My Purpose

I grew up in multiple small towns in Madhya Pradesh, India, in a lower-middle-class family. I was an academically average student and scored just 55% in my Class 12 examinations. Back then, I had no idea where life would take me.​​

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Looking back, I feel fortunate to have met mentors who believed in me, encouraged me to explore my potential and helped shape my journey. I remain grateful for their guidance and support.

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I went on to earn a bachelors in Computer Engineering from IET-DAVV, Indore, and an MBA from XLRI, Jamshedpur.

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I have worked with unicorns such as FirstCry and Icertis, organisations including Deloitte, Cognizant and HSBC, and entrepreneurship and development institutions including the World Bank, T-Hub and TiE.

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These experiences have given me the opportunity to work across different countries and business environments and understand the challenges of building and growing businesses.
 

The question that drives me

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My professional experiences deepened my curiosity about one question: Why do some entrepreneurs build brands that people love and remember, while others struggle to survive?

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As I started reading more about branding, I realised that most of the books and case studies I came across were about American brands or established Indian companies. I wanted to understand how Indian entrepreneurs were building brands in today's business environment, where customers have changed, marketing channels have evolved and competition is tougher.

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But I couldn't find enough books and case studies that answered the questions I had. So, I started speaking to founders, brand experts and venture capital investors to understand their experiences and learn what goes into building brands in India.

 

Books, writing and conversations

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Over the years, I have authored five books on branding, published by CNBC, Westland and Penguin. I have also written more than 100 articles for publications including Forbes, The Economic Times and The Financial Express.

 

My work has taken me to seven TEDx platforms, including IIM Indore, IIM Mumbai, IIM Amritsar, IIM Rohtak, IIM Shillong, Hansraj College and TEDxPuneStudio. I have also spoken at the Economic Times Brand Awards and entrepreneurship events at IIT Bombay and IIT Kanpur. I have shared my perspectives on branding on a podcast with Raj Shamani.

 

IIM Ahmedabad has recognised my contribution to literature on Indian brands.

 

Bringing business lessons into the classroom

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I believe students should learn not only from established global brands but also from Indian businesses that are finding innovative ways to build and grow brands in today's environment.

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I enjoy taking ideas and experiences from the business world into the classroom. As visiting faculty, I have taught branding, innovation, design thinking and business storytelling at institutions including IIM Indore, IIM Mumbai, IIM Visakhapatnam, IIM Ranchi, MICA and Great Lakes.

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My contribution to India

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India needs more entrepreneurs who can build successful businesses, create strong brands and generate employment opportunities for its growing young population.

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By making the journeys of India's new-age businesses visible and sharing the lessons behind their growth, I hope to help aspiring entrepreneurs learn how to build brands that succeed in India, gain recognition globally and create businesses that generate employment for many.