Ankit Gupta, IMD’s MBA Class of 2023
Ankit Gupta, IMD’s MBA Class of 2023Age: 33
Hometown: Kanpur, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: IIT-Dhanbad, Mining Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Engagement Manager at Strategy&/PwC in India and South Africa (6 years). Previously held leadership roles in power utilities and lithium battery recycling (4 years)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Owing to my responsibilities, I began earning at the young age of 12. Later, with a little luck and persistence, I had the privilege of building my professional career in India and South Africa. For over a decade, I gained valuable experience in operations and consulting within the energy and natural resources sectors and completed the CFA program, which significantly enhanced my understanding of the business and subsequently accelerated my career.
As I advanced into senior roles, I realized that leadership encompasses more than knowledge and expertise in business or finance. Effectively steering teams and influencing stakeholders, particularly in sectors spanning diverse regions and industries, requires a distinct set of leadership skills. It demands a continuous feedback loop and a lot of self-reflection, which business schools are well-positioned to provide. This realization prompted my decision to pursue a business education, where I can further refine my leadership acumen and expand my global perspective.
Furthermore, given my early start in the workforce almost two decades ago, I found myself yearning for a break to focus on personal growth, take some time for introspection, and prioritize my next steps. Shortly before relocating to Lausanne, I got married, making the prospect of spending quality time with my wife in the picturesque setting of Switzerland, a popular destination in Bollywood movies, particularly appealing.
Why did you choose IMD? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I only applied to IMD because I was interested in a one-year MBA program that placed a strong emphasis on leadership and hands-on learning. One key factor influencing my decision was the high-quality conversations I had with IMD alumni and the exceptional level of support they offered. If I recall correctly, I had discussions with approximately 15 alumni from diverse industries and regions. These interactions reinforced the advantages of being part of a class where members bring substantial professional experience.
Furthermore, my reporting manager at Strategy&, who held the position of Partner and was also an IMD graduate, shared valuable insights with me regarding the value of the IMD MBA and its long-term benefits.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2023?
My previous experience in manufacturing, energy, and natural resources, along with my finance skills, enabled me to actively contribute to class discussions, particularly when the topics involved the convergence of industries with investment/finance. Additionally, I have taken on the role of leading the IMD Energy Club, one of the most active clubs on campus, and we were successfully able to attract influential industry speakers and facilitate job opportunities for club members. The rest of the year will now be dedicated to maintaining consistency and establishing a legacy for the next cohort, ensuring they don’t have to start from scratch in the following year, particularly in terms of career services, which can be challenging in a one-year program with limited time.
Furthermore, a standout memory from my time at IMD is winning two out of the 12 medals (a new record) earned by IMD at the MBAT tournament. The tournament, which is the largest MBA sports event in Europe, provided me with some of the most unforgettable moments during my IMD journey.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included in your application:
On the very first day of the program dinner, we were posed with the same question. It’s a story that I’ve had the pleasure of sharing with my cohort. I am an “accomplished train stopper” and once successfully convinced a station train manager to halt a national superfast train at an unscheduled stop. I did this so that I could board the train and be with my girlfriend at the time, now my wife, and complete the remaining journey together.
Post-MBA career interests:
Irrespective of the specific role I choose to pursue next, my overarching goal is to make a large-scale impact in the sustainability/energy transition space. I believe that no other field can provide me with the same level of motivation and the opportunity to leverage my experience to drive meaningful change. This impact could manifest in various ways, such as working in corporate positions within manufacturing or energy firms, serving as a private equity investor dedicated to developing next-generation assets, or even as a management consultant returning to implement innovative solutions with clients.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I have three essential pieces of advice for prospective MBA applicants. Firstly, applicants should identify why they want to do an MBA and why now. You’ve probably heard this question before, and believe me, you’ll hear it a lot more during the IMD admissions process. You spent 2–3 months researching your new phone before purchasing it. Your MBA will cost you nearly 140X times the price of your new phone, so you should dedicate the same level of effort to researching the school and its programs.
