Latest news with #AnkurWarikoo
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
She felt overburdened with work but undervalued by bosses. Ankur Warikoo's advice to 'quiet' employee is striking a nerve across LinkedIn
When a young woman struggling with self-worth in a hybrid workplace reached out to Ankur Warikoo , she probably expected some gentle career advice. Instead, she got a wake-up call—one that thousands are now applauding online for its honesty, empathy, and razor-sharp insight. Her email laid bare what many introverts silently battle at work: discomfort in social settings, fear of pushing back, and a deep-seated belief that being 'quiet' equals being overlooked. Warikoo's reply didn't sugarcoat it—and maybe that's exactly what the modern workforce needs. In her message, the woman explained how a shift from fully remote to hybrid work had rattled her confidence. Surrounded by colleagues, she began feeling overly conscious, especially when seniors started treating her like a pushover—assigning arbitrary deadlines and putting her under pressure. She described herself as introverted, often feeling inferior in meetings and hesitant to assert herself, all in the name of 'respect.' But Warikoo's response reframed her dilemma completely. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Cybersecurity Technology MCA Data Science Public Policy Management Finance Artificial Intelligence CXO healthcare Digital Marketing Healthcare MBA Data Analytics Data Science PGDM others Leadership Design Thinking Others Operations Management Project Management Degree Product Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months MIT xPRO CERT-MIT xPRO PGC in Cybersecurity Starts on undefined Get Details Warikoo's response 'You're not broken,' he wrote. 'But you are stuck in a story that no longer serves you.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Building Automation Systems Software Cost Might Surprise you Automation Systems | Search Ads Undo Warikoo clarified that introversion wasn't the real issue. What she was experiencing was avoidance, born from self-doubt masked as personality. She wasn't quiet by nature—she was holding back out of fear that she wasn't 'enough.' Using a powerful metaphor, he added, 'Nobody ever learned how to swim by standing on the shore and watching others talk about the ocean.' His point? Growth comes from engagement, not perfection. The only way to build confidence is by stepping into the discomfort and taking action—however small. You Might Also Like: Good salaries, flexible hours — yet employees kept quitting. Mumbai-based founder fired 3 people. Internet supports her decision In the workplace, her reluctance to challenge authority stemmed from a desire to remain polite. But Warikoo cut through that illusion too: 'Being assertive is not being disrespectful. And being silent is not being respectful—it's being invisible.' He urged her, and by extension, everyone struggling with this, to stop apologizing for not knowing enough. Instead, he encouraged scripting firm but respectful responses like, 'I understand the urgency, but I'll need until X to do this well.' Warikoo's message wasn't just advice—it was a blueprint to unlearn self-sabotaging behaviour. He closed with a powerful reminder: 'This version of you—the quiet one who makes herself smaller—is a story that needs to stop. Time to write a better one.' In a time where workplace culture is still learning how to accommodate different personalities, Warikoo's post is a timely reminder that change doesn't always start with the system. Sometimes, it starts with rewriting your own story.
India Today
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Is Ankur Warikoo's latest book also ghostwritten? Author reveals
Author-entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo made headlines earlier this year after he reacted to a viral LinkedIn post by a ghostwriter who claimed to have written his books. To everyone's surprise, Warikoo confirmed that she had not only written just his debut, but also his second the launch of his latest book, Build An Epic Career, Warikoo spoke to as addressed the elephant in the room: did he write this one himself? Well, you will soon figure this out along with several other anecdotes that the author shared regarding the art of articulation of words, the role of artificial intelligence in the writing landscape, and several other interesting are excerpts from Ankur Warikoo's interview: Q: Let's get straight to it: Is Build An Epic Career ghostwritten too?A: Yes, and no. I have been creating content now for 20+ years - in the written form on my blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, and in video form on Instagram and YouTube. So, the best use of my time is to find a curator, guide them through the journey of curating my content across years, compile and structure it, if needed, and stitch disconnected parts in my tone of voice. And that's what I have done for all of my books and will continue to do for all of my books.Q: In a recent podcast interview, you said, 'The world has no shortage of students, but a shortage of good teachers.' How do you think your upcoming book, Build an Epic Career, attempts to bridge that gap, especially since it's written with Gen Z in mind? What message would you like to give to the ed-tech or author community about embracing the mindset of this new generation?A: The problem isn't always what was being taught, but how it was delivered. When we remember our favourite teachers from school or college, it is rarely because of what they taught. Instead, because of how they taught. And I think that's what is missing, in classrooms when it comes to teachers, and in books when it comes to authors.I feel most authors write books to feed their egos, to project a certain self of theirs that they have fallen in love with, and to try and convince the world that they are super smart. And unfortunately, most people live with the belief that smartness equals complexity.I write for an audience that doesn't read as much or has never read. And