Karishma Mehta

Humans of Bombay turns 12 today! It feels surreal looking back at a journey that gave me my identity & a sense of being. Every year came with lessons—here’s the essence:

Year 1 - I started out as a 21 year old, no job, just a passion to tell stories.
Shooting on the streets, talking to strangers, writing, editing, uploading! Six months into starting, a TEDx Talk Happened! This year taught me how powerful the ‘fire in the belly’ is.
Passion > Plan 

Year 2 - We amassed a decent following. I immersively understood the power of digital when we crowd funded 6 Lakh Rupees for the girls at Kranti. Robin who’s live mission is to give the daughters of sex workers a better life. 
Purpose > perfection 

Year 3 – We released a book published by Arjun Vaidya & myself, I was featured in Forbes Asia and had an epiphany that everyone has the ability to dream big.
Delusion-ally practical > Practical 

Year 4 - Monetisation year one: a 4-member team, a Juhu beach space, and the dream of taking HOB beyond Bombay. (We are a team of 40 today)
People >>

Year 5 - Was given the Devi award by the CM of Maharashtra for storytelling prowess. I realised then that that’s what I truly am at heart– a storyteller. 
Identity > Titles 

Year 6 -  I interviewed the Prime Minister of India. People stood up & took us seriously; some trolled us, others applauded. We also moved into the Pinterest office of our dreams :)
Consistency > Peaks 

Year 7 - I interviewed the late and great Ratan Tata sir where I learned lessons of a lifetime on kindness & the true definition of ‘alpha male’.
Kindness > Everything else

Year 8 - Key people in the company joined us who truly set up a solid foundation– Unnati, Shivam, Kirtishree Payal, Sakshi, Nancy– the team grew, so did our reach. We crossed 1M followers and raised ₹1Cr+ for Covid relief.
Humanity >>

Year 9 - Worked with WhatsApp , YouTube , Meta , Amazon , Flipkart , Hindustan Unilever (HUL)  
Outgrew our office and had to move :) Launched the podcast before before the entire world caught onto the podcast trend!!
Delivery > new PO’s 

Year 10 - The dip :) One of the hardest years. Best not relive it, but lessons stayed — everything passes, the internet has a short memory, logon ka kaam hai kehna, and only family & friends truly matter.
Life > Business 

Year 11 - The year of sustenance; of just keeping afloat. I learned what it truly means to keep a business running, while constantly asking: what next, how do we disrupt, how do we scale?
Slowing down> Going Fast without Direction

Year 12 - The year of bold moves: got on Amit & Jasleen to lead the transformation of storytelling....the last part of 2025, I felt the company was unrecognizable – the speed, the scale, the momentum! 
Risk at the Right Time > Consistent Safety 

That’s it! My baby turns 12 today.
Grateful for the journey, the lessons, the highs and lows. Thank you to our teams, partners, and to you… who’ve followed us, one story at a time. 

Love,
That Humans of Bombay Girl :)

I spent my New Years in Goa, and for the first time since I’ve begun working (12 years ago) I totally switched off. By that I mean, nothing was ‘urgent’ enough for me to respond, I didn’t check my E–mails, social media handles, or even the ‘Happy New Year texts’ I received. 

In fact, one of my colleagues called me saying, ‘have you absconded somewhere?’ Cause it’s just never happened before!

It felt great. I was surrounded by people I love and care about. We were eating at the best spots, watching the most intimate sunsets, dancing under the moonlight…the stuff of life!

And I finally realised that it isn’t a badge of honour to be working even on vacations, to never truly be switched off. 

2026 has begun with a great epiphany and I can’t wait to experience ‘switching off’ more this year :)

Wish you all a very Happy New Year, Linkedin Fam!

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I had a chance to interview three of the strongest Bollywood women this month: Neena Gupta, Yami Gautam, Rakul Preet Singh. 

Each convo delivered an equally resonant lesson - a reminder of just how powerful women are.

⚡️Neena Gupta called out why strong women scare men off—they crave power over the "helpless." Blasted "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao": Educate girls, but no safe transport or jobs? Hypocrisy.

