Analyst Spotlight: Navaa Malihi

Hey everyone! I’m Navaa Malihi from Newton, Massachusetts, and I’m a first-year in Franklin majoring in Global Affairs and Economics as well as a member of the Fall 2025 YUCG Analyst Class. 

Before arriving at Yale, I was lucky enough to have had a little exposure to the consulting world through alumni of my school’s debate team; I first learned of YUCG specifically while watching my sister undergo club rush last fall. While the prospect of a career in consulting piqued my interest then, it wasn’t until the second semester of my senior year that I started to really consider it a viable path. I’d developed tunnel vision on going pre-law as a result of the college admissions process, and only once the cycle was over was I able to take a step back and realize that I wanted to gain industry experience instead of diving headfirst into law without a specialty. After rushing to late-night networking during Bulldog Days and attending info sessions once I arrived on campus a few months later, I made up my mind to apply.

That was a big decision and a bigger undertaking for me at the time. I didn’t think I had a typical consulting background—though I would soon learn that there’s no single “best” background for the work we do. I was a debater who’d mostly focused on multicultural projects, the nonprofit sector, and impact investing, and although I was fascinated by the potential of corporate decisions to effect positive change as a result of those experiences, I didn’t consider myself an entrepreneurial type or have any experience in strategy. All I was sure of was that shaping businesses presented a unique opportunity to advance social justice, diversity, and sustainability while sharpening my own analytical skills. Luckily, YUCG is amazing in that it welcomes analysts from all backgrounds and gives them the resources they need to to grow into problem-solvers who can add value to any team from day one. Now that over a month has gone by since initiation, I wanted to share a few lessons I’ve learned in my short time here: 

1. From our introductory meeting, being staffed on the Canva team has taught me just how formative project experience can be, not only in developing consulting skills that transfer into the industry but also in connecting with mentors in our associate (shoutout Danielle!), PMs, and EDs who push me to think sharper, see the bigger picture, and work smarter. Each project in YUCG’s incredibly diverse slate is a chance to apply critical thinking and reasoning in real-world contexts while developing an incredible depth of understanding of its unique field; in my situation, learning the intricacies of EdTech has given me a foundation that extends into dozens of industries. 

2. Ultimately, though, I’ve found that what’s even more valuable than the projects is the people. What drew me to YUCG was its emphasis on structured mentorship, something that’s exceeded every expectation I had during rush from constant upperclassmen support to a bingsu run with my big sib. What’s more, my analyst class is full of incredibly motivated students from all kinds of academic and personal backgrounds, and that array makes every project meeting productive as well as perspective-shifting. Aside from the in-depth feedback I’ve gotten from Kylee, Miffy, Emma, and Thomas, I’ve learned more from Frank and David’s approaches than I ever could have on my own, in every sphere from slidemaking or structuring a recommendation. Our unique social environment has challenged me to see things from entirely different lenses while supporting me at every step. 

3. Outside of project work, I’ve also had the chance to explore the more outward-facing sides of the club through Client Affairs and Public Affairs. Sending out endless mail merges with the CA team, taking calls with points of contact, and working on outreach initiatives have given me a real sense of ownership, responsibility, and agency within the club. It’s really rewarding to know that even as a first-year, I can contribute to how the organization grows, presents itself to clients and Yale at large, and stays connected with our amazing community as it evolves and welcomes new analysts.

All that being said, I’m not even through my first semester! As the year progresses, I’m looking forward to deepening my connections within YUCG, presenting my first deliverables (!), and continuing to grow as a strategic thinker. Every week and workstream so far has shown me how much I have left to learn about collaboration, communication, and leadership. I can’t wait to take on more responsibility in future project cycles, keep learning from the people around me, and hopefully pay it forward to new analyst classes soon.