if my attempt is to make them read, I cannot be sitting in my own head, looking at myself in the mirror, and patting myself on how awesome I am. Nobody cares. Instead, I need to step into the shoes of my reader and ask, how would they want their book to be?Which is why I will never, by design, win any literary award. Because the discerning reader would hate my books. They are disconcerting. Unstructured. Blasphemous, if you will, challenging every notion the book industry has held onto for decades. Which is also why I've been the most surprising bestseller in recent As someone who covers the trending section, my observation of you as a content creator is that you've always advocated a scientific use of analytics and content articulation to resonate with audiences online. What are some moments that made you realise your USP in the content creation space?A: I believe that the true strength of content creation today lies in data-backed empathy. We are blessed to be living in an era when human emotions can be read through bits and bytes. I have 16M+ followers across social media. Imagine if I had to sit down and understand them? It would be impossible. But it is possible today. I will admit that my training in science has helped me instance I can recall is early on when I saw that my YouTube videos on personal finance were shared a lot on WhatsApp. And a fair share of my viewers come from WhatsApp. Which told me that personal finance is not so personal for my audience. They don't just consume, nod, and do something about it. They actually share it with their friends and family, to tell them, look, this is something we all ought to that day, I started to treat every video on YouTube not as personal video consumption but instead as a shared surprisingly, as I grew bigger, people who met me IRL told me that they watch my videos on their TV while having dinner with their family. I had replaced the 9 pm news or KBC!Q: One of the most talked-about issues in the writing world today is AI usage. Many writers and freelancers have shared their frustrations about clients or editors rejecting their work due to AI detectors flagging it, often leaving them unpaid despite the effort. As a creator, author, and someone who works with a team of writers, what is your take on this?A: I tweeted about this sometime who use AI to create, will who use AI to elevate, will what I do, and that's what will separate the winners from everyone else in the future.Q: What would your advice be for young writers? How would you encourage them to build a brand, either of themselves or for themselves?advertisementA: When it comes to writing - my simple mantra is - write everyday. Do not set a goal to write a book. Set a habit of writing everyday and a book will emerge sooner than selling a book is much harder than writing don't just stop at writing. Publishing a book that no one reads is the most unfair treatment you can give to yourself as a writer. As a writer, you have a moral responsibility to ensure that your words reach your share your journey as you write. Not just the good parts and the wins. But the hard parts are as well. Be authentic. In this fake world, authenticity shines.Q: Is there any message you'd like to share with the readers of your new book? What should they expect from it, and in what major way do you think it might shift their career outlook? How is it relevant to them?A: It is the book that I wish I had read when I was 24, confused, insecure, ashamed, and dejected. I felt like I would never win, because the playbook of 'go to college, get a job, earn well, and die' had failed for me. And I didn't know of any other playbook. This book is not going to tell you what you should do next. This book will tell you how to think about your next move. It is a book about career mindset, not career options. Because in a rapidly changing world, what you want to do might soon be irrelevant. What you need then is a model on how to figure out what you could do Warikoo has written four books: Do Epic Shit (2021), Get Epic Shit Done (2022), Make Epic Money (2024), and Build An Epic Career (2025).- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How to go from Rs 3 to 33 LPA in 5 years? Ankur Warikoo shares how he increased his salary
Entrepreneur and author Ankur Warikoo recently shared a heartfelt post about his career journey, one that struck a chord with thousands online. In a now-viral LinkedIn update, Warikoo opened up about returning to India from the US at 24, jobless and unsure about the future, only to rise to become one of the top campus hires earning Rs 33 lakh per annum within five years. 'I got my first job at 24, earning Rs 14,746 per month. At 26, I was earning Rs 12 lakh per annum. At 29, Rs 33 lakh per annum,' he wrote. From PhD dropout to first job Warikoo had dropped out of a PhD programme in the US and came back to India without a plan. Needing financial stability, he spent 45 days applying everywhere, from newspaper ads to walk-in interviews. Finally, he got a job at NIS Sparta for Rs 15,000 per month. But he soon realised that many of his colleagues with MBAs were ahead in skills and understanding. That's when he discovered ISB's one-year MBA course. Despite the high cost and pressure of taking a loan, his family's first ever, he took the leap. Live Events Breaking into consulting Post-MBA, getting into top consulting firms wasn't easy. Warikoo failed his BCG interview and nearly missed his chance at ATKearney too. But someone took a chance on him. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and went on to become the firm's fastest-promoted employee. By 2009, he was earning Rs 33 lakh a year. 'Double down on yourself' Warikoo ended his post with a powerful lesson, 'I reached where I did because people bet on me. I stayed grateful and worked hard. If someone takes a bet on you, double down. On yourself.' Many on social media were moved by his honesty and resilience. 'The humility, the grit, the way you respected every opportunity, it's the kind of story we don't hear enough,' one person wrote.