Secondly, it’s very crucial to engage in conversations with alumni of the college you are targeting. This will provide valuable insights about the school and how the MBA program has contributed to their personal and professional growth, both in the short and long term. These discussions can also shed light on the merits of one-year versus two-year MBA programs and offer perspective on the economic landscape in the upcoming 2-3 years. Furthermore, alumni often share invaluable tips on navigating the application process.
Lastly, if time permits, applicants should consider undertaking a pre-MBA internship or gaining experience in the industries they aspire to work in post-MBA. This practical exposure enables them to test their hypotheses about what they like versus what they like doing and assess their motivation for pursuing careers in these sectors. It can be particularly beneficial for those in one-year programs, as it aids in refining their focus during and after their MBA journey.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would aim to do my MBA a bit early, say 3 – 4 years earlier, and maintain a balanced perspective during the process to avoid becoming stressed or overwhelmed by feedback. While it’s crucial to consider and incorporate all the advice available, the key is to ultimately convey the stories that genuinely reflect your identity and your reasons for wanting to be a part of the program.
Additionally, I would have looked to explore more scholarship opportunities, which could have lowered the financial burden and allowed me to explore Switzerland much more.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could, and what helped you get through it?
If I had the option to bypass any aspect of the preparation process, I would certainly choose to skip the GMAT. Despite finding enjoyment in solving its puzzles, the GMAT proved to be a time-consuming endeavour that occupied the majority of my preparation period. While numerous valuable resources are available to simplify the process, what kept me going was a constant reminder of my objectives and the understanding that this exam was merely a stepping stone toward achieving them. To bolster my verbal skills, I relied on e-gmat, and I exclusively used official GMAT materials for my preparation, which proved to be immensely beneficial.
What is your initial impression of the IMD students, culture, and community?
The emphasis on self-reflection as a path to leadership, along with the culture of creative thinking and ideation within the community, is incredibly motivating. IMD places a strong emphasis on encouraging graduates to consider all facets of a situation, understand the consequences of their decisions, and simultaneously challenge what is and inspire what it could be. What truly left an impression on me was how global the community is and the diversity of thoughts. People here are sincerely open to sharing their wealth of knowledge, experiences, and distinctive viewpoints, fostering an environment that nurtures personal growth and collaborative efforts.
What is one thing you have learned about IMD that has surprised you?
I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive network of IMD alumni when I arrived on campus. It includes graduates from various programs, such as MBA, EMBA, and many open programs. What amazed me even more was the fact that full-time MBAs make up only 11% of the 8,000 individuals who visit the campus annually. Furthermore, IMD’s strong focus on sustainability and its commitment to continuously updating the curriculum in response to changes in both market and non-market domains impressed me. The IMD Alumni Lausanne club is notably active on campus, and we are regularly invited to attend key events and hear from guest speakers.
Lastly, I couldn’t help but notice the delightful, freshly brewed coffee available at the IMD barista and the indulgent Swiss chocolate ice creams served during the summer months—a personal favorite of mine.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
What makes me most anxious at IMD are the PDE sessions. At IMD, they assign a specialized Personality Development Executive, aka PDE coach, who is a trained psychologist, to each MBA participant, and this is an entirely new experience. The PDE coaches play a pivotal role in facilitating participants’ understanding of their behaviors and biases, with a specific emphasis on delving into the depths of our subconscious and unconscious emotions that influence our actions. In addition to the invaluable support from these PDE coaches, we also have the privilege of receiving guidance from leadership and career coaches who work closely alongside us to grasp our leadership style and help us shape our career aspirations.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The most exciting aspect of my experience was participating in flagship Discovery trips to San Francisco and Dubai. These journeys allowed us to explore a mix of global corporations and groundbreaking startups pushing the boundaries of innovation. It was my first visit to the US, and witnessing the sheer magnitude of innovation and embracing failure as a stepping stone to success was remarkable. On the other side of the world, in Dubai, the region’s growth across diverse industries in just a few decades, along with the Middle East’s enthusiastic adoption of artificial intelligence in new growth paradigms, provided valuable insights worth learning from.
