The BarberShop with Shantanu

Is Startup a real problem-solver or just a way out of toxic jobs?For next-gen, it’s the real escape from 9-to-5s and societal expectations. But as startup culture grows louder, are the deeper motivations being overlooked?In this episode of The Bridge, Shantanu hosts a multi-generational roundtable with industry veterans, Abhijeet Dabas (Nykaafashion Executive VP & Business Head - Fashion) and Ankush Grover (Rebel Foods - Co-Founder & CEO), who unpack what decades in finance and leadership have taught them. From the other side, Vidit Dugar (Chief of Staff at Bombay Shaving Company), and Akansha Padmane (Final-year Undergraduate at IIT Bombay), representing the Gen Z lens, question whether the facade of hustle culture hides the harsher reality.Together, they debate on:1.⁠ ⁠If startups are driven by purpose or frustration2.⁠ ⁠Why bad jobs often spark better ideas, Gen Z redefines3.⁠ ⁠How ‘act like an owner’ mindset wins the game, with zero funding4.⁠ ⁠Why failure might open more doors than success, Founders decoded.If you’ve ever thought, “Should I just leave everything and start up?”, this conversation is a must-watch.🎧 Watch now to hear both sides and determine if Entrepreneurship is still worth the hype.

In this engaging discussion, Aseem Dhru, MD & CEO at SBFC Finance Ltd., emphasizes the importance of internal promotions and career patience for professional success. Luis Miranda, former Bank Treasurer at HDFC, shares insights on the changing dynamics of organizational loyalty and job commitment. The conversation also features Gen Z voices Ishaan Gulati and Arshi Gupta, who challenge traditional views, advocating for a fast-paced career approach and highlighting the allure of job hopping. Expect a lively contrast between generational perspectives!

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.

Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, joins young leaders Vidit Dugar and Gauri Bansal for a lively roundtable on the clash between hustle culture and Gen Z's work expectations. They tackle whether Gen Z is truly underperforming or simply redefining success while juggling mental health challenges. The discussion reveals how societal pressures and social media shape their views on productivity and fulfillment, emphasizing the urgent need for generational dialogue and a healthier work environment.

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