Gautam Chhugani
Class of 2006
Senior Associate

Matrix India

Previous occupation: Investment banking, Management consulting
Present occupation: Private equity investment professional
Sector: Cross-sectoral experience – infrastructure, financial services, e-commerce, manufacturing
Work experience: A total of nine years work experience pre and post ISB.
Interests – professional/personal: Travelling, weekend getaways, good music


Tell us about yourself – your profile, recap your professional life after ISB including your career progression
I have switched careers multiple times in my professional life – I call it finding my true calling! I am a Chartered Accountant by training, and began my career as an auditor with KPMG. I then decided to move away from accounting and went into investment banking with JPMorgan for a while before joining ISB.

At campus, I placed with with McKinsey – something I had never planned for. In my four years at McKinsey, I climbed the hierarchy from junior associate to engagement manager. 

For all of us at McKinsey, Private Equity Investing is a veryattractive option. So after four years at McKinsey, I joined Matrix Partners as an investment professional. I have led a couple of deals since joining. It has been a year now and I am thoroughly enjoying myself. This seems like a career to stay!

Key take-away from the ISB.
I think ISB is a microcosm to the real world. It teaches you to set aspirations and to believe that your aspirations are never too high. The School also inculcates in us a sense of working systematically towards our goals and lastly, the spirit of having fun along the way.

How do you think the ISB has contributed to your career growth?

If you set for yourself new career benchmarks or aspirations, the School helps to shape you to achieve that. In business terms, I can say that ISB does a great job of “rebranding” us. We simply need to focus on performance without worrying about opportunities.

What is your vision for the School?
A School that has a body of illustrious alumni contributing to it. 15 years down the line, I would like to see ISB as an institution with respected alumni across the globe and an illustrious alumni endowment fund, which is the largest in emerging markets. An institution of influence and authority in the emerging markets context.

What are the strengths that the School can leverage upon and areas it can improve?I think the School’s biggest strength is diversity of talent. In fact, we realise this a lot more after we graduate. In terms of improvements, it is important for ISB to provide all the means for alumni to build strong professional relationships. I also think that aggressive management of the media to protect and promote the ISB brand is critical.

How do you think alums can associate with the School or alum’s role in building the School?
Alums can contribute in multiple ways. If we open up our personal and professional circle, i.e. ecosystem, for the benefit of the institution, alumni body and students, we would have contributed very significantly towards the School.

What is the area you can contribute in?
I can contribute by supporting budding ISB entrepreneurs given my experience with funding businesses, and providing career advice to students looking at careers similar to mine.