The Morning Brief Corner Office Conversation with Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director, Youtube India.
Oct 13, 2025
Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director of YouTube India, oversees a vibrant creator ecosystem in the country's fastest-growing market. She discusses the explosive rise of Shorts and the role of connected TVs in storytelling. Gunjan highlights how Indian creators are evolving into entrepreneurs, building trust and community through relatable content. They also tackle challenges like algorithm myths, creator burnout, and the impact of AI on content. Plus, she reveals insights into YouTube's diverse monetization models, showcasing the platform's potential for profitability.
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India's Creator Scale Is Explosive
- India shows massive creator scale with ~100 million channels uploading and ~15,000 channels above one million subscribers.
- This convergence of affordability and a young demographic accelerates creators turning into entrepreneurs.
From Bus Driver To 50M Subscribers
- Gunjan shares Viju's rise from bus driver and carpenter to the first Asian creator with 50 million subscribers.
- She contrasts this with international collaborations like Mio Japan who studied Hindi and connects cultures via content.
Invest Time To Build Fandom
- Build a trusted community by investing time and keeping a consistent voice over years.
- Read comments, create IPs, and experiment with formats like collectives and short form to grow fandom.