Career Shifts: Insights from Episode 12 with Vikas Dua

First and foremost, a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who tuned in on Wednesday for the Career Shifts podcast! Your engagement and enthusiasm are the lifeblood of this podcast. Whether you joined us live or caught up later, your presence and participation make our community thrive. I am truly grateful for your support. I also thank LinkedIn for providing us with a platform to interact with incredible leaders and learn from their stories.

I had the privilege of hosting the 12th episode of the Career Shifts podcast with a very special guest and a dear friend, Vikas Dua

But before the details, let me take you to a personal story!

A Lesson from 2001: The Power of Branding

The year was 2001. I was in the First year of Commerce. One morning, a professor walked in to teach us marketing management, and the topic of the day was branding. Up until that point, branding to us was just famous names like Cadbury's and Raymond's. That week-long deep dive into branding was an eye-opener, laying the foundation for understanding the art and science behind it.

Years later, after a decade on LinkedIn, I posted about joining IIMA on June 14th, 2021. To my surprise, the post went viral with thousands of likes and comments. This was a pivotal moment for me. It made me realize that personal branding is just as crucial as corporate branding. In today's digital age, personal brands shape perceptions and open doors to opportunities.

From Heartfelt Conversations to Career Shifts with Vikas Dua

Fast forward to December last year, I reached out to Vikas Dua to invite him to an event we were hosting. I had been following his work on LinkedIn and was a big fan of his stories. We first met at the book launch of Abhijit Bhaduri's "Career 3.0," and our second meeting in April this year turned into a heartfelt conversation. We quickly became friends, revealing a bigger brand behind the individual. I told him about my podcast, Career Shifts, and before I could ask him to be a guest, he insisted I should be on his. It felt like a fastest-finger-first competition, showcasing our mutual respect and eagerness to collaborate.

Hosting Vikas on my podcast is like Pathan appearing on Tiger 3. His fantastic nature, which everyone will agree with, has been instrumental in our collaboration.

Vikas's Career Shifts:

1. First Shift: From Hospitality to ITES:

   - Background: Vikas began his career in the hospitality industry, working in operations. This role required long hours and a high level of commitment, often at the expense of personal time and family life.

   - Transition: He realized that the hospitality industry wasn't aligning with his long-term personal and professional goals. Seeking a better work-life balance and new challenges, he decided to shift to a Human Resources (HR) role in the IT Enabled Services (ITES) sector.

   - Challenges: This shift required Vikas to acquire new skills and adapt to a different industry culture. The move was strategic, allowing him to leverage his existing skills while gaining new expertise in HR.

2. Second Shift: From Corporate to Entrepreneurship

   - Background: After establishing himself in the corporate world, Vikas felt a sense of stagnation. He had achieved stability but was looking for more fulfilment and a new set of challenges.

   - Transition: He decided to take a leap of faith and venture into entrepreneurship. His goal was to bridge the gap between academia and the corporate world, helping students prepare for their careers.

   - Challenges: Entrepreneurship brought a host of new responsibilities. Vikas had to understand every aspect of running a business, from finances to marketing, without the support structures he had in a corporate environment. It was a period of intense learning and personal growth.

3. Third Shift: From Entrepreneurship Back to Corporate

   - Background: After several years as an entrepreneur, Vikas decided it was time to return to the corporate world. This time, he chose a completely different industry—Public Relations (PR) and communications.

   - Transition: This move required Vikas to once again adapt his skills and knowledge to a new domain. He had to learn the nuances of PR and integrate his entrepreneurial insights into a corporate structure.

   - Challenges: The shift back to corporate life involved re-establishing himself in a new field and overcoming the perception that he was primarily an ITES and entrepreneurial professional.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

1. Strategic Moves: Vikas emphasized the importance of being strategic during career transitions. Each of his shifts was carefully considered to align with his long-term goals and personal values.

2. Family Support: He highlighted how crucial family support was during his gap year and various transitions. Their encouragement and understanding provided the foundation he needed to take significant risks.

3. Entrepreneurial Lessons: His entrepreneurial journey taught him the value of understanding a business comprehensively. He stressed the importance of financial planning and having a safety net to manage the inherent risks.

4. Personal Branding: Vikas underscored the significance of building a strong personal brand. Leveraging platforms like LinkedIn, he was able to showcase his journey, skills, and insights, which opened up new opportunities and connections.

5. Mentorship: He discussed the invaluable role of mentors and the benefits of reverse mentoring from younger professionals. Both forms of mentorship provided him with diverse perspectives and guidance throughout his career.

Critical Tips:

1. Develop a Strong Personal Brand: Be proactive in sharing your story and achievements to shape how others perceive you. This can lead to unexpected opportunities and connections.

2. Plan and Prepare: Always have a financial cushion and continuously invest in upskilling. This preparation helps manage the uncertainties that come with career shifts.

3. Value Mentorship: Seek guidance from both experienced mentors and younger professionals. Each group offers unique insights that can help navigate your career path.

4. Embrace Sacrifice: Understand that career shifts often come with sacrifices. Be prepared to invest time, forgo revenue, or even relocate to pursue your goals.

Rapid Fire Insights:

- Best Career Advice: "Take this assignment, I'm standing beside you." This advice underscores the importance of support and confidence from leaders.

- Must-Read Book: "Quiet" by Susan Cain. This book explores the power of introverts and how they can thrive in a predominantly extroverted world.

- Go-To Productivity Hack: "Just do it." This Nike-inspired mantra emphasizes the importance of taking action and getting things done.

- Career Swap for a Day: Shah Rukh Khan (SRK). Vikas would love to experience the thrill and excitement of being in SRK's shoes for a day.

- Favorite Way to Unwind: Watching legal dramas or spending quality time with his daughters.

- Morning Essentials: A cup of tea and a newspaper. These simple pleasures help Vikas start his day on a positive note.

To Conclude:

I truly hope that Vikas’s journey and our heartfelt conversation have inspired you to rethink, reinvent, and future-proof your career. As Vikas shared, we are all fantastic at what we do, but we owe it to ourselves to ensure others know about it too. This is why presence and a strong personal brand are crucial. Careers are never linear—develop the courage to take the plunge and make the shift, and rely on your mentors to guide you through these transitions.

We live in times when the world of work is evolving rapidly. As many of my previous guests have said, we need to focus on developing our skills and mastering the art of storytelling.

Tune In to the Next Episode:

Don't miss the next episode of the Career Shifts podcast on August 7th, where we'll continue to explore transformative career journeys with another remarkable guest. Mark your calendars as we dive into more inspiring stories and actionable insights. Until then, keep shifting forward and upward! Keep following the Career Shifts podcast on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Spotify. See you there!

Thank you STEEPHAN JOHN, Varsha Agarwal🌐, Jhumar Mathrani, Ruchi Bhatia, Varshaa Raturi Thapliyal, Col. Zahl Tantra, Toushif Ayesha Ansari, Mridu Bhandari 🎙️🚀, Tino Thomas, Nischal Kumtakar 💎, Phani Pattamatta, Reema Purohit, Dr. Pratibha Singh, Rohit Bhasin, Joy Bhattacharjee, Sunil Kumar Singh, Prateek Soni for joining in! Looking forward to seeing you all on the next one!