HPAIR Harvard Conference'23 | Head, Marketing Club | Advisor, International Business Club| LinkedIn 20k+ | 100+ MUNs | Marketing, Finance, IB Student| Former Head Girl, MDAV School |

If you had to weigh what's greater: My love for watching Podcasts or my zeal to work hard, you would probably end in a deadlock. But it just goes with the theme of me, who tries my best to manage her office work ,Linkedin workshops to partying, long drives, Reading books, sketching and Binge Watching.

So as being said, Hey there!!! Riya Gadhwal, this side, A 23 year-old who did BBA from Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies NOIDA , currently working with American Express as Analyst and trying my best daily to gain some new knowledge.

I am,
-A learner and a person who- loves Networking, who got selected for HPAIR Harvard Conference'23 twice.
-Love Writing Content on Linkedin-having 200 K + Followers & Have been invited by colleges like Delhi University, IIM, IIT and Punjab University for sessions on Personal Branding.
-A student -selected as top 2 to represent the entire Symbiosis University at FICCI 2022.
-Public Speaker- who has been on stage throughout her life- 100+ Model United Nations and Open Forums, Invited by Delhi University, SRCC, Punjab University, etc. to judge various competitions.
-Marketing Enthusiast- serving as the Marketing Head of the college after being the Deputy head for a year, two times National Finalist at IIM INDORE Annual Culture Fest, finishing the Podium Once.
-Loves Organising events- My own MUN - Celestial Model United Nations- 2000+ delegates, 10+ Countries, Collaboration with ASEAN, UN75, etc.
-The only student - featured twice on SCMS NOIDA's official Instagram Page.
- A Mentor & a teacher - taught more than 20,000 kids about Personal development ,Linkedin Personal Branding and Model United Nations.
-Loves Volunteering in NGOs- Worked for Women, Children, and Covid Resources.
-Also love finishing a book in 2 days :)

If I can help, feel free to dm me or mail me at riyagadhwal12@gmail.com.

This was my story, Create Your Own.
Until then,
Keep Shining and Keep Growing :)♡

My friend landed her dream corporate job in Gurgaon but in 3 months called me crying.

Not a brand post!
She got her perfect company, role, and salary. But 3 months in, she called in tears: "Didi, I think I made a mistake."Not the job.

Adulting crushed her.Weeks lost hunting rentals, furniture, food, Wi-Fi, housekeeping in a new city, alone.
Savings drained, mentally wrecked before career even started.

Then, another student moved smarter: straight into fully managed living. No brokerage, no setup chaos. Food, Wi-Fi, housekeeping? Done. Instant community.

All this was done with help of Stanza Living 

Lesson from 2 years in Gurgaon: Moving cities rewires your life, routine, energy. 

The real career hack? Slash daily friction so you thrive not survive.

Convenience isn't luxury. It's your growth strategy

.#CareerGrowth #YoungProfessionals #Adulting #GenZCareers

Riya Gadhwal

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When I was 20, I stared at my blank LinkedIn profile thinking: "Who am I to post here? No IIM stamp, no fancy internship yet."

Fast forward to today: LinkedIn Top Voice. 210 K+ followers. Taught 20K+ students. Delegate at HPAIR Harvard '23.

But here's the secret no one told 20 yrs old Riya: Your first post doesn't need perfection. It needs purpose.

I started small :sharing MUN nerves, BizCon wins, and Google Sheets hacks from Coursera. No fluff. Just real talk for students like you stressing over resumes, DMs, or "What’s next?"

3 shifts that 10x'd my LinkedIn game (steal them):

1. Write for your younger self 
   Ask: "What did 20 yrs me Google at 2 AM?" (Answer: HPAIR application tips or  American Express interview prep.) Turn it into a post. Relatability = impressions.

2. Golden hour posting + human hooks 
   Ditch random noon posts. Hit 8-10 AM IST. Hook in 2 lines: I bombed 3 MUNs before nailing HPAIR. Here’s how.(Pro tip: Stalk my profile for FREE DM templates!)

3. Read to create, not just scroll
   Books → posts. Atomic Habits became my "Content Habits" carousel. Psychology books fueled my DM strategy. Consume = create gym.

Result? From 3-4 chaotic posts/day to 3-4 strategic ones/week. Silent impressions turned into paid coaching gigs, Top Voice badge, and IIT/IIM speaking invites.

