Introduction
Hello! My name is Nirit Gilboa. I’m originally from a small town near Tel Aviv, but these days I’m living in New York City. Both cities have vibrant nightlife and amazing restaurants, though NYC does miss out on Tel Aviv’s beautiful beaches! In my spare time, I love baking and practicing vinyasa yoga.
Now, let me take you on a quick journey through my career. From a young age, I’ve been passionate about tech, although my career didn’t quite start there. Fun fact: I spent eight years as a flutist before making a major leap into tech during my military service, where I first discovered my love for this field. That experience inspired me to pursue a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management at Tel Aviv University, and during my studies, I joined NICE, a global leader in cloud-based recording and analytics solutions.
I spent eight amazing years at NICE, but what truly captivated me was product management. I loved the impact I could make—from defining the product vision to working closely with cross-functional teams like engineering, UX, and marketing. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about seeing an idea come to life, launching it, and receiving real feedback from customers.
After nearly a decade in tech, I started thinking beyond just building great products. I realized that successful products aren’t just about the latest technology; there’s a whole world of strategy behind them. How do we price a product? What’s the best go-to-market approach? How do we ensure long-term profitability? That curiosity led me to pursue an MBA at Harvard Business School, where I dove deep into finance and strategy.
HBS opened my eyes to the world of financial decision-making. I learned how to build financial models, assess investments, and even developed a fascination with the role of the CFO in shaping company strategy. This deeper understanding of finance helped me see the broader picture—how all the pieces come together to make a company profitable and sustainable.
With this new perspective, I took a strategy internship at RapidSOS, a $408M funded Series D startup providing a SaaS emergency response data platform. There, I applied my learning to craft pricing strategies and build financial models that had real business impact. Afterward, I joined Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as a consultant, working on a variety of projects in finance and insurance. My role at BCG further solidified my passion for bridging the worlds of product and strategy.
Today, I’m combining these two worlds at Laguna Health, a Series A healthtech startup, leveraging generative AI technology to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. It feels like the perfect next step, as I’m able to work with clients to shape our product while ensuring that we’re driving long-term revenue and profitability.
Looking back, my career journey has been a blend of passion for tech, curiosity about finance, and the drive to make an impact. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that a career doesn’t have to follow a straight line—each step builds on the last, often in unexpected and exciting ways.
Finance Fellow
career options
Finance Fellow
skills
What are the main hard skills you use on a daily basis in your current job?
Building a financial model is essential for analyzing a company's performance and making strategic decisions. Financial data can be sourced from company reports such as 10-K annual reports, investor presentations, and earnings reports. To project future performance, we make key assumptions, such as estimating future sales growth and accounting for interest rates, which influence everything from cash flow to profitability. Financial modeling is particularly useful in areas like evaluating pricing models, forecasting financial outcomes for new product launches, and assessing the viability of mergers or acquisitions.
Product management is the practice of guiding a product through its entire lifecycle, from ideation to launch and beyond. The process starts with understanding customer needs, performing competitive analysis, and defining the product vision and strategy. Inbound activities include working closely with teams like R&D, engineering, and UX to ensure the product is built to meet market demands and is user-friendly. Outbound activities, such as engaging with customers, gathering feedback, and aligning with marketing, are crucial for refining the product and ensuring a successful launch. The product lifecycle doesn’t end at launch; continuous improvements and iterations are made based on user feedback and market changes.
Project management involves planning, executing, and overseeing projects to ensure they are completed on time, within scope, and on budget. It includes defining project goals, managing resources, coordinating cross-functional teams, and addressing potential risks to keep projects on track. A key element of project management is financial oversight—ensuring budgets are adhered to, costs are optimized, and resources are allocated efficiently, all of which are critical for maintaining profitability and sustainability. This skill has been central to my career, from managing product launches and overseeing cross-functional teams to ensuring the timely and budget-conscious delivery of projects.
What are the main soft skills you use on a daily basis in your current job?
Communication, Communication, Communication. I cannot emphasize enough how vital this skill is. It touches every aspect of work—from communicating product requirements clearly to engineering and UX teams, to discussing project risks with colleagues across different time zones, to informing your manager when you need their assistance. Ensuring alignment across the team is critical to avoid unnecessary surprises. In my experience, it’s always better to overcommunicate than to leave room for misinterpretation or confusion. One important thing to remember is that people have different communication preferences. Some prefer formal meetings, others like quick calls or Slack messages, and some appreciate more informal settings, like a one-on-one coffee chat. Mastering communication means understanding your colleagues well enough to tailor your style to their preferences. Open communication is, in my opinion, one of the most essential soft skills you’ll need throughout your career, from your very first role to your last one before retirement. It’s the key to building strong, transparent relationships and achieving successful collaboration.
Prioritization is one of the hardest skills to master, and I’ll be honest—it's a constant challenge. As human beings, we naturally want to do everything, whether it’s building all the features we envision for our customers, attending every social event at school, or traveling to numerous countries around the world. However, one of the first lessons we learn in our careers is that resources are limited. Whether it’s budget, people, or simply time, we can't do it all. That’s where prioritization becomes essential. The faster we learn to prioritize, the more effective we become—not just at work, but in life as well. For example, a product manager must excel at prioritization, deciding which feature to release first while balancing multiple factors, such as budget, engineering capacity, time to market, and product quality. The ability to prioritize well is a critical skill that ensures you focus on what will deliver the most value and make the biggest impact.
