Rhaneela Punitham: technology consultant with global aspirations
Rhaneela Punitham has carved out a vibrant career in technology consulting, currently serving as Manager, Technology Advisory at KPMG.
Her choice to study a double degree in Health Sciences, and Maths and Computer Science, was driven by a desire to keep her options open and have the flexibility to pick majors that suited her interests. “I loved both maths and biology at school,” she explains, “and wanted to pick a degree that would enable me to keep developing my skillset in both areas.”
Whilst transformational, Rhaneela’s transition to university, was not without its challenges.
“The pace, the depth of study, the autonomy – it is a big jump! But with change came a huge opportunity for me to really understand my learning style, build friendships through late night study sessions, and the resilience to keep working when solutions do not always come easy.”
Along with personal growth Rhaneela found university topics that were fascinating and enjoyed the hands-on component of labs which really solidified her understanding of the theoretical. A highlight was a two-week study tour to South Korea, where she attended a biotechnology conference and visited some key universities doing research in biotech.
Professionally, Rhaneela’s career has been marked by exciting opportunities and growth. One standout moment was her selection for a six-month Artificial Intelligence DevOps secondment, which included training at the KPMG Lakehouse in Florida. “It was the most incredible facility – very Google-esque,” she recalls. However, she likes to think that every day can bring small highlights. “Something simple like solving an issue the client is facing, de-escalating an issue, getting good feedback on a deliverable – it all contributes to the satisfaction of my career.”
Her current role involves bridging the gap between technical developers and business users, a challenge she embraces. “Being the translator between business users and technical developers… can be tough!” she says. Yet, it is this variety and problem-solving that she finds most rewarding. “I absolutely love the variety I get with a career in a consulting firm.”
Looking ahead, Rhaneela hopes to take her skills overseas. “The technology market is thriving globally – and with the skillset I have, I’d really love to utilise it on some big international pieces of work (and get to travel too!).”
Her advice to students and recent graduates is simple: “I would highly recommend students get involved in extracurricular activities outside of studying. That could look like being a part of the university committee, working part time, volunteering somewhere. Get experiences that will develop your soft skills and eventually be the scenarios you can talk through in an interview to demonstrate teamwork, working through challenges, communication styles etc.” And for those unsure of their career path, she offers reassurance: “Just keep moving, keep learning, keep developing your network, and things will fall into place.”