⚡️Rakul Preet Singh, inspired by her parents' equal partnership, demanded a "marriage of equals." Her individuality? Non-negotiable after years building it.

⚡️Yami Gautam said: Ditch the"mom guilt"— it cripples you.

If you had to steal some lessons from the podcast, steal these:

Demand safety, not empty slogans.
Boundaries secure equality.
Guilt-free hustle shapes legacies.

Check out the episodes, and let me know what do you think 
https://lnkd.in/d2bJRmuw

Who doesn’t know Aman Gupta, right? But who you don’t know is the hungry guy from JBL who felt undervalued, and quit to start Boat putting everything on the line. 
His tough conversations with his wife to keep them afloat, his work culture (he took ~180 flights  ✈️ last year), to Shark Tank India, to IPO sans the CMO title… this conversation was real, vulnerable and deeply relatable. 

Some key takeaways from the podcast:
⚡️ Gen Z seeks growth, not just pay. They leave roles that lack balance or progress - unlike past generations' loyalty. Create environments where they flourish.

⚡️ Attrition demands context. boAt's 34% trails Ola (47%), Zomato (37%), Mamaearth (45%), SGI (54%). In startups, three years per employee marks success.

⚡️ Value top talent intensely. Aman's personal corporate exit from JBL stemmed from unfair pay despite big wins. With talent scarce, if you do not compensate and respect your talent, your competitors will.

⚡️ Founders must step back. Drive early; once you've scaled enough, hire professionals and let them run the show. You only guide from the passenger seat. That's why Aman vacated his beloved CMO role.

⚡️ Rejections forge wisdom. His VC rejection archive out-taught formal degrees. Bootstrapping builds resourcefulness and discipline

You’re going to be ‘wow’ed with Aman’s stories; 
Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dsTztMdk

Last year, I made crazy amount of excuses to not do things that fuel me– ‘I’m shooting 12 hours a day, how do I work out?’ ‘I had less than a litre of water, but it’s okay’… it’s not okay!!

As work scales, wellness CANNOT take a back seat. While I will do a detailed post of resolutions/goals for the year later in the week, here are 4 metrics I have prioritised:

1)Working out atleast 15 minutes a day 🧘🏻‍♀️ 
2)Drinking atleast 2.5L of water a day 💦
3)Reading (no minimum bar, but needs to be a book; no digital articles) 📚
4)Meditating atleast 10 minutes a day 💡

What it’s done for me so far: taken the pressure of ‘time commitment’

I wake up, do 10 Suryanamaskars at home and then go on with the day if I can’t make it to a full workout. Or while in the car, I read a few pages. 

Compounding. Atomic Habits. Consistency. 

I think the key word for me for 2026 is consistency: do small things, but do them well and do them everyday– no matter if its a 15 hour work day, or a holiday. 

Hope this adds some perspective to you if you’ve been struggling to keep up with the ‘big resolutions’ already. 

More later :)

PS- this is from a crazy shoot day where 2025 Karishma would have made excuses, but 2026 Karishma showed up- she worked out, meditated, read & hydrated! 👊

I've had the privilege of interviewing some of India's top spiritual teachers: Sadhguru, Gaur Gopal Das, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Gauranga Das. Their teachings may differ in words, but they boil down to 4 simple principles for a happy, long life.

1. Joy and pain come from inside you, not outside.

Sadhguru says it straight: "Joy and suffering are both made in your mind." Gaur Gopal Das adds: Don't chase outer success—fix your inner thoughts first.

2. Stop living on autopilot. Stay awake and aware.

Gaur Gopal Das warns: Life is your choices—don't pick them blindly. Sadhguru: We hurt over past memories or future worries, but forget to stay in the now.

3. Let go.

Gauranga Das: Tough times pass like seasons—see yourself as the unchanging soul inside. Gurudev: Drop the desire to control your external environment and good things will flow.

4. True joy only comes from helping others.

All say: Give without holding back.

We all need to learn these truths and live them every day. They work for anyone—in work, family, or tough spots. :)

For 12 years, as CEO of Humans of Bombay, I’ve told 6,500+ real stories—raw, unfiltered, and deeply human.

And I’ve learned one thing:

Every story creates impact.

