Always Learning
Books, experiences,
programs, and ideas.
I don't believe learning ends with formal education.
Some of the most important lessons I've learned came from growing up in Kalahandi, building businesses, meeting people from different walks of life, traveling, reading, asking questions, making mistakes, and staying curious.
This page is a living record of the books, experiences, programs, and ideas that have shaped my thinking.
Experiences That Taught Me The Most
First classroom
Growing Up in Kalahandi
Growing up in Kalahandi taught me one lesson early: talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
Many of the smartest and hardest-working people I've met never received the opportunities they deserved. This observation eventually became the foundation of my worldview.
Foundation
Odia-Medium Schooling
My education began in an Odia-medium government school. It taught me resilience, adaptability, humility, and the value of making the most of whatever resources are available.
The real MBA
Building Majhi Group
Building a company from Odisha taught me more than any business book ever could. Every client, candidate, success, mistake, and challenge became a lesson in entrepreneurship, leadership, trust, and long-term thinking.
Common ground
Working With Global Clients
Working with people across countries and cultures reinforced a simple truth: people are more similar than different.
Regardless of geography, most people want the same things: meaningful work, strong relationships, and a better future.
Perspective
Travel
Travel expanded my understanding of the world. It introduced me to new cultures, systems, perspectives, and possibilities.
Most importantly, it helped me appreciate home.
Books That Shaped My Thinking
These are not necessarily the best books I've read. They are the books that most influenced how I think about opportunity, leadership, society, India, and human potential.
India
India After Gandhi
One of the most influential books I've read on modern India. It helped me understand the scale, complexity, resilience, and evolution of the world's largest democracy.
The India Way & Why Bharat Matters
S. Jaishankar
These books helped me better understand India's strategic thinking, global role, and emerging influence.
Being Different
Rajiv Malhotra
A rigorous examination of India's civilisational identity and how it differs from Western frameworks. Changed how I think about culture, philosophy, and the importance of reclaiming Indian intellectual traditions on their own terms.
Mahabharata
Not just a story — a civilisational manual. The Mahabharata shaped how I think about dharma, duty, consequence, and the complexity of human decision-making under pressure. Every leader should read it.
Leadership & History
Works by Winston Churchill
History offers lessons that few classrooms can provide. Studying Churchill's leadership during extraordinary circumstances helped me appreciate the importance of communication, conviction, resilience, and decision-making under pressure.
Books on Indian Leadership
Narendra Modi · Naveen Patnaik · Political, administrative, and business leaders
These books helped me understand governance, institution building, public policy, and long-term development.
Programs & Structured Learning
While real-world experience remains the greatest teacher, these programs significantly influenced my thinking.
McKinsey Forward
Leadership · Communication · Problem Solving · Adaptability
A valuable experience that reinforced the importance of continuous learning.
Organizational Analysis
Stanford Online
A deeper understanding of organizations, incentives, human behavior, leadership, and decision-making. This program strengthened my appreciation for how effective organizations are built and sustained.
Artificial Intelligence
Generative AI · AI Applications · Prompt Engineering · Human-AI Collaboration
These programs expanded my understanding of how technology can amplify human potential.
Workforce & Leadership
Strategic Workforce Planning · Talent Systems · Organizational Design · Managing Distributed Teams
These areas directly connect to my work in executive search and talent strategy.
Ideas That Changed My Thinking
Talent Is Universal
Great talent exists everywhere — not only in major cities, not only in elite institutions, not only in privileged environments.
Opportunity Shapes Outcomes
The opportunities available to people often matter more than their starting circumstances. This idea sits at the center of almost everything I write.
Geography Should Not Determine Destiny
Where someone is born should not define what they can become. Technology, education, entrepreneurship, and opportunity can help bridge that gap.
Human Potential Is The Greatest Resource
More valuable than capital. More valuable than infrastructure. More valuable than natural resources. Human potential is the foundation of progress.
Long-Term Thinking Wins
Most meaningful outcomes require patience. Businesses. Relationships. Communities. Ideas. The best things in life compound over time.
People Who Shaped My Thinking
No list would be complete without the people.
My family. Teachers. Friends. Clients. Entrepreneurs. Mentors. Colleagues. Fellow travelers. And thousands of professionals I've interacted with through my work.
Many of my best ideas came not from books, but from conversations.
What I'm Learning Right Now
Because learning is never finished.
"Talent is abundant. Opportunity is not."
Everything on this page — books, experiences, programs, conversations, successes, and failures — ultimately reinforced this belief.
And it continues to shape how I think about Kalahandi, Odisha, India, technology, entrepreneurship, and the future.