Explore Courses
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA by Liverpool Business School
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA (Master of Business Administration)
  • 15 Months
Popular
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Business Administration (MBA)
  • 12 Months
New
Birla Institute of Management Technology Birla Institute of Management Technology Post Graduate Diploma in Management (BIMTECH)
  • 24 Months
Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool John Moores UniversityMS in Data Science
  • 18 Months
Popular
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Programme in Data Science & AI (Executive)
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with concentration in Generative AI
  • 3 Years
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
New
University of MarylandIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Certificate in Data Science & AI (Executive)
  • 8-8.5 Months
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 months
Popular
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutData Engineer Bootcamp
  • Self-Paced
upGradupGradCertificate Course in Business Analytics & Consulting in association with PwC India
  • 06 Months
OP Jindal Global UniversityOP Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience Design
  • 12 Months
Popular
WoolfWoolfMaster of Science in Computer Science
  • 18 Months
New
Jindal Global UniversityJindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience
  • 12 Months
New
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDBA Doctorate in Technology (Computer Science)
  • 36 Months
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangaloreCloud Computing and DevOps Program (Executive)
  • 8 Months
New
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutAWS Solutions Architect Certification
  • 32 Hours
upGradupGradFull Stack Software Development Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Popular
upGradupGradUI/UX Bootcamp
  • 3 Months
upGradupGradCloud Computing Bootcamp
  • 7.5 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration in Digital Leadership
  • 36 Months
New
Jindal Global UniversityJindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience
  • 12 Months
New
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Bestseller
Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisEcole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradSAFe® 6.0 Certified ScrumMaster (SSM) Training
  • Self-Paced
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradPMP® certification
  • Self-Paced
IIM KozhikodeIIM KozhikodeProfessional Certification in HR Management and Analytics
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
Duke CEDuke CEPost Graduate Certificate in Product Management
  • 4-8 Months
Bestseller
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutLeading SAFe® 6.0 Certification
  • 16 Hours
Popular
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutCertified ScrumMaster®(CSM) Training
  • 16 Hours
Bestseller
PwCupGrad CampusCertification Program in Financial Modelling & Analysis in association with PwC India
  • 4 Months
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutSAFe® 6.0 POPM Certification
  • 16 Hours
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University MS in Machine Learning & AI
  • 18 Months
Popular
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with concentration in Generative AI
  • 3 Years
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangaloreExecutive Post Graduate Programme in Machine Learning & AI
  • 13 Months
Bestseller
IIITBIIITBExecutive Program in Generative AI for Leaders
  • 4 Months
upGradupGradAdvanced Certificate Program in GenerativeAI
  • 4 Months
New
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning & Deep Learning (Executive)
  • 8 Months
Bestseller
Jindal Global UniversityJindal Global UniversityMaster of Design in User Experience
  • 12 Months
New
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 15 Months
Popular
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Brand Communication Management
  • 5 Months
Popular
upGradupGradDigital Marketing Accelerator Program
  • 05 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in AI and Emerging Technologies (Blended Learning Program)
  • 12 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Intellectual Property & Technology Law
  • 12 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Dispute Resolution
  • 12 Months
upGradupGradContract Law Certificate Program
  • Self paced
New
ESGCI, ParisESGCI, ParisDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA) from ESGCI, Paris
  • 36 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration From Golden Gate University, San Francisco
  • 36 Months
Rushford Business SchoolRushford Business SchoolDoctor of Business Administration from Rushford Business School, Switzerland)
  • 36 Months
Edgewood CollegeEdgewood CollegeDoctorate of Business Administration from Edgewood College
  • 24 Months
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with Concentration in Generative AI
  • 36 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University DBA in Digital Leadership from Golden Gate University, San Francisco
  • 36 Months
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA by Liverpool Business School
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA (Master of Business Administration)
  • 15 Months
Popular
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Business Administration (MBA)
  • 12 Months
New
Deakin Business School and Institute of Management Technology, GhaziabadDeakin Business School and IMT, GhaziabadMBA (Master of Business Administration)
  • 12 Months
Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool John Moores UniversityMS in Data Science
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityMaster of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangalorePost Graduate Programme in Data Science (Executive)
