If you're sending 100+ job applications and getting zero interview calls - or dreaming of consulting independence but terrified you won't find clients - the problem isn't your qualifications. It's your strategy. 🔥

Most professionals in India are stuck in two traps: the "application trap" (endlessly applying online while the best opportunities go to people with relationships) or the "expertise trap" (believing that being good at your work automatically makes you a successful consultant).

Here's what I know about your frustration:

You're qualified. You're experienced. You deserve better. But if you're job hunting, you're competing with 3,000+ applicants while 90% of the best roles never get posted. If you're considering consulting, you're worried about steady income, finding clients, and whether your corporate experience will actually translate into consulting success.

Meanwhile, your family is watching, your confidence is dropping, and you're starting to wonder if something's fundamentally wrong with you. There isn't. You just need the right system.

From Corporate to Consulting - and Back to Helping You

In 2014, after 22 years in corporate India with Unilever, Nokia, and Cargill, I made the leap into consulting. My biggest fear? Would I get a steady stream of clients?

I de-risked my transition by converting my former employer into my first client and tapping into my network. Within 2 weeks, I landed my first new client. After that, I've built a thriving practice serving PVR INOX, Mother Dairy, Cargill, Voltas, Plantronics, and Altudo.

I Help Professionals on Two Paths:

Career Transitions: Through my N.E.X.T. methodology, I help professionals land roles with 30-80% salary increases by becoming the person companies actively recruit.

Consulting Pivots: I guide experienced professionals (especially those 40+) to build profitable consulting practices that monetize decades of corporate expertise. Whether you're seeking independence, facing a layoff, or planning post-retirement income, I'll show you how to attract ideal clients who respect your expertise and pay accordingly.

After 22 years in corporate and 11 years coaching professionals, I've seen what separates those who thrive from those who struggle.

Ready to stop being invisible and start being irresistible? 

Let's connect: hello@vikramanand.com 🤝

Vikram Anand

Three months into consulting, I sent my client Sandeep a proposal for ₹5 lakhs. He called me the next morning.

"Can we meet for coffee?"

My stomach dropped. Here it comes. The "you're too expensive" conversation. 

Maybe I should've charged ₹3 lakhs. Maybe I should've—

We met at DiGhent Cafe - a nice coffee shop in Gurgaon. 

He slid the printed proposal across the table.

"I already signed it. Payment's being processed."

I tried to look calm. "Great. So, what did you want to discuss?"

"I need to understand why you only gave me one option."

Wait, what?

"If this project is worth ₹5 lakhs, shouldn't the bigger version be worth more? 

Shouldn't there be a smaller version if budget is tight?"

He wasn't complaining about the price.

He was disappointed I hadn't shown him more ways to work together.

That conversation changed everything.

I'd been so scared of looking "greedy" that I'd actually limited what I could do for him.

Since that day, I always offer three options. Always.

The cheapest one might be ₹2 lakhs. The premium might be ₹8 lakhs.

And you know what? 70% of clients pick the middle or top option.

If you're pivoting from the corporate sector to consulting in your 40s or 50s, remember this: your clients aren't looking for the cheapest consultant.

They're looking for someone who understands their problems well enough to offer real choices.

Stop slashing your fees. Start giving options.

#CorporateToConsultant

I Help Professionals Thrive With Well-Paying Jobs & Pivot Into Their Second Innings As Profitable Consultants | Former CXO at Cargill & AkzoNobel

I had just left Cargill in April 2014 to become a marketing consultant.

My consulting "business plan" was permanently work in progress.

I spent three weeks obsessing over my website colours. Should it be corporate blue? Or that trendy gradient design everyone was using?

Meanwhile, my savings account was having its own anxiety attack.

Then one morning, my wife asked a simple question: "Why haven't you called Ramesh yet?"

Ramesh. My old colleague from the marketing days. Now heading sales and marketing at a mid-sized FMCG company.

"I'm not ready," I said. "Website isn't done. I don't even have a proper deck."

She just looked at me.

So I called him. Awkward small talk. Then I mentioned I was starting something new and could use his perspective.

"Oh thank god," he said. "I've been sitting on this marketing problem for months. Can you come in next week?"

That "not ready" call became my first project.

Turns out, nobody asked for my website. They wanted my 22 years of experience.

If you're in your 40s or older, sitting on years of expertise but waiting to be "ready" – you already are.

Your network knows what you can do. 

They're just waiting for you to pick up the phone.

