Gupta reports that he has had several mentors throughout his career. On his first job, he was taught the importance of organizing his thoughts and the key concepts he needed to get across when developing and delivering a presentation. As the years passed, Gupta learned the importance of strategy, planning, execution, and operational excellence. He continues to incorporate all of these lessons today, particularly in assembling the managers who work with him.

 "We need leaders that are focused on customer needs while empowering their employees and continually improving," he says. "All of that is balanced with accountability. It's critical that we deliver the capabilities our customers desire and support our employees so they can deliver their best work. I look for leaders who will take personal responsibility for ensuring these happen.

Gupta joined Allstate in 2011, bringing leadership, information technology, operations, and sales experience to the insurer. Since then, he has been instrumental in enhancing delivery capabilities and focusing on innovation. He also has deployed a three-year plan and roadmap, ensuring a clear technology and operations direction that accounts for trends in the industry and facilitates long-term decision-making.

"What I'm most proud of is bringing technology and operations closer to the business," he says. "It used to be that the business areas told technology and operations what they needed and we delivered it.  But now, with the importance of technology in all industries, we've adopted a balanced approach, incorporating both strategy driven by the business and strategy driven by technology. That enables us to bring technology solutions to the business that will drive innovative support of our customers."

Nothing really surprises Gupta when it comes to technology anymore.

"History tells us that technology will continually evolve and people will dream up new ideas that will revolutionize the industry," he says. "We're at a time where something amazing is always right around the corner.  The key is staying up to speed on the new advances and even the early thinking to be ready to capitalize on the opportunity and deliver for your customers."

Staying open to new ideas is why Gupta believes carriers such as Allstate have placed such great emphasis on technology.

"As an information and data company, technology is at the center of how we service our customer—determine ratings, conduct underwriting activities, and provide access through mobile and the internet," he says. "Allstate greatly values technology and its capabilities."

Being open is also why Gupta doesn't worry about the future.

"I see many more opportunities in front of us," he says. "If we focus on protecting customers and their assets by utilizing the most current technology capabilities, we'll continue to add the value they've come to expect from us."

Gupta remains excited about the future because he feels the evolution of technology will continue to showcase some amazing ways companies can help customers stay safe, stay healthy, and stay financially stable.  

"We're already doing that for our auto customers with the DriveWise product; this device provides customers information about their driving, giving them the opportunity for bigger discounts with improved driving habits," he says