Vikram Anand

★ Over 25,000 students have enrolled in my Dream Job MasterClass for job search and career enhancement to learn how to get new jobs. Many have graduated with with salary hikes of 40% to 300%.

★ Students have found excellent jobs in India, Canada and the Middle East with companies like Deutsche Bank, L'Oreal, Tata Group, 3M, HP, Citibank, Accenture etc.

★ I've coached over 2,000 middle management working professionals at the ISB and Upgrad on how to find a new job via live group coaching sessions from 2020 onwards.

Career Coach

★ I've built an e-learning platform on Podia to coach corporate professionals on job search strategies.

★ Interviewed 20 HR Directors from India's best companies for the e-learning platform.

★ Partnered with the Govt. of India's National Career Service and Monster for career coaching.

Buzzmattic™ Ventures

★ On 1st May 2014 I did what many people want to do at some stage in their careers - I pivoted from a corporate role to entrepreneurship. 

★ I built and executed brand strategy for mid-sized companies and tech startups, via an in-depth consultative approach with my clients.

★ My consulting practice covered sales coaching, digital marketing, brand management, and social media for many clients - PVR Cinemas, TeamStreamz, Voltas, Mother Dairy, Plantronics, Altudo, Cargill, Dalmias, SKI India, & Corner Office Advisors to name a few.

Marketing Consultant

Cargill Foods India

★ Most people think of Cargill as a B2B agro-commodity company. Which it is. But it's also an FMCG company with established edible oil brands in India like Leonardo, NatureFresh and Gemini.

★ One of the highlights of my career at Cargill was developing the marketing strategy and launching NatureFresh Shakti Palmolein oil in Orissa on a vitamin story. I've linked to the ad below. 

★ I steered the partnership with Chef Sanjeev Kapoor to create memorable advertising campaigns to improve market share in strong markets and enter new ones. 

★ I led the launch of the NatureFresh Chakki Atta brand to expand the branded atta category.

Head Of Marketing

Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings

★ This was my first CXO role and helped me grow as a professional, leader and member of a team reporting to the CEO.

★ This was also a period of transition of the company from ICI Paints to AkzoNobel and I helped steer the brand transition and introduce the AkzoNobel corporate brand in India and align the Dulux brand under it.

★ I also was fortunate to lead a large and stellar team of marketing professionals which honed my people management, team building and inter-personal skills.

General Manager - Marketing

Max New York Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

★ Why should the topic of life insurance be boring, dull or even a taboo? I was a part of the marketing team that helped the audience take a fresh look at life insurance once the sector was privatized.

★ I launched the Max New York Life brand in India and partnered with Rahul Dravid to establish the brand as the wall of trust for insurance seekers. This made the brand India's 4th most admired private life insurance company by 2007.

★ I executed multiple direct marketing campaigns for agent advisors to help them acquire leads faster.

Vice President  - Marketing

Nokia India Limited

★ Some memories don't fade. That's the way I feel about Nokia. I still feel like I was working there just the other day. Even when the 'other day' is 20 years ago. 

★ As a part of the founding team at Nokia, we had an exciting time launching the brand, building awareness, establishing consumer trust and making it the number one status symbol in the country in a few years in the mobile handset category with the highest market share.

★ Remember the "Nokia Priority Dealers"? - I setup the first 20 of them in India and the laid out the process for further rollouts across the country.

Field Marketing Manager

Unilever India

★ I took a slight deviation in my career for a year to explore business analytics and understand how data contributed to strategic decision making. This was long before data science was the rage it is today.

Business Research Manager

Johnson & Johnson

★ I was the first brand manager on Savlon once it was acquired by J&J from ICI. Little did I know at that time that decades later I would go on to work at ICI as their Chief Marketing Officer.

★ I worked on various product, marketing and advertising strategies to re-launch the brand in a market where Savlon was David battling Goliath (Dettol).

★ In two years the brand notched a 14% market share versus Dettol, and was ready to launch a soap, first-aid kit, antiseptic wipes and more.

Brand Manager

Lowe Lintas

★ This was my first job and I have fantastic memories of it. I was privileged to work with some of the finest minds in advertising at Lintas and watch in awe how world-class communication is created.

★ I worked on the TATA Motors account and helped launched the Tata Estate and Tata Sierra SUVs which were a first in their class well before these categories became main-stream in India.

Client Servicing Executive

"Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear." - George Addair

This quote unequivocally sums up the significant pivot I've made in my career from a marketing professional with 22 years of experience to solopreneurship as a career coach almost 9 years ago. 

It's been a thrilling and deeply satisfying personal journey!

As a career coach, I'm very passionate about helping middle & senior level professionals in India learn how to find much better jobs where they are respected for their talent, paid well and do meaningful work. 

This is done via my proven D.R.E.A.M. System where D = Discover, R = Resume, E = Engage, A = Ace and M = Move On.

Over the last 3 years, 25,000+ students have taken my online webinars, coaching programs and my flagship program - The Dream Job MasterClass to get multiple job offers in weeks with 30% to 300% salary hikes.

