The BarberShop with Shantanu

Welcome to The Barbershop's newest series, Uncut Gems! 🌟 In our premiere episode, we sit down with Akhil Gupta, VP at Treebo as well as Sidharth Gupta, CEO & Co-founder at Treebo to dive into the untold stories of startup heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Discover Akhil's incredible journey, his pivotal role in building Treebo from the ground up, and the lessons he has to impart about resilience and leadership during challenging times.

In this week’s episode of Barbershop, Sunil Agarwal, Founder and Chairman of RSH Global, Parent Company of JOY Personal Care, shares his insights on the dynamic landscape of Indian Businesses!In this episode, we unravel the secrets of sustaining a legacy business in India, explore the evolving landscape of direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, and delve into why India stands at the brink of an innovation explosion.Sunil Agarwal shares insights on navigating the nuances of FMCG businesses, the challenges and opportunities presented by modern trade, and his perspectives on why the quick commerce trend might not be the golden ticket for everyone.From FMCG insights to the perils of quick commerce, this conversation is a deep dive into the future of the industry. Don't miss out on this enlightening dialogue!Coming Up! 0:00:00 - 0:01:23Introduction and Sunil’s First Business and Introducing Skin Care products 0:01:24 - 0:12:30Growing a Business in 80’s-90’s 0:12:31 - 0:15:35Sunil’s Learnings from Risks and Failures 0:15:36 - 0:18:43D2C revolutionising Skin Care products in Indian Market 0:18:44 - 0:23:15Distribution Difficulties and Retailer Economics 0:23:16 - 0:29:45JOY’s Growth 2004 onwards 0:29:46 - 0:32:57Identifying Categories and Bottom Boxing Technique 0:32:58 - 0:37:26Importance of Focus in Growing a Business 0:37:27 - 0:41:33Homegrown Professional Business and Working with family 0:41:34 - 0:43:57JOY’s Online Trade and Maximum Profit during Covid-19 0:43:58 - 0:51:09General Trade v/s Modern Trade v/s Online Trade 0:51:10 - 0:53:40Will Quick Commerce survive in India? 0:53:41 - 0:58:25Sunil’s Spirituality Journey and Vision for JOY 0:58:26 - 1:11:00Diversification of Assets 1:11:01 - 1:18:25What’s next for JOY? 1:18:26 - 1:24:10Sunil’s Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs 1:24:11 - 1:31:32

In today’s episode of Barbershop, we're excited to have a conversation with Venky Balasubramanian, Co-Founder and CEO at Plivo, who is a tech wizard and serial entrepreneur, who a remarkable individual with a journey that encompasses everything from coding as a teenager to entrepreneurship in various fields.He share his unique experiences of building and selling AMIBO robots, running a momo business, working in telecom businesses across the globe, and the challenges and triumphs of starting and turning their own SaaS company, Plivo, profitable with $50 Million+ annual revenue in under four years.Join us as we explore these diverse and inspiring stories, filled with personal anecdotes, professional insights, and plenty of laughter.Here's how the conversation unfolds :Coming Up!: 0:00:0 - 0:01:17Introduction and back to Venky’s teenage life: 0:01:18 - 0:06:04Venky’s first Start Up: 0:06:05 - 0:13:43Venky’s college life and founding “Robonence”: 0:13:44 - 0:17:52Venky’s introduction to Corporate life and Startup culture: 0:17:53 - 0:19:41Starting a Momo outlet and Clout Kitchen: 0:19:42 0:27:15Why did Venky quit his job?: 0:27:16 - 0:29:42Moving to “Huawei” and teachings from Chinese Corporate Culture: 0:29:43 - 0:39:14Freelancing, Consulting and meeting Michael(co-founder of Plivo): 0:39:15 - 0:51:16Plivo’s Business Story SIMPLIFIED!: 0:51:17 - 1:04:09The principle of Reticular Activation: 1:04:10 - 1:05:56Fund raising for Plivo: 1:05:57 - 1:15:21Building values and culture at Plivo: 1:15:22 - 1:20:16Venky’s vision for Plivo: 1:20:17 - 1:23:22Venky’s advice for budding Entrepreneurs: 1:23:23 - 1:25:35

