He is an actuarial professional and, at present, head the group pricing business for Aviva. While he has been with the company for almost two years, but overall he has been working in the actuarial field for almost 13 to 14 years now. Meet Pulkit Gupta, (batch 2001) of Apeejay School, Noida. In an impromptu interview, he shares the values that shaped his career, among other things.
Looking back at your school years, what are some of the things that shaped you?
I would give the school a great deal of credit, not just in terms of business sense or leadership acumen, but in shaping me as a person overall. I spent all my formative years there, and the basic qualities that were developed through my experiences and through my teachers have been among the biggest contributing factors.
Fond memory from the school.
In Class IX I was the Vice-prefect for Radhakrishnan House. That gave me an opportunity to meet late Prime Minister IK Gujral. The experiences gave me an early sense of how leadership works and played a very important role in shaping who I am today.
Could you explain what the actuarial field is all about?
In simple terms, actuaries design the insurance schemes that insurance companies offer. We handle the financial calculations behind insurance products. This includes assessing the risk in a product, deciding what premium should be charged, determining the level of solvency required so that the company does not go bankrupt in case of adverse claims, and calculating the reserves the company should maintain. In that sense, actuaries are the backbone of an insurance company.
How did you develop your analytical thinking and people skills over the years?
I developed a strong inclination towards mathematics early in school, influenced by my mother, a Math teacher in school, in particular, and shaped my interest deeply. That foundation carried forward into my academic choices, leading me to pursue Mathematics (H) at Delhi University. It also strengthened my analytical thinking, which later became essential in my actuarial career.
What were some of the key factors that helped you become the professional you are today?
In actuarial science, there are 15 exams in total, and I have already completed 11 of them. That is a basic prerequisite because you need that technical knowledge and skill set. Beyond that, actual work experience is extremely important. One of the most important qualities in career growth is adaptability. You need to be able to identify the right opportunities, change jobs at the right time, crack interviews, and understand what a new role expects from you. Of course, my skill set and analytical background helped, but those are prerequisites.
How important is it to make the right career choices and strategies in order to grow?
What I observed from my own school years was that every generation has its own trend. At one point, computers were the big thing. Today, AI and robotics are probably among the most sought-after skills in the market. Many students simply follow the rat race. They choose a career because it seems to be in demand or because it appears to promise a better salary or stronger future. Demand alone should not decide your path. You also need to understand your own interest.