Vik Uppal of Mavik Capital: Ownership and Authentic Inclusion Drive Outperformance in Next-Generation Investment Firms

In an age where industries evolve at lightning speed, there exists a special breed of C-suite executives who are not just navigating the changes but driving them. These are the pioneers who think outside the box, championing novel strategies that shatter the status quo and set new industry standards. Their approach fosters innovation, spurs growth, and leads to disruptive change that redefines their sectors. In this interview series, we are talking to disruptive C-suite executives to share their experiences, insights, and the secrets behind the innovative approaches they are taking to disrupt their industries.

As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Vik Uppal, Founder, CEO and CIO of Mavik Capital.

Vik Uppal is the Founder, CEO and CIO of Mavik. Prior to founding Mavik, Vik was a Partner and Head of Real Estate at Axar Capital Management and Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group. He joined Fortress from Mount Kellett Capital Management, where he was co-head of North American real estate investments. Vik began his career as a real estate operator and developer focused on acquiring distressed and underperforming assets.

Vik holds a BS from the University of St. Thomas and an MS in Real Estate from Columbia University.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about disruption, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

Mavik stands out as a next-generation investment firm that is built on alignment rather than mere agreement, on authentic inclusion, next level agility and the perpetual pursuit of excellence.

Throughout my career, I observed that the old ways were often too slow and the legacy institutions too bureaucratic to meet today’s fast-paced challenges. Firmly grounded in the conviction that “if you do the same, you will be the same”, I created a firm dedicated to the relentless pursuit of excellence, outperformance driven by innovation and a differentiated approach across the entirety of the company.

We operate under five foundational mantras, fostering a culture where employees are invested in the funds and share in the incentive fees, breaking away from the conventional model. This creates a unique environment that aligns interests across the board, motivating everyone toward the same goal: long-term outperformance.

Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “Five Innovative Approaches We Are Using To Disrupt Our Industry?”

At the heart of our approach to Build Different are five foundational mantras that guide every decision, strategy, and innovation at Mavik.

1. Align Different - Ownership drives outperformance.
2. Include Different - Authentic inclusion drives outperformance.
3. Move Different - Agility delivers outperformance.
4. Create Different - Creating different delivers outperformance.
5. Compound Different - Continual excellence delivers outperformance.

Each of these mantras represents a deliberate choice Mavik has made to stay ahead. By focusing on these foundational beliefs, we not only disrupt the status quo but also set a new standard for excellence in our field.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success?

I believe that these traits are reflected in Mavik’s ethos and name, inspired by a Hindi word meaning the strength of a diamond and the fluidity of water.

To us, that represents our deep conviction in our investment philosophy and strategy paired with innovative thinking, resilience and an agile approach that runs through all we do.

Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader? I’m curious to understand how these challenges have shaped your leadership.

As Mavik’s CEO, I encounter challenging decisions on a daily basis, where the stakes are high, and the paths forward can appear equally rewarding.

I’d say that a crucial aspect of my leadership journey has been adopting a contrarian mindset — thinking differently and having the courage to diverge from conventional wisdom.

Every day we are finding investments that may get disregarded for superficial reasons but that require us to dig deeper and challenge the status quo.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition so that all of us are on the same page. In the context of a business, what exactly is “Disruption”?

Disruption is fundamentally about thinking differently and challenging the status quo. It involves questioning standard practices — those methods that have worked in the past and are commonly accepted within an industry.

To be a true disruptor, one must adopt innovative approaches and demonstrate significant strength and conviction in their vision.

Beyond professional accomplishments, how has embracing disruption affected you on a personal level? How do you perceive the role of ‘disruption’ within your industry, and how have you personally embraced it? Is it a necessity, a strategy, or something else entirely in your view?

I’d argue that disruption is not just a strategy; it’s a necessity in every industry today. The business landscape can change rapidly, and the risk of becoming obsolete is incredibly high.

Creativity and adaptability are essential in a world that evolves at such a fast pace. Many traditional institutions must embrace disruption to survive; otherwise, they risk extinction.

From a young age, I have always questioned the status quo. I often pondered why certain practices are accepted without scrutiny and whether there might be better, more effective ways to approach challenges.

This mindset has fostered a continual pursuit of excellence, driving me to seek out the best possible solutions. It aligns perfectly with our fifth mantra at Mavik, which emphasizes the importance of continual and constant pursuit of excellence in outperformance.

What lessons have you learned from challenging conventional wisdom, and how have those lessons shaped your leadership style?

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is to embrace a mindset of resilience and problem-solving. This means having a strong foundation in your convictions while remaining open to new perspectives and being willing to face discomfort.

Confidence is important, but so is humility; recognizing that the world is dynamic and that we must evolve with it, is key.

This adaptability has shaped my leadership style, fostering an environment where questioning the status quo is encouraged. It promotes flexibility and allows our team to pivot when necessary.

Looking back at your career, in what ways has being disruptive defined or redefined your path?

Reflecting on my career, I recognize that not everything worked out as initially planned, and this is where being disruptive has played a pivotal role.

The ability to challenge conventional wisdom and take risks has allowed me to navigate through various circumstances effectively.

Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!

About the Interviewer: Cynthia Corsetti is an esteemed executive coach with over two decades in corporate leadership and 11 years in executive coaching. Author of the upcoming book, “Dark Drivers,” she guides high-performing professionals and Fortune 500 firms to recognize and manage underlying influences affecting their leadership. Beyond individual coaching, Cynthia offers a 6-month executive transition program and partners with organizations to nurture the next wave of leadership excellence.