The BarberShop with Shantanu

Is organisational loyalty outdated, or are we asking the wrong questions?This week, on the latest episode of ‘The Bridge’, Shantanu engages in a thought-provoking discussion with leaders from both sides of the generational spectrum.On the one hand, Aseem Dhru (MD & CEO at SBFC Finance Ltd.) and Luis Miranda (Former Bank Treasurer at HDFC and Ex-CEO at IDFC) share valuable insights on why internal promotions, career patience, and organisational commitment remain the bedrock of professional success.On the other hand, Ishaan Gulati (Chief of Staff to CEO at Rebel Food) and Arshi Gupta (Senior Associate, Investments at Singularity AMC), the Gen Z voices, reflect on how they view career progression with their fast-moving approach to work and the gig economy.Tune in for a raw, honest conversation about:- Why does career patience and internal promotions still matter?- The unspoken pressure of choosing the “dream career”.- How Gen Z’s approach to job hopping is reshaping workplace norms.For those eager to understand what’s driving these shifts, this latest episode provides all your answers. Tune in and share your thoughts in the comments.Also, don’t forget to let us know what topics you’d like to see on The Bridge next!Navigate your way through these chapters00:00 Coming up00:52 Introduction01:38 Organisational loyalty: a two-way street?02:42 Founders on organisational loyalty04:56 Role of self-interest in job-switching vs commitment08:00 Loyalty: from promotion to retention to trust14:47 Jobs: situationship or relationship? Gen Z’s FOMO decoded19:30 Rise of JOB culture & Gen Z lost in Career Choices21:09 What senior leaders look for in hiring22:28 Closing thoughts

Joining the discussion are Revant Bhate, Co-Founder & CEO of Mosaic Wellness, and Kaushik Mukherjee, Co-founder & COO of SUGAR Cosmetics, seasoned entrepreneurs who built iconic brands sans personal branding. Alongside them are Gen Z voices, including Goutami Rane from Ogilvy, addressing the critical debate on personal branding's relevance today. The conversation dives into why visibility matters, the validity of online personas, and the fine line between authenticity and performance—shedding light on the evolving narrative of self-presentation in a digital age.

Is hustle culture quietly killing India’s next generation?Is Gen Z actually giving up at their jobs for reasons evident but often unsaid?Where really is this gap and why is it important to fill it?Next season of the Barbershop is not a season, it’s a completely different story.A whole new setup, a mix of old and new voices, unfiltered views, and debates that often make it out of these leaders’ LinkedIn's, onto the news! 😂Only this time, we don’t have a 1:1 setup, we have a round table.Joining Shantanu are Vidit Dugar (Chief of Staff at Bombay Shaving Company) and Gauri Bansal (Product and Strategy at Spotify), on the one side. Ambitious. Sharp. Super switched on. They represent India’s blue-eyed Gen Z at workplaces.Sitting on the other side are Radhika Gupta (MD & CEO, Edelweiss Mutual Fund) and Damodar Mall (CEO, Reliance Retail). Two veterans who made it to their CXO roles in their early thirties, all with patience, clarity, and grit.This is not a podcast, it’s a debate. Someone’s got to start it!Where aspirational Gen Zs meet inspirational leaders.Tune in for a brutally honest conversation on:- Are Gen Z an employer's nightmare?- The 9-to-5 job was made for people who worked in factories. So why are we still working like that?- Why does every Gen Z worker feel like they are underpaid?- Why comparison is the key recipe for unhappiness.So, on this note, dear Gen Zs, this is for you. YOU are the hero of this show.Here it is. The wait is over. This platform is now officially yours.Talk to us, drop a comment and tell us if you’d like to be a part of the next bridge debate. 🙌🏻Navigate your way through:00:00 Coming up0:55 What is ‘The Bridge’?2:03 Hustle culture through Gen Z’s lens5:23 Senior leaders on generational clashes and hustle culture9:57 The truth about time and work quality14:40 Gen Z on no fixed hours and transforming digital life17:22 Women and hustle culture20:14 Generations on grind: accountability, rewards, hard work, and purpose24:08 Hustle culture and mental health struggles27:02 Backstage performers vs. Frontstage seekers30:41 Closing Thoughts

