Member Spotlight: Puja Guha

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Graduation Year and Program 2007, East (M&T Program, Wharton and Engineering). Bachelor of Science in Economics with concentrations in Health Care Management and Entrepreneurship. 

Present Occupation Finance and International Development Consultant, Holborn International. Fiction Author.

What Are Some Interesting or Exciting Things About You? I've always been drawn to stories that cross borders. Long before joining Holborn International, I was captivated by how culture, policy, and human behavior intersect. That fascination took me around the world, working on international development and strategy projects across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Those experiences didn't lead me to become a writer, but they shaped the kind of writer I became.

My novels—including The Ahriman Legacy series, The Confluence, and Sirens of Memory—weave together espionage, identity, and the moral complexity of global change. I love exploring how individual choices ripple outward, whether in a policy framework or a story arc. At Holborn, I build data-driven strategies that deliver measurable impact. Through writing, I explore the emotional truths behind those same global dynamics. Both careers feed each other and keep me endlessly curious.

How Has Your Wharton Degree Benefited You? Wharton shaped how I think about both strategy and storytelling. Through the M&T program, I learned to approach problems analytically while appreciating the creativity behind innovation. Late nights in Huntsman Hall working with classmates who approached problems from completely different perspectives taught me to value collaboration and the process of building something new.

Those lessons have been essential in every part of my life. At Holborn, they inform how I help organizations translate complex challenges into actionable strategies. As a writer, they shape how I think about structure, motivation, and human behavior. Whether developing a project framework or a plotline, I rely on the same foundation: understanding the dynamics driving the status quo, uncovering connections, and telling a clear story.

Wharton gave me more than a degree—it gave me a mindset that thrives on learning, embraces ambiguity, and sees creativity and strategy as deeply intertwined.

What Advice Would You Offer Alumni Who Recently Completed Wharton? Don't be afraid to take the unconventional path. Early in my career, I worked in finance and consulting, then shifted toward international development. I also began writing fiction alongside my consulting work. None of it was part of a master plan, but each step taught me something essential.

The value of a Wharton education isn't just in the technical skills—it's in the adaptability and curiosity it fosters. Stay open to opportunities and detours, trust your instincts, and define success on your own terms. Openness to possibility is often what leads to the most meaningful paths.

What Support Would You Offer Local Wharton Alumni? I'm eager to connect with fellow alumni navigating questions of strategy, growth, or impact across sectors. I'm happy to serve as a thought partner for those exploring new markets or investments, building impact frameworks, designing programs or policies, or seeking guidance on career transitions into international development or consulting.

I'm also open to speaking engagements or collaborative discussions on evidence-based decision-making. As an author, I'd love to support fellow writers—whether just starting out or looking to refine their craft and explore publishing options.

How Could Local Wharton Alumni Help You or Your Company? Holborn International works with governments, multilaterals, and private organizations to design, finance, and evaluate programs that deliver measurable impact.

For fellow Wharton alumni, there are many natural intersections with our work. Alumni can help by connecting us with organizations or initiatives that need:

• Project design and evaluation, including impact, process, and feasibility studies.
• Economic and financial analysis, such as investment modeling, value-for-money assessments, and cost-benefit work.
• Technical assistance and policy support to help institutions design and implement programs that work in practice.
• Survey design, data collection, and analytics, especially using web-based or administrative data approaches.
• Stakeholder engagement and facilitation, from focus groups to high-level strategy sessions.
• Monitoring systems, dashboards, and performance frameworks that translate data into decisions

We welcome introductions, partnerships, and collaborations that advance shared goals—for example, supporting a local government reform agenda, improving impact tracking for a fund, strengthening a company’s international expansion strategy, or helping a nonprofit deepen its engagement with its mission.

As a writer, I'd welcome connections in the literary and creative space—collaborations with authors, book clubs, libraries, and organizations interested in global storytelling. I'm also interested in connecting with alumni in film and television who share an interest in adapting internationally grounded stories for the screen.

The Wharton community thrives on curiosity, rigor, and action. I’d be delighted to connect with alumni who share that ethos and see opportunities to apply evidence and creativity in service of better decisions and better outcomes.

A Question You Wish You Had Been Asked? How do you balance analytical work and creative expression?

Answer: For a long time, I felt like I had to keep those worlds separate—the strategic, data-driven consulting work on one side and the imaginative, unpredictable world of writing on the other. Over time, I’ve realized they actually feed each other. My consulting work at Holborn International is grounded in research, structure, and evidence, but it also requires empathy and intuition. Writing demands creativity, but benefits from discipline, organization, and a clear understanding of the political, cultural, and moral realities that drive human decisions.

The balance isn’t always perfect, but I’ve learned that the most interesting ideas often live at the intersection of logic and imagination. Whether I’m advising a client or writing a scene, I’m ultimately trying to understand human motivation and connect it to a larger story.

Favorite Hobbies Travel has always been one of my greatest passions—I've visited more than sixty countries, and each journey sparks new story ideas. When I'm home, I love hiking and running in the Rockies with my dog, Sally, who is always up for an adventure (or at least a squirrel chase). I'm also an avid reader, with an ever-growing stack of novels, essays, and memoirs on my desk.