Gaurav Purohit transitioned from banking in India to fintech leadership in the Netherlands. The Executive Master’s in International Finance in Amsterdam empowered him with AI, blockchain, and global insights. Through hands-on projects and peer learning, Gaurav reshaped his career. Discover how this program helped him lead digital innovation in modern finance.
Gaurav Purohit built a strong foundation in banking and engineering, working for 12 years in Indian finance. However, he grew curious about how technology could reshape finance and sought a program to propel his professional growth.
Gaurav discovered the Executive Master’s in International Finance (MIF) at Amsterdam Business School while exploring fintech-focused programs. The program targets professionals ready to lead in fintech. Subsequently, Gaurav moved to the Netherlands to begin a new chapter.
Gaurav built his career over a decade in Indian finance, rising steadily at a leading bank. However, as the industry evolved, he craved more innovation and technical depth.
At the same time, his curiosity about artificial intelligence in finance kept growing. Although he held a B.Tech degree, he realized he needed to reskill to stay ahead. “I was looking for a breakthrough; I was looking [to upskill] myself. I was excited about what was really happening in the world of AI and technology. Technology and finance have been combined together for so many years, I was excited to go ahead and learn more about that, ” Gaurav shared. (01:58)
Therefore, he actively explored programs that blended finance, technology, and management in a global context. Consequently, he found the right fit, which empowered him to transition confidently into fintech and build a future-ready career.
Amsterdam Business School blends finance and tech to upskill professionals for impact.
Gaurav explains why the program stood out and aligned with his career goals. He adds, “This particular program was an executive program that is set for experienced professionals, and it was combining the knowledge of the concepts of advanced finance and combining it very beautifully with fintech and new topics like AI, machine learning, and interestingly also DeFi and Bitcoin cryptocurrencies.” (02:33)
He appreciated that the program targeted mid-level professionals with established careers while teaching new skills. Therefore, he valued its focus on staying relevant in a fast-changing finance landscape.
Gaurav explored fintech industry trends like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and DeFi (Decentralized Finance) through the curriculum.
Additionally, he studied blockchain, Bitcoin, and cryptocurrencies through hands-on case studies.
The program introduced fintech trends through hands-on projects and peer learning. Additionally, it united experienced professionals from diverse global backgrounds.
“It has a good mix of people from international backgrounds. They come with different perspectives. The average experience is 8 to 11 years, so you get to be with people who have good industry experience. …[It’s a] really good peer group that you can learn from.” Gaurav highlights. (14:15)
He found the diverse peer group refreshing and intellectually stimulating in daily sessions. Moreover, peers from banking, regulators, and startups offered practical insights. Hence, each class became a real-time fintech think tank.
The program emphasized practical skills through real-world projects that go beyond theory. Modern instruments of fintech were drawn together to give a deeper understanding of how fintech tools work and can be used.
Gaurav felt especially excited by the machine learning applications in financial contexts. “The most important was the AI and machine learning course. That gave us [a] foundational understanding of machine learning, statistical learning, [and] statistical tools. We also did a real-world project using Python and machine learning. That was quite an impactful course from the Fintech perspective,” he reflects. (08:11)
He also used Python boot camps and simulations to apply hard and soft skills to real projects. Subsequently, he strengthened his data analysis skills through hands-on work.
Furthermore, he explored blockchain and DeFi and completed two crypto courses to boost his skills.
“The most exciting part was creating our own blockchain and creating our own cryptocurrency. This was something that was really new and really exciting. It was a standout thing that we did in this particular program,” Gaurav reflects. (06:17) Subsequently, he built a system and grasped how digital currency and decentralization work.
Gaurav found the applied projects most impactful. “I used machine learning and AI to create a supervised model that I used to predict the impact of oil prices on oil-dependent industries. This was one of the key projects that I did, and it was well appreciated by the trainer as well,” he explains. (12:50)
He used predictive modelling to analyze oil prices on energy firms from the USA. Consequently, he combined AI and finance to uncover market insights.
Gaurav quickly applied his fintech training to real-world investment and AI-driven risk analysis. After the program, he joined Oikocredit as an investment analyst. Furthermore, he analyzed risks in India and Latin America. Additionally, he applies fintech skills in social finance.
He assesses financial risks and leads AI use-case development for deeper investment analysis. “I was appointed as the leader or go-to person for my team to create the use cases and use of AI in my company. This is one of my key areas for this particular year. And it was definitely because of the learnings that I had from here (ABS), which got noticed by my manager, and she was keen to give this opportunity to me,” Gaurav shares. (07:32)
As a result, his role now highlights him as a digital innovation leader, reflecting skills gained from the program and can now apply in his daily work.
Gaurav recommends the program for working professionals seeking real, skills-based learning.
“It is a course that combines advanced finance concepts with cutting-edge fintech technologies and topics that are used. The program is very close to the industry’s requirement,” he stresses. (13:49)
Additionally, the curriculum reflects global trends and keeps fintech professionals updated on recent industry trends. The diverse cohort allows professionals to expand their worldview and learn from one another’s vast work experiences.
Executive education at Amsterdam Business School drives career change. Gaurav mastered the application of AI and blockchain through real-world projects. Now he leverages these new skills and knowledge in impact investment and leads AI innovation at his company.
Gaurav’s success story proves that the Executive Master’s in International Finance (MIF) at Amsterdam Business School can take fintech careers to the next level.
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