Episode 0 - Introduction to Upskill with Gifsagar, our guests, and Wizikey!

@Fury675 on his racing journey in India and The Bengaluru Kid

“Discover the journey of a Fury675 a nerd who went from being a casual motorcycle enthusiast to a professional racer. Join me in a conversation with Fury675 as we explore the world of motorcycle racing, discovering it by chance and overcoming challenges. From crashes to professional competition between 2016 to 2019, Fury shares anecdotes, including a hotel room mix-up and safety concerns on tracks. Ready to dive into the motorsport world and gain insights into training, fitness, and the life of a racer? Let’s kickstart this adventure together!” Read his advice for racers here: https://www.gifsagar.com/night-before-the-race-a-ghost-kept-us-up-fury675-financier-who-races/  Brought to you by Wizikey, a media intelligence platform. I recommend Wizikey to startups, founders, D2C brands, and individuals. Wizikey enables you to  1) Connect directly with journalists covering your sector  2) Measure your media narrative in comparison to your competition  3) Generate contextual-AI reports with performance insights  Check them out at https://bit.ly/wizikeyplay  Mixing by Prathamesh Sandansing   Thank you for listening. I'm thrilled to have you here! If you like this podcast, please rate it on Apple, Google, or your preferred platform. If you like the conversations, then do share them. Thank you. Enjoy the conversations.

Salman SH (@salmn_sh) - Journalist turned publicist shares his contentious journey as a reporter

Join Aditya in this episode as he speaks to Salman SH, journalist turned publicist. “Ever wondered what it’s really like to be a journalist covering startups in India, battling legal threats and uncovering societal issues? Join me as I dive into a gripping conversation with Salman SH, a seasoned journalist who’s faced challenges, from rejections by top journalism schools to founders threatening legal action. Discover the intriguing facts behind his rural reporting, the impact of food delivery apps on migration, and the perilous journey of reporting on startups. With experiences at MediaNama and insights into companies like Swiggy, Zomato, and electric scooter manufacturers, Salman shares a firsthand account of the startup journalism landscape. Ready to uncover the untold stories and challenges together?” Read his advice for journalists and publicists here: https://www.gifsagar.com/startup-founders-have-sued-me-repeatedly-salman-sh-former-startup-journalist/ Brought to you by Wizikey, a media intelligence platform. I recommend Wizikey to startups, founders, D2C brands, and individuals. Wizikey enables you to 1) Connect directly with journalists covering your sector 2) Measure your media narrative in comparison to your competition 3) Generate contextual-AI reports with performance insights Check them out at https://bit.ly/wizikeyplay [https://bit.ly/wizikeyplay] Mixing by Prathamesh Sandansing  Thank you for listening. I'm thrilled to have you here! If you like this podcast, please rate it on Apple, Google, or your preferred platform. If you like the conversations, then do share them. Thank you. Enjoy the conversations.

Hitesh Raj Bhagat, (@HiteshRajBhagat), Global Head of Corporate Communications at Truecaller, on gadget reviewing and upskilling

Join Aditya in this episode as he speaks to Hitesh Raj Bhagat (HRB), the Global Head of Corporate Communications at Truecaller. Before leading corporate communication at a b2c consumer brand, for nearly a decade HRB was the gatekeeper for consumer technology at Economic Times. Before that, he had stints at Overdrive and CyberMedia. He studied at The Hindu College and Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune.  Hitesh provides a unique perspective on the early days of the mobile industry and the evolving media landscape. Aspiring reviewers and writers will benefit from Hitesh's advice shared in the discussion.  Read his advice to reviewers and corporate communication people here: https://www.gifsagar.com/reviewers-priority-should-be-the-readers-hitesh-raj-bhagat/  This conversation offers insight into Hitesh's educational and career path, highlighting what sets Truecaller apart as a global tech company. It is an inspiring chat for those considering roles in media and communications. Brought to you by Wizikey, a media intelligence platform. I recommend Wizikey to startups, founders, D2C brands, and individuals. Wizikey enables you to 1) Connect directly with journalists covering your sector 2) Measure your media narrative in comparison to your competition 3) Generate contextual-AI reports with performance insights Check them out at https://bit.ly/wizikeyplay [https://bit.ly/wizikeyplay] Mixing by Prathamesh Sandansing  Thank you for listening. I'm thrilled to have you here! If you like this podcast, please rate it on Apple, Google, or your preferred platform. If you like the conversations, then do share them. Thank you. Enjoy the conversations.

