Back Utkarsh Amitabh MBA'13D: Democratizing mentorship and paying it forward Utkarsh Amitabh MBA'13D sat in-front of the INSEAD wall Share After a serious accident disrupted the final stages of Utkarsh Amitabh MBA’13D’s studies, he found himself with some time to recalibrate his career aspirations. After joining Microsoft's strategy team where he worked on scaling public infrastructure projects, representing the company at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos and building India’s first smart village, he launched his passion project: a mentorship platform called Network Capital. Buoyed by early initial success, Utkarsh made a bold decision. "By September 2020, I had made up my mind that even though I loved Microsoft I was going to quit my job and pursue Network Capital full time," he shares, reflecting on the pivotal moment that marked the beginning of his life as an entrepreneur. His decision paid off, with Network Capital growing substantially in the ensuing years, securing funding from Facebook, and attracting the attention of a Blockchain Unicorn that acquired a stake in the company. His impact also extends far beyond the realm of mentorship. Notably, he has authored two acclaimed books[i], contributed to the Harvard Business Review, and played an integral role as a Global Shaper within the World Economic Forum. "INSEAD helped me realize that we don’t need to build walls and firewalls. Instead, we should focus on building bridges.” Utkarsh recognises that he was fundamentally shaped by the diverse perspectives, global outlook and emphasis on business as a force for good at INSEAD, and that this unique approach to business education has left an indelible imprint on his worldview. "The school helped me formulate a thesis for the world that people from different beliefs and convictions could build a new normal focused on shared ambitions. INSEAD helped me realize that we don’t need to build walls and firewalls. Instead, we should focus on building bridges.” The debt of gratitude he feels is reflected in his dedicated volunteerism and support as a donor. By volunteering, he feels able to share his expertise with fellow alumni and give back some of the support he has enjoyed from INSEAD during his career. By providing financial support he can help the school remain at the forefront of business education and play a vital role in shaping a better, more equitable world. [i] The Seductive Illusions of Hardwork (Sage Publishing) Passion Economy and the Side Hustle Revolution (Penguin) Share Related Content Faculty and Research Addressing Global Challenges: The Impact of INSEAD's Research Initiatives and Support Read more Scholarships From Scholarships to Philanthropy: Abdurrahman Joomye MBA’24J’s Journey of Giving Back Read more Entrepreneurship & Innovation Empowering Vision: Luca Verre MBA’14J from INSEAD to innovating silicon retina technology Read more