#CorporateToConsultant

I was chatting with a friend last week in his mid 50s who's been laid off as a CXO and has spent a year trying to find a new job.

The uncomfortable truth - most senior professionals build careers, not economic engines.

They rely on one employer at a time.

They optimize for stability, not optionality.

Corporate roles hide a hard truth: your employability declines faster than your capability.

Start planning your second innings in your late 40s before the first one ends at 60.

What do you think? Do we need to plan a Second Innings?

#VikramWrites #SecondInnings

Last month, I met an ex-colleague from my mid-management years at a virtual networking event.

52 years old, now. MBA from a top B-school. 25 years in IT services.

He'd been passed over for a VP role. The feedback? "We're looking for someone with a longer career runway."

Career runway. As if we're planes about to crash.

Here's what's funny:

The average millennial changes jobs every 2 years. Most professionals switch every 4-5 years.

But a 50-year-old who could give you 10-15 quality years doesn't have "enough runway"?

That's ageism dressed up in corporate speak.

But here's the twist. Sometimes we invite this discrimination ourselves.

I've seen talented professionals treat their last decade like a countdown to retirement. They stop learning. Stop updating. Stop caring.

Same resume format from 2010. Talk about "the good old days" in interviews. Clothes that scream "I stopped trying."

Then they wonder why 28-year-old hiring managers see them as outdated.

Think of it like this. Would you buy a 2010 car with no GPS, no Bluetooth, worn seats, and expect to pay 2025 prices?

That's how the market sees you if you haven't upgraded.

You can't control ageism. But you CAN control your health, energy, skills, and attitude.

Update your LinkedIn. Learn current tools. Dress like it's 2025, not 2005. 

Stop talking about "how we used to do things."

Most importantly? Stop thinking about the next 10 years as a countdown.

Start thinking about them as your second innings.

Because here's the reality: You're likely working into your 70s anyway. The retirement dream at 58? That's gone.

So make the next 20 years count on YOUR terms.

What do you think? Is "career runway" legitimate or just age discrimination in disguise?

#SecondInnings #VikramWrites

It's Saturday. You're reading this with your morning coffee, thinking about the week that just ended.

How many times this week did you think: "Just 5 more years and I'm out"?

I know this feeling. I've heard it from dozens of people I've coached.

Anil, 48, VP at an MNC in Gurgaon. "I'm just keeping my head down till I hit 55."

Mitali, 52, HR Director in Mumbai. "I'll ride this out. What else can I do at this age?"

Pradeep, 46, IT Manager in Pune. "Better to play it safe than take risks now."

Here's the uncomfortable truth.

Playing it safe IS the risk.

That "safe" corporate job you're clinging to? It could vanish tomorrow. 

Automation. Restructuring. Your entire department outsourced to the Philippines.

The company you've given 20 years to doesn't owe you the next 10.

But here's what nobody tells you or me.

The most valuable skill for the second half of your life isn't on any job description.

It's learning to CREATE opportunities instead of WAITING for them.

Think about it. You've spent decades being excellent at what someone else told you to do.

What if you spent your weekend thinking about what YOU could create?

Not a full-blown business plan. Not quitting Monday morning.

Just one question: What problem could I solve that people would actually pay for?

Maybe it's consulting in your area of expertise. Maybe it's training. Maybe it's something completely different that's been sitting in the back of your mind for years.

If you're in your 40s or early 50s, please start thinking of your Plan B - before your organization forces you to do so.

#SecondInnings #VikramWrites

80% of consultants are really professionals in between jobs. 

Given half a chance, they will go back to a stable 9 to 5 job any day.

15% of the others go through periods of feast and famine. They are usually very good in their domain, but don't know how to monetize it as a business model.

5% crack the code to a growing & stable recurring revenue, scalable business models, hedged risks, and a diversified pool of happy clients.

What do they have that others don't?

1. A proven pipeline of current leads

2. A clear idea of where future leads will come from

3. A personal brand that attracts the right clients who will resonate with them

4. A strong network to tap into, in the initial years

5. A pricing model that is premium and attracts high-ticket clients. 

6. (Optional) A paid lead acquisition model that is > 3 ROAS (return on ad spends) 

Solopreneur consulting is hard to start, but incredibly satisfying once you learn the ropes.

