Fresh out of grad school, I found myself in the market research department of a publicly traded company that was coming off a misstep that resulted in a significant number of store closures, lost capital, and job losses. Charged with creating a strategy to minimize the risk of future crises, we developed a robust approach that blended qualitative insights and quantitative analysis. Defending my analyses to senior leadership not only honed my analytical abilities but also fostered a meticulous attention to detail, which has become the cornerstone of my career.