Founder @WebVeda, Content creator @wariCrew, Speaker, Author. Eternal Optimist.

My overarching mission is to empower people to make choices in life from a point of awareness, not ignorance.

Over the past 17 years in the internet and technology space, I’ve had the privilege of working on several ventures - founding some, investing in others, and learning from all. 

Over 16 million people follow my work across social platforms, where I share my experiences and insights on career, mindset, startups, personal finance, and relationships.

Today, my main focus is building WebVeda, an online school helping young professionals develop practical life skills across entrepreneurship, personal growth, and career management.
We have over 480,000 paid students worldwide with an average completion rate of 72%.

I have also launched a nation-wide search for the brightest kids in India, offering them a Rs. 10L scholarship, through a program called the India Genius Challenge. 

I’ve also written five bestselling books that have sold 1Mn+ copies worldwide across 63 countries and translated into 17 languages:
- Do Epic Shit (2022)
- Get Epic Shit Done (2023)
- Make Epic Money (2024)
- Build An Epic Career (2025)
- Beyond The Syllabus (2025): for teenagers only

It’s been a journey shaped more by reflection and exploration than certainty, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Ankur Warikoo

I don’t know who needs to hear this:

Your kindness doesn’t fail because someone hasn’t returned it.

Some won’t care.
Some might even manipulate it.

Being kind, empathetic, and optimistic even when the world gets you down is not foolishness.

It means you’re deciding who you want to be, not what the world is influencing you to be.

It's an act of bravery.
It’s an act of believing in something bigger than yourself.

Because who would you be, if you are not kind?

Founder @WebVeda, @IndiaGeniusChallenge • Speaker • 6X Bestselling Author • 16M+ community

What you don’t want in life will be what you keep receiving. Here’s why:

You go to a coffee shop.
You want to have a normal milk coffee.

You reach the counter, and the barista asks, “So what can I get you today?”
You reply, “I don’t want a black coffee.”

He is confused and asks again, “Um, okay. But what do you want?”
You reply, “I don’t know. All I know is that I do not want a black coffee.”

It’s a busy day for the barista.
He goes back to completing all the orders.
By the time he returns to your order, he can’t quite remember what it was.
All he remembers is you constantly mentioning “black coffee.”

So after 5 minutes, a black coffee lands on your table!

This is called the Black Coffee Theory.

It is how most of us live our lives.

We keep telling the universe what we don’t want.
What we fear.
What we want to avoid.
What we don’t want to be.
What we want to run away from.

And all that the universe hears - is that thing.
So it gives us that thing!
The very thing we did not want in our lives.

To win, you need to be super specific about what you want in life.
”I want a normal milk coffee.”

That’s it!

PS: This is a reproduction of my weekly newsletter which I send every Friday to 100,000+ subscribers. In this newsletter I share pics, books, quotes, fun facts and a thought of the week. 

Sign up here: bit.ly/4b4HMqk

If your job ceased to exist tomorrow, what would still remain?

Your ability to communicate.
To negotiate.
To focus.

These skills follow you across roles, industries, and phases of life.

With how fast the world and careers are changing, you need to hone these as much as your technical skills.

This list of 12 skills (and books to master them) compiled by Colby Kultgen is a great place to start:

1/ Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo - Public Speaking

2/ Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss - Negotiation

3/ Indistractable by Nir Eyal - Focus

4/ $100M Offers by Alex Hormozi - Offer Creation

5/ To Sell Is Human by Daniel H. Pink - Sales

6/ Atomic Habits by James Clear - Habit Building

7/ Dare to Lead by Brené Brown - Leadership

8/ The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman - Copywriting

9/ Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi - Networking

10/ Range by David Epstein - Adaptability

11/ Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks - Storytelling

12/ I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi - Personal Finance

The 12-month career upgrade plan:


MONTHS 1-2:

- List the skills you currently have
- Identify the skills the market values for the role you want (check LinkedIn, Naukri, Glassdoor)
- Compare and figure out the gaps
- Do a salary benchmarking to know how high you can aim

MONTHS 2-5:

- Close the skill gap using market-validated resources:
- Free YouTube tutorials, paid courses by experts, freelancing projects or internships, personal projects
- Focus on practical, hands-on learning over theory

MONTHS 6-8:

- Join communities, Slack groups, Reddit forums, or Discord servers in your field
- Observe conversations, job types, new tools, and project trends
- Speak to people about their experiences and learnings - what they would do differently. You'll start understanding what actually matters in your industry.