#corporatetoconsultant

LG Electronics

Zonal Marketing Manager - WEST 

•	Marketing Strategy, Brand Management, Retail and In store marketing, Marketing Communication, Team Management, Trade Marketing, Product Positioning & Brand campaigns
•	Brand custodian acting as bridge between HQ & regions, Managing brand marketing across west zone 

•	Enhancing brand & product visibility through holistic marketing approach, leading ATL,BTL and digital marketing campaigns

•	Develop short & long term integrated marketing plans for all assigned product categories in West zone, to deliver overall business objectives

•	Proficiency of managing all aspects of marketing including digital marketing, product promotions; content creation, collaborating with the celebrities, local influencers and bloggers to increase online & offline awareness

•	Proficiency of managing cross functional departments like Sales, Accounts, Service & Logistics

•	Responsible for identifying, grooming & managing large pool of vendors 

•       Experience of building & managing large marketing team (1K+ Teammates)

Zonal Marketing Manager 

AGM Retail Marketing, Gujarat Region.

•	Retail marketing, Retail Sales, Trade Marketing, Channel sales,  Go-to-market Strategy Planning, Product Positioning, Business Development & Brand campaigns 

•	Enhancing brand & product visibility through holistic annual marketing calendar, leading ATL/BTL and digital campaigns including all kind of social media,  Google display & search ads; participation in various large events & exhibitions, driving the use of all marketing tools

•	Develop short & long term integrated marketing plans for the region for all assigned product category built on customer understanding to deliver overall business objectives including positioning, launch strategy, digital marketing & public relations  

•	Successfully instigated Direct marketing concept called “Free Home demo” in the Gujarat 

•	Managed all aspects of marketing including digital marketing, product promotions; content creation, collaborating with the celebrities, local influencers and bloggers to increase online & offline awareness

•	Managing multiple product portfolio as per organization’s structure

•	Proficiency in cross functional team management

Proven track record of Team management, Experience of handling large team of Sales & Marketing (550+ teammates)

Regional Marketing Manager

Branch Marketing Manager

Looking after Surat and Baroda branches, managing marketing operations in entire south gujarat territories.

Branch Marketing Manager at Rajkot branch.
Handling Marketing operations of entire saurashtra kutch region.

Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd.

Area sales manager at Godrej & boyce mfg. Co. Ltd. appliance division handling channel sales of entire saurashtra kutch region.

•	Managed channel sales for Saurashtra – Kutch territory, sustained business growth throughout the channel

•	Led brand visibility across channels through retail merchandising, ensuring various BTL activities to increase sellout & brand awareness

•	Successfully managed Distribution channel along with network of Direct dealer & exclusive outlets

•	Handled Sales promoter team and ensure retail sales management through various BTL activities

Assistant Manager

Showroom Manager at Godrej lifespace retailing division of Godrej & boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. Noida
Also Worked at Jaipur & Kanpur - UP locations

•	Managed retail space of over 10000 Sq. ft. with a team of on role as well as off role members

•	Front-led the showroom operations entailing customer flow handling, maintaining showroom hygiene, local showroom/ware house stock, recruiting and managing showroom sales staff, designed proper display as per visual merchandising guidelines; created awareness of showroom by designing & executing various BTL activations

Showroom Manager

Kotak Securities

Recruited as a managment trainee @ kotak securities Rajkot branch from campus recruitment

Managment trainee

Adani Group

Completed Final project at Adani Retail, Gandhidham & bhuj outlets of kutch region.

Trainee

Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. (Times Group)

Summer training completed at The Times of India, RMD division at Rajkot branch

Summer Trainee

•	Enterprising marketing professional with over 18 years of rich experience in conceiving & implementing ideas on all aspects of Go-to-market Strategy Planning, Product Positioning, Trade Marketing, Business Development & Brand campaigns 

•	An effective leader with excellent communication, negotiation and relationship building skills

•	Expertise in Trade marketing, Channel as well as retail sales & Multi channel marketing.

•	Hands on experience in Digital marketing, Expertise in Lead campaigns.

Worked with Industry leaders - LG, Godrej, Kotak and successful projects with The Times of India and Adani Group

•	Expertise in managing multiple product portfolio as per organization’s structure

•	Proficiency in cross functional team management

•	Excellence in enhancing brand & product visibility through holistic annual marketing calendar, leading ATL/BTL and digital campaigns including all kind of social media,  Google display & search ads; participation in various large events & exhibitions, driving the use of all marketing tools

•	Managed all aspects of marketing including digital marketing, product promotions; content 
creation, collaborating with the celebrities, local influencers and bloggers to increase online & offline awareness

•	Successfully instigated Direct marketing concept called “Free Home demo” in the Gujarat

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The Battle

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Jimmy Sinojiya

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Vikram Anand's LinkedIn Performance

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