Mr. Manoj Gupta ,
IBS Ahmedabad (’03).

Branch Head

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund

Manoj came to IBS immediately after completing his B.Com, leaving behind his close knit family of two younger siblings and his parents. While now he is out there to make his place in the world outside, his younger sister is pursuing her Post Graduation while his younger brother is a doctor in the making. When asked about his strategies to maintain the perfect balance between his hectic professional life and family, Manoj very smartly quipped that since he is still unmarried he is yet to feel the heat!

We see!
Hats off to your mom then who has been a perfect homemaker to her businessman husband and her children!!! It was really very heart warming to see that our guy clearly idolizes his parents. “They have been my source of inspiration. Their confidence and conviction in me has always made me do the right things. “Give your 100% to what you do, have conviction in what you are doing and be honest towards your work, don’t bother about end result—it will fall in place”, this is their teaching to me.”
Going back to his student days, Manoj recalls that when he joined IBS, he was “very immature, without vision and without clarity of thoughts”. Like most freshers, he never understood the actual world but he candidly confesses that his alma mater helped him change all that! And he really cherishes the few friends that he had made during his period at IBS. They have remained friends for life. He is well connected with them through mails, phone calls and regular visits at the Events organized by the IBSAF.

However, after completing his MBA, Manoj joined ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Unlike many, Manoj stayed on with the organization and today he is based in Pune as Branch Head at the Retail Sales & Distribution section. Sometimes in future, says Manoj, “ I would take my deep interest in investment management forward and be a prudent fund manager.”

When quizzed about how he handles unavoidable high pressure situations in his work life, this is what he has to say: "Keep yourself calm and cool. Never react to the situation. Put yourself in others shoe and look at the things from his/her perspective. Listen to everyone carefully and talk when it make sense.” He quite believes in this as his lesson for life also reflects this philosophy. He says, “You have to strive for success; it will never be a cakewalk. You have to put your 100% with right attitude in right direction.
Being from the finance sector himself, Manoj is quite hopeful about the growth of both finance and IT & ITES. Though he is not an industry expert, he thinks that there have been a lot of changes in the last ten years and still there are more changes to come. The above mentioned fields are going to be the backbone of Indian growth that has just begun. According to Manoj, Services Industry, which is contributing approximately 60% to the GDP, is also going to be another partner in the success story of Indian growth. Manoj has chosen to stick to Mutual Funds as he thinks that there are ample opportunities, growth and dynamism attached to this field.

Manoj’s advice to young starters:

1. Give your 100% to what you are doing;
2. be focused and positive towards your approach,
3. be adaptable,
4. listen to everyone,
5. be honest towards your work & people.
6. Understand your core competencies and
7. Prioritize regularly.
8. Don’t get dejected with short-term failure or NO SUCCESS,
9. Concentrate only on your basics and do them RIGHT, things will fall in place.