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
O.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global UniversityO.P.Jindal Global University
  • 12 Months
WoolfWoolfMaster of Science in Computer Science
  • 18 Months
New
Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University MS in Machine Learning & AI
  • 18 Months
Popular
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityDBA in Emerging Technologies with concentration in Generative AI
  • 3 Years
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDoctorate of Business Administration (AI/ML)
  • 36 Months
Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisEcole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisDBA Specialisation in AI & ML
  • 36 Months
Golden Gate University Golden Gate University Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Bestseller
Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisEcole Supérieure de Gestion et Commerce International ParisDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Rushford, GenevaRushford Business SchoolDoctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
  • 36 Months
Liverpool Business SchoolLiverpool Business SchoolMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMBA with Marketing Concentration
  • 15 Months
Popular
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law
  • 12 Months
Bestseller
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Intellectual Property & Technology Law
  • 12 Months
Jindal Global Law SchoolJindal Global Law SchoolLL.M. in Dispute Resolution
  • 12 Months
IIITBIIITBExecutive Program in Generative AI for Leaders
  • 4 Months
New
IIIT BangaloreIIIT BangaloreExecutive Post Graduate Programme in Machine Learning & AI
  • 13 Months
Bestseller
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
New
upGradupGradAdvanced Certificate Program in GenerativeAI
  • 4 Months
New
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradSAFe® 6.0 Certified ScrumMaster (SSM) Training
  • Self-Paced
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutCertified ScrumMaster®(CSM) Training
  • 16 Hours
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutLeading SAFe® 6.0 Certification
  • 16 Hours
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradPMP® certification
  • Self-Paced
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutAWS Solutions Architect Certification
  • 32 Hours
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutAzure Administrator Certification (AZ-104)
  • 24 Hours
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradAWS Cloud Practioner Essentials Certification
  • 1 Week
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradAzure Data Engineering Training (DP-203)
  • 1 Week
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
MICAMICAAdvanced Certificate in Brand Communication Management
  • 5 Months
Popular
IIM KozhikodeIIM KozhikodeProfessional Certification in HR Management and Analytics
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
Duke CEDuke CEPost Graduate Certificate in Product Management
  • 4-8 Months
Bestseller
Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA)Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA)Executive PG Programme in Human Resource Management
  • 11 Months
Popular
Goa Institute of ManagementGoa Institute of ManagementExecutive PG Program in Healthcare Management
  • 11 Months
IMT GhaziabadIMT GhaziabadAdvanced General Management Program
  • 11 Months
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityProfessional Certificate in Global Business Management
  • 6-8 Months
upGradupGradContract Law Certificate Program
  • Self paced
New
IU, GermanyIU, GermanyMaster of Business Administration (90 ECTS)
  • 18 Months
Bestseller
IU, GermanyIU, GermanyMaster in International Management (120 ECTS)
  • 24 Months
Popular
IU, GermanyIU, GermanyB.Sc. Computer Science (180 ECTS)
  • 36 Months
Clark UniversityClark UniversityMaster of Business Administration
  • 23 Months
New
Golden Gate UniversityGolden Gate UniversityMaster of Business Administration
  • 20 Months
Clark University, USClark University, USMS in Project Management
  • 20 Months
New
Edgewood CollegeEdgewood CollegeMaster of Business Administration
  • 23 Months
The American Business SchoolThe American Business SchoolMBA with specialization
  • 23 Months
New
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Artificial Intelligence Engineering
  • 24 Months
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Data Engineering
  • 24 Months
The American Business SchoolThe American Business SchoolMBA with specialization
  • 23 Months
New
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Artificial Intelligence Engineering
  • 24 Months
Aivancity ParisAivancity ParisMSc Data Engineering
  • 24 Months
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
Popular
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutData Engineer Bootcamp
  • Self-Paced
upGradupGradFull Stack Software Development Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
KnowledgeHut upGradKnowledgeHut upGradBackend Development Bootcamp
  • Self-Paced
upGradupGradUI/UX Bootcamp
  • 3 Months
upGradupGradCloud Computing Bootcamp
  • 7.5 Months
PwCupGrad CampusCertification Program in Financial Modelling & Analysis in association with PwC India
  • 5 Months
upGrad KnowledgeHutupGrad KnowledgeHutSAFe® 6.0 POPM Certification
  • 16 Hours
upGradupGradDigital Marketing Accelerator Program
  • 05 Months
upGradupGradAdvanced Certificate Program in GenerativeAI
  • 4 Months
New
upGradupGradData Science Bootcamp with AI
  • 6 Months
Popular
upGradupGradFull Stack Software Development Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Bestseller
upGradupGradUI/UX Bootcamp
  • 3 Months
PwCupGrad CampusCertification Program in Financial Modelling & Analysis in association with PwC India
  • 4 Months
upGradupGradCertificate Course in Business Analytics & Consulting in association with PwC India
  • 06 Months
upGradupGradDigital Marketing Accelerator Program
  • 05 Months

