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

From my very first day at ISB, the definition of success was already decided for all of us.

- If you get through consulting, you are successful

- Day 1 job, you are successful

- Top 10% of the class, you are successful

- A 3X multiple on your incoming salary, you are successful

- Dress well, speak well, you are successful

This happens to us since the day we were born.

The world is constantly imposing its definition of success and failure on us.
That it's the only definition of success.

So much so that we rarely stop to ask ourselves:
What is MY definition of success?

Try these 3 frameworks to explore your definition:

1. Energy audit: For one week, notice what drains you and what fills you up (activities, people, projects)

Is your current path draining you more than filling you?

2. Regret test: Imagine you're 80, looking back at your life.
What would you regret NOT doing? That's your success.

3. Fundamental identity: Strip away everything external - the salary, the designation, the house.

Now ask: Am I proud of who I'm becoming?

If the answer is no, your definition of success needs rewriting.

The only definition that matters is the one that lets you sleep peacefully at night.

Image credit: 6secondseq on IG

Founder @WebVeda, @IndiaGeniusChallenge • Speaker • 5X Bestselling Author • 16M+ community

10 luxuries not connected to money:

1. You sleep peacefully every night.

2. Your body functions without any pain. 

3. You have someone to grow old with.

5. You have friends who can share your sorrows and joys.

6. You have the permission to say no - without any fear, pressure, or the need to explain.

7. You have the mental space to think, create, and dream. 

8. You get to work on something that feeds your soul.

9. Your parents are still around and you can call them, visit them, and tell them things you never said before.

10. You are your own best friend; you can spend time with yourself without a phone, book, music, or anyone else. Just you.

Inspired by Justin Welsh’s quote on modern luxury!

3 things you can’t control:

1. Consequences of your actions
2. Inflation
3. ‘Log kya kahenge?’ / ‘What will people say?’

3 things you CAN control:

1. Inputs you put into your work
2. Investing in assets that beat inflation
3. Living life on your own terms

Jokes aside - I didn't realise how emotionally free I would feel once I accepted this.

If you divert energy towards what you cannot control, you will feel helpless, naturally.
There is no winning there.

But if you commit time and energy towards what you can control, you reclaim your power.

It shows up in the way you work and how light your days are.

Life is not a perfect picture that needs to get clicked in one go.

Life is a jigsaw puzzle of that perfect picture, where you have to fit the pieces one by one.

You won't get it right the first time.
But you will get it right eventually.

If you want to stay average, say, "Show me."
If you want to grow, say this:
–

For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by magic.

Magic forces you to understand human psychology and emotions.

Growing up, one of my cousins had a whole army of card tricks.
Every time he said, "Nandu, I've learnt a new trick," I'd light up.
"Teach me!" I exclaimed.

(Yes, fun fact: my pet name is Nandu.)

I look back at that moment often because it taught me something far bigger.

Whenever we encounter something new in life, we react in one of two ways:
We either say, "Show me."
Or we say, "Teach me."

And that small difference changes everything.

"Show me" comes from curiosity.
But "teach me" comes from humility.

One makes you an observer.
The other makes you a student.

Observers watch, react, comment, and move on.
Students absorb, reflect, retain, and grow.

If you want to grow, ask people to teach you.

- You accept you don't know
- You accept you are willing to learn
- You acknowledge the opposite person for what they know

Be a student. Forever!

PS: This is a reproduction of my weekly newsletter which I send every Friday to 118,000+ subscribers. In this newsletter I share pics, books, quotes, fun facts and a thought of the week.

Sign up from the link in comments.

An entire generation is being raised with the belief that starting up is the cool thing to do.

Founders becoming millionaires and billionaires.

I don't have a problem with that.

I have a problem when people believe that starting up is the ONLY thing smart people do.

To the extent that those in jobs are ridiculed for being unambitious or for not taking control of their lives.

There is nothing wrong with having a job.
As long as you are happy with it and find meaning in it.

What matters is what you want.

You want the stability and structure of a job – go for it!
You want the rush and excitement of a startup – go for it!
You want a life where you do not want to work – go for it!

Your race is not with the world.
It is not with the one who looks cooler, happier, or is more famous.

Your race is within.
The race is who you were yesterday.

And if you win that race everyday, if you are better than who you were yesterday…
You are truly at peace!

"They are good at coding. I am not."
"They are good at public speaking. I am not."
"They are good at sales. I am not."

This is the most frequent remark I hear when it comes to career growth.

And the most limiting way of looking at one's career!

Most of us think success = being the absolute best at one thing.
That path exists - but it’s not the only path.

A more realistic path is:

Become very good (top 20%) at several skills that rarely overlap.
You’re stacking value.

Am I the best teacher in the world? No.
The best speaker? No.
The biggest creator? No.
The best leader? No.