What if playing it safe is the real courage in entrepreneurship? In Barbershop’s latest episode, Shantanu sits down with Alok Sama (Writer & Investor) to explore what truly makes a CEO great. It’s not just about flashy risks, but staying humble and adapting as things change.How Alok brought his first book ‘The Money Trap’ to life, and how getting a degree in Master of Fine Arts, from NYU at 58 proves that growth has no age. Key Takeaways:- Leadership is as much about humility and adaptability as bold risks.- AI and disruptive tech are shaking things up, but also raise questions on creativity and originality.- India’s startup scene faces unique socio-economic challenges alongside fresh growth chances.- How and why to go back to school if you feel a passion strongly. So, Alok’s story exhibits that sometimes fortune favours the unexpected. Join us, and maybe you will see your professional path a little more differently in the aftermath. Also, if you’d like to join our next conversation as live audience, sign up here: https://forms.gle/yF6Rzr9NRheKRoV98Navigate the episode 00:00 Coming Up01: 17 Introduction2:30 Top CEOs in Alok’s views7:44 Comparing CEOs' operating styles: global vs Indian leaders11:14 Billionaire behaviour: insecurity or personal quirk?14:40 How do visionary CEOs adapt and grow?17:30 From Instagram to ChatGPT: Alok on AI24:44 Top CEO behaviours: founder vs manager?31:11 Alok on Indian founders and tech evolution42:53 Alok’s take on the tariff situation44:00 Indian conglomerates in US: capital drives disruption?49:31 India’s middle class: unemployment and consumption issues53:35 Risk-taking: entrepreneur or investor, Alok?58:27 Alok on MFA, writing, and nonfiction passion1:03:06 Money Trap duration and AI’s originality threat/His Book journey length and AI vs originality1:07:48 Living and investing: Alok’s India perspective1:18:14 Closing Thoughts

What if you could build your epic career without the fear of failing?In a world chasing speed, Warikoo advises people to try everything, experience it all, until the path becomes clear.In Barbershop’s latest episode, Shantanu chats with Ankur Warikoo (Entrepreneur and Bestselling Author), who deeply talks about personal growth and mindset shifts on career development.He shares his journey about scaling a 70 Cr education empire, ‘WebVeda’, with 100% refundable courses, and yet, it’s thriving effortlessly. In this episode, Warikoo explains that content isn’t just about reach, it’s about the trust you build over time. So, if he, being a well-known social media personality, gives content half a day a week and crushes it, why can’t you find your survival options? There’s no fluff at all in this conversation, just very actionable steps and real talk about life, purpose and bootstrapping your dreams. Key Takeaways:- What resilience and long-term thinking look like in business.- How AI is quietly transforming course dubbing and content clean-up.- What fuels his three income engines: content, community, and investing- What if playing it smart could also be playing it bold? Tune in, and maybe you will see your path a little differently.Hope this episode inspires you to go “all in” with your idea! And if you’d like to join our next conversation live, sign up here: https://forms.gle/yF6Rzr9NRheKRoV98Navigate the episode 00:00 Coming Up1:07 Introduction2:03 The source of inspiration behind Ankur Warikoo’s content4:51 Using knowledge and optionality to assess risk in career decisions08:57 The power of consistent content and its role in trust-distributed perspectives.16:01 How evolving content helps trust to shape consumer behaviour in low-trust societies21:09 Understanding market dynamics and changing views on careers, income, and investments.32:21 Easy loans, less accountability, AI cutting productivity and rising consumption across all layers.41:00 Older Folks on money stress and Impact of AI on knowledge workers47:50 Quick commerce vs. Offline profit: Ideal time strategic sales choices57:27 Warikoo's views on commercial real estate in prime areas surged59:16 Exploring Warikoo’s authorship path and the growth of his Ed-tech initiative1:08:38 The role of AI in content creation and WebVeda’s setup1:13:44 Warikoo's investment propaganda and vision1:15:21 Role of Warikoo Crew and Warikoo Partner in zero-tech project management1:21:19 Warikoo’s solo entrepreneurial story and strategic investment tips1:29:27 A chat on books Shantanu and Ankur have read and key takeaways from Ankur’s 4th book.1:42:08 Closing Thoughts

In this engaging discussion, Manish Taneja, CEO and MD of Purplle.com, shares his journey from humble beginnings in Faridabad to leading a ₹10,000 Cr beauty empire. He emphasizes the importance of building with purpose rather than chasing trends and reveals common pitfalls for founders in the beauty space. Taneja highlights how AI is reshaping brand building and the significance of long-term strategies over quick wins. His insights on strategic acquisitions and market adaptation underline his commitment to redefining beauty in India.

