Building Leaders
Core Faculty and Co-Founders
Professor Ruchin Kansal and Dr. Marta Alfaro bring a unique blend of global leadership, innovation, and heartfelt commitment to education and healthcare. With decades of combined experience across industries and continents, they are united by a shared passion for shaping future-ready minds and fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Professor Ruchin Kansal, MBA, M. Arch.
Ruchin is a Professor of Practice at Seton Hall University and a Visiting Professor of Practice in Leadership at Brown University, and served as the Director of the #1 ranked undergraduate leadership development program – Buccino Leadership Center at Seton Hall University.
With over 20 years of experience, he has held senior leadership roles in healthcare and life sciences, including as SVP and Global Head of Strategy at Siemens Healthineers and Head of Business Innovation and Transformation at Boehringer Ingelheim.
Ruchin’s work focuses on driving innovation, cultivating leadership, and shaping future-ready strategies. He was named one of MM&M’s Top 40 Healthcare Transformers for his contributions to digital innovation in pharma and in 2016, was invited to the White House as part of the Precision Medicine Initiative. From 2014 to 2017, he served on the board of Stanford Medicine X.
He is the author of Redefining Innovation, editor of In the Lead magazine, and lead researcher of the Future of Leadership Survey—a global study on the evolving demands of leadership.
Ruchin earned his undergraduate degree from IIT Roorkee, an MBA from NYU Stern, and a Certificate in Disruptive Innovation from MIT, and Leadership and Performance Coaching from Brown University. He is also certified in Hogan and EQ-i 2.0.
He lives in Newtown, Connecticut, with his wife, Dr. Gunjan Gupta. Outside of work, he’s known for his insatiable curiosity, commitment to community, and the quirky (but cherished) vehicles he’s rebuilt with his son, Neil—affectionately known as the “Kansal Clunkers”.
Dr. Marta Alfaro, MBBS
Marta is a European board-certified pediatrician and a devoted mother of two boys. She was born and raised in San Sebastián, Spain, and earned her medical degree from the University of Navarra, later completing a ten-year pediatric residency in the United Kingdom.
In 2004, Marta moved to the United States with her husband, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a practicing orthopedic surgeon. Spanish by birth and married to an Indian husband, Marta cherishes the multicultural life they’ve built together—one that celebrates diversity, lifelong curiosity, and the joy of blending traditions. Drawn by the warmth and hospitality of the U.S., the couple became American citizens and made their home in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
Deeply committed to global health, Marta has volunteered with a Spanish NGO and served in Peru as a pediatrician in underserved rural communities. These experiences have shaped her belief in healthcare as a bridge between cultures and a path to equity.
Each summer, she and her bilingual sons return to Spain, staying connected to their roots. Her passion for second-language learning and cultural exchange inspired her to create Camp Sol Spain—a full Spanish language and cultural immersion program in San Sebastián, designed to help children build confidence, broaden perspectives, and embrace global citizenship.
Faculty and Advisory Board
Our advisory board members bring a powerful blend of global leadership, medical expertise, and an unwavering commitment to education and service. Their vision reflects the Institute’s core values: excellence, compassion, and a shared passion for shaping the next generation of changemakers.
Dr. Gunjan Gupta, MD, PhD
Dr. Gunjan Gupta is a board-certified pathologist at Danbury Hospital, where she serves as Director of Molecular Diagnostics and Coagulation Laboratories. She completed her fellowship in hematopathology at Columbia University Medical Center and holds a PhD in molecular immunology and virology.
In addition to her clinical leadership, Dr. Gupta is a passionate educator. She teaches and mentors pathology residents and medical students as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Vermont and Ross University School of Medicine. Driven by a passion for global impact, she also provides hands-on instruction at the American Canadian School of Medicine in Dominica.
Her academic work reflects a deep commitment to scientific excellence, equity in education, and a humanistic approach to medicine. She has authored multiple publications in leading scientific journals, contributing to the advancement of diagnostic medicine and translational research.
As a board member of the Elite Leadership Global Institute, Dr. Gupta brings a powerful blend of clinical expertise, research insight, and educational leadership, inspiring the next generation of leaders in science, healthcare, and beyond.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, MD, FRCSC, FRCS (Orth), MSc (Orth Eng)
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a globally board-certified orthopedic surgeon in the United States, EU, and Canada, with over two decades of surgical excellence in adult joint reconstruction. He is the Medical Director of the Joint Replacement Program at Danbury Hospital, where he has also served as Chief of Orthopedic Surgery, and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Vermont.
Dr. Gupta completed his orthopedic residency and a Master’s in Orthopedic Engineering at Cardiff University in the UK. A pioneer of robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery in Connecticut, he is a widely published researcher and frequent presenter at national and international orthopedic conferences.
Dr. Gupta has received numerous honors, including repeated recognition as one of Connecticut’s Top Doctors. He is a passionate advocate for patient wellness, integrating mindfulness and nutrition into his clinical philosophy, and has volunteered in disaster relief medical missions, including post-earthquake care in Haiti.
As a board member of the Elite Leadership Global Institute, Dr. Gupta brings a rare blend of surgical innovation, global medical training, and a deep commitment to resilience, service, and lifelong learning, helping to shape the future of ethical and impactful leadership.
