The First Two Years

In the final episode, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran searches for what makes people in the first two years of their careers happy. And the right way to say goodbye to the listeners. One last thing before we go. You can always write to us at podcasts@the-ken.com with feedback, tips, and suggestions for upcoming shows. Thank you for listening. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff.

Take the happiness survey to be a part of the season finale here.The debut season of TFTY was jampacked with insight, international guests, and interesting takeaways. This season, we learned how to ask for help without worrying about looking stupid, turn a job that you have into the one that you want, network when you hate networking, look for a Dravid in a mentor and build a personal brand with no work experience. On this episode of TFTY, Akshaya Chandrasekaran and Rahel Philipose (from The Ken's flagship business podcast Daybreak) assemble the entire crew and give a behind-the-scenes look at how the podcast came to life. The ensemble gathers ‘round the mic and shares their favorite early-career advice of the season. Stick around for what has to be the best part of the episode - updates from the TFTY community and loyal listeners who tell us where they are right now.If you liked this episode, share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and tell us about your early-career problems, both big and small. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff.

The debut season of TFTY was jampacked with insight, international guests, and interesting takeaways. This season we walked away from unhappy jobs, built trust with difficult colleagues, asked for feedback even when we dreaded it, fought for promotions, and bounced back from mistakes. We spoke to forensic psychologists working in maximum-security prisons and former poker players turned decision strategists. On this episode of TFTY, Akshaya Chandrasekaran and Rahel Philipose (from The Ken's flagship business podcast Daybreak) gather ‘round the mic to round up their favorite early-career advice of the season. They talk about how they applied that advice to their own lives, share some surprising updates from early-career folks who were on the show, and give a behind-the-scenes look at how the podcast is made each week.Did Arjun get the promotion? Has Pranav figured out a way to build trust with senior members of his team? How did Harshit eventually get the feedback he so badly wanted? You'll find answers to these questions and more. If you liked this episode, share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and tell us about your early-career problems, both big and small. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff.

Graduates entering the workforce are no longer quitting jobs because they are unhappy. They are doing so because they realize they could be happier. After facing one of the most challenging placement seasons in years, many are left with the feeling of compromise. They either compromised on the role, the company, or the pay package. Instead of, making do with what they have, they are relooking at their career paths. This leaves many contemplating a gap year. These are all questions our listener this week is facing. Rohan graduated from a tier-1 B-school. Six months into his first job, he knows this is not the path he wants to take. He is choosing between staying at the job to fulfill the work experience quota or taking a gap year and doing something radically different. But how do you know if a gap year is right for you at this point in time? And if it is, what do you do with it? And if it isn't, how do you make sure that you get the most out of whatever you're doing right now? On this episode of TFTY, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran consults Krishna Vij, Vice-President, TeamLease Digital for advice. She has worked in the early career space in recruiting for close to ten years. Krishna's advice reorients the way you look at gap years and goes against the grain of what is typically recommended. If you liked this episode, share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and tell us about your early-career problems, both big and small. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff.

Have you ever struggled with knowing when to walk away from a job?  You know you're not happy with where you are, but you are scared about taking the next step. You don't entirely know what the future holds. This is especially harder when you are starting out in your career. You don't have the benefit of hindsight or years of experience to leverage. Every decision you make – whether to stay or quit – feels like a big, life-changing decision and you want to get it right.  You don't want to have regrets. Well, now you've “overthunk” it and reached a stage called decision fatigue where you feel stuck and stagnant. Does this all sound too familiar to you? Well, many TFTY listeners are in the same situation. Meet our expert - Annie Duke. She knows a lot about making decisions under pressure. And the reason why is because she's a former professional poker player. She's won more than $4 million playing poker. In poker, knowing when to fold separates elite players from amateurs.  Elite players were good at exercising the opportunity to quit way more than amateurs. They were more flexible in changing their mind as and when they received new information - when they were dealt new cards.  But as we'll hear, it's not just amateur poker players. In the face of tough decisions, we're all terrible quitters. And that is significantly holding us back. So on today's show, we're going to hear from Annie. A decision strategist, an author, and a business consultant, about not just quitting - but quitting in time and how that is going to set you up for success in the long term. P.S. The Ken podcast team is looking for a talented podcast producer and an audio journalist. If you fit the bill or know someone who does, please apply! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff.

