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!

Soft Skill & Corporate Trainer | 41K | I Help Individuals Master Public Speaking with Confidence | Professor-PW | Speaker - G Summit 2023 | 30+ Webinars | Resume Review & Interview Prep Coach | Trained 1000+ | 30+ Brands

Is communicating with confidence holding you back?

I’m Vrinda Gupta, a Leadership Communication Trainer and 2× TEDx Speaker.

I work with corporate professionals, founders, and high-potential students who know their work but struggle to articulate it with confidence, clarity, and authority.

My work sits at the intersection of confidence, communication, and performance.

Over the years, I’ve trained 4,500+ professionals and students, helping them:

- Speak clearly in high-stakes meetings and interviews
- Build executive presence without changing who they are
- Communicate ideas confidently with clients, leadership, and stakeholders
- Overcome the silent fear of speaking that limits growth

Where my work shows up

- Fortune 500 companies & corporate teams, training professionals across roles and seniority
- Top institutions, including IIT Ranchi, Amity University, FORE School of Management, PayPal learning cohorts, and other leading campuses
- Founders and senior professionals navigating leadership communication, presentations, and influence

My work has been featured across platforms focused on leadership, culture, and professional growth, including:
- TEDx & Josh Talks
- Humans of Bombay
- LinkedIn News & ET (Economic Times) features
- Favikon - Top Creators
- LinkedIn Top Voice (2025)

What I train people on

- Executive & workplace communication
- Interview and placement communication
- Leadership presence & stakeholder conversations
- Client communication & professional confidence
- Public speaking and high-pressure communication scenarios

Whether you’re an early-career professional, a people leader, a founder, or an academic institution preparing students for industry, communication is the skill that decides how far capability actually travels.

If you’re exploring structured communication training for yourself, your team, students, or leadership cohort, you can reach out here.

📩 vrindagupta02@gmail.com

Vrinda Gupta

If you've worked in corporate, you'll relate.
Corporate life in theory vs reality:


"We value open communication" 
→ No one speaks in meetings. Ever.

"We have a strong feedback culture" 
→ Feedback goes up. Never comes back down.

"Work-life balance is important to us" 
→ Slack ping at 9:47 pm. "Quick question."

"Feel free to share your ideas" 
→ You share. Silence. Someone else says it 3 weeks later. Applause.

"We're like a family here" 
→ Until budget cuts.

The gap between what companies say and what employees experience?
That's where trust breaks.

What would you add to this list?

2× TEDx Speaker | Corporate Communication Trainer | I Help Teams & Leaders Communicate with Authority | Better Client Conversations, Stronger Leadership Presence, Higher Conversions

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Being "dependable" is why some people never get promoted.


Let me tell you the trap no one talks about:

The Dependability Paradox:

The better you are at your job --> The more you absorb --> The more "essential" you become —>The harder you are to move. 

And managers don't promote people they can't replace.

Your manager isn't tracking your consistency. 

-They're tracking who speaks up in meetings. 
-Who sends the recap email. 
-Who takes credit - clearly and unapologetically.

Dependability is a career asset.
Until it becomes a ceiling.

What's one thing you've done that went completely unnoticed?

2× TEDx Speaker | Corporate Communication Trainer | I Help Teams & Leaders Communicate with Authority | Better Client Conversations, Stronger Leadership Presence, Higher Conversions | Top Voice 2025

3 months. 
Same person. 
Completely different confidence.


Before: 
→ Avoided speaking in meetings 
→ Over-explained when she did 
→ Passed over for promotion twice

What we fixed: 
→ Structured her responses: 
one point, clearly made, then stop → Cut the jargon. Added clarity. 
→ Practiced out loud. Again. And again.

After: 
→ Spoke in 4 consecutive leadership meetings
→ Got asked to lead a cross-functional initiative 
→ Her words: "I finally sound like I know what I'm doing"

Nothing about her changed. 
Except how she showed up.

Who's someone you've watched transform their presence?

Delhi, I’m coming 👋

I’ll be in Delhi from 9th–14th and would love to connect and collaborate while I’m there.

Open to:
– Coffee meet-ups 
– 1:1 sessions
– Workshops
– Podcast collaborations 
– Content collabs

If you’re a creator, founder, or professional and feel we can create something meaningful together, let’s chat.

DM me with “Delhi” or drop a comment below.

Looking forward to meeting some amazing people ✨

Can you all guess which movie this is? 🎬


I was honestly just bored and randomly thought of trying this on ChatGPT. Didn’t expect it to turn out this good.