Dive into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship in this exclusive conversation at the Bombae Pad. Shantanu Deshpande engages in a thought-provoking dialogue with Ruchi Kalra, co-founder of highly successful ventures OfBusiness & Oxyzo. Shantanu and Ruchi discuss working at McKinsey, Ruchi's journey into the startup world, running a business with a partner and many other things! There's a highly interesting audience QnA as well! Gain valuable insights into Ruchi's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges she navigated, and the strategies that propelled her businesses to success. This interview offers a glimpse into the real-world experiences of scaling and managing thriving enterprises. Don't miss this insightful discussion on the nuances of startup life. Here’s how the conversation unfolds : Coming Up!: 0:00:00 - 0:01:25Introduction: 0:01:26 - 0:03:20Ruchi Kalra's journey at Oxyzo: 0:03:21 - 0:05:34Building "Company first" value: 0:05:35 - 0:09:11Sharing success with Employees: 0:09:12 - 0:16:12The baggage of success and fear of failure: 0:16:13 - 0:21:14Ruchi's way of dealing with self-doubt: 0:21:15 - 0:25:00Ruchi's working dynamics with life partner: 0:25:01 - 0:31:00Most humbling moment for Ruchi Kalra at Oxyzo: 0:31:01 - 0:36:56Self-learning and finding mentors: 0:36:57 - 0:43:18Being vulnerable about problems and turning a hardship into a learning: 0:43:19 - 0:50:19Culture, communication and vision at Oxyzo: 0:50:20 - 0:55:09Building a business and achieving milestones: 0:55:10 - 1:00:35Ruchi Kalra's Words of Wisdom: 1:00:36 - 1:06:55How to shift from "Advisory" to "Execution"?: 1:06:56 - 1:11:54Advice for budding entrepreneurs: 1:11:55 - 1:16:50Difference between traditional business and startup: 1:16:51 - 1:21:27B2B v/s B2C: 1:21:28 - 1:23:43 Importance of Consultancy in businesses: 1:23:44 - 1:27:28Challenges faced by Ruchi Kalra: 1:27:29 - 1:30:44Technology integration in business: 1:30:45 - 1:36:39Prioritizing tasks on daily basis: 1:36:40 - 1:39:46Building brands without experience: 1:39:47 - 1:43:35Conflicts-Resolutions as Co-founders and Life Partners: 1:43:36 - 1:46:22Growing a Startup: 1:46:23 - 1:50:10

Embark on an insightful journey with Shantanu and Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Funds! Leading a financial services giant with a staggering 1.2 Lakh Crore AUM, Radhika delves into the intricacies of managing public capital and reveals insights about how Indians spend their money. Her narrative unfolds with remarkable moments, from pioneering achievements like selling her first hedge fund at 24 to seamlessly balancing the demands of being CEO with the joys of motherhood. This episode is a panoramic view of Radhika's exceptional career, touching upon milestones, challenges, and the nuances of being a woman at the helm. Join us for a captivating conversation that captures the essence of leadership, resilience, and the unique journey of a trailblazing CEO.Here’s how the conversation unfolds: Introduction: 00:00 - 01:48 Radhika's favourite podcaster: 01:49 - 04:17 Two Indias: 04:18 - 11:07 Middle Class around the world: 11:08 - 13:01 The transition of India's economy: 13:01 - 19:01 How Indian youngsters are managing money and building brands: 19:02 - 41:23Radhika’s investment process: 41:24 - 56:30The importance of investment!: 56:31 - 1:01:57Radhika's journey as a mother and a CEO: 1:01:58 - 1:11:30Being a woman in the corporate world: 1:11:31 - 1:24:05The art of being a CEO: 1:24:06 - 1:33:10Radhika's advice for viewers: 1:33:11 - 1:35:32

Welcome to the Finale episode of Bombay Shaving Company’s Razorpreneur Challenge, a two month long journey in which participants from across India competed to sell the maximum number of razors and become winners of India’s largest sales and entrepreneurship challenge.Meet our winners: Thomas, Dipti, Rahull, Santhosh, Puneeth, Mahesh, Harsh, Abhinav, Dharampal, and Krishna! They represent the main idea of the challenge, which is that the sales skillset is the most important to cultivate if one wants to become an entrepreneur! More than a fancy business degree, our winners showed us that sometimes, all you need is the charisma and enthusiasm to take to the streets. Join us for an insightful discussion as we delve deep into the core of selling fundamentals, exploring what it truly means to be a salesperson in today's dynamic business landscape, and understand these unique individuals and their unique stories.With Shantanu Deshpande (Founder, Bombay Shaving Company) and Aditya Sehgal (Ex Global COO, Reckitt) interacting with our winners, get ready to uncover invaluable insights, strategies, and anecdotes from these trailblazing entrepreneurs who have mastered the art of persuasion and drive in the world of sales.Introduction: 0:00 - 0:58Shantanu and Adi discuss the Razorpreneur Challenge: 0:59 - 18:30Welcome Razorpreneurs!: 18:31 - 21:59Razorpreneurs look back on their journeys: 22:00 - 55:15Understanding credit, wholesale markets, & other business essentials: 55:16 - 1:07:54Shantanu speaks about his on-ground sales experience: 1:07:55 - 1:08:52Concluding advice: 1:08:53 - 1:12:24