Career paths are spoken about as though it's linear. When we say climbing the career ladder, we mean no change in directions, no jerks in movements, only straight ahead and upward. But today's guest has a career path which is anything but linear  – Piyush Shah, co-founder of InMobi group and President of Glance. His entrepreneurial journey has seen numerous pivots, innovations, and many unconventional choicesIt resembles somewhat of a road trip. When you set off on a road trip, you don't get to your destination as quickly and directly as possible. There are detours. There are sites you want to see and experience. And sometimes you take the longer, more scenic route to get to your destination. That's exactly how Piyush's career has been. In this episode, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran spoke to him about the art and science of career pivots, following curiosity and not passion, and the worst career advice he's received. If you liked this episode, share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and tell us about your early-career problems, both big and small. We might have you on the show!Tune into Two by Two's latest episode, 'Swiggy needs to reclaim its past glory' on Spotify, Apple or other platforms!The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff.

It is conventional wisdom that building a personal brand is good for you. But in a tough job market, it can become your competitive advantage. Something that will set you apart. Something that will give you an edge. Something that will get you a foot in the door. But how does one build a personal brand without any work experience? Is there a way to do it without coming across as inauthentic and cringe? Where does one start?  This week's listener was exactly in this predicament. On this episode of TFTY, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran consults Karthik Srinivasan, a communications strategy consultant and author of the book Building Brand YOU. Well-known for out-of-the-box thinking, Karthik shares surprising tips that can make anyone go on their own personal branding journey. If you liked this episode, share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and tell us about your early-career problems, both big and small. We might have you on the show! Tune into to Two by Two's latest episode, 'Delhi pricked the Bengaluru bubble' on Spotify, Apple or other platforms!The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff.

A year into her first job, Shreya feels like she's not learned anything concrete. She said yes to every task, every request, and every opportunity that came her way as an associate product manager. “Proofread your colleague's presentation.” “Take notes at a meeting” “Plan an intern's onboarding” “Participate in someone's brainstorming meeting”Shreya wanted to be reliable and become indispensable. So, she did it all. But soon enough, her calendar filled up with a list of Non-Promotable Tasks (NPTs). NPTs are essentially “office maintenance work.” Everyone benefits when these NPTs get done. Yet, nobody likes doing them. So, the person who does not say no gets scapegoated each time for doing it. And sadly, it robs them of valuable time and the promotable work that actually grows paychecks and careers.Research suggests that women volunteer for these tasks more and also get assigned to do them more. Especially, women in their early career like Shreya, have internalised the expectation to say yes. How do you break character and start saying no - especially when you like being known as the person who does it all? Will your manager take notice of it? On this episode of TFTY, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran turns to Leo Fernandez who has leadership experience of close to two decades. He was a managing director with Accenture Singapore and COO of Hewitt before he founded TalentEase. As a leader, how he spends his team, and what he says yes and no to, dictates the future of the company. He has some advice on decision-making and strategy. If you like this episode, you should check out the latest business podcast by The Ken - Two by Two. Listen here: Is Zepto a gold medalist or a bronze medalist? Also, share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and tell us your early career problems. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff.