Journey from Traditional Corporate Roles to an EdTech Startup: Ritesh Malhotra

Updated on 25 November, 2022

5.39K+ views
10 min read

Through this blog series, I’d like to share parts of my professional journey with readers. My emphasis will be on career choices and opportunities that lie ahead of us all. We just need to reach out and make the effort. I hope this is of interest to those looking for a transition in their careers; who are not enjoying ‘more of the same’. Also, those pondering between starting up and working with a startup.
In February of 2007, at the Indian School of Business, I met a wise industry stalwart. He said, “If you’re not creating something, you’re wasting your time on the planet, some create and some manage, don’t waste your time being the latter.” The words stuck on, I worked with this thorough gentleman of Bengali origin for several years. I see him as a mentor who taught me the art of navigating corporate corridors. Ever since then, I’ve tried to lead my life by that simple rule he suggested. This year, on the cusp of the winter season and over the long weekend of Diwali, I look back on my journey of the past 10 years. If you find this blog somewhat interesting, drop me a line at (ritesh.malhotra@upgrad.com). It’d be very interesting to know your views.
Up until last year, I lived the ideal Indian professional lifestyle. Get your engineering degree, then double dip on success by layering it with an MBA. Put in 90-hours work weeks with large corporates and reflect over your life riding 16-hour flights. I spent my formative years in the Indian IT and Telecom sector and was fortunate to witness its growth phase.
A Start For Start-Ups

In the winter of 2016, over the course of one such long transit flight from Auckland to Delhi, I debated with an accomplished Kiwi investor. He was in a dilemma with educational choices vs career choices of Indians. His arguments were based on the number of Indians who use education as a mean to migrate and not a career-shaping platform. It led us to an interesting discussion on the need for education to evolve faster and keep pace with the changing needs of industry. We were talking about unfavorable jobs and the growth scenario globally. We also discussed the declining relevance of traditional corporate roles and structures. The need to acquire skills before steering through automation and digital transformation.

“Those in the business of creating more of the same will soon be out of business” is how we concluded our discussion.

For a long time, I had been thinking of changing course as I wasn’t enjoying ‘more of the same’ anymore. After this conversation, I decided to walk away from my routine to build something with a deeper impact and wider resonance. Over the next 6 months, I spoke with few individuals whose opinion and guidance I valued most – they all saw the merits and supported my decision. To my surprise, my decision of walking away from a traditional corporate role was unintentionally aided by someone who strongly recommended against it. That narrow mindset (which in fact helped me) is an interesting subject for a later blog on leadership!
I’ve built businesses at the intersection of technology and communications.

I’ve seen the digital transformation in the industry landscape like nothing else in the past. It’s a form of industrial revolution.

If not larger, then at par with the transforming impact of the invention of personal computing in the early 80s. Digital is rapidly transforming conventional businesses. Consumer businesses will have to transform their interfaces (Stores, Dealerships, Branches et al). Enterprise businesses (IT sector) will need to transform their core offerings. They have to ensure their ability to serve the changing consumer demands. Also, there is a dire need to establish standards and guide industry on the transformation. With this understanding, I was clear to make my future in the digital businesses, disrupting conventional models.
What After IT? Top 5 Transitions You Can Make

As I dwelled deeper, I felt that visible long-term change in India was imminent in 3 sectors – Agriculture, Education and Clean/Renewable Energy. Both areas, Agriculture and Education have seen limited change over the past few decades. I had no background in Agriculture and saw a very limited application of my background. Education was a different matter though. Given my background in ITeS, I often thought of India’s reliance on services led revenue. We had not done enough to future-proof our talent pool. I felt the Indian services sector had to upgrade. For that to happen, both education and career markets would need to transform over the next few years. Our workforce had to re-skill and acclimatise to the change mandated by automation. With these thoughts, I narrowed down to ‘Online Education/Ed Tech’ as an area of interest and relevance for the future.

I started laying the groundwork for an Ed-Tech business around February of 2017. The details are again a matter for a separate blog on early stages of entrepreneurship. During this period, as the word got around, I was approached by a few organisations for serving their aspirations in various markets. I discussed with all but politely turned them down and continued with my exploratory work in the education sector. I took a few trips to education hubs in India and over my usual business trips to ANZ and ASEAN. To admit it openly, over the course of these dialogues if there was one doubt creeping up it was my understanding of the core education business. I was confident of building digital businesses and even more confident about positioning and taking them to market. My fundamental understanding of the industry was a different matter though. That takes time and one must never ignore its importance when starting up.
As fate would have it, I received an interesting phone call exploring my interest in building the enterprise business for an EdTech. What I knew of ‘UpGrad’ till then, was limited to it being one of the ventures promoted by a leading Indian entrepreneur and visionary, Ronnie Screwvala (who needs no introduction). The organisation was amongst one of the most reputed EdTech’s that had sprung up over recent years. I then looked up the pedigree of the founding team. I realised they brought a strong background in education, which peaked my interest in UpGrad. A discussion with their co-founder on a Saturday morning in Delhi turned me in favour of UpGrad.
The Idea Called UpGrad: Why Education is Serious Business

For the meeting, I had put some thoughts down in areas that could be relevant to their enterprise business. From my point of view, I was looking to get some insight into the purpose, values and culture of UpGrad. These attributes of organisations shine through conversations with their leadership.

