Joy Bhattacharjee recently joined Oaklyn Consulting as an investment banking associate, supporting clients across M&A, capital raising and other strategic transactions, including special situations such as stressed/distressed deals.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Getting to work on very different businesses and situations. Every deal has a different problem to solve, and I enjoy digging into a business, a situation, a case, understanding what really matters and helping the team figure out the best path forward.
Why do you work at Oaklyn Consulting?
I was struck by the fact that owners of private businesses often face decisions that are just as important, and sometimes even more crucial, than those faced by public companies, but they do not always have access to the same level of investment banking advice. When I came across Oaklyn, I was drawn to the fact that the firm works in exactly those situations that do not always fit neatly into the traditional investment banking model.
Why does Oaklyn Consulting’s work matter?
I’ve worked with founders and small but growing businesses in different markets, and one thing I’ve seen repeatedly is that the most important financial decisions often come when the business is still relatively small and the owners are making very personal, high-stakes decisions with or without thinking thoroughly. Whether it’s raising capital, selling the company, bringing in a partner or deciding not to do a deal, those decisions can shape years of work and a large part of someone’s personal wealth.
What makes Oaklyn’s work meaningful is that smaller businesses often don’t have access to the same level of investment banking advice that larger companies do, so having someone objective and experienced in their corner can make a real difference.
What do you think sets Oaklyn Consulting apart from other investment banking consultants?
The biggest difference to me is the consulting model. Because Oaklyn charges for the work rather than depending on a success fee, we can be genuinely objective about whether a transaction makes sense. Oaklyn’s past work shows that in many cases, the right outcome is not to do a deal, and that’s OK. We’re also willing to work on smaller, complicated or unusual situations that may not fit the traditional investment banking model.
What’s your favorite pastime outside of work?
I’m into drums. I also like to travel and explore new places, especially their history and culture. I go hiking from time to time too.
What TV show/movie/book/musical artist are you enjoying right now?
I’m currently reading “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss, “Middle Market M&A,” “The Lower-Middle Market M&A Guide” and “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz. On the entertainment side, I’ve been revisiting the MCU movies ahead of Avengers: Doomsday in December, and I often find myself going back to Michael Jackson’s albums, especially after the movie about his life came out this year.
What’s your idea of a perfect meal?
Probably something with a good balance of spicy, flavorful and healthy. I’m also almost always very easily convinced by good ramen.