Your starting salary determines all your future raises and bonuses — meaning it will have a long-term impact on your career earnings. Still, most companies have fixed pay ranges for entry-level positions with little to no scope for negotiation. You are new. You don't have years of experience. You probably went to a decent college. But you have very little bargaining power even if you have to negotiate. You also risk losing your job in an ultra-competitive employer's market. There's a good chance that you want to say “yes” immediately and skip the negotiation process entirely. What do you stand to lose? Should you negotiate? Where is the line? On this episode of TFTY, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran invites Mansee Singhal, Partner, Mercer, and Roopank Chaudhary, Partner, at Aon India to help us decide when to negotiate and when to not. If you like this episode, share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and let us know. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. P.S. Check out the most recent episode of Two by Two, our brand new business podcast, where the hosts ask: why has all the disruption and joy gone out of startups? Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or other platforms!

In his first few months at his first job, Arya had made some lifelong friends. Unlike many work friendships, his just happened to include a nearly three-decade age gap. It all began when Arya, a multimedia producer, decided to join a TV news company. Shy and new to the city, he looked around to see there was nobody in his age bracket except him. “Initially, it was a bit daunting,” Arya says. “But slowly, we became friends only to realize that, despite the age gap, we are all the same. That was a wonderful feeling.”After all, as of 2024, there are four generations in the workplace - baby boomers, Gen Xers, millennials, and Gen Zs. It's never been harder, or more essential, to forge intergenerational friendships in the workplace. There is a fascinating body of research that an ideal work friendship with someone senior can help you thrive by delivering honest assessments of how you come across on the job. Especially, without any competitive rivalry that you would otherwise experience with work friends of the same age group.  It's never been more essential to forge intergenerational friendships in the workplace. On this episode of TFTY, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran brings to light stories of people who have formed deep relationships with coworkers across generations. Do you have a career question we can help you to solve? Share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and let us know. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

From over here at The Ken's newsroom, we have a very exciting announcement: our first premium podcast – India's first premium business podcast – is now live! It's called Two by Two – and this podcast will be your personal investigative brain. Each week Two by Two will be where hosts Rohin Dharmakumar and Praveen Gopal Krishnan will be joined by a few interesting and opinionated guests to discuss some of the biggest questions from the world of Indian business. But, why's it called Two by Two?Here it is: each episode of the Two by Two podcast will feature an important story investigated and discussed and visualized as a 2x2. A simple matrix that's the purest form of conflict – that places the players and their motivations on both axes. Along with incredible guests, the hosts will discuss what is going on, why is it happening, who gains and who loses, and where is all of this leading to?Two by Two is a premium podcast – but for now, the first episode is free for all listeners. On this episode, the hosts speak to Professor R Srinivasan and Srikanth Rajagopalan on the brewing rivalry between Flipkart and PhonePe, once parent and child, but now more like cousins. Flipkart, which is now venturing into FinTech with Super.money and Phonepe, which has launched the grocery delivery app Pincode are both stepping into each others turf. What happens next?Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple or YouTube – and if you like it, please leave a review, wherever you get your podcasts?

The first two years are the foundation of one's career. But for many, it is just a stepping stone to an MBA. Our listener this week, Priyanksha, knew she didn't like her first job within three months of joining the company. An MBA was her escape route. She stayed at the company for two reasons a) to gain work experience which is a pre-requisite for an MBA b) to support herself financially during her MBA preparation. Right from the beginning, she knew the company would not support her future plans. So, she kept it a secret till she cracked her CAT and the subsequent interview rounds, and got an admission letter from an IIM. It came as a complete surprise. Her immediate manager did not receive it well. He was angry and upset.Thousands of talented, accomplished, smart people have been in Priyanksha's shoes. As we near the end of The First Two Years, we speak about lasts and why last interactions matter. On this episode of TFTY, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran brings - Prasadh MS, head of workplace research and communications, Xpheno, and her colleague Aayush Agarwal, staff writer and IIM Kozhikode alumnus, to discuss an exit strategy at the company.  Do you have a career question we can help you to solve? Share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and let us know. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