Adaptability is one of the most crucial skills you can develop, and if the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that change is the only constant. Adapting to changes can be challenging, but it’s essential because change is an inevitable part of every job. The market is dynamic, and so is the job landscape, whether you’re working at a small tech startup or a large consulting firm. Client requirements shift, the financial market fluctuates, and industries evolve. Some changes happen gradually, while others come rapidly and unexpectedly. Throughout your career, you’ll learn to adjust strategies based on client feedback, respond to market shifts, and manage changing project scopes. If there’s one key takeaway from my experience, it’s that change presents opportunity. Don’t fear it—whether it’s within your current role or when transitioning between jobs. Every change brings a new chance to grow, learn, and adapt, which will ultimately make you more resilient and successful in the long run.
Nirit
’s personal path
Tell us about your personal journey in
Finance Fellow
:
Although I recently joined Laguna Health, a Series A healthtech startup, I wanted to share more about my journey to becoming a Consultant. I believe this experience will resonate with many of you, given your current career stage.
When I first started business school, I was certain that I wanted to continue in product management, a field I had grown to love deeply. However, as I got to know more people from diverse industries, I became exposed to fields like Private Equity, Venture Capital, Investment Banking, and Consulting. These new domains became fascinating to me, especially after taking courses in Finance and Strategy. As the time for securing a summer internship approached, I realized that rather than returning to product management, which I had already done for several years at NICE before business school, it was the perfect opportunity to expand my skill set and explore the intersection of Finance and Strategy.
Looking for a summer internship in the middle of a pandemic, without a background in Finance or Strategy, was challenging. Most of the big tech Finance & Strategy MBA positions require prior experience in those areas. Despite knowing my chances were slim, I applied anyway and continued to explore other opportunities, particularly in startups, where I could more effectively leverage my experience. Ultimately, I joined RapidSOS, a Series D startup offering a SaaS emergency response data platform. It was an incredible experience, not just because of the company’s culture and mission, which I strongly believed in, but also because I had the opportunity to dive into Finance and Strategy by leading a new pricing strategy for the company.
At RapidSOS, my manager had a consulting background and reflecting on my journey at the end of the internship, I realized that I wanted to further develop my knowledge of Strategy and Finance, knowing that these are essential to the success of any product and company. This led me to apply to consulting roles. Given my passion for tech, I focused on consulting firms with strong tech divisions. For example, at BCG, I interviewed for their Technology and Digital Advantage (TDA) group. This allowed me to leverage my background while continuing to work on digital projects, and it positioned me more competitively than becoming a generalist.
Preparing for consulting interviews wasn’t easy, especially since I had limited exposure to case studies outside of my coursework. To prepare, I researched McKinsey, Bain, and BCG, spoke with classmates who had consulting backgrounds to understand the differences between the firms, and created a timeline for practicing case studies. Consulting recruitment is highly transparent, with clear timelines for coffee chats and interviews, so take advantage of that by reverse-engineering your preparation. I also invested time in networking with current consultants to understand their day-to-day experiences and seek advice. Some were kind enough to offer mock interviews, which were invaluable. I highly encourage you to accept such offers if they come your way. Practicing with different people exposes you to various case styles and helps reduce surprises during real interviews.
In addition to case preparation, I focused on behavioral interview questions, which are just as critical. The HBS career center was incredibly helpful in preparing me for this, and if your school offers similar resources, I encourage you to take advantage of them, especially for mock interviews.
On the day of the interviews, I felt the usual nerves, but the process at BCG was pleasant and professional. One key takeaway I’ve learned over the years is that the interview process often reflects a company’s culture. Remember, interviews are a two-way street. While the company evaluates if you’re the right fit for them, you should also assess if they’re the right fit for you. Don’t be afraid to ask thoughtful questions that help you learn more about the company’s culture, products, and business model. Your interviewers will appreciate your genuine interest, and this approach can make a significant difference in how you stand out as a candidate.
What would you tell your younger you regarding building your current career?
If I could speak to my younger self, I’d say this: embrace every opportunity to learn and grow, even when it feels uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to take risks—some of your best experiences will come from stepping into the unknown. Each challenge is a chance to develop resilience and adaptability, traits that will serve you well throughout your career.
I’d also remind myself that it’s okay to ask for help and seek guidance from mentors. Surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you to think bigger and bring positive energy into your life. At the same time, don’t forget to trust your gut. Some people may offer advice they believe is best for you, but always listen to your instincts. Your inner voice is often right, even if others think you’re taking a crazy path.
Perseverance is key. There will be moments of doubt or setbacks but remember these are part of the journey. Keep moving forward, stay curious, and learn from every experience—whether it’s a success or a failure.
Finally, enjoy the process. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, and take time to reflect on how far you’ve come. Building a career is a marathon, not a sprint, and the journey itself can be incredibly rewarding. Trust yourself and your abilities and know that every step you take is moving you closer to your goals.
Final thoughts & tips
As a final thought, remember that every journey is unique, and so is yours. There is no one single path to success, and what works for others may not be right for you. While it’s easier said than done, pursue a career that interests you—not just because everyone else is following a particular path. It’s likely that many of your friends will apply for consulting, investment banking, or analyst roles. While these are all great opportunities, take a moment to pause and ask yourself: Is this what I’m truly passionate about?
The most successful—and happiest—people I know are those who pursued what they love. It may sound cliché, but I’ll leave you with this note: Do what you love, and love what you do. By following your own passions, you’ll build a career that’s not only fulfilling but also sustainable in the long run.
Resources to dig in more
Harvard Business Review
This renowned publication offers articles, case studies, and research insights on various business topics, including strategy, finance, leadership, and innovation. It’s a great resource for staying updated on industry trends and best practices.
TechCrunch
TechCrunch covers the latest news in technology and startups. Staying informed about tech trends and innovations can be crucial for students aiming for careers in tech, consulting, or product management.
The Muse
The Muse is a career platform that offers job listings, company profiles, and career advice. It provides insights into various industries and roles, helping students explore potential career paths and prepare for job searches.