Sometimes it inspires one person. 

Other times it mobilises thousands—fundraisers rebuilding homes, communities stepping up, mindsets shifting.

Today, I want to find and spotlight purpose-driven businesses that are creating real impact.

If you run a business—big or small—that’s helping society in any way, this is for you.

Maybe you’re:

⚡️building greener practices 🌱


⚡️creating jobs / upskilling people 👩‍🏫


⚡️supporting underserved communities 🤝


⚡️solving a real societal problem 💡


We’re partnering with Aditya Birla Group to feature 10 purpose-driven businesses, and share their stories with millions through Humans of Bombay. 

How to apply: Business name + what you do + Impact (1–2 lines) in the comment section below.

Fill this form: https://lnkd.in/dPG798jS

Let’s celebrate businesses that are building with heart. 

P.S - here’s me wearing one of my favourite small business, Binal Patel. Check them out :)

Twelve years ago, fresh out of college at 21, I started Humans of Bombay with just a camera and a hunch. No strategy deck. No roadmap. Just belief.

No one expected it to become what it is today. 

That’s the magic of taking a chance.
You never really know what it’ll turn into until you take that first step.

That belief is also what connected me deeply to the story of Ashish Malpani, fourth-generation leader of the Malpani Group. His journey is a reminder of what can happen when you choose courage over comfort, and love over certainty.

Ashish had a thriving family business ahead of him. But when faced with a choice between love and legacy, he chose what felt right in his heart. 

He believed - in himself, in his partner, and in the life they wanted to build together.

From a biscuit factory idea to pioneering real estate, it was his belief in love, and the courage to choose it that led him here. I’ve always believed in love too.

Love for people. Love for stories. Love for the things that make your heart feel at home—even when the path isn’t obvious.

Because sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is take one chance on what you truly love. And trust that it will lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.

Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gxQ-mvbJ

Mentorship is beautiful & it’s one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do. 

The internet loves mocking Gen Z.
But I’ve seen what they’re capable of when they’re trusted.

Raashi Dev ‘s been with us as the Guest Desk+PR for 2+ years now…and she’s one of those people who’s becomes the backbone of our team.

I still remember a phase when we were going through a big transition. There were no writers, timelines were tight, and everything felt chaotic.

For 10 straight days, Raashi double-teamed with me.
She would take the first version of each story (something she’s never done!), I’d edit it and we’d do it all over again the next day.

No drama.
No “not my job.”
No entitlement.
Just… ownership.

She’s always poured her heart and soul into her work.

Raashi has:

-brought us some of our best guests– from Sadhguru to Kareena Kapoor to Zepto boys and many many more)
-nurtured relationships with genuine care (not transactional)
-built trust over time
-and made the office feel like a place you actually want to come to

That last part is rare.

Because culture isn’t created in offsites.
Culture is created by people who show up with intention and make you want to go to work.

Watching her grow has been one of my favourite parts of building this team :)

Always so proud of you Raashi ❤️
Everyone here can learn about ownership from you :) 

PS- in every way she’s like my younger sister- bugging on most days, but love her to bits! 

#team #FindYourRaashi #friendsforlife

A few days ago,I sat across Vishal Jethwa, and let me tell you - there are very few people who restore your faith in the power of hustle. He’s one of them.

He comes from the humblest beginnings most of us couldn’t imagine surviving: his mom was a house help. His dad sold coconuts on the road until he passed away when Vishal was just 13. 

In his tiny Gujarati-medium school, he loved dancing in annual functions. But what began as a hobby had to turn into survival after losing his father. This 13 year old boy, had to become "ghar ka bada beta." From that day, he grew up fast, for Maa and his sisters. 

Today, through sheer hustle and unbreakable will - the kind most of us couldn’t even muster - this boy stands as an actor whose movie was shrotlisted for the Oscars!

No matter where you come from, NO dream is too big! Vishal is proof :)

Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dHPUM7su

I’ve spoken to a lot of people about inner peace over the years, and I’ve always believed it’s important.

But in my recent chat with AiR - Atman in Ravi (Happpiness Ambassador), I heard a very different perspective — one centred around always being happy.