Shantanu loved his first job. He had great admiration for the senior leadership. The work was fulfilling and meaningful. And his peers were great. It was the perfect job for him, except for one thing – his manager. He was "caught in the chaos" of unrealistic deadlines, shifting goalposts, and vague feedback. Is there anything he could have done to make the situation better besides quitting? How do you deal with a difficult boss? On this episode of TFTY, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran brings two people who are known for their abilities to coach people and transform workplace cultures - Shiv Shivakumar, one of India's longest-serving CEOs, and Nitin Sharma, Partner, Antler India, a VC firm. Do you have a career question we can help you to solve? Share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and let us know. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

You just started your first job at a new company. You're ready. You're eager. You're smart and capable. It's all the makings of the take-the-world-by-storm career. But to your dismay, you end up with “grunt” work. It feels like all your achievements from college have been wiped out clean, and you've to prove that you can be a high achiever in the office as well. This continues to happen week after week. You feel like you're stuffed with tasks that nobody wants to do. You feel like you're meant for bigger and more high-impact projects. What do you do? How do you get into those right teams and right projects and make an impact? Should you just bide your time till you get to the good stuff? Or should you quit and find a different job with less of this "boring" work? On this episode of TFTY, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran brings two people who have been there and done that – Sairam Krishnan, head of marketing at Atomicwork, and Shresth Tandon, director of operations at Media.net. Both went through this same ordeal and came out with a unique understanding of how to make the grunt work “matter.” Do you have a career question we can help you to solve? Share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and let us know. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

You're new and young and people just don't trust you. Have you ever struggled to be taken seriously at work? How do you get the results you want if people don't trust you or cooperate with you, especially when you have no title or authority?On this episode of TFTY, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran brings on Dr Nashater Deu Solheim who is a pro at making connections, building trust with difficult co-workers, and connecting in a more meaningful way. She's a psychologist who's worked with certified psychopaths in maximum security settings and she brings those lessons into solving this complex disconnect issue. Do you have a career question we can help you to solve? Share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and let us know. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

Most people believe that if you're smart, work hard, and meet your goals, a promotion is guaranteed. But the truth is a lot of talented people fail to get ahead while seemingly ordinary peers blow right past them. So, how do organizations decide who gets promoted over whom?  If it's not entirely based on performance, does it mean you have to suck up to your higher-ups? Play office politics? Be everything everywhere all at once? These were the questions, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran, was exploring in the latest episode of The First Two Years, an early careers podcast from The Ken. If you're starting out, probably in the 18-25 age group, this episode is a great place to start. Do you have a career question we can help you to solve? Share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and let us know. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

Our listener Harshit has reached a plateau. He joined an early-stage startup in the EV charging space with a lot of enthusiasm. He believed in the company's mission. But very soon things started to take a turn for the worse. When the going got tough, the culture of feedback disappeared. His role kept changing to keep up with the changing business needs. But without feedback, he felt directionless and lost. The leadership was so busy putting out fires that they completely deprioritised feedback. His frustration only grew with time. Was he making progress? Was he adding value? He couldn't tell. All messages requesting feedback were left on seen. If he insisted on getting feedback in person, he got something wishy-washy. A telltale sign of not having thought enough about his work. He did what he thought he never would - quit his job in less than a year of joining. On most days, he knows he made the right decision. But sometimes he wondered if he had to take a share in the blame as well. Did he not know how to get people's time and ask for feedback? Was there anything else he could have done to get people interested in his work enough to give him meaningful feedback? Should he have been more relentless in asking? Asked just one more time? On this episode of The First Two Years, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran is joined by Balaji Ramachandran, director of growth at Meesho, and Karthik Pasupathy, head of marketing at Prudent AI. Both share surprising tips and pragmatic ways to ask for feedback that can help anyone who's facing obstacles in doing so. Do you have a career question we can help you to solve? Share a note with the host at akshaya@the-ken.com or take this form and let us know. We might have you on the show! The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