Dive into the intricate world of private equity with Nishant Sharma and Sunish Sharma, the dynamic duo behind Kedaara Capital, India's premier homegrown private equity fund. In this enlightening episode, we explore not only the nuances of private equity but also unravel the secrets behind Kedaara's successful investments in renowned brands like Manyavar, Lenskart, and Vishal Megamart.From focusing on people and culture in organizations to insights into effective leadership and team management, the founders share invaluable experiences and lessons learned along their journey.Join us as we navigate through the Indian business landscape, discussing what makes a product thrive in the Indian market and gaining profound insights into the future of the country for the next decades. Get ready for an engaging conversation that goes beyond finance, touching on the essence of building successful enterprises and contributing to India's economic growth. Don't miss this exclusive peek into the world of private equity and the visionary minds shaping it. Subscribe and stay tuned for an episode that promises to be both educational and inspiring!Introduction: 00:00 - 2:05 Why building a cohesive culture is important: 2:06 - 10:56 Fatherhood as an inflection point in Nishant and Sunish’s careers: 10:57 - 17:55 The Initial journey, How and Why Kedaara was formed: 17:56 - 39:39 Kedaara’s first deal: 39:40 - 47:09 The essential philosophy of doing business: 47:10 - 52:10 Working with investors: 52:11 - 1:06:25 Working as a team, investing in people’s success & wisdom of building great partnerships: 1:06:26 - 1:21:50 What makes a founder stand out & how Kedaara evaluates founders: 1:21:51 - 1:37:25 Nishant, Sunish & Shantanu discuss leadership, organization & the myriad challenges of running a company: 1:37:26 - 2:01:10 Building for a new, Digital India, “Democratizing Aristocracy” & creating great products: 2:01:11 - 2:20:22 Why Nishant & Sunish are bullish on India: 2:20:23 - 2:25:32 Conclusion: 2:25:33 - 2:27:35

Dive deep into the fascinating world of grocery retail in India with our special guest, Damodar Mall, the visionary CEO of Reliance Grocery Retail. In this exciting episode, we explore the intricate art of selling effectively to today's discerning shoppers, diving deep into the modern retail landscape in the country. Discover why Damodar Mall describes a Smart Bazaar as a 'swayamvar' of offerings, putting forth a unique perspective on how modern consumers choose their products. Gain unparalleled insights into the strategies and tactics that can transform your sales game. We'll navigate the ever-evolving grocery landscape in India, unraveling the latest trends and challenges in this dynamic industry. Join us for this illuminating discussion that promises to reshape your approach to sales and retail!Introduction: ⁠00:00⁠ - ⁠2:40⁠Retail is a “theater of choice”: ⁠2:41⁠ - ⁠7:41⁠Creating for Supermarket India! : ⁠7:42⁠ - ⁠19:58⁠Building out mithai for modern retail: ⁠19:59⁠ - ⁠33:46⁠Taking bets and stories of innovation: ⁠33:47⁠ - ⁠39:30⁠Are consumers becoming more conscious?: ⁠39:31⁠ - ⁠43:52⁠The landscape of modern retail in India: ⁠43:53⁠ - ⁠1:00:00⁠Mr. Mall’s journey, pivot towards entrepreneurship & how Smart Bazaar was created: ⁠1:00:01⁠ - ⁠1:18:44⁠Writing books & being a ‘Supermarketwala’: ⁠1:18:45⁠ - ⁠1:30:00⁠Mr. Mall’s advice: ⁠1:30:01⁠ - ⁠1:40:22⁠Smart Bazaar walk through: ⁠1:40:23⁠ - ⁠1:58:33

Join the RazorGurus as they discuss sales fundamentals and unveil the Razorpreneur Challenge. They explore successful brand strategies, understanding customer needs, creating standout content, effective selling, the impact of conversation, and the importance of details. They also delve into creating peak moments for customers, the evolution of Sensi razors, crafting personalized messages, and the benefits of the Sensi Smart 3 razor.

Join us for a compelling episode of the Barbershop as we sit down with Suhasini Sampath, the co-founder of Yoga Bar. In this candid conversation, we delve into the fascinating world of building a business in FMCG. Suhasini shares her insights and challenges in creating a successful brand in the health food space, and we explore the unique strategies and innovations that propelled Yoga Bar to prominence, resonating with health-conscious consumers across the nation. We discuss the remarkable acquisition by ITC, and the accompanying intricacies of navigating partnerships and collaborations in the dynamic business landscape. We also venture into the personal realm, delving into Suhasini's experience of working with family and the fine balance one has to strike between personal and professional relationships. Her candid reflections offer invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs who navigate the challenges of intertwining family and business dynamics.⚡️ Get ready for an inspiring and insightful episode as we uncover the behind-the-scenes stories, trials, and triumphs of building in the healthy foods category in India!🌟 Introduction 00:00 - 3:44 The Initial Idea: 3:45 - 9:58 Why building healthy food is hard: 9:58 - 22:18 Making calculated decisions about the brand: 22:19 - 22:01 Perfecting the product: 22:01 - 26:09 Building a great food company 26:10 - 29:25 More on Yoga Bar’s journey: 29:25 - 38:42 Playing the long game: 38:43 - 42:00 Legacy matters & ITC acquisition: 42:01 - 48:30 Running a business with family 48:31 - 54:34 More on negotiations & acquisition/ people who helped in Yoga Bar’s journey 54:35 - 1:05:22 The ITC acquisition process 1:05:23 - 1:13:34 What does it take to build a business? 1:13:35 - 1:15:05 What Suhasini learnt about herself during her journey 1:15:06 - 1:20:40 What’s next for Suhasini & thoughts on entrepreneurship: 1:20:41 - 1:28:15 Women in entrepreneurship & Concluding Advice: 1:28:16 - 1:37:39