Kunal Ghosh Director and Head of Engagement Accord India / AltoPartners India

WHERE WERE YOU BORN, AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?

I was born at my maternal grandmother’s house in Kolkata, where I grew up. I now live in Thane (6X5F+JW on Google Maps) in the eastern suburbs of the megapolis that is Mumbai.

WHAT DID YOU STUDY AND WHY?

The dream in our family was that one day I would become an engineer, but I ended up doing a BSc in chemistry, followed by an MBA in finance on the advice of my college mentor who suggested that business would be a better fit for me than organic chemistry.

FIRST JOB?

A preplacement offer from Citigroup. Joined the Worldwide Securities Team to serve large FII (foreign institutional investors) clients and then moved internally into other roles working with the India CFO. It was a fabulous training ground. I got to work on the contours of our first third-party outsourced deal, and it ignited an enduring love for technology and process.

FIRST CAR?

An Audi A4. A gift from my father.

CURRENT CAR?

None. I am a big fan of app-based transport services and have used that option for the past seven years.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST SURPRISE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

No two days are the same. No matter how carefully I draw up my to-do list, it only takes a couple of minutes in the office for it to look completely different.

BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK?

Trekking for 50 days through the fabulous Zanskar, Lahaul and Spiti regions in the Himalayas, when I was 17 years old. I had limited backpacking experience and decided to join my friends on a whim. Looking back, it was a terrible idea. Would I do it again? Absolutely! The memories, the life-altering discussions, the mesmerising views – they are a part of who I am.

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER ON A BAD DAY?

Reminding myself that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and that this too shall pass.

MY MOST REDEEMING QUALITY IS…

I observe; I listen, but I don’t judge.

I HAVE LEARNED TO COME TO TERMS WITH…

That far from being black or white, life is a spectrum of grey areas where simplicity gives way to nuance.

WHAT’S THE THING THAT PEOPLE ARE MOST SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?

That I am a Bengali. It’s my mother tongue.

IN THE LAST MONTH, WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING CONVERSATION YOU HAVE HAD?

Recently I reconnected with a childhood friend who shares a love of particle physics and quantum mechanics. We let our imagination run riot on metaphysical discussions about human agency, choice, and the nature of causality.

LAST (OR MOST LOVED) HOLIDAY?

Scotland – the first family outing after a while. Walking through the Scottish Highlands and being part of the legendary Flying Scotsman’s centenary ride was magical.

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ IN THE PAST YEAR?

Metaphysics: An Anthology, edited by Jaegwon Kim, Daniel Z. Korman, and Ernest Sosa. A fabulous collection of essays in metaphysics, spanning classical and contemporary debates on existence, identity, modality, and causality.

WHAT HAVE YOU BINGE-WATCHED RECENTLY?

Slow Horses on Apple TV+

BEST GADGET?

Anything Apple – I am an unabashed fan.

HOW DO YOU RELAX AND UNWIND?

Music, hiking, long walks, photography … so much to do, so little time.

CHARITY/ CAUSE CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART?

Child rights, education for girls.

I HAVE A COLLECTION OF… Photographs – over 30,000 from my various trips.

IN MY FRIDGE, YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND… freshly squeezed lemon juice. It’s my go-to drink with still or sparkling water and yoghurt.