Networking can make you feel dirty. It can feel unnatural, forced, and almost cringe to reach out to people for networking. You know it's important. You value what a good professional network can do to one's career. Eighty-five percent of jobs are still secured through networking, according to a 2022 LinkedIn survey. Even LinkedIn is built on the premise that professional networks can make you successful. But even the time you got past the initial awkwardness and reached out, it did not fetch you any response. Then, are there any ways to do it in an authentic way? What kind of people should you attract to your network? On today's show, host Akshaya Chandrasekaran invades a startup mixer to find out if people actually mix in these mixers. Santhosh Babu, celebrated executive coach, shares a unique and important framework for creating a healthy network of people who can sail you through. Samyak Daga, Vice-President of The Carlyle Group, shares what kind of requests he approves and which ones he denies help to. Towards the end, we also touch upon less-awkward, and effective networking strategies that actually work. Tell us what you think? You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. Have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us.The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

This episode was written, hosted, and produced by Akshaya Chandrasekaran with inputs from Snigdha Sharma. The audio engineering is by Rajiv CN. The survey is designed by Anushka Mukherjee. Podcasting is truly an ensemble act. A whole bunch of us had to come together to make this episode happen. By virtue or working together so much, we found a camaraderie. But there is also a friendly rivalry that sets us apart in unique ways.  A work life without friends is lonely and scary. In fact, the top reason behind job satisfaction is having a work best friend. You stay at the company for longer than you normally would if you have a work friend. You go the extra mile at work if it's your friend is headlining the project. You are less likely to call in sick at work if you have a work bestie. It's almost like a best friend at work is a gift that keeps on giving. Still, one of the most common pieces of career advice we have all received is never to turn your colleagues into friends. Keep it polite. Keep it impersonal. And definitely keep them at a distance. In fact, many employers actively disincentivize forming close work friendships. When do you collaborate? When do you compete? How do you set boundaries between professional and personal? On today's episode of The First Two Years, I take you into the messiness of work friendships and why so many of us endeavor to make one despite all the complications that come with it.Listen to Daybreak Special: The Pharmeasy Investigation Tell us what you think? You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. Have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

What's the best way to ask for help? Many common, intuitive thinking around asking for help are often huge misconceptions and quite unproductive. Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran digs into the science of why so many of us are willing to offer help but reluctant to ask for it, learns what makes some people better at it than others, and busts lasting myths around what prevents us from unlocking the true benefits of asking for help. This episode features author and professor Wayne Baker, and co-founder and CEO of Home Lane, Srikanth Iyer. You can listen to Daybreak's special episode here. If you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. You can email her at akshaya@the-ken.com. This episode was written, hosted, and produced by Akshaya Chandrasekaran with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

Steven Rogelberg, organizational psychologist at UNC Charlotte, has some of the best advice when it comes to making meetings productive at work, especially 1:1 meetings. These are some of my favourite excerpts from Rogelberg's book Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings. If you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

“I don't add any real value to the team” “I don't know how good any of my ideas are” “I am not good enough” Imposter syndrome. You've probably heard about it. You're probably experiencing it right now. And you're not alone. Two weeks back, we at The Ken put out a survey on imposter syndrome. Since then we have received over 115 responses from young professionals in the 18-25 age group. The survey was titled “Are you good enough at your job?”You probably took the survey. I read and reviewed each and every response and called up over 30 people from the survey who consented to have a follow-up conversation with me. There was only one thing on my mind: why do so many of them in the first two years deal with imposter syndrome? Before the survey, we looked at imposter syndrome as something you get over as it hinders progress. But after the survey, it's clear that small doses of workplace imposter thoughts can fuel your growth and help you get ahead, too. Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran will take you inside the minds of fascinating people, highly ambitious and top performers – who all consider themselves imposters at work.Have a work bestie who makes your days at the office brighter? We want to hear from you. Take the survey and let us know: Download the brand-new app here.Recommended reading: You can check out Basima Tewfik's study here.If you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang wants to completely do away with 1:1 meetings. “They (1:1s) are really not necessary. If there is a strategic direction, why do you tell one person? You tell everybody,” he said. Most 1:1s meetings are ineffective, inconsistent, and often futile. In companies that mandate it, it is simply a check in the box. Employees use it to lobby for promotion, crib about annoying co-workers, or overshare personal details. So, managers hijack these meetings and turn them into monologues. But 1:1 can be a gamechanger, if used well. It makes the workplace more democratic, especially if the organization is hierarchical, and gives employees a dedicated space to express themselves fully and make themselves heard. Research suggests that employees who do 1:1s well, and regularly, are more engaged at work and productive.Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks to the world's leading expert on meetings, Steven Rogelberg, and Kamal Karanth, the founder of specialist staffing firm Xpheno to find out ways to make it work and get what you want in these 1:1 meetings. Introducing surveys. Want to do more than listen to the podcast? You can suggest new topics, contribute to the narrative, and even be on it by taking our weekly surveys.Have you ever felt like an imposter at work? Undeserving of the opportunities you get? And overall feeling not good enough? Then, you can take the survey and let us know: Are you good enough at your job?FREE READ: TCS offers quirky titles and little else in recruiting revamp to attract 40K hiresIf you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

