“Gratitude is as simple as a thank you or an act of kindness.” — Kavita Gupta
For Rahul and Kavita Gupta, gratitude is not a single gesture or holiday—it’s a way of life. Their journey from India and Malaysia to Palos Verdes is a story of courage, resilience, and the enduring belief that gratitude grows deeper when it is shared.
Rahul grew up in India, attending Scindia School, a boarding school for boys beginning at age thirteen. Kavita’s childhood unfolded across Penang and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, before she too attended boarding school in India at age thirteen. Their paths converged at Delhi University, where they met as students and began a partnership that would span continents.
After marrying, the couple immigrated to the United States in 1984 with little more than determination—and $7,000, just enough to cover Kavita’s first semester at Indiana University. Fortune, however, smiled on them. Kavita earned a 4.0 GPA and a full scholarship that allowed both to complete their graduate studies: Rahul earning his MBA and Kavita a master’s in education.
“It was the ultimate leap of faith,” recalls Kavita. “We left our families, our culture, and everything familiar behind—but we believed deeply in the opportunities ahead.”
Both graduated magna cum laude and embarked on long and fulfilling professional careers. Rahul’s work in the corporate world eventually led him to serve as CEO of a software company and Group President of a Fortune 100 company, roles that connected him with figures from Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice to Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods.
Kavita, equally accomplished, built a career rooted in education, leadership, and philanthropy—serving as Past President of the Association for Talent Development’s Los Angeles Chapter, a trustee for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Foundation, and an advocate for Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times. She is also a published author, including her reflective book My Life Stories, written through the Storyworth program.
After nearly three decades moving across the country—from Maine to Missouri, Massachusetts to Arizona—the Guptas found their forever home in Palos Verdes in 2015. “We fell in love with the lush greenery, the ocean views from every turn, and the quiet beauty of the Peninsula,” says Rahul. “It’s hard to believe that such serenity exists within the second largest city in the country.”
Their days now include walks around Point Vicente, brunches at Yellow Vase, and rounds of golf at Palos Verdes Golf Club, where Kavita also serves on several committees. The couple has embraced the Peninsula’s strong sense of community and balance between calm and connection.
Education remains central to the Guptas’ family legacy. Both of their children are proud USC Trojans—Ruchika, Class of 2009, and Kabir, Class of 2016—and today work in technology and finance, along with their spouses, in Seattle. The next generation—granddaughters Zaara and Reya—bring boundless joy and have given new meaning to Thanksgiving celebrations.
“Our son and younger granddaughter were both born in November—on the same day,” says Kavita. “So Thanksgiving has become a time when we all come together in California to celebrate family, gratitude, and those birthdays that remind us how blessed we are.”
Over the years, their Thanksgiving traditions have evolved—from grocery-store turkey dinners during their early years in America to grand family feasts and, occasionally, buffet celebrations at country clubs to avoid “all the dishes and cleanup.” Each version, they say, has held its own kind of joy.
For the Guptas, November brings not one but two major celebrations. Alongside Thanksgiving, they honor Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights—a symbolic celebration of good triumphing over evil. “While the kids were still home, we would light diyas, write in our gratitude journal, and share what we wished for in the coming year,” says Kavita. “It was our family’s own way of giving thanks.”
Today, even with their children grown and in another state, the family keeps the tradition alive, lighting candles and celebrating with friends across the Peninsula. They also participate in Karwa Chauth, a Hindu festival observed by married women for their husbands’ well-being—another reminder of family, faith, and devotion.
Philanthropy is woven into the Guptas’ story just as deeply as education. Having once relied on scholarships themselves, the family has made it their mission to extend that same gift to others. Over the past decade, they have funded 25 scholarships at USC and gifted a meeting room in the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. Kavita also established a scholarship at her alma mater, Indiana University, to support graduate students in instructional design.
Their charitable trust focuses on education, health, and children’s initiatives, while their local giving includes donations to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the California Community Fund for fire relief, and the Mayor’s Fund during the pandemic. At the Palos Verdes Golf Club, Kavita has found a unique tradition of her own: “Once a year, I love serving the staff,” she shares with a smile. “It’s a small gesture, but it’s my way of showing gratitude to the people who make this community so special.”
The Guptas will never forget Thanksgiving 2020—the year their granddaughter Zaara was born. “She had a difficult start and spent time in intensive care,” says Kavita. “That Thanksgiving, we weren’t thinking about turkey or travel. We were just grateful she was here, healthy, and thriving. It reminded us that gratitude isn’t about what’s on the table—it’s about who’s around it.”
As Thanksgiving approaches, the Guptas reflect on the generosity that defines Palos Verdes. “This is a community that exemplifies gratitude,” says Kavita. “You see it in the way neighbors support schools, hospitals, libraries, the arts—everywhere.”
One organization particularly close to their hearts is the Peninsula Committee for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which has raised more than $21 million in 68 years. “That kind of giving spirit,” says Kavita, “shows how a small mission can grow into something extraordinary.”Their message for the season is simple but powerful: give what you can, where you can. “Whether it’s a $5 gift or an endowed fund, gratitude is most meaningful when shared,” says Kavita. “Always remember the people who helped you along the way—and don’t forget to lift someone else up.”