But I am the sum of all of these. 

Someone who is a teacher, speaks well, has a decent social media following, has a dedicated team whom I care about. 

Individually, these are good-to-have. Nothing extraordinary.
But together, they are valuable.

When you focus on becoming useful, adaptable, and hard to replace, success finds you.

Image via Justin Wright.

They don’t teach this in school, but they should.

These 10 visuals helped me think clearer, lead better, and move faster.

They taught me:

- Why writing is a thinking tool, not just a communication skill
- How high performers aim higher (not lower) when they fall short
- That leadership isn’t about control; it’s about presence and encouragement
- How disciplined struggle can create real freedom
- And why better questions lead to better lives

Visuals via Pejman Milani.

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

10 Visuals to Help You Think Clearer!

The simplest yet powerful tool for success:
Listening.

Struggling to understand someone?
Listen.

Wondering why they behave the way they do?
Listen.

Trying to uncover their true motives, fears, or desires?
Listen.

People are constantly revealing who they are, if we truly listen.

Not just through what they say, but through what they avoid, repeat, and emphasise. 

And something surprising happens when you listen deeply to others:

You begin to hear yourself more clearly too. 
Your reactions, your patterns, and your blind spots. 

Listening outward sharpens your inner awareness.

Thanks to Justin Wright for this lovely graphic!

Gentle reminder:

You are living someone else’s dream life.
And that someone could be your younger self too.

Don’t wait for the good days to pass by to see how beautiful life is.

Make happiness a routine.
Find gratitude every day in all that you do - because there is truly so much to be grateful for ♥️

Thanks to Jade Bonacolta for this beautiful list.

What a privilege...

Every single day, I get emails from people in well-paid jobs, working with great brands, in envious roles. Yet unhappy.

Because their boss doesn't respect them.
Because their team members do not help.
Because people around them do not inspire.
Because the team is dysfunctional.

And it reminds me why some companies are able to achieve phenomenal growth, while others simply can't:

What separates these companies is not ambition or intelligence.

It is how people are made to feel.
Because that drives how they act.

I've seen teams with average skills on paper outperform star-studded ones, simply because people felt respected.

I've also seen incredible talent shrink when the environment felt unsafe.

So the next time you are looking for a job, don't just pick the highest salary or the best brand.

Do your research.

Ask during interviews - how do teams work, how does feedback flow, why do people leave, why do they stay?

Find out what it will be like to live in this team, before you actually live in the team.

How you feel in your job is going to matter a lot more than how much you earn in your job.

PS: This is a reproduction of my weekly newsletter which I send every Friday to 122,000+ subscribers. In this newsletter I share pics, books, quotes, fun facts and a thought of the week.

Sign up from the link in comments.

IQ isn’t the biggest determinator of success.
EQ is.

It’s like chess - you are dealing with unpredictable experiences and emotions every day.

Your emotions and others’.

Choosing the right move can make all the difference.

This list of 9 EQ skills by Justin Wright will transform how your career compounds.

9 Rare Emotional Intelligence Skills

The best things we desire in life - wealth, skill, trust, work, relationships - don’t respond to speed.

They respond to time.

But that’s not our default way of thinking.
We’re taught to optimise for the next goal and quick results.

Better outcomes often stem from long-term thinking.
Being patient where others rush.
Building where others react.
And these 9 books will make you think long-term with patience and clarity.

9 Books for Results That LAST!

Vivek Khandelwal

What matters to me the most is ...my desire to contribute to the upliftment of others! 

🎯 With 65k+ hrs of experience in the Consumer Industry across Urban and Rural Retail covering both Modern and General Trade, E-commerce, Digital, Youth, and Influencer Marketing areas. 

💥 I have worked and contributed in several areas including Retail, FMCG, Fashion, Pharma, Media, and Toys with extensive travel within India and various international markets like USA, Switzerland, Germany, France, South Africa, Vietnam, Hongkong, and Bangkok. 

⚡️ In a variety of roles accomplished so far, I have had the opportunity to work on numerous aspects covering Business Strategy, Operations, Sales, Buying and Merchandising, Category Management, Marketing, Promotions, Go to Market (GTM) / Route to Market (RTM), In-store Execution, Customer Experience, KAM, Competition Mapping, Negotiation, Team Building, Brand Building, Influencer Marketing, Engaging with Micro-Influencers, Close working in B2C and B2B! 

My Learnings: 

⭐️ These roles have given me the experience of driving Channel strategies in the marketplace. The core of all this has always been to deliver Customer Delight and create a WOW in each of the roles that I have been fortunate enough to serve. 

⭐️ My engagement experience encompasses frontline team members who engage at the last mile to C-Suite levels who are Strategists and Visionaries in the business. 

