About the speaker

Arijit Sarkar is an Aditya Birla Scholar (class of 2010) and an accomplished investment professional currently serving as a Director of Credit at Trifecta Capital. With over 13 years of experience, he has held diverse roles as an investor, entrepreneur, and senior business leader across sectors such as fintech, healthcare, and retail. His investment portfolio includes prominent companies like BharatPe, Vedantu, and Infra.Market, where he focuses on leveraging technology to create non-linear value.

Sarkar’s career history includes serving as a Strategy Consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he advised large financial institutions on growth and capital management. He also founded the fintech startup Tavaga and served as the CEO of Sugha Vazhvu, a sustainable primary healthcare business. Academically, he holds a degree from IIT Bombay (2006) and an MBA from IIM Bangalore (2012).

Summary of the talk

Life and careers rarely move in a straight line. While we often hear about the power of compounding within a single organization, my journey has been almost the opposite—one defined by exploration, pivoting between sectors, and navigating the friction of an uncertain future.

1. Beyond the Academic Pedigree

Coming from a background like the Aditya Birla Scholars, we often rely on our academic credentials—IITs, IIMs, and prestigious scholarships. Early in my journey, I followed the traditional technical path, influenced by a family of PhDs and scientists. I thought my future was in mathematical finance because I understood the "math" of it.

However, as I progressed, I realized that technical skills are just the baseline. The real world of business—the non-technical side—was just starting to open up during my undergraduate days with the arrival of consulting firms and investment banks. I had to learn that understanding a financial problem is not the same as understanding a business.

2. The Power of the "Privilege Trap" and Networks

We often talk about the "privilege trap"—having access to elite institutions gives you the flexibility to take risks that others cannot. I am a beneficiary of the network this scholarship provides.

When I was 22, I took a leap of faith and moved to Chennai—a city where I had no friends—to work with a small incubator focused on social justice and microfinance. I didn't fully understand that world at the time, but the network of high-quality mentors I met there allowed me to see how larger businesses are built from the ground up. Your network is not just for finding jobs; it is the safety net that gives you the confidence to explore when the market is in flux.

3. Transitioning from "Mathematical" to "Human"

My career moved from the mathematical rigor of finance to the "human" complexity of consulting and entrepreneurship. In consulting at McKinsey, I began to see how institutions actually breathe—how banks operate, how collections work, and how strategy is executed on the ground.

Later, starting my own venture taught me a level of accountability and satisfaction that you simply cannot get by analyzing cases from the outside. Even if a product doesn't scale exactly as planned, the learning you gain from building something of your own is a form of compounding that stays with you forever.

4. Evaluating the Startup Path

Now, as an investor, I look at the startup ecosystem differently. When the future is uncertain, many wonder if they should join a startup or start one. My advice is to rationalize the decision, but don't let the "math" make it for you.

When we invest, we look for founders who have a high "comfort with ambiguity". We look for people who can see what is possible without being bogged down by the limitations of the present. If you are in your 20s, the risk of failure is at its lowest. This is the best time to leverage your network and try something that conflicts with the "traditional" path.

Closing Thoughts

Don't be afraid if your career doesn't look like a straight line. Whether you are compounding within a firm or exploring through startups, what matters is whether you are learning and staying flexible. The advantage of being part of this elite community is that you have the privilege to earn, learn, and lead in any direction you choose.