Get those parameters right and over time all business metrics will fall in place, get them wrong and you’ll be grappling with a long winding ‘more of the same’ dilemma that so many of us battle through the corporate ranks.

During this discussion, they had clearly set purpose and goals, yet were flexible in their approach, and maintained humility at the core.

Let me also say that a lot of organisations profess these very values but very few executives practice or display these attributes.

That first meeting certainly peaked my interest, as I met more of the UpGrad team, the hypothesis I drew from the first meeting started to firm up.

Always approach that first meeting with an open mind, talk about your dreams and aspirations, but also listen carefully, there will be enough cues to help you assess an organisation.

There were 4 broad criteria that I used while deciding in favor of working with UpGrad over starting up on my own:

  • The net impact that I’d be able to create, working with an accomplished team instead of starting fresh. I knew how to create digital businesses, but the team knew a lot more about education than I did, there was a lot to learn.
  • Operating in a startup ecosystem is very different from the philosophical presumption we have while working in large corporations. It’s better to experience this in a setup being closely observed by one of the most seasoned entrepreneurs in the country.
  • Track record of building and growing businesses for a long term with an active interest in operations, not seeing them as mere investments. There’s an opportunity to create something great. Great things take time and need a certain mindset to appreciate and realise. Someone who doesn’t have the heart and sweat invested in a business will never appreciate this.
  • Finally, the open-mindedness that an organisation’s leadership displays – which tells you whether it’s a place where opinions and alternate thinking will be respected. It becomes a congregation place for great minds and ideas to come together.

I feel, above 4 attributes are crucial yardsticks for anyone looking to partner/work/starting up with a new team. It’s often said that winning is a mindset. You often win/lose based on how you think of a certain challenge at a certain time. Before you embark on a new professional journey, use the above 4 criteria; they may help.
Nothing is guaranteed in life, but qualifying opportunities on certain yardsticks could better your chances!
I decided to work with UpGrad and build their enterprise business. It has turned out to be that congregation place of great minds that I imagined it to be. There’s a sense of openness, transparency, and respect that has aided my transition from a large corporate ecosystem to a truly entrepreneurial one. The team has built a stunning consumer brand over the past 2 years and now, we want to do more with and for corporations in India and abroad.
Towards the end of October, I will complete 90 days with the organisation. These 3 months have given me a good peek into the aspirations, opportunities, and challenges that lie ahead of us. The transition from traditional industry roles has been every bit the exciting journey. It is lathered with learning that I thought it to be. How we translate this into a great enterprise business over the next 90 days, as we build the teams, partner ecosystem and position this business is a topic for another blog!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are startups the best place to start your career?

Looking back at history, almost every startup founder hails from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). IITs are the holy place that helps individuals construct the building block of their startups. However, compared to the popular belief that dominates now, the scenario twenty years ago wasn’t the same. The idea of graduating only to start a job at a startup was frowned upon. Thankfully, ingredients like salary, benefits, work-life balance, etc., have immensely helped. In 2015, reports stated that only 15% of fresh graduates wanted to work in the corporate sector. More than 4,00,000 startups head straight every year and most of them eventually get successful with what they offer. Every startup has its own story. Whether or not you are willing to join the army, the startups will continue to flourish in the coming time. Initially, it could be a big risk, but that’s how you learn to face challenges.

2. Is it a good idea to quit a corporate job for a startup?

We all have been through a phase where we want to quit our jobs. The thing is, there is no right time to quit a job regardless of where you are working. Successful startups originate from the idea of having the right-minded people on the team with the right set of skills. Also, the startup universe is up for grabs if you are bored of sitting at your desk scouring through files and eventually getting tired of it. Additionally, working in a startup will open doors to multiple learning opportunities. This possibility is minimal while you are leading a corporate life.

3. Does working in a startup expose one to opportunities?

People often find themselves stuck in a stagnant, corporate situation. They do not get enough opportunities to learn something new or explore other career sectors. Working at a startup, however, is different. A startup offers a gazillion of options to put your knowledge to use. Moreover, you are free to try as many technologies as suit you. Additionally, you can choose to work on as many projects as possible without obstruction.

RELATED PROGRAMS