NEW DELHI: Radhika Gupta, the CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, shared a deeply personal and emotional account of her life during an interview with Rohan Dua, Executive Editor of The New Indian. Reflecting on a challenging period at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), Gupta opened up about her experiences with rejection, the intense mental strain of on-campus placements, and how these pressures ultimately led to a suicide attempt in 2004.
Gupta revealed that her story gained widespread attention after a talk she delivered in 2018, where she spoke about being rejected by seven companies during the placement process. “Even if you are a good student, you are constantly rejected. Literally, since 2018, since I have done that talk, everybody asks me about this question,” she said.
Check out the full interview:
She described the mental toll of the placement process, calling it a nightmare for students. “This whole process of finding a job on campus is very difficult mentally for a student,” she remarked, adding that the financial burden of education and societal expectations only amplify the pressure. “Studies are expensive. Nowadays, a lot of people take loans. And then you do it with the hope that when you leave, the whole world will ask you where you got the job.”
ALSO READ: Radhika Gupta talks about IPOs in India; an interview with Rohan Dua
Gupta also touched on the cultural pressures in India, where comparisons with peers and media reports about high-paying placements add to the stress. “We live in India where we compare children with Sharmaji’s sons, how much he got, and your media reports that he got a placement of 1 crore or whatever. So, there is so much pressure,” she explained.
Recalling the darkest moment of her life, Gupta shared that her suicide attempt took place in her college campus’s residential building. “This was 2004. Almost 20 years back. I was 20,” she said. It was her now husband who intervened and saved her life. “He called the campus police. He did all this. He said you have to stop this. He called my parents,” she recounted.
ALSO READ: Radhika Gupta on SIP, wealth mantra for Indians; interview with Rohan Dua
Following this challenging period, Gupta’s life took a significant upturn as she landed a job at McKinsey, setting her career on a successful trajectory. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed deep gratitude for her husband’s support during that time and admitted it was stupid of her not to talk to a lot of other people.
She also recognized the difficulties faced by many students during placement seasons. “In every campus, there are 10, 20, 30, 40 percent of people who are struggling with placements. Look at their psych. What they are going through,” she remarked.
Gupta’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the need for support systems during challenging times. Her resilience and eventual success serve as an inspiration to many.
