Muskan Jain, the third person I’ve met over coffee on this mission, is someone whose career journey already shows a rare mix of resilience, clarity, and perspective.
Muskan graduated from the University of Sydney with a double degree in Law and Commerce. Like many high-achieving students, she began her career in investment banking, a path that’s notoriously demanding. While the role gave her valuable skills and confidence, it also came with intense hours and left little time for family and friends. She recalls a moment when her best friend was venting to her, and she caught herself checking work emails, which is when she realised something needed to change.
Rather than seeing that experience as a setback, Muskan reframed it as growth. Banking taught her endurance under pressure, the importance of networking, and the confidence that comes from getting through tough environments. She credits those lessons with giving her a foundation to succeed in whatever field she chooses next.
Today, Muskan is working at a venture capital firm, which is still financial, but with a very different pace and focus. It’s been a refreshing change, allowing her to engage with her work more deeply while avoiding the same burnout she experienced in banking.
Next year, Muskan will begin a graduate program at Clifford Chance, one of the top three law firms in the UK. The program will see her rotate through four teams over two years, before she chooses a specialization for the longer term. She’s excited by the global opportunities the firm offers and hopes to take her career abroad.
My main takeaway from our lunch?
Your career doesn’t have to be linear to be meaningful. Each experience, no matter how tough, can equip you with skills and perspective for the future. Muskan shows that you can pursue ambition while also keeping sight of what truly matters outside of work.
Learn more about Muskan Jain here.
