My First Job Podcast

While editing, we made a change in the opening sequence - because you need to know the risks that Namrata tookFrom Boardrooms to Cheeseboards: How Curiosity Built an Unconventional CareerWhat happens when a management consultant with a successful corporate career decides to follow an unexpected passion and ends up building an award-winning artisanal cheese brand in Chennai?In this episode of My First Job, we sit down with Namrata Sundaresan, co-founder of Kase Cheese, to explore a career journey that defies conventional expectations. From studying engineering and management, working in HR, marketing, research, and consulting, to discovering the art and science of cheesemaking, Namrata's story is a masterclass in curiosity, reinvention, and lifelong learning.This conversation goes far beyond cheese. It explores how careers evolve when we remain open to opportunities, embrace experimentation, and allow our interests to guide us toward meaningful work. Namrata shares how travel, food, entrepreneurship, personal loss, and a willingness to keep learning helped her discover a craft that eventually became a thriving business with social impact at its core.You'll learn how an unconventional idea became a scalable enterprise, why curiosity is one of the most valuable career skills, how artisan businesses can create sustainable livelihoods, and why success often comes from being willing to receive opportunities—not just seek them.If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to build a career outside traditional paths, transition into a completely new field, or turn a passion into a business, this episode offers inspiration, practical insights, and a fresh perspective on what a successful career can look like.Listen now to discover why some of the most rewarding careers are the ones nobody plans for.

In this podcast I share my journey of becoming a banker's boss and how I secured a relationship manager position in the amazing world of relationship banking! 🌟 If you're interested in pursuing a career in banking and finance or are simply curious about what it takes to thrive as a relationship manager, this video is for you. Join me as I explore the key skills, qualifications, and strategies required to break into this lucrative field. I’ll discuss the critical role of relationship managers in banking, how they build and maintain client relationships, and the impact they have on a bank’s success. Whether you're a recent graduate or considering a career change, I provide valuable insights and tips to help you stand out in the competitive banking industry. Learn about the qualifications needed, interview tips, and what to expect on the job. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful content on building a successful career in banking and finance! 🚀 #BankingCareer #RelationshipManager #CareerAdvice #FinanceJobs #BankingIndustry #CareerGrowth #JobTips #FinancialServices

From Banker to Healer: Soumya's Journey in Mental Health and Addiction TreatmentSoumya, the head of therapy and operations at TTK Hospitals, shares her unconventional journey from banking to mental health and addiction treatment. Despite societal stigma, she found her calling in this field, driven by her passion for helping others. Her days are unpredictable, managing crises, assisting patients, and ensuring smooth operations at the rehabilitation centerThe speaker initially planned to follow their father's footsteps in HR but discovered a passion for social work, particularly medical and psychiatric care. Their experience with community work during their MSW program exposed them to issues like domestic violence, alcoholism, and mental health concerns, fueling their desire to be a catalyst for positive change. Soumya faced resistance from her family when pursuing a career in addiction counseling, as it was seen as unsuitable for a womanHowever, she persisted, driven by her strong desire to make a difference. She emphasizes the importance of not letting others dictate one's path, even if it means dealing with strife. The speakers discuss the growing issue of drug addiction among minors in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemicThey highlight the importance of evidence-based rehabilitation programs, including detoxification, counseling, and holistic therapies like horticulture, music, and animal-assisted therapy, to support recovery.

Andaleeb Wajid is a writer with a repertoire spanning young adult, romance and horror genres. Her early influences were, as she puts it, derived from a family of storytellers. And she has eased into writing over 40 books in just 14 years. In a world where the cliche is that everyone has one book in them, Andaleeb has a stream inside her. And she taps into it with ease. What is her method? How did it come to define her life? And how does she keep finding the characters who dot her novels? This will be a conversation about how our careers find us, at times, instead of our searching for them. And Andaleeb riffing through the chapters in her life.https://www.instagram.com/andaleebwajid/#author #writer #career #job #romance #yougadult #horror #self-publishing

Ritesh Parakh is a foodie, a traveler and the co-founder of a baking brand in Chennai called Beyond Loaf. He's experimented with a career in jewelry besides other businesses but kept going back to his true calling.So, how did a debater, a blogger and a qualified engineer find himself wading into a crowded market and build a name for quality and innovation?Perhaps the clue is in the number of restaurants that he has sampled and has an opinion on - he's completely into the food scene in Chennai. With the gift of the written word, he has built a following, with short, pithy and snappy reviews.But from writing about food to building a business around it is a completely different proposition

Aparna Chandrashekar has trained tens of thousands of people for IT companies in India. It's a skill that came to the fore when newly minted Indian companies had to scale rapidly to meet the new opportunities that opened up in the early 2000's from US outsourcingHer linguistics abilities that served her well as a grammar teacher came handy for neutralizing regional accents and she found her purpose. She went on to manage client roles and responsibilities for revenue generation.And then, she found that being a coach and helping successive generations is what she enjoys the most.Listen to how a career defined by a trend created careers that changed the lives of thousands in India