Radhika Gupta's advice on leadership: ‘Aim to be the most loved, not the most intelligent'

Edelweiss MF CEO Radhika Gupta said, 'The funniest thing, and maybe the most important one for your generation: intelligence can be artificial, but wisdom is stubbornly human.' (Image credit: Radhika Gupta/Instagram)

Edelweiss Mutual Fund MD and CEO Radhika Gupta on Monday shared some career advice for young professionals. She told them that while intelligence opens doors, wisdom is what sustains long‑term success. In a post on LinkedIn, Gupta wrote that many high achievers grow up rewarded for fast answers, strong academic records and the desire to be right—traits she says once defined her as well.

She explained that this identity often creates a habit of interrupting others, arguing every point, and obsessing over being correct.

"Like many of you, I grew up being rewarded for intelligence," she said. "Fast answers, good grades, class-topper, great pedigree, solid brands. I carried that identity very proudly… interrupted people before they could finish speaking, argued to win every point, and was obsessed with being right." Over time, she added, such behaviour can make rooms “feel cold” the moment these individuals enter.

'Please learn to be wise'

Gupta argued that wisdom shows up in small, unglamorous, everyday moments at work: resisting the urge to shoot down ideas, attending bonding events even when they feel pointless, repeating an answer kindly for the third time, and helping manage conflicts that don’t directly involve you.

To someone who has excelled all their life, she said, these may look like “soft fluff,” but they are the mechanics of leadership. Wisdom, the Edelweiss MF boss shared on LinkedIn, is knowing which battles to fight, and when; offering empathy, patience, judgment and humility; and carrying people along rather than racing ahead alone.

'Intelligence can be artificial, but wisdom is stubbornly human'

The Edelweiss MF MD pointed out that we live in a world obsessed with intelligence. We measure it, rank it, and celebrate it. But despite technological progress, she said, the world “feels less wise.” "The world has never been more intelligent, but strangely it feels less wise. We still go back to the same sages and philosophers from centuries ago for guidance on how to live," Gupta shared.

She added that ambition itself is not the problem—wisdom is ambition with a long time horizon— and long time horizons work well across life, from careers to personal pursuits.

'Aim to be the most loved, not the smartest'

Gupta's key advice is simple: “Don’t aim to be the smartest person in the room. Aim to be the most loved.”

She added that people rise faster when they’re easy to work with, not when they intimidate others with brilliance. She warns that being a “mean, smart person” may win short‑term battles but rarely builds the kind of relationships needed for long‑term leadership.

She writes that she has seen many smart young professionals stagnate simply because they were too difficult to deal with, while others who were loved and respected got impossible things done.

"You will rise anyway, and you will have more fun along the way," Gupta concluded.