Meet the MBA Class of 2026: Ansh Palash Gupta, Cornell University (Johnson) by: Jeff Schmitt on December 05, 2024 | 77 Views December 5, 2024 Copy Link Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit Ansh Palash Gupta Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business “A Purdue engineer, jack-of-all-trades and MBA from Cornell Johnson.” Hometown: New Delhi, Delhi, India Fun Fact About Yourself: I have participated in and won multiple tennis leagues back in college, as well as when I moved to Austin and Minneapolis for work. Tennis is such a passion of mine that once in high school, I convinced my father, an orthopedic surgeon, to let me participate in a state tournament with a broken left arm. Leading my team in that tournament, we went on to win it. Undergraduate School and Major: Purdue University, industrial engineering Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Larsen & Toubro, Business Development Executive Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Cornell’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? For me, the opportunity for leadership development was a crucial consideration when evaluating business schools. Entering Johnson, I will be on the younger side compared to the typical student demographic. Although I have had the privilege of leading significant projects before my MBA — such as creating a data analytics dashboard that helped my Fortune 500 client achieve savings of over $60 million — I have not had many formal opportunities to develop my leadership skills in managing people as much as I would have liked. Cornell’s MBA program is ideal for those looking to enhance their leadership capabilities. For instance, the Johnson Leadership Fellows program offers an experiential leadership opportunity where second-year students mentor first-year student teams, helping them navigate their journeys and improve team effectiveness. As a Johnson Leadership Fellow, I have the chance to develop essential industry skills such as managing challenging conversations and providing effective mentorship — both crucial for fostering a healthy and thriving team or organization. What excites you the most about living in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region? The No. 1 thing that excites me about living in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region is venturing into the serene natural landscapes that envelop the campus — waterfalls, gorges, Cayuga Lake and many more. Ithaca is the perfect place to pursue your MBA, as it offers a peaceful environment to study as well as enjoy with friends. Imagine revising your notes at Cayuga Lake with the backdrop of a stunning sunset or spending a relaxed evening in one of the finest wineries in Ithaca and the surrounding areas. What course, club or activity excites you the most at Cornell? My North Star goal is to counteract the negative effects of polluting manufacturing exports by mobilizing at least $100 million in net carbon assets to transform the Fortune 500 sector into a leading force for global decarbonization. Initially, I aimed to achieve this goal through a consulting lens. However, after speaking with over 20 Cornell Johnson second-year students and alumni, I discovered that pursuing a career in investment banking would be a more effective path to reach my North Star, based on my natural interests. In this context, the Old Ezra Finance Club at Cornell particularly excites me. Conversations with members of the Old Ezra have shown me how dealmaking and executing financial transactions can advance my goal of achieving a substantial impact on the decarbonization efforts in the industrial sector. In the Old Ezra Club, I’ll also get to learn the intricacies of finance, investment banking and Wall Street. Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Johnson was the right program for you? Why? The moment I realized that Johnson was the right program was when I discovered the wide range of immersion opportunities it offers. Johnson provides numerous immersions for students aiming to enter diverse fields after their MBA, including investment banking, management consulting, sustainability, strategic operations, and digital technology (among others). Students also have the option to create a customized immersion that aligns with their post-MBA objectives. One of the most appealing aspects of these immersions is that they take place during the spring semester of your first year, which means they precede your summer internship. This structure ensures that every student is comprehensively prepared for their summer internship experience. Johnson’s MBA program goes beyond just academics and coursework; it is designed to equip students with the practical experiences necessary to excel in their future careers. Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: During my time as a manufacturing engineer, I co-led the creation of a real-time manufacturing process monitoring system that enabled my Fortune 500 client to produce an additional 5 million units, boosting their revenue by approximately $350 million. I consider this my greatest achievement not just because of the financial gains for my client, but also because the technological expertise required for the project was entirely new to me. I took on the challenge of learning PLC coding and SQL from the ground up during the initial weeks, as the client’s original vendor had been unable to deliver. Ultimately, I completed the project on schedule and scaled it across over 10 manufacturing production lines. This experience taught me a valuable lesson: While things may seem daunting when you first encounter them, persistent effort and a willingness to learn can turn those challenges into manageable tasks. Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? Looking ahead two years, my MBA experience will have been successful when I have had a significant impact on Cornell Johnson’s sustainability journey, built meaningful relationships with my colleagues at Johnson, and started my career post-MBA in investment banking focused on industrials or technology. What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Cornell’s MBA program? Have a clear vision of your North Star goal and how you plan to achieve it. While the path to achieving this goal might evolve, having a well-defined North Star will enable Johnson’s students, alumni and faculty to offer you the right guidance and recommendations to support your career development and help you become the best version of yourself. DON’T MISS: MEET CORNELL JOHNSON’S MBA CLASS OF 2026