Name: Ines de la Fuente
Class Year: 2025
Title: Deals Associate
Organization: PwC
1. In one sentence, what does your job entail?
I help companies maximize value from business deals by analyzing the companies being bought or sold, preparing for deal close, and supporting how businesses are integrated or separated post transaction.
2. What planned and unplanned events connected you to your industry and your first employer after Holy Cross? How did you learn/decide it was a good fit for you?
A mix of planned and unplanned experiences led me to PwC. Being involved in business clubs at Holy Cross, including Women in Business and the Finance Club, exposed me to consulting and encouraged me to network with alumni to learn more. I became particularly interested in consulting because of its people-oriented nature and the variety of work across different projects and industries. PwC’s sophomore summer internship program, Start, gave me the opportunity to explore that interest early on. Through that experience, I gained exposure to its collaborative environment and range of work, which showed me how quickly you’re exposed to different business challenges and how no two projects are the same, constantly providing new opportunities to learn.
3. What were you involved in when you were on campus?
Office of Admissions Tour Guide, Student Program for Urban Development (SPUD), Finance Club, Women in Business, Spring Break Immersion Program (SBIP)
4. What was your major and how did it affect your career decisions?
I majored in Economics, which helped me understand decision-making around how resources are allocated to meet different needs and how those decisions impact interactions between businesses, governments, and individuals. I learned that behind every decision or plan, there are trade-offs, competing priorities, and real impacts on people. I wanted to be closer to that process and support decision-making in practice, and I saw that reflected in the advisory work in consulting.
5. What are one or two skills that you developed at Holy Cross that you use in your work?
One key skill I developed at Holy Cross was a strong appreciation for teamwork and community. The environment really emphasized building relationships and working closely with others, which translates directly to consulting since it’s such a people-driven business. Another skill I developed was adaptability which has helped me quickly adjust to teams, business needs, and industries.
6. What advice do you have for students on campus today?
My advice would be to focus on developing your soft skills, especially how you listen to and learn from others and how you build genuine relationships. Be kind, be curious, be engaged, and be someone people can rely on. The technical skills will come with time and are important, but your ability to connect and contribute to a team or a client is what really sets you apart.
7. What are your thoughts on how AI has impacted or will impact your industry? What advice do you have for students as they prepare to enter a professional world where AI is prevalent?
AI has had significant impact on consulting by making it easier to analyze large amounts of data, generate insights more quickly, and automate routine or repetitive tasks.