MONTHS 9-12:

- Build a portfolio website (show your projects, case studies, outcomes)
- Update your LinkedIn with your new skills, projects, and certifications
- Share your work online
- Start sending cold emails directly to founders and hiring managers
- Apply strategically - use references, network connections, and alumni links

Don't wait for the "right time."
Start with what you have and build upon it.

12 months of focused effort can change your entire career!

No one tells you this when you start working.
Being good at the work is only part of the equation.

As roles grow, so do the stakes.

Conversations get harder. 
Pressure shows up differently.
You work with people who see things very differently than you.

That’s where judgment starts to matter as much as execution.

Here are 5 emotional skills that make you irreplaceable.
What would you add to this list?

5 Emotional Skills That Make You Irreplaceable at Work

We’ve been sold the idea that respect is earned through bold moves.
The way the entire crowd listens to you.
The powerful title.

But in 20 years of working closely with people, I know this is far from the truth.

It boils down to one thing: reliability.

Following up when they said they would.
Remembering the small details.
Going the extra mile.
Accepting their mistakes and improving the next time.

This list of 20 habits by Colby Kultgen captures this sentiment.

Because in both life and work, the ability to be counted on is rarer than talent.

Your mind is in your control!

Feed it limiting thoughts and that’s how you’ll behave.
Feed it optimistic thoughts and that’s how you’ll behave.

Try out this experiment, and see for yourself :) 

#google #life #learnings #warikoo

A well-dressed man, working in a nameless FMCG company, graduated from a college in Gujarat.

He never once tried to impress.
It was only after seeing his business card that the full picture came together.

That’s the thing about competence, isn’t it?

It doesn’t rush to signal itself.
It doesn’t rely on labels to be taken seriously.

Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. 
It’s thinking of yourself less!

A rare trait in a world that loves the spotlight.

I met somone on my flight...

When we look at successful people, we usually focus on what they did right.

The book, Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell asks a different question:
What conditions had to exist for their effort to become successful?

Here are my top 5 ideas from the book:

1. 10,000-hour rule

To master a skill, you usually need to practice for 10,000 hours.
That requires you to be patient and think long-term. To not give up when it gets monotonous. 

2. Individual talent is necessary but not sufficient for success

Skill creates readiness.

Luck, timing, and access decide whether that readiness ever gets tested.

Put the same person in a different decade or geography, and the outcome can change completely.

Would Steve Jobs gain the success that he did in the 60s?

3. Don’t underestimate practical intelligence

Your analytical intelligence (IQ) may help you land opportunities, but your practical intelligence (social and situational) will help you get further - reading people, adapting to context, and understanding unwritten rules.

4. The Matthew Effect

Success leads to more success. 

Small early wins - in confidence, exposure, or opportunity - create conditions where future wins become easier to accumulate.

5. Your background matters

Your upbringing, surroundings, and the people around you, play a big role in your success.

If they offer support and guidance, that will help you succeed.
If you feel demoralised and aren’t encouraged to grow, you won’t have the motivation to do so.

As much as possible, surround yourself in a positive environment.

Failure at a young age is data. 
Not destiny.

People were asked in a survey:
"What is the thing that scares you most in life?"

Number 2 was death. 

Number 1 was?
.
.
.
.
.
Public speaking! 

So many of us are scared of speaking in front of the public? 

A lot of us think that public speakers are born. 

We jumped right out of our mother's womb and went, 

"Hello nurse. How are you doing today? Thanks for coming to my TED talk!" lol.

The truth is - we are scared of public speaking because we are scared of making a mistake in front of the public. 

And then being judged. Ridiculed. Mocked. 

So we decided to sit in the audience instead and make fun of someone else. 

But you know what?

When you step on stage - and your legs are trembling, and your hands are shivering and your heart beat is racing and you are sweating - you will make a mistake. 

Because everyone does. 
And people will laugh at you. 
Because that's what they do. 

But at that moment, my friend - there is only one winner in the room. 
And that winner is you! 

Everybody else who chooses to sit in the audience and laugh at you is a loser! 
You are the winner. 

Be that winner!

Negotiations | Procurement | Real Estate | Process Improvement | Executive Coach | MRICS | ISB | Yoga

27 years of experience in Corporate Real Estate, Cost Optimization, Project Management & Process Improvement.

Worked with industry leaders like Magnum Group of Companies, Tata Teleservices, Nortel, Hewitt Associates, Aon, Alight Solutions & Wipro. Currently working with Cognizant.
 