You want to be visible at work, build a reputation, and be known for your strengths. Research suggests that there is no guarantee that putting your head down and doing good work pays off. Neither can you always count on your manager to notice and amplify your achievements. Self-promotion gets a bad rep because it sounds a lot like bragging. But if done well, it can be a game-changer at work. Learning how to talk about your strengths, accomplishments, highlights, and milestones, can help you access the right opportunities and gain the right kind of visibility. Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks to Charu Sabnavis, HR consultant and author, and Navin Madhavan, Chief of Staff, Amagi, to figure out how to advocate for yourself at work and communicate your strengths without coming off as a braggart. This season of the podcast is all about the firsts one might encounter in the world of work. This is the seventh episode in the lineup, let us know what you think? You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. If you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

​​Pearl embellished jeans. Pretty pink bows. Summery pinstripe vest. Vintage corset tops 2024 fashion is all about glitz, glam, and reminding everyone that we are no longer holed up in our houses. Sweatpants, the peak pandemic uniform, may be officially gone For many Gen Z workers, this is probably the first time they are having an office job. They are inevitably romanticising the idea of going to work. Imagining themselves as the main character of a workplace. The new ‘corpcore' or office siren trend is both reflective of changing workwear trends on the runway and on social media. It is super reminiscent of 90s, dripping in nostalgia, and a hyperfeminine understanding of classical workwear. Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks to fashion features writer Garima Gupta and Bangalore-based fashion stylist Aashita Mani to figure out what the cool kids are wearing in 2024. Think of this episode as a tiny makeover in your years. This season of the podcast is all about the firsts one might encounter in the world of work. This is the sixth episode in the line up, let us know what you think? Find 'Corpcore' moodboard on Pinterest here. Here for Daybreak's episode on deep fakes in democracy? Listen to it on Spotify or Apple!You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. If you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

You made your first mistake at work – and it feels terrible. Maybe you messed up on an important project or failed to meet the expectations set for you. In your first two years, these mistakes can feel devastating. You don't have years of experience to fall back on and it can feel like you'll forever be defined by this mistake at the workplace. The next few months can feel like an extended interview where everyone overanalyzes your subsequent moves. The pressure to regain the lost trust and prove yourself is high. How do you truly own up to your mistakes beyond just saying sorry? What are the concrete ways in which you can recover from this mistake? How do you earn the trust of your peers? Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks to experts who've truly mastered the art and science of bouncing back from a mistake. On this episode, you'll hear accounts of crises and turnaround and pragmatic ways to mend the tricky situation at hand. This season of the podcast is all about the firsts one might encounter in the world of work. This is the fifth episode in the lineup, let us know what you think? You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. If you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

