The sweet spot: How Reena Gupta of Epsilon found her niche at the intersection of technology and business

More than 25 years ago, when Reena Gupta completed her electrical engineering degree, she stepped into the workforce by joining Wipro, just as India’s IT revolution was gaining momentum.

During her two-year stint at the company, she realised that her true calling lay beyond pure technical work and decided to pivot towards management. This led her to pursue an MBA at IIM Lucknow.

This pivotal decision would reshape her professional trajectory and lead her to top leadership roles at Capgemini and now to her current position as Head of Digital Experience Services at Epsilon India.

Growing up in Allahabad, Gupta’s interest in engineering emerged from a combination of family influence and natural aptitude.

“My elder brother was doing his engineering, and I thought I needed to follow in his footsteps. During my education, I enjoyed mathematics and physics. I have an analytical mind, and getting into STEM tapped into these strengths,” Gupta tells HerStory.

Finding her sweet spot

Post her MBA, Gupta joined Capgemini and spent 16 years in the company working closely with clients, understanding most of the solutions were rooted in technology. What set Gupta apart was her ability to bridge the gap between her technical expertise and business acumen.

“I found my niche where I could play that role of bridging the gap because there are technologists who are very good with technology. Then there are people on the consulting side who can speak business. My sweet spot was that I could understand both technology and business,” she says.

The timing was just right. As Capgemini grew rapidly in India, the need for professionals who could bridge the gap between business and technology became critical. This opened up opportunities for Gupta in program management roles, where she handled complex and strategic client relationships.

In 2019, she moved to Epsilon India. As Vice President of Strategy, she led the go-to-market strategy for the company’s marketing platforms across APAC and the Middle East, scaling the business to $10 million.

As the head of Digital Experience services for Epsilon India, she oversees the delivery of a $250 million global portfolio, building high-performing teams that create tangible impact for clients worldwide.

“We are bringing in different kinds of services—technology, consulting, creative content to clients to help them improve their customer experience,” she says. The process is multifaceted, involving strategy, technology, and creative execution.

One of Gupta’s most significant achievements at Epsilon India has been transforming the perception and capabilities of the India office.

"Typically, you will see in most of the GCCs or in most of offshore delivery centres a transformational curve that defines which level of global responsibilities you are taking,” she points out.

The challenge was significant. “I think in the last couple of years, one of the challenges we faced was to be able to position India as one step ahead of just delivery and execution, which was also to drive strategic thinking that can bring in thought leadership and innovation,” she adds.

The team started by piloting a few initiatives and client engagements to drive this process and the results were transformative.

“Our team has taken a step ahead and is now involved in solutioning–presales, building a go-to market strategy and providing consulting and advisory services to our clients,” she elaborates.

Navigating gender dynamics

Gupta has witnessed firsthand the evolution of gender dynamics in the tech industry.

“There have been times when you feel you have to prove your credibility. But again, I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily due to gender. Even my male colleagues might feel the same way,” she says.

However, she acknowledges that women may face unique challenges in how they present their achievements. "We don't talk about our achievements like our male colleagues do,” she admits.

Gupta believes having the right support from peers and sponsors is essential for career growth.

“I have been very lucky to have role models who were senior to me. Having a role model and somebody to look up to and say, ‘hey, I also want to be here’ has been very helpful because you are driven and motivated to work towards it,” she says.

One of the most pressing issues in the technology industry is the case of “the missing middle” where women enter the workforce in significant numbers but tend to leave during their mid-career years, often due to life circumstances such as marriage, childcare, or other care-giving responsibilities.

Gupta’s approach to addressing this challenge is systematic and empathetic. “There are two aspects to it. One is giving that push and there are many structured programmes at Epsilon helping women who return after their maternity leave or after they have taken a break for various reasons.”

But bringing women back is only the first step. The second one, and the real challenge is ensuring their successful reintegration and career progression, she says.

“We put them in a programme, a kind of internship where they learn at a very rapid pace, and once they get back, they move into certain defined roles,” she says. The programme doesn’t stop at reintegration, it actively supports accelerated growth.

As part of the India executive team, Reena has been instrumental in launching key initiatives, such as the AI Community of Practice, aimed at fostering best practices, alignment, and cross-regional collaboration within the organisation. Reena has also been leading inclusion initiatives for the company, focusing on education, awareness, and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

She also actively participates in industry events to advocate for contributions made by women in the tech sector.

Leadership philosophy and working style

Gupta leads a team of over 1,000 people and has developed a leadership style that focuses on flexibility, delegation, and empowerment.

“I adapt easily. I am open and flexible and I let my leaders take up more responsibilities. My working style is flexible but again, Epsilon is very flexible and employee-centric and my style aligns with that of the organisation,” she says.

Looking forward

As someone who has thrived in fast-paced, constantly evolving environments, Gupta is upbeat about the changes happening in the technology sector. “I've been with this organisation for almost six years now. I love the fast and dynamic pace of the work we do. Every couple of months there is something changing, something new happening which keeps me on my toes, which I really enjoy doing."

Looking ahead, she is focused on growth and innovation. “I am looking at how I can grow the business further. There is a lot of expectation that the leadership has in terms of growth. It's exciting to be a part of a story where we are striving to do new things,” she adds.

Despite a demanding career, Gupta emphasises the importance of well-being, and believes it is essential for sustained performance. “I think being physically and mentally fit is extremely important. I play tennis and badminton, and practise yoga regularly,” she says.