Amit Gupta’s Hidden Key to Successful Leadership

Amit Gupta, founder of global fertiliser company Agrifields DMCC, has become a philanthropist across India and an advocate for a new sort of business ethic. Unlike many of his peers in business leadership, Gupta has taken a more holistic approach to maximising growth and efficiency. He is not a traditional businessman; rather, Gupta’s innovative approach to the corporate world comes as a result of his dedicated work ethic.

The Runner’s Perspective

To understand what has driven this entrepreneur and philanthropist, one must view Amit Gupta of Agrifields through his passion for long-distance running. When he began running marathons, including the London Marathon and several night run events in Dubai, he was unaware of the parallels to his day job — a job that has consisted of working on sustainability in the agricultural sector, either through supply chain development or directly increasing yields through improved agri-tech.

Amit Gupta believes in a vision where farmers are empowered for their vital work, compensated fairly, and are contributors to sustainable food security across the world. The mission to create healthier food, reliable agriculture, and sustainable sourcing for fertiliser has been the core impetus for Gupta’s activities for years.

Discipline as a Driving Force

What motivates this passion is not simply fiercely desired goals but consistent discipline — a mindset which commits and does not let down, one exemplified by running. As an avid runner, Amit Gupta of Agrifields can testify to the multifaceted transformative power of discipline. He has said that, “when running, an individual actively expresses a commitment to growth. But it’s a growth built not simply on being smart or creative, but on dedication and discipline.”

Running is an often-underestimated quality that can reveal a person’s underlying character. When employers and hiring managers review CVs or cover letters, or even interview candidates, they have little information to successfully judge a person’s aptitude for hard work and consistency. What running shows, however, is a self-motivated desire to learn and grow, to achieve goals, and to handle difficult situations efficiently and energetically. You cannot fake running a marathon.

Parallels Between Running and Leadership

When asked what has led to his success, Amit Gupta of Agrifields cannot go without mentioning the importance of running in his life. On the one hand, it commits him to greater mental fortitude at work, and on the other, it offers space to reflect and rejuvenate. Marathon running did not come naturally to Amit Gupta; it required months of training and years of consistency to maintain.

Additionally, the hobby experience has led him to become more empathetic. When asked about his ongoing vision for sustainable projects in India, he compared training for a marathon to developing rural agricultural communities. Every day of physical strain yields results that appear negligible, sometimes even like you are getting slower, and yet little by little, the training will pay off. Eventually, race day comes, and you can push through every mile, despite the distance.

Building a Future of Empowerment

Amit Gupta of Agrifields imagines a future where workers are empowered, communities are well-educated and full of opportunities, and food can be produced in abundance. But development takes time. Every business should have a goal beyond making money. Running brings positive externalities — health and fitness, among others — just like businesses can.

This is why he started the Agrifields Charitable Foundation, to pair with the corporate mechanisms of the fertiliser business and integrate the goals of sustainability and a holistic business enterprise.

The Race Toward Collective Growth

Amit Gupta of Agrifields views projects, employees, and consumers through the analogy of running, saying, “We are all essentially in a race, and only those who commit to growth, discipline, and training – only they arrive at their goal.” This is why Gupta looks for runners, or those with a distance mindset. Having a vision is important, but having the underlying quality to commit to one’s goals is perhaps even more essential.

Training, he says, “taught me the importance of setting goals, working towards them, and persevering through challenges.”

Humans do not set goals alone either; we work towards them mutually, finding goods and services which can benefit the whole. Agrifields DMCC is centred on the well-being of the whole of society, providing innovative solutions to farmers and structural improvements to agricultural communities. Sustainable agriculture is the foundation for a sustainable society, relying on the active role of each and every member.

By working to educate farmers and provide technical tools to communities, Gupta believes that individuals will feel empowered to begin their own race, to set their own goals and realistically hope to achieve them.

Shaping a Legacy of Leadership

A visionary leader can often inspire others to become more innovative as well. For Amit Gupta, it was not simply his early days as a student at Harvard Business School, but his decision to train for the marathon which shaped him into the philanthropic entrepreneur he is today. Distance running is only one example of learning to work hard and proving patience and perseverance, but for Amit Gupta, it has been essential in his journey as a business leader.