Connecting and Stuff

11. 9-to-5 to solopreneurship to owning an agency! [with Ishaan Shakunt]

Connecting and Stuff - A #podcast where we explore a topic from our professional lives through personal conversations. In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Ishaan Shakunt, the founder of SpearGrowth Marketing Agency. Join us as we delve into Ishaan's remarkable journey, from being a full-time employee to a consultant, and finally to the helm of a successful marketing agency. Timestamps: 3:15 - Why did we make the switch from full-time to solopreneurship? 7:40 - Our first experience with a high-value client, contract, and invoice. 14:40 - Discovering the secret to finding 'good' clients. 19:30 - Uncovering the true motivations behind starting an agency. 22:50 - Exploring the unexpected effects of the pandemic and recession on our business. 26:00 - Identifying some common client red flags. 30:50 - The debate between hourly vs. project-based pricing. Please tune in to this insightful episode where we discuss the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned from Ishaan's transformational journey. Don't miss out on valuable advice and takeaways for anyone venturing into the world of entrepreneurship and agency ownership. You can find us on LinkedIn: Ishaan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishaan-shakunt/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishaan-shakunt/] And me - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/] And find me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/connectingandstuff/ [https://www.instagram.com/connectingandstuff/] https://www.instagram.com/b.rashmita/ [https://www.instagram.com/b.rashmita/]

10. Working with Indians vs non-Indians - our experience [with Sadhana Jha]

Connecting and Stuff - A #podcast where we take a topic from our professional life and have a personal conversation about it. In this episode, I invited Sadhana Jha, a really old friend and health insurance claim expert. Since we didn’t have anything in common professionally, we decided to discuss what’s it like to work with Indian companies and non-Indian companies. 00:00 - Introduction 01:34 - Connecting with colleagues 02:30 - Cultural differences 06:23 - Leaves and time-off 09:18 - HR and people culture 12:26 - Employee benefits 13:25 - Some random insurance gyaan 17:50 - Discrimination OR racism 20:23 - Language barrier - accents and stuff 24:32 - Working hours and timing 31:26 - Roles and Responsibilities 34:58 - Team building activities 35:57 - More health care gyaan You can find us on LinkedIn: Sadhana - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sadhana-jha-pt/ And me - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/ And find me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/connectingandstuff/ https://www.instagram.com/b.rashmita/ [https://www.instagram.com/b.rashmita/]

9. The harsh reality faced by marketers in startups [with Naseef KPO]

Connecting and Stuff - A podcast where we take a topic from our professional life and have a personal conversation about it. In this episode, Naseef and I delve into the gritty realities of being a marketer in a startup amidst recession and uncertainty. 00:00 - Introduction 01:46 - Why is marketing important for startups, especially those that are just 1-2 years old? 07:14 - How to set realistic expectations for your first marketing hire?  18:43 - How to decide on your marketing budget, including hiring, tools, ads, and more? 23:40 - B2B marketing budget template by Naseef 29:30 - B2B marketing plan template for startup by Naseef 31:50 - Who should be your first marketing hire - CMO / Director / individual specialist / something else? 43:00 - What are the key marketing collaterals (or content) that you need to build when you're new to the business? 54:30 - How to be patient with your marketers and marketing efforts? Resources we talked about: B2B marketing budget template by Naseef - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-create-annual-b2b-marketing-budget-template-naseef-kpo/?trackingId=PxQwG7iBTumvFQuOW86nHg%3D%3D [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-create-annual-b2b-marketing-budget-template-naseef-kpo/?trackingId=PxQwG7iBTumvFQuOW86nHg%3D%3D] B2B marketing plan template for startup by Naseef - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-create-marketing-plan-b2b-startup-template-naseef-kpo/?trackingId=eF9vSD2JT1qqVKaroUpGnA%3D%3D [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-create-marketing-plan-b2b-startup-template-naseef-kpo/?trackingId=eF9vSD2JT1qqVKaroUpGnA%3D%3D] You can find us on LinkedIn: Naseef - https://www.linkedin.com/in/naseef-kpo-25602493/ And me - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/

8. How easy (or difficult) is it to launch a startup in India? [with Nikhil Kumar]

Join me in this episode as I welcome Nikhil Kumar to discuss the startup culture in India. With firsthand experience as a founder of two companies, Nikhil shares personal insights and stories. We also examine why certain cities have become thriving startup hubs and explore the role of government support in the growth of startups. Tune in for our perspectives on these important topics.

7. Things you should know to rise up the corporate ladder! [with Richa Agarwal]

In this episode, I invited Richa Agarwal, my friend, ex-colleague, and very knowledgeable B2B marketer, to talk about corporate life. She has been a source of motivation and a go-to mentor for me. And this episode we explore things we have experienced and what are the things we could have done better! Richa's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richaagarwal3/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richaagarwal3/] My LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashmita-behera/] Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/qZVmzlm9Chg [https://youtu.be/qZVmzlm9Chg]