“The finance courses that I took … [at USC] opened my eyes to the world of finance,” says alumnus Gautam Trivedi.
For Gautam Trivedi, a 1993 graduate of the USC Marshall School of Business, studying at USC revealed the career possibilities awaiting him in finance.
When Gautam began his studies at USC, India’s capital markets were not as developed as they are today, he said. “In the early 1990s, finance was in its nascent stage in India. It wasn’t a very well-understood occupation and jobs were few,” Gautam recalled.
But, while at USC, Gautam realized that working in finance was a viable option for his future. After earning a Master of Business Administration at USC Marshall, Gautam returned to India in 1993 and launched his career in finance.
Now, over 30 years into his career, Gautam has worked in both his home country and other parts of Asia at prestigious firms including Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. Most recently, before founding his own investment management firm in 2018, Gautam served as CEO of Religare Capital Markets, one of India’s leading mid- and small-cap-focused investment banks.
Currently, Gautam is the co-founder and managing partner at Nepean Capital LLP in Mumbai, India, which invests in the next generation of ventures that catalyze India’s ascendant tech industry. He serves on the board of many of Nepean’s portfolio companies, spanning everything from health to entertainment, to “create opportunities for collaboration and growth,” he said. He is also a fellow at the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit devoted to tackling challenges ranging from security to environmental issues.
Today, Gautam is married and has two sons, one of whom completed his undergraduate degree at USC Marshall. He balances the demands of his career with travel and enjoys writing about his experiences in travelogs.
USC’s Enduring Impact
When Gautam first arrived at USC, he planned to major in marketing. However, the finance courses he took in his second year at USC opened his eyes to the possibilities of working in the financial sector, he said.
Gautam especially remembers his corporate finance class, which introduced him to the vast world of finance in the U.S. and beyond. “I learned about financial accounting, IPOs, [mergers and acquisitions], etc., most of which I was alien to,” Gautam recalled.
Gautam also made memories by participating in extracurricular activities at USC. In addition to exploring Southern California with classmates and traveling everywhere from Santa Barbara to San Diego, Gautam also attended USC’s football and basketball games often.
“Attending USC’s sporting events brought more respect and appreciation of the efforts USC spends on training its students,” Gautam said. “It also built in me a love for USC that I carry till today and [I] am proud to be part of the Trojan Family.”
Advice for Future Trojans
Gautam maintains an active connection with USC, sitting on the India Advisory Board of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. He returns to Southern California and visits USC at least once a year, he said.
He advises prospective students who want to get a degree in the U.S. to strongly consider USC. Not only did his time at USC shape Gautam career — it also left him with impactful memories.
“[USC] offers an inclusive student experience, great faculty [and] a wonderful campus life in the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world,” Gautam said.