Rajani Priya Ivatury Gupta has 16+ years of B2B and B2C marketing experience ranging from new market penetration, client engagement activities, event management, paid promotions, digital media marketing, planning, and content creation. She currently heads a marketing function for Digital Operations and Platform at Wipro Technologies. She has also worked in senior marketing and communication roles with leading Business Process services and Technology companies such as Conduent, Newgen Technologies, and Reed Elsevier.
She completed her Post-graduate Diploma in Forestry Management from the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal in 2001. She is a volunteer with Art of Living, a not-for-profit organization, that promotes powerful yoga and breathing techniques for a stress-free and violence-free society. She is an avid runner, a devout yoga practitioner, and loves reading books! During her leisure, she can be seen trekking in the Himalayas with her husband who was her senior at IIFM, and two daughters!
Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyagupta78
Facebook: Rajani Priya Ivatury Gupta(the name is quite unique and I can be easily found)
Instagram:soulyogawithpriya
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM to this role?
A. It has been a beautiful journey that started with academic learning and now delivering and contributing professionally and personally.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. 2001: Second rank holder (Silver medallist) at IIFM, Bhopal.
2009: Bagging a Corp Comm job after a stint of 8 years.
The rest is history with me growing as a marketing professional.
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A. I am happy that I am part of that business that is responsible for the end message that benefits the clients. Without me and my team- many best bits in a business would remain a ‘best-kept secret’.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. Yes indeed. All the field trips and being close to nature gave me a view of how every part of India lives. It’s important to identify what challenges people face and how businesses and organizations can help.
Q. Who (or what) are the biggest influences or drivers in your careers. What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles?
A. I have a list of people who inspired me and helped me grow. I admire Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji who founded a spiritual organization with a beautiful mission and runs an institution that is mostly managed by volunteers who are not paid salaries but are passionate about their work. Then strong leaders such as Indra Nooyi, President Abul Kalam– and I had a bunch of very good people with whom I worked. They taught me how to handle large teams, and how to deliver work.
Advice: Do what you are passionate about- that way with less effort you will get more results. And if you are yet to find out what drives you, keep trying till you know what works for you.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. We had a happy bunch of people in my batch. I remember laughing at the jokes and having a good time, trekking in the hills, moving about the forests, and so on. The well-stocked library, the air-conditioned IT room (we didn’t have much of ACs back then), and my giggling roommates. And yes I met my husband Nitin there- he was in the senior batch at IIFM.
Q. As an alumnus, what is your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get the best out of the 2 years there?
A. Read a lot and keep learning, as your motto. Also, it is good to identify what you want to focus on. But at the same time- relax- it’s okay to be confused and be in dilemma. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be passionate about what you are doing and give your 100% to it. When you do that you worry less.
Q. What is your typical day at the office?
A. I head a Marketing function for a leading IT Services company. My work starts with looking up at the week’s calendar and aligning my team to give their best. I love to prioritize my work and ensure that I stick to commitments and am responsive. For me communicating and responding is key to professional success.
Q. And how about weekends, Hobbies, Family, and anything else you want to add?
A. I am a runner and do an hour of yoga and meditation. These help me stay happy and focused- come what may!
I am a volunteer with Art of Living. My weekends are spent on planning for upcoming Meditation courses where I facilitate people to learn a powerful breathing technique from Art of Living called Sudarshan Kriya. Studies have shown that it helps in improving concentration, deep healing, calming, detoxing, and de-stressing of the mind and body and also helps regulate cholesterol levels, hypertension, diabetes management, and a zillion diseases such as insomnia and so on. If you are fit today, you will only enable it further with the regular practice of Sudarshan Kriya.
I love conducting these sessions and also hosting meditation and yoga camps. You should all check out Sudarshan Kriya from www.artofliving.org.
I have 20 years and a 15-year-old-daughter and a spouse who is very occupied with his professional, social, and personal commitments.
I love reading and sometimes read three books at a time.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, and authors.
A. I love reading spiritual books by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. In fiction- I love reading mystery books- Agatha Christe (Poirot being my favourite character), English classics, Alistair Mclean thrillers.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Amit Vastyayan– my batchmate- He is a Partner at EY.
Nitin Gupta– my husband- He is SVP with Olam Agri India (erstwhile Olam International).