Radhika Gupta has turned Life’s drawdowns into breakouts, with her life portfolio one that embodies grit, resilience, and a steely resolve that has seen her rise above
In the high-stakes world of asset management, where perfection is often demanded and weakness rarely acknowledged, Radhika Gupta stands apart. As MD & CEO of Edelweiss Asset Management Limited, she’s not just India’s only female head of a major asset manager – she’s a leader who has transformed her perceived limitations into her greatest strengths.
Born with a tilted neck due to an injury during birth, Gupta grew up facing constant reminders of her difference. As the daughter of an Indian Foreign Service officer, she navigated multiple international moves, including time at an American school in Nigeria where fitting in proved challenging. Rather than hiding these experiences, she has embraced them, even titling one of her most viewed talks “The Girl With a Broken Neck” – a presentation that has resonated with over 520,000 viewers.
Overcoming Adversity
But Gupta’s journey to the top of India’s financial sector wasn’t smooth. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with dual degrees in economics from Wharton and computer science from the Moore School, she faced a crushing series of seven consecutive job rejections.
The experience drove her to contemplate suicide – a dark moment she now speaks about openly to destigmatize mental health struggles in the corporate world. It was the support of a friend and professional help that pulled her through, teaching her valuable lessons about resilience and the importance of vulnerability in leadership.
Building Professional Foundations
Her career finally launched at McKinsey & Company, where she developed the analytical rigor and strategic thinking that would later define her leadership style. Subsequent roles at AQR Capital Management helped her master innovative investment strategies, building the foundation for her future disruption of India’s asset management industry.
Breaking New Ground
The pivotal moment in Gupta’s career came in 2009 when she co-founded Forefront Capital Management in Mumbai. This bold move established India’s first domestic hedge fund, showcasing her appetite for innovation and ability to spot market gaps. When Edelweiss Financial Services acquired Forefront in 2014, it marked the beginning of her transformative impact on India’s financial landscape.
Leadership and Innovation at Edelweiss
As CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund since 2017, Gupta’s strategic vision has produced remarkable results. Under her leadership, assets under management skyrocketed from ₹6,700 crore to close to ₹1,50,000 crore by January 2025. But numbers present only facet of the whole picture. Perhaps more telling was her determination and commitment to democratizing investment opportunities for ordinary Indians.
More was to come by way of a significant innovation came in 2019 with the launch of the Bharat Bond ETF, India’s first corporate bond ETF. This initiative exemplified Gupta’s philosophy of making sophisticated financial products accessible to retail investors.
Leadership Philosophy and Corporate Culture
Gupta’s leadership style combines strategic acumen with emotional intelligence. She has built a corporate culture that emphasizes risk awareness and governance while encouraging innovation. Her approach to product development is distinctly customer-centric, focused on creating solutions that address real investor needs rather than chasing market trends.
Going Beyond the Boardroom
Beyond her corporate role, Gupta has emerged as a powerful voice for financial literacy and mental health awareness. Her book “Limitless” offers insights into personal growth through self-investment, while her presence on platforms like Shark Tank India allows her to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs. Her investments in startups like Deeva, Dil Foods and Tohands demonstrate her commitment to fostering innovation in India’s business ecosystem.
Industry recognition has followed, with accolades including Economic Times’ 40 Under 40 Business Leaders, World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader 2020, and consistent placement on Fortune India’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business list. However, it’s her impact on corporate culture that may be her most lasting legacy. By openly discussing her challenges – from her physical condition to her mental health struggles – she’s helping reshape what leadership looks like in modern India.
Championing Social Mobility
Gupta’s story resonates particularly strongly with India’s rising middle class. Coming from a service-class family herself, she understands the transformative power of education and financial independence. Her message consistently emphasizes how proper financial planning and investment can break the middle-class cycle, making her not just a business leader but a catalyst for social mobility.
Looking ahead, Gupta continues to push boundaries in asset management while advocating for greater diversity in financial services. Her success has proven that authenticity and vulnerability can be powerful leadership assets, challenging traditional notions of corporate strength. As she guides Edelweiss Asset Management Limited through India’s evolving financial landscape, her influence extends far beyond asset management. Indeed, her work goes so far as to show a new generation of leaders how to transform their limitations into launching pads for success.
In an industry often criticized for its opacity and complexity, Radhika Gupta stands as a testament to the power of accessible leadership and clear communication. Her journey from “the girl with the broken neck” to one of India’s most influential financial leaders demonstrates that the most impactful business stories are, at their core, deeply human ones that transcend numbers.
Disclaimer – Radhika Gupta, is the MD & CEO at Edelweiss Asset Management Limited (EAML) and the views expressed above are her own.
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