If you're a final-year student, MUN debater, or aspiring creator hesitating: Post today. Not for likes for the kid who needs your story.

What’s ONE thing your younger self  needed to hear? Drop it below

#linkedin #linkedingrowth #linkedintips

Stop consuming! Start creating!
Stop consuming! Start creating!
Stop consuming! Start creating!

When I started Linkedin, very few people were there who started writing on Linkedin.

I started because I suckeddddd at writing and I really wanted to learn content writing by making mistakes.

For a year or so, I did everything, wrote thesis about projects, carousels , make 25 secs -5 mins videos here , normal post, post with 1 photo and multiple photos ,and many more trending things.

But I NEVER stopped it

No one believed in me. And I still recall my friends saying : iska bhi content bnade when i had less followers..

The same people call me now to promote their brands.

Its just a matter of time! Dont lose hopes! Its never to late!

Start Today!

PS: attaching photos of different things I tried since years on Linkedin.

From 2 followers to 200 K !! 

#linkedin

Let's learn LinkedIn from the Indian Union Budget 2026:

because honestly, Budgets and LinkedIn have more in common than we think.

📌 Allocation decides growth: 

The government decides which sector deserves funding. Here on Linkedin , Your time is your Budget...
If you allocate time to learning, networking, and content creation , your professional GDP grows.

If you allocate time to scrolling  then the  inflation of self-doubt increases.

📌 Consistency builds trust
A strong budget is not about one big announcement. It’s about consistent policy direction.
Similarly, one viral post won’t build your brand.
Consistency in posting, commenting, and showing up is what builds credibility.

📌 Long-term vision beats short-term hype.
Budgets focus on infrastructure, education, and innovation because returns come over years.
Your LinkedIn profile is also long-term infrastructure.
Every post, every connection, every interaction compounds  even when you don’t see immediate results.

📌 Transparency attracts investment
Governments that communicate plans clearly attract investors.
Professionals who communicate their skills, journey and value clearly attract opportunities.

📌 Diversification reduces risk.
A country cannot depend on one industry.
Similarly, don’t depend on one skill or one format of content.
Build a portfolio of skills. Share knowledge, stories, achievements, and learnings.


🍪 A budget is a roadmap for a country’s growth.Your LinkedIn presence is a roadmap for your career growth.

Both reward those who think long-term, stay consistent and invest wisely.

What’s one thing you’re planning to give more time to on LinkedIn this year?

#linkedin #unionbudget #linkedintips

A true story: Last year, I lost a deal I thought I had already won.

Everything looked perfect on paper. I walked into the final conversation thinking it was just a formality.

It wasn’t.

Midway through, the other side said something I still remember:
"This works for you, but I don’t know how this works for us internally."

The deal collapsed 2  days later.
Not because the offer was bad.
But because I was negotiating for victory, not sustainability.

Recently, while reading about the India–US Interim Trade Agreement, I realised how world-class negotiators think very differently. 

And surprisingly, these lessons have nothing to do with politics as they apply to salary talks, client deals, vendor contracts, and everyday professional conversations.

Here are 3 lessons that changed how I see negotiations:
📌 Downside Protection > Upside Maximisation
India didn’t start with “How much can we gain?”They started with “What can we not afford to lose?”
Strong negotiators define their red lines first. Once risks are capped, you negotiate with clarity not desperation.
Before your next negotiation, ask:
👉 What are my non-negotiables?
👉 What outcome would make this deal not worth it?
Sometimes knowing what you’ll walk away from is more powerful than knowing what you want to win.

📌 The “Golden Bridge” Principle
The agreement works because both sides can say, “We won.”
India gets tariff reductions. The US gets market access.
People don’t just need good deals. They need deals they can justify internally.
Great negotiations aren’t about overpowering.
They’re about designing outcomes where everyone walks away with dignity.

📌 Interim is a Strategy, Not a Compromise
We’re obsessed with closing everything instantly. But sometimes the smartest move is:
✔ Pilot projects
✔ Trial collaborations
✔ Short-term agreements
✔ Phased rollouts
Sustainable growth is rarely loud. It’s slow, intentional, and well thought out.

