We recently connected with Sarthak Gupta, co-chair of the Private Equity (PE) Group, to share insights on his experience in the PE Group, along with what resources and opportunities are available to students who decide to join the PE Group during their time at Chicago Booth. Read on to find out more:
Sarthak Gupta is currently embarking on his second year in our Evening MBA Program. Sarthak grew up in India and moved to the United States in 2016 to pursue a Master’s in Urban Planning at the University of Texas at Austin. During his time in Austin, Sarthak worked at several firms in the architecture, civil engineering, and real estate development space. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, he always had an affinity for the business world, which ultimately led Sarthak to Chicago Booth.
As an engineer, I wanted a quantitative and data-driven approach to my MBA, which is exactly what makes Chicago Booth shine. Though I wanted to get my MBA, I did not want to stop gaining work experience in the process. After looking into Booth’s Part-Time MBA Program, I decided to apply to hone in on my quant skills while also continuing to work in real estate.
I’d describe my Booth experience thus far as immersive. There are so many opportunities to learn about a breadth of topics in and outside of the classroom at Booth which I appreciate.
The Private Equity Group aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding Booth students have in regards to the private equity industry. The group works to do so by holding a variety of social and professional events throughout the year in hopes of providing students with exposure to the limitless opportunities available in the realm of private equity.
The Private Equity Group hosts various workshops, lunch & learns, and socials throughout the year. In order to connect students with more industry professionals during the MBA experience, we recently started partnering with firms to organize lunch & learns and networking socials.
The group organized an “Introduction to Private Equity” event with Professor Chris McGowan during the Spring Quarter last year. Typically, our events had a maximum of 35-40 attendees, but this event changed everything. In a room set up with seats for 65, we had 70+ people show up, and I was beyond ecstatic! The accomplishment was energizing, and since then we have organized a lot more very successful events.
I knew there was a lot of room for me to grow in the private equity space. As a career switcher, I wanted to not only learn about private equity but also figure out a path for those with similar backgrounds aspiring to make the transition. Joining the PE Group was the first step towards me learning more about the industry and connecting with my peers who share similar career interests.
We believe in the strength and power of numbers! The more members we have, the better off each one of us is. The diverse backgrounds of members is what makes the Private Equity Group thrive. With a great deal of our events involving some form of a networking component, we encourage our members to meet new people and share their story with one another. We believe doing so allows us all to share and receive insights about our different backgrounds that we can then connect back to our community and career interests. With that in mind, I always encourage our members to engage as much as possible to gain the maximum value.
I have been able to learn a lot more about the industry, and the group has given me the platform to connect with individuals not only aspiring to break in but those who are veterans in the industry. The learning is incredible. Many have embodied the pay-it-forward culture and helped map the step-by-step path to a successful career in private equity, which I truly appreciate.
Alongside the Private Equity Group, students can also immerse themselves in all things private equity by getting involved with the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. One popular event that the Polsky Center hosts in conjunction with the Private Equity Group is the annual Private Equity Conference. This conference is geared towards providing attendees with a space to build upon their knowledge of private equity from the perspectives of industry and academia.
Through the Polsky Center, students also have the opportunity to participate in the Private Equity Case Challenge (PECC). This challenge serves as an internal competition at Booth that mirrors the international Oxford Global Private Equity Challenge, and the winner of PECC goes on to represent Chicago Booth at the global challenge.
Lastly, we would like to point out the Svider Private Equity Program through the Polsky Center. This program is a great resource for individuals who are interested in private equity, for it serves as another starting point. Some of the offerings within the program include, investment thesis training, networking opportunities, and a firsthand look at private equity through an internship and academic course.
If you are considering pursuing private equity at Chicago Booth, we encourage you to continue learning more about the resources Chicago Booth has to offer through the Polsky Center and Private Equity Group.
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