Henley Alumni Stories - stories from our community
Rajat Gupta, Henley Business School graduate based in India, shares with us his story and how sport has played an important part of his journey.
My time at Henley Business School, where I studied BA (Hons) Business and Management at the University of Reading from 2019 to 2023, remains one of the most formative chapters of my life. Henley gave me far more than academic knowledge as it gave me perspective, discipline, confidence and a more thoughtful way of looking at both business and life. It sharpened the way I analyse situations, approach decisions and understand the world around me. If I were to describe my Henley experience in one sentence, I would say that it gave me a vision I did not even know I was capable of developing.
Among all the subjects I studied, Accountancy was my favourite. What made it so impactful was not only the subject itself, but the way it was taught. At Henley, the professors encouraged us to think beyond theory and understand the logic, structure and meaning behind every number and decision. That changed my understanding of what education truly is. It taught me that studying is not simply about learning concepts, but about developing judgment, clarity and the ability to think deeply. Even today, the practical knowledge I gained at Henley helps me make business decisions with greater maturity and confidence.
Before joining the University of Reading, I knew I would return to India after completing my studies and take forward my family business as the second generation of the company. I arrived with the mindset of an aspiring entrepreneur and I left with the mindset of a more refined, globally exposed and strategically grounded business leader. Henley gave me the perspective and confidence to step into responsibility much earlier in life than I otherwise might have. Since returning, I have spent over two years in the business, and in that time we have grown more than fourfold. Today, we are looking ahead with even greater ambition, including the possibility of moving towards an IPO within the next two years.
Henley also shaped me beyond the classroom. Sport has played a very important role in shaping who I am. Before entering the world of endurance sport, I was a National Ranked table tennis player in India and over time that competitive mindset evolved into a passion for long-distance triathlon. During my university years, I balanced academics with sport, leadership responsibilities, deadlines, and personal challenges. I had the privilege of serving as both Captain and President of the University’s Table Tennis Club - the only Indian to hold both the posts in the history of the University, while also being involved with the Athletics and Cycling clubs. That journey taught me how to perform under pressure, manage competing priorities, and remain disciplined.
My Ironman journey has been built on discipline, resilience and the constant desire to test my limits. I went on to achieve India Rank 1 in my age-group and my journey has included competing in and completing major international races such as Ironman Wales 2022, where I was the only Indian finisher in the history of the race. Balancing sport alongside business has taught me a lot about consistency, patience, mental strength and performing under pressure and these are the lessons that continue to influence me every day.
Professionally, I am part of Gupta Hospitality Services Pvt. Ltd., a family-led food and hospitality business that has been serving the industry for the last 3 decades. We operate at scale across industrial and corporate food services and every single day we serve more than 50,000+ of meals through our central production systems, site operations and catering infrastructure. My role in the business spans Business development, strategy, client servicing, process improvement and growth initiatives, while also being closely involved in understanding operations on the ground. This gives me a 360-degree view of the business - from client expectations and tendering to execution, quality and long-term relationship building. One of the biggest ways Henley helped me was by giving me a better understanding of how multinational companies function, how large organisations make decisions and what professionalism, processes, structure and communication truly mean in that environment. My time at Henley Business School, studying alongside classmates from diverse cultural backgrounds, helped me better understand how different nationalities think and work. That exposure has been extremely valuable in helping us align with global client expectations and deliver higher levels of customer satisfaction.
Looking back, I remain deeply thankful to the University, my professors, and my classmates for shaping the person and professional I have become.
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