Poets & Quants recently selected 100 "MBAs To Watch" from the Class of 2017 and UCLA Anderson is proud to have some of our students included as a part of this prestigious list! Here is an excerpt of a profile on one of our esteemed alumni selected, Pratik Gupta!
Below is an excerpt of the Poets & Quants Q&A interview profile
PRATIK GUPTA - Poets & Quants MBA To Watch
BACKGROUND:
- Hometown: Kota, Rajasthan, India
- Undergraduate: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras); B.Tech in Civil Engineering, Minor: Business Management
- Pre-MBA Career: Flextronics and CapitalOne
- Summer Internship: Amazon - Pathways Operation Manager
- Post-MBA Career: Microsoft - Operations Program Manager
- Honors@Anderson:
- Dean's Scholar List (top 10% based on GPA)
- Student Investment Fund Fellowship
- Featured in Poets and Quants to represent UCLA Anderson’s incoming class of 2017
- Activities@Anderson:
- President - International Business Association
- Vice President of Education - Strategy and Operations Management Association
- Vice President of Events - South Asian Business Association
- Riordan MBA Fellows Program Mentor
- International Career Coach for Operations
- Assistant Coordinator for Business Analytics Program
INTERVIEW:
Q. Why did you choose this business school?
A. The decision to attend UCLA was a no-brainer. I wanted to be in a driven yet collaborative environment and the school’s culture really resonated with me. Going back to school is an investment and I wanted to ensure I’d have a meaningful experience, not a transactional one. The three core qualities – ‘Share Success’, ‘Drive Change’ and ‘Think Fearlessly’ are exemplified by students, day in and day out. I am challenged at Anderson to think beyond the bottom line and find solutions to benefit the greater good, something that is incredibly important to me. Last, being in the heart of entrepreneurial hub gave me access to upcoming technologies, revolutionary ideas and forward thinkers that evolved my way of observing new events.
Q. What did you enjoy most about business school?
A. It is one thing to say your program values diversity, but it is another to proclaim your program embraces it. My classmates never cease to amaze me and I feel so lucky to have had the privilege of working with such a diverse and impressive group of peers. The intimate size and dynamics of the Anderson community served as a platform for me to truly learn from my classmates and their experiences. I’ve enjoyed getting to know people from all over the globe and learning about new cultures. For instance, I traveled to Japan, led by five of my Japanese classmates. The opportunity to travel with them to their home country and experience a slice of their life was indeed a special experience.
Q. What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school?
A. MBA experience has been a transformational experience for me in terms of developing my ability to take risks. It was only possible because we were in an environment that rewards taking risks and trying new things. Moving away from corporate environment and accepting an internship in a shop-floor environment, pursuing entrepreneurial idea with a very motivated team, and the adrenaline rush while successfully executing full-day events have changed me completely as a human being and prepared me for real-life scenarios.
Q. What was the most surprising thing about business school?
A. Flexibility. I created my own path and everyone supported me along the way. When I arrived at school, I wanted to pursue a career in consulting. As I began recruiting and reviewing various job descriptions, I realized my true desire was to continue along a career in Operations, pursuing operational excellence in supply chain management and process improvement. It was seamless. I could do what sounded and felt right to me. I did not feel like I was checking off boxes or following a prescribed path.
Q. What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school?
A. My best advice to an applicant to my school is to explore your limits at UCLA Anderson. Put yourself in an uncomfortable position and let your personality take over. The learnings from failures are the best gift you can give yourself, and Anderson encourages smart failure. Whenever you are trying to do something, it is important to do your research and homework before you give it all.
Read more of Pratik's answers in his
Poets & Quants MBAs To Watch profile!
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