Minit Gupta ’08 began his education in computer science at I.I.T. Kanpur, moving to the Bay Area shortly after graduation, where he then pursued an MBA at Kellogg to round out his business knowledge.
At Kellogg, he developed universal skills in frameworks, strategy development, management and marketing, all of which helped him develop a holistic understanding of the business world. With these cross-sectional skills, Gupta was able to move into the investment banking sphere where he successfully spent the next nine years of his career.
“When I walked into the school, I had never studied a cash flow or a balance sheet, and I got very interested in investment banking right away,” he said. “It was one of those situations where it opened a venue for me that I was not familiar with.”
After completing his first year at Kellogg, Gupta participated in a summer internship with Morgan Stanley in New York. He joined the company full time upon graduation and co-managed North American Business Services with a focus on capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. In his time at Morgan Stanley, he led the on-campus recruiting efforts for Kellogg graduates and visited the campus annually.
It was more important for both me and my wife to contribute to KLC this year because this is a year that others might pull back if their jobs or businesses were impacted.
In 2017, Gupta pivoted into the hospitality industry by joining Unidine, a boutique provider of food and dining services to senior living, healthcare, behavioral health and corporate facilities. Gupta now holds the position of chief financial officer and ensures financial stability and resiliency for the organization as it weathers the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was more important for both me and my wife to contribute to KLC this year because this is a year that others might pull back if their jobs or businesses were impacted,” he said. “At Unidine, we have had our fair share of challenges given the majority of our business is in senior living, but the core business remained intact through the pandemic, so it was much more important to contribute this year than other years.
Gupta says giving back to Kellogg comes down to three main reasons: an appreciation for skills he's developed, the priceless connections and friendships he made and the immense pride in his association with the school. “From making weekend and vacation plans with close friends to professional help and advice, Kellogg connections are everywhere,” he said. “Twelve years later, I’m still in touch with somebody from Kellogg on a regular basis.” Gupta currently lives in Newton, Mass., with his wife, Eliza, who was a Kellogg JV, and his two girls.