Arushi Gupta

Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School

“I am a storyteller with a deep compassion for people and their stories.”

Hometown: New Delhi, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: Sometimes, for fun, I gave professional voiceovers and sang for ads and shows at Disney, Marvel, and National Geographic.

Undergraduate School and Major: Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering, Shiv Nadar University

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Producer at The Walt Disney Company

What has been your favorite part of St. Louis so far? What makes St. Louis such a great place to earn an MBA? Having lived in the most bustling metropolitans of India, I sought a college town that offered peace and quiet to focus on my education and spend time with my future cohort. St. Louis offers this and so much more. P.S. It’s beautiful during autumn.

You completed your global immersion earlier this year. What was the best part of the immersion experience for you? What was the biggest takeaway you gained? I absolutely loved traveling with my class. By far, this has been one of the best experiences of my life. We not only understood each other’s perspectives better during the program but also learned about different cultures, people and places. We went together as a class but came back as a family.

Aside from your immersion and classmates, what was the key part of Washington Olin’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? There are two things that matter most to me—a sense of belonging and community. When I spoke to Olin’s students and admissions team, I felt an instant connection. They were kind, super helpful, warm and welcoming. I just knew I had to apply, and I am glad I did!

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Washington Olin? At the start of the program, all the core teams participated in a treasure hunt competition throughout Washington University and St. Louis. For an international student like me who was new to the U.S., it was a one-of-a-kind, super fun experience. The hints took us to different parts of the campus and even the penguins at the Zoo!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: When I was 23, I spearheaded the creative launch of India’s first teen channel—Disney International HD. As an engineer and the youngest employee in the entire company, I was hesitant to take on the task, but my team believed in me, urging me to trust my gut. Together, we launched the television channel in just one year, making it the #1 channel in 2+ genres!

Describe your biggest achievement in the MBA program so far: During the global immersion, my core team and I worked on creating a business plan to help a local St. Louis restaurant enter the Paris market. We were all new to the city and did not speak the language. Yet, we went on the ground to find the perfect location for the restaurant based on our secondary research, surveys, and real-time analysis of foot traffic. Further, I led a focus group of local Parisians to understand their perspectives on location, menu and branding to what Parisians look for in culinary experiences. It was daunting, exciting, and absolutely amazing.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? Our professor shared a TED Talk in one of our classes that helped me communicate better.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into WashU Olin’s MBA program? Be true to your own story. Everyone in my class comes from diverse backgrounds and has varied expertise. So, if you struggled at something, dreamed of anything or even love everything, tell us how those uniquely fit into your narrative and journey.