The best negotiators I’ve seen aren’t aggressive. They’re patient. And they ensure that when the deal ends the relationship doesn’t.

What’s one negotiation lesson life or work has taught you the hard way?

#indiaUSJointStatement

From a marketing point of view, this was such a smart move by Lava.

Because let’s be honest, every smartphone ad looks the same now.

Better camera. Faster processor. Bigger battery.
Different numbers, same story.

After a point, nobody really cares.

So instead of competing on specs, Lava picked something we all actually struggle with, service centres.

And that’s such a real, everyday pain.

Everyone has wasted hours sitting on those chairs, waiting for their token number, going back home with “sir kal aaiye.”

The ad simply takes that frustration and turns it into a funny, exaggerated story. You keep watching because it feels familiar and funny.

By the end, when they say they offer repair at home, it just makes sense. No convincing needed.

It’s a good reminder that sometimes the best marketing doesn’t shout about features. It just solves one small, annoying problem really well and shows it honestly.

I’m sure most of us have gone through this at least once.
Drop your service centre horror stories in the comments.

If your profile isnt coverting visitors into connections , opportunities or clients this might be why:

📌 Profile Picture Tips

1️⃣ Prioritise clarity over creativity
No group photos, heavy filters or vacation pictures. Your face should be clearly visible and professional.

2️⃣ Dress for the role you want, not the role you have
Your picture should reflect your aspiration and personal brand positioning.

3️⃣ Use a clean background
Neutral or slightly blurred backgrounds work best. They keep the focus on YOU.

4️⃣ Lighting is everything
Natural lighting instantly improves professionalism and approachability.

5️⃣ Smile or maintain a confident expression
People connect with faces that feel approachable yet credible.

📌 Banner Tips 

1️⃣ Tell people what you do in one glance
Your banner should answer:
➡ Who are you?
➡ What value do you provide?
➡ Who do you help?

2️⃣ Add elements of personal branding
You can include:
• Tagline
• Key achievements
• Expertise areas
• Contact or CTA

3️⃣ Keep it minimal and readable
Overcrowded banners reduce impact. Simplicity builds recall.

4️⃣ Align banner with your content niche
Your banner should match your profile positioning and thought leadership theme.

5️⃣ Use brand colours or consistent aesthetics
Consistency builds familiarity and trust.


Most people optimise their posts…
Very few optimise their profile real estate which works for them 24/7.

Your content may bring people to your profile.Your profile decides whether they stay, connect, or convert.


Also , Just changed my Linkedin Banner and Linkedin Profile Picture (open to suggestions )..

Do check my previous A to Z linkedin Series posts for more detailed post.

#linkedin #riyagadhwal

Being a big Sharukh Khan fan , I have always been a big old school lover and when I saw a heart stuck on a random parked car today.

For a second, I thought I’m in some kind of a bollywood movie.

Curiosity won. I went closer.
Opened it.

It said:
“Still single? Pamper yourself with Salon at Home.”

And I genuinely laughed.

Not because it was funny (okay, it was 😭), but because it was brilliantly observant.

Valentine’s Day has silently become one of the highest-pressure days of the year.

People are either planning grand gestures, waiting for surprises, or pretending they don’t care while low-key checking Instagram stories.

And right in the middle of that chaos, this tiny heart on a random car flips the narrative:
What if the easiest Valentine’s plan is… planning for yourself?

From a marketing lens, this is such a smart play.
Honestly, campaigns like these remind me that good marketing doesn’t interrupt moments. It hijacks real emotions already happening in them.

Also, slightly controversial take: Self-care has quietly become the most stable Valentine’s relationship many of us have.

Being single, def trying this on V Day!!! 

Also,  if you spotted something like this on your car, would you find it cute, creepy, or clever marketing?

I recently came across this piece of content where the brand integration was so seamless, I didn’t even register it as an ad at first.

No aggressive CTA.
No awkward product insertion.

Just a story where the brand genuinely felt contextual. 

It made me think: maybe the future of branded content isn’t louder placements, but better storytelling.

When the brand becomes part of the narrative, not an interruption to it , that’s when it works.

taplio

Riya Gadhwal's Linkedin Analytics

Riya Gadhwal

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taplio

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Riya Gadhwal

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);}Riya Gadhwal's LinkedIn Performance

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Riya Gadhwal's Linkedin Analytics

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