Why Staying Small Became His Biggest Strength
Mitul Gada
Founder & Course Architect
Mitul Gada & Associates
Why Staying Small Became His Biggest Strength
Mitul Gada
Founder & Course Architect
Mitul Gada & Associates
Who would have thought that a student who failed a Class 11 mathematics test would one day become one of India’s most respected GMAT and GRE mathematics trainers? This is the story of Mitul Gada. For over 25 years, Mitul, Founder & Course Architect, Mitul Gada & Associates (MGA), has built one of India’s most respected GMAT and GRE coaching brands by staying true to a simple philosophy: quality over scale. While the test-preparation industry raced towards aggressive expansion and billion-dollar edtech models, Mitul chose to remain a one-man army, personally mentoring more than 750 students every year without a corporate office, sales team or franchise network.
After securing a 99.8 percentile in CAT in 2001, he turned down an offer from IIM Lucknow and later scored 760 on the GMAT and 330 on the GRE. In 2026 alone, 85 of his students secured admission to ISB. In this conversation with TradeFlock, Mitul shares why authenticity, personalised mentoring and a service-first mindset have defined his success in an increasingly commercialised education industry.
I started immediately after graduation by freelancing with coaching institutes while simultaneously offering customised one-on-one training. Since private tutoring in Mumbai was expensive, many of my early students came from well-known business families and public personalities. Over the years, I had the privilege of mentoring students such as Tiger Shroff, Radhika Merchant, Anand Piramal, The Shom Hinduja, Rewant Ruia, Mittals, GVKs, sportsmen, and children from several prominent business houses, film industry and political families.
The title “celebrity coach” wasn’t something I created. It was a nickname given by fellow teachers. For me, every student is equally important. Whether someone comes from a well-known family or an ordinary background, my responsibility as a teacher remains exactly the same.
Our biggest differentiator is our no-delegation policy. Students interact directly with me from their first enquiry until they achieve their goals, and often long afterwards. My teaching relies on logic, reasoning and common sense rather than rote learning. Even students who once feared mathematics and numbers often tell me they now enjoy the subject, which is immensely rewarding.
Over the years, many former students and their parents have continued to seek my guidance on career decisions. Those lasting relationships & constant flow of compliments are my greatest achievement. Money comes and goes, but trust, respect and goodwill are the real wealth that endures.
I’ve always worn Bermuda shorts because that’s what makes me comfortable. I dressed that way in school and college and continued doing so when I became a teacher.
People often advised me to wear formal clothes or even a blazer to create a stronger impression. My response was always simple: if I’m a good teacher, students will recognise that through my teaching, not through my wardrobe. It’s hard to believe for someone, but I have even attended weddings in Bermudas!
Ironically, that authenticity became my identity. Students started referring to me as the “Bermuda Teacher”, and I loved it because it reflected exactly who I am. I’ve never believed in creating an image; I’ve simply believed in being genuine.
That decision was intentional from the outset. I wanted to remain a teacher, not become a businessman. Expansion inevitably shifts your focus towards sales, marketing, administration and managing people, leaving teaching as a secondary priority. I never wanted quality to be sacrificed for numbers.
Even today, I personally answer every call and email, counsel every student, and teach every class because that direct connection builds trust. I also value a balanced life. Playing badminton twice a day, travelling every month, and spending time with family are non-negotiable. My upbringing & Jainism taught me that contentment matters more than endlessly chasing wealth.
I never tried to compete with them because I wasn’t playing the same game.
Many companies compete through marketing budgets, advertising campaigns and rapid expansion. I didn’t have that kind of capital, nor did I want it. What I had was teaching ability, and I invested entirely in improving that.
Every year our growth has come through word-of-mouth recommendations. It has been slower than venture-funded businesses, but it has also been steady, sustainable and built on genuine student satisfaction.
We also believe education should remain a service. Every month, we provide full scholarships to deserving students from developing countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh and several African nations, along with partial scholarships for students who genuinely need financial support. Helping deserving students fulfil their dreams is as important as building a successful institution.
The opportunities for Indian students have expanded significantly over the past 25 years, thanks to the internet, social media and AI. While students are now better informed about global education, these platforms have also fuelled peer pressure and fear of missing out. Many choose to study abroad without fully evaluating the quality of education, career prospects or return on investment.
I’ve seen families spend heavily only for students to return from lower-ranked institutions without meaningful career opportunities. That’s why I encourage students and parents to think long-term. A postgraduate degree shapes your career for decades and should be chosen through careful research, not social pressure.
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