And honestly, even though I consider myself a fairly positive person, I had my doubts. Is that even practically possible?

If you watch the episode, you’ll probably see me interrupting, questioning, and disagreeing at times.

And through it all, he just smiled and calmly shared his point of view — His belief that pain and suffering are independent of each other, much like the body and the soul.

Some conversations don’t give you answers — they make you pause, think, and question. This was one of those.

Watch the full episode and let me know what you took away from it.
https://lnkd.in/dXybAS8d

Smriti Mandhana was one of my first podcast guests, back in 2022. I still think about how she resets focus during tough days. ‘Bad days’ would never deter her from her discipline. 

Something she said that stayed with me- ‘if I feel low today, I will just start writing what I have to work on for the next six–seven days. So once I start doing that, I just forget what's happening. I just focus on what I have to do.’

That’s consistency. That’s focus. That’s discipline. 
From mindset, to diet, to routine, she’s consistently just…showing up.  

That's why I love Zomato’s new film with her. In an age where there’s overt branding, the film keeps it simple. The way Smriti does– not cutting corners on a difficult path, and keeping health consistent…in a way that’s easy. 

I use their Healthy Mode myself… I travel like crazy (anywhere between 4-8 flights a week) and whenever I’m in a metro city, I open Zomato, turn on the Healthy Mode and order without thinking twice about ‘How do I balance health and hustle?’

If you haven’t yet, try out Health Mode on Zomato– it’s the EASIEST way to hack your health. 

#Ad

I know Jeetu Patel closely, and having seen the thought, intent, and responsibility behind this work up close, it carries real weight for me.

AI isn’t just changing tools, it’s reshaping how companies create value. This session brings together the builders and decision-makers defining that shift.

From infrastructure to real-world impact, it goes far beyond the hype.
Proud to see this come together — and absolutely worth attending.

President & Chief Product Officer at Cisco

Every so often, an innovation comes about that changes all assumptions about how society functions. How businesses operate. How people live.

Over the course of the past few years, we have all begun to witness the most consequential shift in human history with AI.

On one hand there is excitement, almost a euphoria about how this technology is going to positively alter the way we work and the way we live. There is enthusiasm about how this technology is going allow us to solve problems, cure diseases and invent the way that we never deemed possible. This energy is palpable. It is everywhere and hard to escape.

But on the other hand, people feel a real fear on the downside effects of AI. The need to exercise safety and security for AI. The harmful ways that AI can be used to harm humanity. The fear is so real that people have sometimes felt that most jobs performed by most humans will be replaced or at least refactored with AI. Virtually every company in the world will rethink how they operate, their business model, their differentiation, their workflows, their core value to their customers, and so much more.

As every business thinks about the implications of AI and how agentic AI and physical AI impact their core, we felt like it’s time to bring all the big thinkers who are shaping the industry on every dimension of AI. So we gathered few of the best and most consequential leaders shaping this industry in a very unique one day event designed for CIOs, CISOs and other executives to discuss a broad array of topics ranging from the infrastructure needed to power AI to the models to the applications to agents automating workflows all the way to physical AI reimagining how every thing in our world will work in the future. We are doing this at Cisco AI Summit on Feb 3 in San Francisco for an exclusive event to discuss the most important opportunities and risks facing AI for enterprises.

Chuck Robbins and I will have conversations in fireside chats with the people that are shaping and defining this industry, the builders of this era such as Jensen Huang , Sam Altman, Marc Andreesen, Matt Garman, Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Tareq Amin, Amin Vahdat, Lip-Bu Tan, 
Mike Krieger, Kevin Weil, Dylan Field, Aaron Levie, Anne Neuberger, Brett McGurk, and Francine Katsoudas. Join us virtually our second Cisco  AI Summit to witness history being shaped by the builders of AI.

This is something people shouldn't miss.  This is a crucial juncture for every enterprise to rethink how they create value, drive efficiency and change every aspect of their business. Why not start by learning from all the people that are in the midst of shaping the industry. This is a critical inflection point where every company will challenge every longstanding assumption in their business and every problem will be deemed possible to solve.

Excited to have you join us virtually for what I am confident will be one of the highest token generation events for enterprises. Link below in comments.

taplio