I've also partnered with the Indian School of Business, UpGrad, Naukri, Monster, School Of Inspired Leadership and the Govt. of India's National Career Service for career coaching sessions. 

With an 88% excellent rating for my classes - my career coaching sessions are packed to capacity in hours by professionals making significant career moves.

When not working, you'll find me chilling with my two amazing sons over music, cooking and gaming. I've also developed a recent passion for cooking and find it a very creative and relaxing hobby. 
 
If you're in middle or senior management and are wondering how to find your next job, I'd love to connect with you - write to me at vikram@vikramanand.com!

Ever tried to toast bread in a barbeque grill?  
 
That was me, thinking outside the box—or, let's be honest, completely missing it. But here's the thing: it's a perfect metaphor for navigating life’s inevitable setbacks and failures. And yes, you guessed it, the bread was burnt crisp. 
 
Imagine facing life’s curveballs without a dash of humour. Like going into battle without armour. I've been there—tripping over my own feet on the grand stage of life, with the spotlight glaring down. Yet, it’s those moments, sprinkled with a bit of laughter, that taught me resilience isn’t just about standing strong; it’s about dancing in the rain, sometimes literally. 
 
Why? Because the ability to laugh at oneself is the ultimate display of strength. It’s the secret sauce to bouncing back, stronger and wittier. Through every botched job interview, where I confidently mixed up the company names, to every awkward silence in the lift, where I’m the one humming elevator music out loud, humour has been my trusty shield. 
 
It’s not about dismissing the gravity of setbacks or failures; it’s about cushioning the blow. A good laugh has the power to transform a mountain back into a molehill, making it easier to climb over. It keeps sanity in check and stress at bay, turning 'disasters' into anecdotes. 
 
So, next time life decides to serve you a curveball, remember the totally burnt toast in the grill. Take a step back, have a good laugh, and ask yourself, 'Will this matter in five months?' If the answer is no, then it’s probably worth a chuckle now. 
 
Let’s not take life too seriously. Share your most hilarious setback and how it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Because sometimes, all you need is a good laugh to turn the tide. 
 
#VikramWrites

LinkedIn Top Voice | I help middle & senior level corporate professionals find new jobs quickly | Follow me for job search tips every week.

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Your resume could be sabotaging your job search. 
 
Shocked? 
 
Let's dissect this together and find a better way. 
 
Ever thought your resume was your trusty sidekick in the job search quest?  
 
Think again. I was once like you, blissfully unaware that my resume was more of a frenemy in disguise. 
 
Here's the truth: while we've been busy polishing every bullet point and verb on our resumes, the job search game has evolved.  
 
It's like bringing a sword to a drone fight.  
 
Let me paint a picture. Once upon a time, I believed my meticulously crafted resume was the golden ticket to my dream job. It was a masterpiece, a veritable work of art. Or so I thought.  
 
Turns out, it was more of a one-way ticket to the land of 'thanks, but no thanks'. 
 
Why? Because in today's world, your personal brand, digital footprint, and the network you nurture are the real MVPs. LinkedIn profiles, personal blogs, or even a well-timed tweet can often speak louder than a two-page resume. 
 
And let's not forget the robots — yes, the ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) that often decide your fate before a human eye even glances at your resume. It's like trying to impress a brick wall with your Shakespearean prose. 
 
So, what's the moral of the story? Don't let your resume become your worst enemy. Embrace the digital age, build your online presence, and network like there's no tomorrow. Your future self will thank you. 
 
Fancy a bit of networking? Let's connect and share our 'resume gone wrong' stories. Drop a comment or reach out directly. The future of job searching is here, and it's time we all caught up. 
 
#VikramWrites

Instead of ending an email with Best Regards - if the person signs off with BR, how do you feel? 
 
Personally I find it cold and insensitive. 
 
Many bosses and senior managers end their mails to junior managers with BR. 
 
The same managers will never use BR when writing to their bosses! 
 
Replacing a gracious ending (Best Regards) with two alphabets (BR) is pointless since it does not convey the same feeling. 
 
What do you think? 
 
#VikramWrites

Companies hire problem solvers. 🎯 Not job seekers. 🔍

Job seekers chase hacks, tips & tricks, shortcuts, cheatsheets, templates  - anything to make their online application process faster.

They miss the woods for the trees.

Problem solvers focus on career clarity, strategy and networking to get good jobs. 

Think of yourself as a problem solver. Not a job seeker.

#VikramWrites


Diversity isn't just a buzzword. It's the backbone of innovation. 
 
Imagine a boardroom where every decision, strategy, and idea is filtered through the same lens. It's not just limiting; it's a disservice to the potential of what businesses can achieve. Enter the undeniable power of women in leadership roles. 
 
Bringing more women to the leadership table isn't about ticking boxes or meeting quotas. It's about enriching our businesses with diverse perspectives, experiences, and insights that only they can bring. Women leaders have been shown to excel in empathy, adaptability, and collaborative problem-solving – essential skills in our fast-evolving business landscape. 
 