⭐️ I have had the fortune of recruiting and leading large teams who have achieved their goals in an evolving environment leading from sales to merchandising cum execution. 

⭐️ I have been effective at driving the changing value proposition for a variety of roles that I have played so far. They have taught me to operate like a Mentor cum Coach and lead the people not by designation but by inspiration. 

⭐️ My continuous focus on Self Development has led me to develop key skills for the future. 

Have been a Visiting Faculty to many Premier Institutions to share my knowledge and learn from the youth and future leaders! 

Having the right mix of the above developed through education, experience, exposure & dedication, I am now mentoring and assisting students and working professionals to become a better version of themselves by exposing & navigating them through the challenges of the workplace ecosystem.

I love meeting and engaging with new people and sharing varied perspectives through several forums. 

The evolving online world has made things simpler. 

Connect here:
⚡️ IG - https://bit.ly/3r7wiNU
⚡️ YT - bit.ly/3coMem0
⚡️ Upwork - https://bit.ly/4deqMy5

Founder

No matter how bad you are, you’re not useless. You can still be used as a bad example.

I once worked with someone everyone avoided being on a project with.

Deadlines slipped.

Ownership was missing.

Feedback was always 'someone else’s fault'. 

At first, it was frustrating. Gradually, it became educational.

Every meeting showed me what disengagement looks like.

Every workplace has taught us this lesson. 

We’ve learned what not to do from:

➡️ The leader who took credit but never responsibility.

➡️ The colleague who spoke a lot but delivered little.

The manager who ruled with fear instead of trust.

They didn’t mentor us.

They didn’t inspire us.

They still shaped us because sometimes... growth doesn’t come from role models.

It comes from warning signs.

Bad examples quietly teach us:

➡️ How not to lead.
➡️ How not to build culture.
➡️ How not to communicate.

If you’re honest, some of your strongest professional values were born the day you said:

When I’m in that role, I’ll do it differently.

In careers, even failure has utility...if reflection follows.

Are you learning from the bad examples around you…or unknowingly becoming one?

#Examples #Workplace

Years later, a senior colleague reminded me of my very first assignment.

He didn't remind me of the result or the applause but the effort.

I was surprised not because it was extraordinary ...but because it was remembered.

That one moment taught me something quite powerful:

↗️ Loyalty is rarely built through policies.

➡️ It is built through memory.

When someone remembers your early days ...your nervous beginning and your honest tries ...it tells you something. 

📌 You as a human mattered before your success.

Recognition does not need a stage.

It does not need an email blast or a town hall.

It just needs sincerity.

In workplaces ...people may forget what you achieved for them.

They never forget how you noticed them.

Who was the first person who believed in you before you had proof to show?

#Workplace #FirstDay #VivekKhandelwal

When the market is booming ...some careers soar like 'fish in a flood'. 

When the tide recedes ...others rise like 'ants on dry land'.  

The workplace is a cycle of seasons.  

- Sometimes you’re the one celebrated, leading projects or getting visibility.  

- Other times, you’re overlooked while others may shine.  

Here’s the truth: every role and every person gets their turn.  

Patience isn’t passive ...it’s the quiet confidence that your season will come.  

👉 In careers, resilience means staying ready when the spotlight shifts.  

👉 In leadership, wisdom means recognizing that today’s 'Fish' may be tomorrow’s 'Ant'.  

So instead of comparing, invest in growth. 
 
When the waters change and they always do ...your preparation will decide whether you thrive.  

#Career #Workplace #Growth

The Theory Of Life Can Create Unimaginable Impact - Vivek Khandelwal 

Most people chase a side hustle for extra income.

That’s only half the equation.

A real side hustle should give you extra in-come i.e., 

➡️ new skills coming into you. 
➡️ new thinking coming into you. 
➡️ new exposure coming into you.

Money compounds in the bank.

Learning compounds in the person.

The smartest side hustles don’t just pay today.

They prepare you for tomorrow.

↘️ What you shouldn't ask: 
- How much will I earn?

↗️ What you should ask? 
- What will this teach me?

Remember ...income can stop however In-come stays with you.

What has your side hustle added into you so far?

#SideHustle

Challebility Matters. 

Growth doesn’t come from comfort.

Burnout doesn’t come from effort.

Both come from misalignment.

When the challenge is higher than your ability... you feel anxious.

When the ability is higher than the challenge... you feel bored.

The sweet spot is challebility...work that stretches 'you' without breaking 'you'.

Good roles evolve with you.

Great leaders calibrate this balance.

If you feel stuck ...don’t ask: Am I capable?

Ask instead: Is the challenge still worthy of my ability?

Where are you today ...under-challenged or over-stretched?

Thoughts?

