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Journalism of Courage
Entrepreneur and author Ankur Warikoo recently shared an inspiring post on LinkedIn, reflecting on his unconventional journey from dropping out of a PhD programme in the US to becoming one of the top campus hires in India and how his income increased from Rs 3 lakh per annum (LPA) to Rs 33 LPA in just five years.
In his post, Warikoo shared that he returned to India at 24 with no clear direction. “I dropped out of my PhD in the US and came back to India. With no plans and no visibility over my future, I needed financial stability. I had to get a job,” he wrote.
With no MBA, limited connections, and little exposure, he began responding to newspaper ads, attending walk-in interviews, and leveraging the small network he had. “I tapped into my (limited) network, applied through newspaper ads, and went for walk-in interviews,” he shared.
After 45 days of relentless effort, he made it to the final round at NIS Sparta. “I had no idea what to ask for,” he said. The company offered him Rs 15,000 in hand. “More than I expected,” he added. At the time, his starting monthly salary was Rs 14,746, Warikoo shared.
But soon, reality hit. Surrounded by colleagues with management degrees, he began to feel the gap in skills and confidence. That is when he came across the one-year MBA programme at ISB, an expensive proposition that required taking out the first-ever loan for his family.
“I asked myself, can I land a job post-MBA that pays me at least Rs 35K a month? The data said yes. So I took the bet,” he wrote.
Warikoo’s post-MBA journey was far from smooth. He failed the BCG interview and stumbled in the second round with AT Kearney. But someone saw potential and gave him another shot. “I bombed my BCG interview. Fumbled in ATK’s second round, too. But someone gave me another chance. I gave it everything,” he said.
That second chance paid off. He landed a role at AT Kearney with a package of Rs 12 lakh per annum. In just 18 months, he became the firm’s fastest-promoted employee. By the time he left in 2009, he was earning Rs 33 lakh annually.
“I got my first job at 24, earning Rs 14,746 per month. At 26, I was earning 12 lakh per annum. At 29, 33 lakh per annum,” Warikoo shared.
Concluding the post, he shared a powerful takeaway and wrote, “I reached where I did because people bet on me. I stayed grateful and worked hard. If someone takes a bet on you, double down. On yourself.”
See the post here:
The post resonated with several professionals and freshers on LinkedIn. Hailing Warikoo’s resilience, a user wrote, “What a powerful story, Ankur. The throughline here isn’t just career progression: it’s resilience, gratitude, and the quiet courage to keep showing up without guarantees.” Another user commented, “Your journey showcases remarkable growth, and the blend of time, gratitude, and self-belief is a potent formula for lasting transformation.”