Jashid Hameed (@jashid.hameed), CoFounder, Nuvedo, on Mushrooms and Entrepreneurship in India

In this podcast, Jashid Hameed, co-founder, Nuvedo, shares his journey from a corporate career to co-founding Nuvedo, a mushroom startup that was featured on Shark Tank India. Explore Jashid's insights into the health benefits of mushrooms and how they ignited his passion for sustainable cultivation. Jashid and I met on a bus from Pondicherry to Bengaluru in 2015. Back then he was working with Aditya Birla Fashion after an internship with Loreal. He studied at BITS Pilani, IIM Indore, Aranya Agricultural Alternatives, ICAR, and Fungi Foundation. Jashid offers advice for entrepreneurs entering the mushroom space in India. He emphasizes the significance of hands-on learning, community building, and grassroots education to create an organic flywheel (growth cycle) over prioritizing quick profits. Explore opportunities in utilizing agricultural waste and creating value-added products. For a comprehensive overview, check out Jashid's advice in this blog post: https://www.gifsagar.com/i-work-with-mushrooms-dont-grow-them-jashid-hameed-cofounder-nuvedo/ This podcast is a must-listen for those interested in upskilling, entrepreneurship, effective communication, and community building. Gain perspectives on the current landscape and future potential of mushroom cultivation in India, particularly for individuals intrigued by emerging industries, alternative lifestyles, and sustainability solutions. Immerse yourself in this discussion that has the potential to spark new ideas and curiosity about the fascinating world of fungi. Brought to you by Wizikey, a media intelligence platform. I'd recommend Wizikey to startups, peers at founders, D2C brands, and individuals. Wizikey enables you to 1) Connect directly with journalists covering your sector 2) Measure your media narrative in comparison to your competition 3) Generate contextual-AI reports with performance insights Check them out at https://bit.ly/wizikeyplay [https://bit.ly/wizikeyplay] Mixing by Prathamesh Sandansing  Thank you so much for listening. I am thrilled to have you here! If you like this podcast, please rate it on Apple, Google, or your preferred platform. If you like the conversations, then do share them. Thank you for your time. Enjoy the conversations.

Jayadevan PK (@therealjpk), Senior Director, Communication and Content, CoinSwitch on Communication and Storytelling

In this episode, Aditya speaks with communication expert Jayadevan PK, Senior Director, Communication and Content, CoinSwitch, about his decade-long career. JPK shares valuable lessons from his early foray into journalism by responding to a newspaper ad, to co-founding FactorDaily. Jayadevan PK aka JPK is a master of a lot of crafts, a wearer of a lot of hats. Before CoinSwitch, he worked at Freshworks as an Evangelist. He has also worked at media houses like The Indian Express, The Economic Times, and NextBigWhat. He currently writes a column with MoneyControl. He cofounded FactorDaily and has authored a book on Xiaomi. He studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya and Government Engineering College, Kottayam. Read his effective communication upskilling tips as a blog: https://www.gifsagar.com/story-telling-is-a-key-skill-jayadevan-pk-communication-coinswitch/ Discover how curiosity and seizing opportunities propelled him from a BTech background to the dynamic newsroom. Uncover the story of generating leads through a startup podcast at Freshworks and understand his attraction to crypto despite initial skepticism. Get guidance for journalists, entrepreneurs focusing on strategic hiring, and communication professionals aiming to build credibility. Explore insights from his book on Xiaomi. Brought to you by Wizikey, a media intelligence platform. I'd recommend Wizikey to startups, founders, D2C brands, and individuals. Wizikey enables you to 1) Connect directly with journalists covering your sector 2) Measure your media narrative in comparison to your competition 3) Generate contextual AI reports with performance insights Check them out at https://bit.ly/wizikeyplay [https://bit.ly/wizikeyplay] Mixing by Prathamesh Sandansing  Thank you for listening. I'm thrilled to have you here! If you like this podcast, please rate it on Apple, Google, or your preferred platform. If you like the conversations, then do share them. Thank you for your time. Enjoy the conversations.