Someone created a LinkedIn account in September 2008.

His first real action came only in 2026.

That’s 18 years of silence.

This isn't because he had nothing to say but because he kept wondering:

➡️ What will people think?

The irony?

He was already benefiting from LinkedIn.

His jobs came through this platform even when he wasn’t visible, vocal, or consistent.

The regret wasn’t about failure. It was about missed momentum.

Imagine what compounding could have done if he had shown up earlier. 

It could have been in the form of: 

↗️ Built credibility.
↗️ Shared learnings.
↗️ Created conversations.
↗️ Left digital proof of growth.

Passivity feels safe until time exposes its cost.

'Visibility' is not arrogance and 'Action' surely is not noise.

Starting late is better than never but starting today is the ...best ;) 

Don’t wait for confidence. Don’t wait for approval.

Hope you are not passive today, only to regret it tomorrow.

Take action today. Reach out to me or Anand today.

Passivity Compounds As Well - Vivek Khandelwal

In workplaces ...labels are rarely accidental.

When people say, 'That person is always in the cafeteria' or 'You’ll find them in the smoking area'... they are not making casual observations. 

They are describing a personal brand that has been built quietly over time.

It hasn't happened through announcements or through social media bios but through patterns of presence.

Personal branding at work is not what you claim.
 
It is what others consistently see when they look for you.

Over weeks and months, people begin to associate you with:

- Where you spend your discretionary time
- How accessible or unavailable you appear
- What you prioritize when no one is assigning tasks

Eventually ...these micro-observations harden into macro-perceptions and perception becomes shorthand:

- This individual is 'Visible' only during breaks.
- This individual is 'Reliable' and always at the desk. 
- This individual is always in conversations and rarely execution focused. 

This is the uncomfortable truth about workplace branding:

Your reputation is shaped more by repetition than by intention.

A few reflections worth considering:

- Where are you most visible when work is optional?

- What do people say about you when you are not in the room?

- If someone had to describe your work habits in one sentence, what would it be?

Lets remember: Personal branding is not built in performance reviews. It is built in corridors, common areas and quiet choices.

Every day ...you are teaching the organization how to remember you.
 
The only question is ...are you being remembered for what truly matters?

#PersonalBrand #VivekKhandelwal #Workplace

How Personal Branding Can Impact You - Vivek Khandelwal

Today isn’t just another date on the calendar.

It’s the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda ....a reminder the world needs, especially workplaces.

⚡ He didn’t preach comfort.
🎯 He preached character.

⚡ He didn’t glorify success.
🎯 He glorified strength of thought and action.

In today’s professional world, his message sounds almost radical:

▶️ Confidence > Credentials
▶️ Character > Certifications
▶️ Courage > Conformity
▶️ Purpose > Position

Swami Vivekananda believed the future belongs to those who believe in themselves before the world does.

It is not when the title arrives or when validation comes but much before. 

For young professionals, leaders, and builders:

Your degree may open doors however your mindset decides how far you go.

His words are for generations ahead: Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.

On this National Youth Day, a simple reflection: Are you merely working for outcomes or becoming someone worthy of bigger outcomes?

Which Vivekananda principle guides your career journey today?

#SwamiVivekananda

Swami Vivekananda Is a reminder for one and all

Friendship without borders feels distant until leaders like Meloni & Takaichi make them unbreakable!

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi brought the female power to a whole new level. 

They didn't just shake hands. They hug, laugh over birthday cake (yes, Takaichi surprised Meloni with Hello Kitty gifts and a song in Italian!), and call each other by first names like old pals. 

They rose from humble roots to world stages. 

G20 spark in South Africa lit the fire. 

Now...it has resulted in strategic ties on defense, trade, empowerment. 

These conservative powerhouses remind us that... Leadership thrives when women lift each other turning challenges into triumphs. 

What's one 'fast friendship' in your career that changed everything?

📸 Credits: The Times Of India

We service old cars to keep them running.

We invest time, money and expertise to make sure they don’t break down.

When it comes to thinking ...we often carry old assumptions without inspection.

➡️ It could be 'Processes' that once worked.

➡️ It could be 'Beliefs' formed in a different era.

➡️ It could be 'Rules' created for problems that no longer exist.

Experience is valuable however experience without reflection becomes a liability.

Growth does not mean discarding the past.

It means questioning what still deserves a place in the present.

The real upgrade is not in technology. It is in mindset.

What belief are you still carrying
that once helped you but may now be slowing you down?

taplio

The Battle

Ankur Warikoo

Vivek Khandelwal

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreAnkur Warikoo's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreVivek Khandelwal's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Ankur Warikoo

Vivek Khandelwal

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ankur Warikoo's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreVivek Khandelwal's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreAnkur Warikoo's LinkedIn Performance