In your first job, you can feel like a fish out of water. Confused, lost, and unsure of how to proceed. You don't have any connections or networks yet. You've just got a foot in the door. At this juncture, finding a mentor can dramatically change your career trajectory.Research suggests that just having a mentor can improve your performance at work and having a strong relationship with a mentor can directly result in promotions and raises. The truth is nobody wants more mentees. But you still have to find one to succeed at work.You often feel like you're making this grand request from someone who is probably way more busy or has way more things on their plate. And reaching out to someone you admire — especially if that person is more senior than you — can be super intimidating. So, how do you find a mentor to best help you and your career? Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks to people who've benefited from healthy mentoring relationships, those who've been mentors and mentees, to find out the steps it takes to begin your mentor hunt. On this episode you'll hear about what makes a good mentor, how to establish the right dynamics with your mentor, and how to nurture the relationship. This is our fourth episode in season 1, let us know what you think? You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. Have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

Most fresh graduates quit their first job within the next six to twelve months of joining, according to a survey by The Ken. The top three reasons were toxic managers, disagreements with the workplace culture, and most interestingly, a want for more challenging work. More and more young, ambitious, and curious professionals prefer shorter stints not because they are unhappy, but because they realised they could be happier.And it may not be such a bad thing. But only if it is done so....consciously.Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks with Prasadh MS, head of workforce research at Xpheno, a specialist staffing company; and Leo Fernandez, founder, Talentease; to break down why shorter stints benefit your career and how to go about quitting your first job.Let us know what you think. You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. Have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

Your workplace loves therapy-speak. Everyone seems to know and use the mental health lingo. That meeting was “triggering,” your boss “gaslit” you into doing something, and your colleagues want you “hold space” for them and do all the “emotional labour” at work. What should you do – give in or give up? Neither, there's a way out. In this episode of The First Two Years, we ask and answer some of these questions. Are there downsides to casual therapy-speak? What do these words actually mean? If someone using excessive therapy-speak, and I don't know what it means or don't think it is necessary, how should I respond? Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks with organizational psychologist Radhika Bhalla and counseling psychologist Gargi Ranad to answer the why of it, and ways to move forward. Let us know what you think. You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. Have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

You're at your first job. But it…sucks. Quitting isn't quite frankly feasible at the moment given the current job market. So, what do you do? In the pilot episode of The First Two Years, we learn how to turn a job that you have into a job that you want. How do you inch your responsibilities toward things you enjoy and change how you think about your work? Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks with people on both sides of the table, a fresh graduate about to start his new job and someone who's actually been on this journey before and managed to turn it around for themselves. On this episode you'll hear about what kind of gigs can be salvaged, the obstacles you might face in trying to do so, and how to get a stubborn boss to let you mould your role in a meaningful way. This is our show launch, let us know what you think? You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. Have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India's first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

The first two years of our careers are hard. They are exciting and full of possibilities, but also frustrating and anxiety-inducing. Every interaction, every assignment, and every initiative seems to hold promise and uncertainty in equal measure. Do you have to love your job? Must your colleagues also be your friends? Is it okay to feel restless after just six months? Did your boss offer you feedback or criticism, and does the difference matter? Is it okay to be seen as ambitious? Can finding a great mentor help you grow faster? And just what is the right level of cool to wear to work?Perhaps you were lucky enough to land your “dream job” during placements, but the reality of any job can be daunting even in the best of times. No wonder a large majority of graduates end up quitting their first jobs in the very first year or two. You'd think companies would pay the same level of attention to welcoming, nurturing, and mentoring their young first-time employees as they did to hiring them on campus. (They're busy with other things).The First Two Years is a new early careers podcast from The Ken, hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran. Think of it as a friend that will ask—and answer—the most important and interesting questions about learning to succeed at work. Sure, you will hear accounts of crisis, failure, turnaround, and triumph from young professionals in their early 20s. But we also promise you that right mix of humour, awkwardness, wit, and cool that is equally important.You can call us TFTY. Follow us to get notified when our first episode drops – trust us, you don't want to miss us.