Radhika Gupta – BabyChakra Change Makers 2022

Managing Director & CEO, Edelweiss

She is the only woman in the topmost position in the mutual funds industry in India and is changing its landscape.

“Tough criticism from the right people is the friend request you should not ignore.”

Radhika Gupta, the MD & CEO, Edelweiss AMC, Vice Chairperson, AMFI, Young Global Leader, WEF and author of Limitless, The Power of Unlocking Your True Potential, was rejected by seven consulting firms during her University of Pennsylvania campus placements. She even tried ending her life when she was 22. Today at 39, she is the only woman in the topmost position in the mutual funds industry in India.

Born in Pakistan, Radhika lived in New York, Delhi and Nigeria, as her father was a diplomat before she finally moved back to India. A graduate of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology from the University of Pennsylvania. She started as business head of multi-strategy funds, at Edelweiss Global Asset Management, where she set the strategic direction for the team’s investment, distribution and platform.

She has braved multiple rejections, criticism and hardships but she rose above it all. Her optimistic outlook towards life and work is what can be imbibed by all. In an interview with Moneycontrol.com she says, “If the rejection was personal, it would have been permanent. A ‘no’ only means that you’re not quite there but are on your way.” She also adds, “Tough criticism from the right people is the friend request you should not ignore.”

Radhika has put all her life learnings in her book, Limitless, The Power of Unlocking Your True Potential and as the name implies, it is about challenging your limits. Since she lacked a mentor when she was starting her career, she intends to help all youngsters who are starting their careers with some valuable lessons with this book that was written to her 21-year-old self.

She believes in striving for work-life integration instead of learning to balance it and make it perfect. Radhika who became a mum in June 2022, calls her newborn son and work as her ‘twins’ because she loves both equally. She says that her biggest achievement has been embracing her true self.