Parul Gupta Earns Marquis Who’s Who Honor for Transforming Akima’s Talent Acquisition and Supporting Veteran Hiring Initiatives

ALDIE, Va. – Marquis Who’s Who has selected Parul Gupta, vice president of talent acquisition at government contractor, Akima, for inclusion in its biographical registry. Individuals are chosen based on their professional achievements, positions of responsibility, and contributions to their field.

Gupta joined Akima in 2018 and has since led the company’s enterprise-wide talent acquisition strategy, overseeing a team that hires more than 5,000 employees annually. Together with her colleagues, she supported the growth of Akima’s veteran hiring initiatives, helping to build a stronger, more capable workforce aligned with federal mission needs.

Reflecting on her career, Gupta credits her achievements to hard work, persistence, and determination. She notes that challenges along the way strengthened her resolve and guided her focus toward building successful teams and contributing to the growth of her organization. Gupta also highlights the importance of her role at Akima, where the culture of collaboration and purpose has allowed her to make a lasting impact. Gupta played a pivotal role in modernizing Akima’s recruiting operations, introducing structured processes, data-driven staffing metrics, and enhanced employer branding initiatives. She emphasizes aligning employee strengths with business needs to create an engaged, high-retention workforce.

“I am deeply proud of the work we are doing at Akima to build a mission-driven workforce rooted in excellence, and service,” said Parul Gupta, vice president of talent acquisition at Akima. “It has been truly meaningful to lead a team that not only supports our federal customers but also opens doors for veterans and their families—individuals who have given so much to our nation. Akima’s culture inspires us to lift each other up and succeed together, and that spirit makes this recognition especially rewarding.”

Her work directly supports Akima’s mission as an Alaska Native Corporation. Through dividends and profits, Akima helps provide employment opportunities, cultural preservation, and education for its Inupiat shareholders in Alaska’s NANA region.

Gupta has served as an advisory board member at Upwage since 2024, providing expertise for AI-driven workforce strategies. Before her current role, she was Akima’s senior director of recruiting services, refining recruitment operations and aiding growth. She was previously director of recruiting services (2019–2021) and senior manager of recruiting services (2018–2019) at Akima.

Before Akima, Gupta managed talent acquisition at Empower AI (2016–2018), served as principal lead of talent acquisition (2015–2016), and was a senior technical and corporate recruiter (2013–2015), focusing on technical talent and team building.

Gupta began her HR career as a senior recruiter at Encore Software Services Inc. (2012–2013), following similar roles at USM Business Systems (2007–2012). Earlier positions at Zolon Tech Inc., Keane Inc. (now NTT Data), and Abacus Management Systems built her foundation in recruiting and management.

She holds an MBA in human resources and marketing from Amity University (2003) and a bachelor’s in finance and economics from Punjab University (2001), both earned in India before immigrating to the United States in 2005. Gupta is a certified professional in human resources through SHRM, completed MIT Sloan’s leadership skills program, and participated in a Cornell University leadership workshop.

During graduate studies, Gupta discovered her strengths in human resources and marketing, guiding her toward a career focused on connecting people with opportunities and building positive workplaces. She also volunteers with Anna Sudha Community Kitchens and has discussed workforce trends as a podcast guest for ClearedJobs.net and Women in Technology.

Outside of work, Gupta enjoys travel, cultural exploration, and family time. She takes pride in her son’s achievements at a leading STEM school. These personal interests broaden her perspective and inform her approach to team building and support. Looking ahead, Gupta aims to strengthen team relationships, foster professional growth, and give back to the community—values that have shaped her career and leadership style.

About Marquis Who’s Who®

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.