Yet, the statistics remain stark. Women are underrepresented at the top tiers of management, and the higher you look, the sparser the representation becomes. This is not just a gender issue; it's a business imperative. Companies with diverse leadership have been shown to outperform their peers, driving innovation and capturing new markets. 
 
So, how do we bridge this gap?  
 
It starts with us. It's about creating cultures that don't just welcome diversity but champion it. From mentorship programs to flexible working arrangements, let's lay down the pathways that enable women to climb to the heights of their careers. 
 
Let's not wait for change. Be the change. Champion the women in your network. Advocate for their advancement and celebrate their achievements. Together, we can redefine the face of leadership. 
 
Your move. Share your thoughts or tag a phenomenal woman leader who inspires you. 
 
#VikramWrites

Ever danced on a volcano?  
 
That's what it's like for me dealing with a very difficult boss without losing my cool. Here's a tale from the trenches. 
 
Picture this: a boss so prickly, they could make a cactus jealous. Meetings were minefields, and feedback sessions? Think 'The Hunger Games', but less fun.  
 
So, how did I survive without turning into a human firework? Buckle up; it's story time. 
 
First, I became a Zen master of active listening. Nodding so much, I worried my head would fall off. But here's the kicker: it turned those monologues into dialogues. Who knew? 
 
Second, I mastered the art of feedback sandwiches. Compliment, critique, compliment. It's like hiding medicine in a dog's treat. They never saw it coming, and it worked like a charm. 
 
Third, I documented everything. Emails became my best friends. Every request, every piece of feedback – immortalized in the annals of Gmail. It was my shield and sword in the bureaucratic battlefield. 
 
And finally, empathy. I tried walking a mile in their shoes. They were tight and gave me blisters, but I understood the pressures they were under. It didn't excuse everything, but it helped me respond, not react. 
 
Moral of the story? You can't control others, but you can control how you respond. And sometimes, just sometimes, a difficult boss can teach you more about patience, strategy, and empathy than any easy-going leader ever could. 
 
Faced a similar volcanic dance? Share your stories below. Let's laugh, learn, and navigate the corporate jungles together. 
 
#VikramWrites

Presentations and meetings: the corporate world's preferred method of torture. 
 
Imagine this. You're trapped. The room is well-lit, the air conditioning is on, but there's no escape. Your only company? Slides. Endless slides. And the monotonous drone of your boss that could put caffeine to sleep. 
 
Welcome to the realm of 'Death by Presentations and Meetings'. A place where time stretches, creativity dies a slow death, and the only thing growing is your to-do list, waiting impatiently outside. 
 
Here, PowerPoint is king, and its subjects are sentenced to hours of looking at bullet points that dance across slides like a ballet of boredom. Graphs and charts are the weapons of choice, wielded with the precision of a surgeon, cutting away at your will to live. 
 
But fear not. There is a glimmer of hope. A rebellion brewing in the undercurrents of corporate halls. A movement that whispers of meetings with purpose, presentations with passion, and slides that serve as mere sidekicks to the superhero storytellers. 
 
Checkout Amazon's famous 𝟮 𝗣𝗶𝘇𝘇𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲. 
 
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has this rule: no meeting should be so large that two pizzas can't feed the whole group.  
 
It might not solve the problem entirely - but it's a great beginning. 
 
So join the revolution. Embrace brevity. Worship clarity. Champion engagement. Let's transform these tools of torture into instruments of inspiration. 
 
Share your most memorable 'Death by Presentations and Meetings' moment below. Or, if you're a revolutionary, how did you turn the tide? Let's laugh in the face of our common enemy and rewrite the rules of engagement. 
 
#VikramWrites

Did your last performance appraisal by your boss feel like a plot twist worthy of a soap opera? 🎭 
 
Picture this: It's appraisal season. You've been a star player, hitting every goal, maybe even inventing a few new ones. You walk into your review expecting praise and a salary that finally recognises your superhero efforts.  
 
But instead, you're met with a plot twist so bizarre, it could only be rivalled by finding out you have an evil twin. 
 
Your performance, it seems, has been 'reverse engineered' to match a salary hike so minuscule, it would make a penny blush.  
 
Suddenly, those minor hiccups in projects you led (you know, the ones no mortal could have avoided) are front and centre. And that time you were five minutes late back in 2017? Grounds for treason, apparently. 
 
It's as if your achievements were swallowed by a black hole, and in their place, a narrative so creatively spun, you wonder if your reviewers are moonlighting as novelists. 
 
But here's the kicker - we've all been there. The annual dance of 'strategic underachievement' where the goalposts move faster than a cheetah on a treadmill.  
 
It's a comedy, a tragedy, and a mystery wrapped in one, leaving us to ponder the age-old question: If performance appraisals are meant to reflect our contributions, are we working in a funhouse mirror factory? 
 
Let's share a laugh (or a cry) over our most bewildering appraisal tales. Drop your story in the comments, and let's navigate this hall of mirrors together.  
 
Who knows? We might just find the exit...or at least a decent pay rise. 
 
Engage below, share your story, and let's unravel this mystery together. 🕵️‍♂️👀 
 
#VikramWrites

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