Unscripted With Karishma Patel Ritesh Agarwal on Risk, Resilience & Reinvention
Episode Description:
In this episode of Unscripted with Karishma Patel, I sit down with visionary entrepreneur Ritesh Agarwal, the founder and CEO of OYO, to talk about building one of the world’s largest hospitality brands — and all the risk, resilience, and reinvention it took to get there.
From launching his first startup as a teenager to becoming the youngest self-made billionaire from India, Ritesh opens up about the highs, the hurdles, and the mindset that’s powered his journey. We dive into how he navigated rejection, scaled globally, stayed grounded through rapid growth, and continues to evolve as a leader and innovator.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a dreamer in motion, or someone curious about the real story behind big success — this conversation is packed with wisdom, heart, and seriously valuable takeaways.
In this episode, we talk about:
- The early days of OYO and what sparked the idea
- What taking risks looked like at 17 — and what it looks like now
- How Ritesh handled failure, rejection, and pressure at a young age
- The mindset that helped him scale OYO across countries
- Staying grounded while leading at a global level
- How he reinvents himself personally and professionally through each phase of growth
- Advice for young entrepreneurs navigating uncertainty or big dreams
- What success means to him now, beyond the numbers
Connect with Ritesh Agarwal:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/riteshagar
Youtube: https://youtu.be/NlNqZVQbX4A
Stay Connected with Me!
Follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/kp.fitstyle
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www.instagram.com/unscriptedwithkp
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unscripted-with-karishma-patel/id1664622384
https://open.spotify.com/show/4CtZ2LPYJU5yew6Janwj9v?si=0d818475a9824ca8
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See you next time on Unscripted with Karishma Patel.