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Ankur Warikoo reveals how his salary jumped from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 33 lakh per annum in 5 years: ‘I took the bet'
Entrepreneur and author Ankur Warikoo recently shared an inspiring post on LinkedIn, reflecting on his unconventional journey from dropping out of a PhD programme in the US to becoming one of the top campus hires in India and how his income increased from Rs 3 lakh per annum (LPA) to Rs 33 LPA in just five years. In his post, Warikoo shared that he returned to India at 24 with no clear direction. 'I dropped out of my PhD in the US and came back to India. With no plans and no visibility over my future, I needed financial stability. I had to get a job,' he wrote. With no MBA, limited connections, and little exposure, he began responding to newspaper ads, attending walk-in interviews, and leveraging the small network he had. 'I tapped into my (limited) network, applied through newspaper ads, and went for walk-in interviews,' he shared. After 45 days of relentless effort, he made it to the final round at NIS Sparta. 'I had no idea what to ask for,' he said. The company offered him Rs 15,000 in hand. 'More than I expected,' he added. At the time, his starting monthly salary was Rs 14,746, Warikoo shared. But soon, reality hit. Surrounded by colleagues with management degrees, he began to feel the gap in skills and confidence. That is when he came across the one-year MBA programme at ISB, an expensive proposition that required taking out the first-ever loan for his family. 'I asked myself, can I land a job post-MBA that pays me at least Rs 35K a month? The data said yes. So I took the bet,' he wrote. Warikoo's post-MBA journey was far from smooth. He failed the BCG interview and stumbled in the second round with AT Kearney. But someone saw potential and gave him another shot. 'I bombed my BCG interview. Fumbled in ATK's second round, too. But someone gave me another chance. I gave it everything,' he said. That second chance paid off. He landed a role at AT Kearney with a package of Rs 12 lakh per annum. In just 18 months, he became the firm's fastest-promoted employee. By the time he left in 2009, he was earning Rs 33 lakh annually. 'I got my first job at 24, earning Rs 14,746 per month. At 26, I was earning 12 lakh per annum. At 29, 33 lakh per annum,' Warikoo shared. Concluding the post, he shared a powerful takeaway and wrote, 'I reached where I did because people bet on me. I stayed grateful and worked hard. If someone takes a bet on you, double down. On yourself.' See the post here: The post resonated with several professionals and freshers on LinkedIn. Hailing Warikoo's resilience, a user wrote, 'What a powerful story, Ankur. The throughline here isn't just career progression: it's resilience, gratitude, and the quiet courage to keep showing up without guarantees.' Another user commented, 'Your journey showcases remarkable growth, and the blend of time, gratitude, and self-belief is a potent formula for lasting transformation.'
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
10 times salary increase in 5 years: Ankur Warikoo shares roadmap and the career bet that worked for him
Achieving rapid career growth in a short span is something many aspire to, but few manage to pull off. Entrepreneur, author, and content creator Ankur Warikoo recently opened up about how he increased his salary tenfold in just five years — a transformation driven by calculated risks, self-investment, and perseverance. Through a detailed account of his early struggles and key turning points, Warikoo shared on Linkedin a roadmap of how he went from earning Rs 15,000 a month to Rs 33 lakh per annum, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to grow in their career. From PhD Dropout to Entry-Level Job Warikoo began his professional journey at the age of 24 after dropping out of a PhD program in the US. With no clear direction and in urgent need of financial stability, he returned to India and started looking for work. Relying on newspaper ads and walk-in interviews, he eventually landed a position at a company. Despite lacking real-world experience, he was offered a monthly salary of around Rs 15,000 — more than he had expected. This first job involved designing training programs for corporate clients. Warikoo admitted he knew little about the practicalities of the workplace but was determined to prove himself. Observing how much better equipped his MBA-holding colleagues were, he started considering a management degree as a way to bridge the gap between his academic background in physics and the business world. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Money Should You Have Before Hiring a Financial Advisor? SmartAsset Learn More Undo Risking It All for an MBA His decision to pursue an MBA marked a turning point. The course came with a hefty price tag and a loan repayment plan that meant he would need to earn at least Rs 35,000 a month after graduation — more than double what he was currently making. Despite it being the first loan ever taken in his family, Warikoo took the leap, betting on himself. While at the MBA college, he aimed to make the most of the experience. Although he didn't make it into the top 10% — usually the group that attracts top consulting firms — he remained active, maintained strong grades, and broadened his profile. His persistence paid off when he landed two job interviews. Breaking Into Consulting and Rapid Growth After a failed attempt with the first company and a shaky second round with the other one, Warikoo eventually secured an offer from the latter — a major win that placed him among the highest earners from his batch with a Rs 12 lakh per annum package. Within a year and a half, he was promoted — the fastest ever in the firm at the time — and his salary doubled. By the time he left AT Kearney in 2009, he was earning Rs 33 lakh per annum, a dramatic leap from his starting salary of ₹3 lakh five years earlier. Looking back, Warikoo credited his rise to the opportunities provided by those who believed in his potential. He emphasized that while others took a chance on him, he did his part by working hard and staying thankful. His key message: when someone bets on you, the best thing you can do is bet on yourself too.