It’s actually crazy how realistic AI is getting. From time-pass experiments to results that look straight out of a movie poster.

AI is booming, no doubt.

And sometimes, it’s just fun to play around and be amazed by what it can do.

PS: Low-key feels like I’m part of Dhurandhar now 😅
Tell me if you guessed it right

Just came back from Delhi after 2 days.


And why does it feel like I’ve returned from a foreign trip every single time?

Not even exaggerating.

It’s not just the cold. it’s the prep.
Masks packed.
Oil for the nose packed.
Constant reminder: don’t step out without a mask.

In Mumbai, you forget your phone and go back.
In Delhi, you forget your mask and reconsider going out at all.

Plus the weather, I took off in 5 degrees within an hour landed in 32 degrees LOL

Delhi for 2 days taught me discipline. Mumbai welcomed me back with humidity 

Same country, very different experiences.

If you struggle with confidence while speaking, save this.

Free resources I recommend to improve communication & presentation skills 

YouTube channels worth your time: 

→ Vinh Giang (storytelling + presence) 
→ Carmine Gallo (presentation structure) 
→ Vanessa Van Edwards (body language science)

Free courses that deliver: 

→ Google's "Improve Your Public Speaking" on Coursera 
→ University of Washington's "Speaking to Inform" (Coursera)

TED Talks to study, not just watch: 

→ Amy Cuddy - for power posture 
→ Julian Treasure - for vocal delivery 
→ Nancy Duarte - for narrative structure

AI tools for practice: 

→ Yoodli - real-time speech feedback 
→ Poised - filler word tracking → ChatGPT - script structuring and prep

Books (only 2, because less is more): 

→ "Talk Like TED" by Carmine Gallo 
→ "The Charisma Myth" by Olivia Fox Cabane

Stop consuming randomly.
Start practicing intentionally.

Which one are you trying first?

I’ve trained enough people to know this secret.



5 workplace soft skills no one trains you for (but everyone judges you on)

The ones who stall aren't missing hard skills. They're missing these:

1. You ramble in meetings - Less is more. Say it once, say it well, stop.

2. Your Slack tone is a problem -  "Just circling back!" is not as friendly as you think.

3. You say yes to everything - And now you're overwhelmed, resentful, and replaceable.

4. You react badly to feedback - Even when you think you're hiding it - you're not.

5. You pitch ideas like you're apologising - Stop asking for permission. Start offering solutions.

No one trains you on these. 
But they're exactly what gets discussed behind closed doors.

PS: I am coming to Delhi next weekend. I’m open to conducting sessions and connecting with like minded founders, creators and entrepreneurs over a coffee.

DM me now if you are from Delhi.

After training 900+ students with a 98% success rate, this is the one pattern I see again and again:


👉 Candidates place the interviewer on a pedestal.
👉 They forget their own value.
👉 Confidence collapses before the first question.

Let me say this clearly: you are NOT below the interviewer.

An interview is not a favour. It’s a 1:1 professional conversation.

They are evaluating:

-your skills
-your energy
-your mindset
-your time

And in return, they pay you.

-You are offering value.
-They are offering an opportunity.
-That makes you equals.

If you get selected. Great, you earned it.
If you don’t, they’ll forget the interaction the moment you walk out.

So stop trying to impress. Stop shrinking yourself. Start showing up as a professional who knows their worth.

Confidence isn’t arrogance. It’s clarity.

I work from home and I forgot what human connection actually feels like. 


Until last week.

I hosted a success event at PW office in Noida. 

Students from my batch over 2.5 years, students who got placed in top leading private banks.

Many had felt aimless before joining.

A lot struggled with confidence.
Most were told their communication wasn't "corporate enough."

But watching them on stage, I noticed something different:

They weren't just speaking well.
They were connecting.

We've romanticized remote work so much that we've forgotten the one communication skill LinkedIn doesn't teach: Showing up in person when it matters.

The students who traveled hours just because they knew I'd be there? That's a real impact you can feel in your bones.

2.5 years of working from home and it took one event to remind me why I do this.

Sometimes the best communication training happens when you close the laptop.

What's one in-person moment that reminded you why your work matters?

taplio

The Battle

Ankur Warikoo

Vrinda Gupta

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taplio

The Battle

Ankur Warikoo

Vrinda Gupta

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

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Performance ScoreAnkur Warikoo's LinkedIn Performance