An AVP at J.P. Morgan, Arti Agrawal has won awards everywhere she has worked, including Barclays. Along with her job, she pursued her passion for running and became an ACSM-certified marathon coach. She won a bronze medal by completing the 90-kilometre Comrades Marathon in 10 hours and 48 minutes and also finished the 100-mile Hell race in just 24 hours and 50 minutes.

Arti Agrawal is employed at J.P. Morgan, an investment bank in Mumbai. She is also an ultramarathoner and runs distances exceeding 50 kilometres. Notably, she took part in the prestigious Comrades Marathon held in South Africa, winning a medal. Additionally, she achieved third place in the open category in the gruelling 100-mile Hell Race. She has also been featured in the India Book of Records.

Arti recalls that when she shared her ambitious goal of winning a medal in the Comrades Marathon with her coach, Satish Gujaran, he was doubtful due to her relatively recent start in running and her slower pace. But she persisted and succeeded in winning the bronze medal by completing the 90-kilometre race in 10 hours and 48 minutes. She has also achieved other remarkable feats like completing a 100-mile race in just 24 hours and 50 minutes. Additionally, she participated in a relay race from Mumbai to Goa as part of a team of 12 girls, earning a spot in the India Book of Records. Arti was recognised as the fastest female in the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay, a corporate event in Mumbai. She has consistently placed in the top three in various races ranging from 10 kilometres to 65 kilometres and looks forward to participating in more races in the future.

Arti Agrawal holds an Assistant Vice President position at J.P. Morgan. She works in the wealth management department there, where her responsibilities include designing products and overseeing project initiatives. Previously, she worked at Barclays, where she received the Global Value Recognition Award for excellence. She has been recognised for excellence in every company she has worked at, except one. Arti was also awarded the Value Award for Fun due to her enjoying attitude and dedication to her work.

At her bank, they sponsor runners and provide opportunities for female employees and their family members to participate in races. This encouraged her to take part in a 5-kilometre race, without any prior training. Despite warnings from everyone, she persevered and completed the race. This experience made her realise that running was enjoyable and not as challenging as she had initially thought, motivating her to pursue more.

Arti has also founded Cadence Running, an organisation driven by her vision. Although not yet registered, the organisation aims to address two main issues. First, support athletes who have resources but struggle with motivation by seeking the backing of a company or organisation. Second, assist talented individuals who lack financial resources. Cadence Running aims to bridge these gaps and provide support to both groups.

Arti Agrawal faced a unique challenge during her first full marathon when she got her period unexpectedly. Seeking advice from various sources, she decided to run and completed the marathon despite the discomfort. This experience highlighted the lack of guidance available to women in similar situations, prompting her to educate herself on the subject. She pursued a course to deepen her understanding and now offers coaching and guidance to runners, focusing on event-specific and fitness-related aspects as well as providing general training.

Despite her demanding nine-hour office job and the responsibilities of being a single mother, Arti Agrawal is determined to make strides towards realising her dream of establishing her organisation.

Originally from Jaipur, Arti's family moved to Mumbai when she was in seventh grade, due to her father's transferable job. Coming from a lower-middle-class background with limited resources, they lived in a rented one-room kitchen flat. Due to financial constraints, she and her siblings attended a Hindi-medium school, while her friends attended reputed schools. This inequity troubled her, and she questioned her father about it. His response left a lasting impact on her—he advised her that while we may not always be able to choose our circumstances, we can strive to excel wherever we are placed. This advice has guided Arti to give her best in all aspects of her life, whether it's her professional career, managing household responsibilities, or pursuing her passion for running.

Arti completed her BSc in Mathematics and later pursued an MBA in Finance. Her upbringing and her father's advice have instilled in her a strong work ethic and a determination to succeed despite challenges.

When asked about her role models, Arti says she draws inspiration from various sources. She deeply admires her hardworking parents, who taught her the value of having contentment with whatever you have in life. She believes that true inspiration can be found in the people around us.

The lyrics of the title song of the movie "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar" resonate with her and inspire her.

Reflecting on her hardships, Arti recalls the challenges she faced due to her Hindi-medium background. She experienced being judged in college and was unable to secure a placement in a big company or bank during a placement drive because of her lack of fluency in English. However, instead of being discouraged, she used this setback as motivation to improve her skills and went on to work at leading banks winning awards for her performance.

Arti has faced underestimation from male colleagues who doubted her capabilities being a woman. In her community, girls are allowed to be educated but are not encouraged to pursue careers. Despite this, with her mother's support, she pursued her career and continued working even after getting married. After marriage, she faced expectations from her in-laws to manage household chores along with her office responsibilities.

Additionally, she had to take a break due to her pregnancy. Upon returning to the office, she encountered criticism from her seniors. However, Arti believes in resilience and compares herself to a spring, rising stronger with each suppression. She acknowledges that her journey has been challenging, but she has never allowed herself to give up.

Arti Agrawal made a courageous decision to prioritise her career even after the birth of her baby, defying societal norms that expect women to sacrifice their careers for childcare. She encourages all women not to give up on their careers and dreams.

When she started running, Arti had to dedicate time to practise regularly. After five to six months of training, she completed her first 21-kilometre marathon. However, her husband opposed her running and asked her to stop doing it. After a year of disagreement and after several attempts by Arti to convince him otherwise, he gave her an ultimatum to choose between him and her passion for running. Arti made the difficult choice to follow her passion and left her husband. She feels fulfilled and happy now that she can pursue her love for running freely. She advises others to follow their dreams, even if they face challenges or opposition.

To the aspiring runners, she advises them to base their decisions on their goals and not on their situation. She says that she has a goal-oriented approach and focuses on the process. She explains that you may not reach your goal today, but with determination and practice, you will achieve it in the near future. She suggests making consistent efforts even in adverse situations.

To the young Indians, she encourages them to do what they want and not listen to the people who say that you cannot do it. Pursue your dreams with all your heart and without any fear.

She encourages everyone to be humble and grounded, no matter how much success they have achieved. She urges people to do whatever is possible to help someone achieve their dreams.

She ends with the quote, “Kon kehta hai ki aasman mein surakh ho nahi sakta, ek pathar to tabiyat se uchchalo yaro.”