If there’s no existential doubt, it’s not an early-stage business.Because you're just figuring it out, one bold risk at a time.In this episode Shantanu is joined by Vedang Patel (Co-Founder of The Souled Store) and Yogesh Kabra, (Founder of XYXX Apparels) for a raw and honest conversation on what it really takes to start up.As a bootstrapped company, Vedang started with just ₹5 lakhs and a big dream. On the other hand, Yogesh started up in a 250 sq. ft. room in Surat. But Now? These founders have built a 1000Cr empire. Key Takeaways from the episode: •⁠ ⁠How a customer-first mindset shapes everything, from product to brand.•⁠ ⁠What should you know before building a clothing brand for women?•⁠ ⁠Why “mental freedom” from your investor can often be more powerful than just financial backing.This is a story of building something of your own with the right people by your side.Tell us in the comments: What’s the wildest risk you’ve taken to build your dream? And if you’d like to join our next conversation as a live audience member, sign up here: https://forms.gle/yF6Rzr9NRheKRoV98Navigate the episode00:00 – Coming Up01:10 – What Are Business Models and Market Trends?04:13 – Why Being Honest About Business Numbers is Important07:01 – Problems in the Clothing Industry09:59 – How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market13:08 – What Customer Retention and Acquisition Costs Really Mean16:02 – How Good Products Keep Customers Coming Back19:08 – How Fashion Trends Change and How to Keep Up22:16 – A New Look at the Underwear Market25:16 – Wrapping Things Up and Looking Ahead26:49 – Why Average Order Value (AOV) is Important for Sales29:20 – How to Market Your Brand and Keep People Interested32:09 – The Problems with Quick Commerce in Clothing industry35:14 – Why Consumers Return Stuff in Online Shopping38:18 – How to Build and Market Your Brand Creatively41:55 – Is Business Success About Luck or Strategy?49:22 – Moving Your Business from Offline to Online52:17 – How Luck and Your Attitude Impact Success54:00 – Finding the Right Investors and Why They Matter59:22 – How We Think About Money01:03:03 – The Mindset of Thriving vs. Just Getting By01:07:16 – The Excitement of Growing Your Business01:14:01 – Closing thoughts

Join Deep Kalra, the visionary Founder of MakeMyTrip, and Sanjeev Aggarwal, an early backer with deep insights into the startup scene. They reveal the rollercoaster story of building a ₹10,000 Cr travel empire, discussing the tough times before 2005 and the bond between founders and investors. Discover how strategic board dynamics shape IPO strategies and the importance of quality governance. Kalra shares valuable lessons on resilience in entrepreneurship and the significance of product thinking—and even touches on personal grooming's unexpected role in confidence.

Some companies almost don’t make it, until they do.MakeMyTrip could’ve been one of them.In this episode, Shantanu Deshpande is joined by Deep Kalra (Founder and Chairman of MakeMyTrip Limited) and Sanjeev Aggarwal (Co-Founder, Fundamentum, Helion and Daksh), one of MMT’s early investors. Kalra and Aggarwal uncover the real behind-the-scenes of building one of India’s most iconic travel companies.This Investor-Founder bond isn’t just about travel. It’s about the courage to stick around when the road gets rough.Let us know in the comments: What’s the toughest phase your startup has survived and how? And if you’d like to join our next conversation as a live audience member, sign up here: https://forms.gle/yF6Rzr9NRheKRoV98

Saurabh Pandey, Founder and CEO of Eloelo, shares his inspiring journey from Flipkart to launching India's largest Live Social Entertainment App. He discusses how Eloelo grew rapidly during the pandemic, tackling loneliness and fostering community through interactive features. Saurabh explains the unique monetization strategies that empower creators and reveals the importance of transparency in the startup world. He also reflects on navigating the challenges of securing funding and building a business during uncertain times.