable guidance and support. He also connected me to some people in my field of interest, and I was able to network even more as a result! Their insights into policy-making and strategic problem-solving greatly influenced my professional growth, encouraging me to take on challenging projects and assume greater responsibilities.

What was your favorite TFAS event?

πŸͺ½ Braver Angels Debate
My favorite TFAS event was the Braver Angels debate. I not only had the opportunity to be a part of selecting the topic of Artificial Intelligence in military applications, but I also had the opportunity to give an opening speech. Despite having a debate-related background, Braver Angels offered a non-hostile environment to voice opinions and ideas freely, and I’m very thankful to TFAS for providing that opportunity. It was very interesting to see the different perspectives, and I even became part of an AI-based discussion group among my peers!

Pranav and friends after the Business + Government Relations Braver Angels Debate.

What advice do you have for future TFAS students?

πŸ—“οΈ Organize that Calendar
The best advice is to maintain a centralized calendar. With so many different applications like Guidebook, my personal calendar and my work calendar via Outlook, ensuring my availability and timeliness became very difficult. Consolidating everything into one centralized and organized calendar helped me make it to as many events and opportunities as possible. This was very helpful in ensuring I appropriately allocated time to items like getting coffees with professionals and even allocating brain breaks. This was incredibly helpful in seizing opportunities both within TFAS and outside. After all, D.C. has so much to offer, usually at no cost, so it’s essential to take whatever comes your way steadfastly.