Am a Civil Engineer with a Post Graduate degree in Construction Management.

MBA from the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad & a certified Lean Six-Sigma practitioner.

Recognized for improving organizational capabilities and exceeding expectations by cost optimization and developing high-performing world class teams.

Demonstrated success in planning and executing strategies for Procurement function in global eco-system.

Key skills include leading Teams in rapid changing environment, Process Improvement, Project Management, Data Analytical, Problem Solving, Improving Customer Experience and Relationship Management.

Chandresh Natu

⛳️ To be dominant, it’s through work ethic. It's to do the nitty gritty details that are ugly, hard, and mundane.

⛳️ Quite frankly, a lot of times you don't see the results for maybe years to come, but it's the little details that it takes each and everyday to be successful.

Tiger Woods

#BetterEveryDay #Leadership

Corporate Real Estate | Negotiations | Executive Coach | MRICS | ISB

It is your own bad strategies, not the unfair opponent, that are to blame for your failures. 
You are responsible for the good and bad in your life.

Robert Greene

#BetterEveryDay #leadership

⛔ Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.

William Shakespeare

#BetterEveryDay #Leadership

Chairman - Marico Limited | Investor | Philanthropist | Author | Keynote Speaker

I did not do an MBA.
And in many ways, that became my biggest competitive advantage.

Over the years, I have met many bright young managers from top institutes. Extremely sharp. Very articulate. Very confident.
Sometimes a little too confident.

There is a tendency to feel that once you have the degree, you know enough. Reading slows down. Curiosity slows down. Real learning slows down.

Business does not work like that.

It is not only about strategy decks and case studies. It is about people. Culture. Talent. Judgment. These are not subjects you can fully learn in a classroom.
And the world is not static. Geopolitics is shifting. Technology is redefining industries. Consumer behaviour changes faster than any curriculum.
So you have to keep learning. Continuously.

I prefer dialogue over reports. I would rather debate with a thought leader than read a polished consultant presentation. Through interaction, both sides refine their thinking. A report gives you information. Conversation gives you insight.

I also believe in going to the ground myself. Meeting teams two levels below. Visiting markets. Listening directly. Not to monitor, but to understand.

If I had to summarise the ground level truths no classroom can teach you, they would be:

1. The moment you think you know it all, you stop growing.
2. Strategy without culture and talent will eventually fail.
3. Judgment is built through experience and interaction, not frameworks.
4. Continuous learning is non negotiable in a fast changing world.
5. Dialogue sharpens thinking far more than a static report.
6. Real insight comes from going to the ground, not sitting in a boardroom.

A degree can open doors.
Humility, curiosity, and the willingness to keep learning keep you relevant.


#leadership #mindset #learning

The 11th edition of the Cognizant New Delhi Marathon brought the city to life with an atmosphere that was in equal parts focus, grit and celebration. From first-timers to seasoned runners, the course carried an incredible wave of energy, and the day offered a full view of the marathon journey, from anticipation at the flag-off to the pride and achievement that followed. 

This first year as Title Sponsor has been especially meaningful because it aligns so closely with what we believe in at Cognizant: a culture that supports people through their goals and prioritizes well-being. Through our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing programs, we continue to encourage healthier habits and stronger teams, and it was inspiring to see our community show up for one another on race day, running and cheering together. 

Thank you to everyone who made the day what it was: the runners, supporters and partners who helped create a memorable experience. We will see you in 2027!

#NewDelhiMarathon2026 #BeCognizant

Rajesh V.  Thea Hayden Jatin Dalal John Kim Vipin Nair Azhagiri Selvarajan Archana Ramanakumar

Prof @ Harvard Business School; Author of "Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well"

We can all learn something from Alysa Liu!

Retired from figure skating at 16 to live life outside the shadow of her sport, returned at 18 on her own terms, and won the first US women's gold since 2002 at 20.

Before her final skate, she told the press she didn't come to the Olympics to medal, but to show people what she could do...implicitly affirming that she was in it for the love of her craft. 

This is what a #LearningMindset looks like in action. When you detach your worth from awards and prioritize the joy of experience, real growth (and often, success) follows.

I particularly love this quote from her: "A bad story is still a story…there's no way to lose." 

Alysa grasps what so many struggle with...that #failure holds value in the larger narrative, and there is no real loss when our goal is experience.

Alongside her commitment to staying true to herself, her instinct to uplift her competitors, and her palpable joy…just amazing. What an inspiration!

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The Battle

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