MY
JOURNEY
JOURNEY
My family named me Ankit
My students call me ‘Sir’
My audience refer to me as ‘The Big A’ on stage
My friends fondly call me ‘Google or Yellow Pages’ because I am often able to
guide them with the correct information
My name is Ankit Piplani
I am passionate to help individuals in their personal and professional lives
As a speaker, I represent brands, corporates and social events
As an entrepreneur, I invest, mentor and guide business ventures
As an educator, I work with educational institutes, corporates and individuals
I strive to help, to assist, to guide!
My ambition is to leave a mark, to leave an impression
And that’s the meaning of my name Ankit – embossed!
Let me tell you my story.
I had a gift of public speaking. I unwrapped it with my first step on stage. We are all gifted. We just unwrap our gifts at different times.
I was in my 9th standard. My father was a scientific officer with the esteemed (B.A.R.C.) Bhabha Atomic Research Center.
The occasion was BARC annual day event, where all scientists and researchers had been invited.
During the event, they invited kids to come on stage to perform impromptu – dance, sing or speak!
My father asked me to go on stage and deliver the content I had recently prepared for an inter school competition. I had the content ready; and I revised it quickly in front of him. He gave me the required confidence. I went, I performed and everyone clapped.
The following year we had the BARC annual day scheduled again. My father had received 2 invites – one for him to attend, and one for me to perform. My first step on stage had made my father proud.
My father and mother guided me through my education.
As an engineer, I was passionate about coding, robotics competitions and public speaking.
I would mentor my juniors to make robots and participate in intercollege competitions. We had our own robot named ‘Bhuvan’, named after the famous character from the movie Lagaan. Each time our robot participated in a race, chants of Bhuvan…Bhuvan would echo in the arena. Bhuvan was the second fastest robot among all colleges; the first was ‘Fiend’ which meant monster. None ever came close to defeating us, and we never came close to defeating Fiend. Never ever!
Only the final year students were permitted to host events in my engineering college. I was the first student to receive this privilege in my first year itself. I went on to host the college's annual day, technical fests and all college events for all four years of engineering. I would train my juniors to become better at the art of public speaking. I would enjoy their companionship as we co-hosted events together.
The guidance of my teachers & mentors played a pivotal role. I am still in constant touch with them, ever grateful.
I pursued MBA education to nurture my management concepts. My peers would compliment me for my presentation skills. I would guide them on becoming a better speaker.
During the placement season, my friends would reach out for direction to crack their dream companies. I would be in college the whole day, training my friends. My friend’s parents would call and thank me for their placements. I would receive their blessings and wishes with gratitude. It was immensely gratifying to be able to create winners around. To see them jump with joy, gave me happiness too.
Engineering helped me find x and public speaking, the x factor!
As a RJ, I would speak only for 6 minutes in an hour i.e. for 18 minutes in a 3 hours show. To deliver these 18 minutes each day, I would prepare for 3 hours each day
Along with my MBA, I had the privilege to be heard by millions in Mumbai as a primetime Radio Jockey. I would place my professors on air and request them to not scold me for bunking lectures as I was on air. A professor scolding an RJ became a rage. No listener had heard something similar before.
I would travel by local trains and brand my radio show among fellow travelers. In the rush of the Mumbai locals, word would spread like wild fire that they have a popular RJ traveling with them. They would tune in to listen and call me the next day on air.
The compliments, fan following and adulation excited me. There were no selfies on cameras then, but they are all etched in my memory forever.
My father would come back from office by 5pm, much earlier than his scheduled time just to listen to me on radio. My mother and her friends would have a social gathering each evening along with my show. My brother would encourage me with creative script writing.
Brands, corporates and social gatherings started inviting me to host live events and create experiences. Fans would address me as ‘RJ’ with affection, a title I still carry with fondness.
I was living my dream, but I gave in to my college placements.
I started my corporate career with Infosys and met individuals who were extremely talented. I learnt from them - each day, each moment.
I would host majority of the events at Infosys. Everyone would applaud my skills, energy and passion.
On my last day at Infosys, I had the privilege to meet Mr. Narayan Murthy and Mr. Nandan Nilekani. They blessed me, ‘Pursue your MBA, and come back to join us.’ Their compliments meant the world to me.
Till date, I have followed their orders. Hence, I go back to Infosys…but as a host and guest speaker.
At Wipro, I headed Europe for four verticals – Retail, Consumer Goods, Transportation and Services. Retail and Services were my beloved sets.
I continued to chase my passion as a speaker at the Wipro amphitheater. I belonged there. I was fortunate to receive love and adulation from the employees, leadership and even support staff for my energy, engagement and consistence.
The Chief People’s Officer had placed his trust in me to head major portfolios at Aditya Birla Group. I headed the APAC region and worked with the President of the Group. I felt responsible as a leader of the team. I sharpened my professional skills here before I deep dived into my passion fulltime.
On August 15th 2010, I wished myself a Happy Independence Day from my corporate career.
I started as a speaker, an entrepreneur and an educator.
I blossomed like a flower in my corporate career; but my passion was calling. I recognized my power of public speaking, I wanted to be a tree now! A tree, which can make many flowers blossom!
Public speaking is a passion for some; for some its an identity For me, its both!
As a fulltime public speaker, my first event was at a brand launch on 15th August 2010. I launched myself fulltime too, converted my passion into profession, and took the plunge of my dreams. Each day I learnt on the job from my mentors and experiences. I applied the learning with a commitment to engage better with my audiences.
I went on to be associated with multiple brands and corporates worldwide. Brands like Google, SAP, HP, Cisco, Dell, Microsoft, Nike, Infosys, Wipro, Aditya Birla Group and many more engaged with my abilities.
In 2008, I was invited by an educational brand. They invited me for lectures on Group Discussion and Personal Interviews. My passion and endeavor was to help students. Students began to love my lectures and gave me wonderful reviews. Soon I transitioned into one of the topmost speakers and mentors.
I guided students through the GD and PI process to crack their dream colleges like IIMs, FMS, SP Jain, MDI, XLRI, XIMB, MICA, Symbiosis, Welingkar and more. When these students got placed in these colleges, they invited me as a guest faculty to deliver lectures on various disciplines of personality development, public speaking, leadership, branding, marketing, services marketing, entrepreneurship, event management and time management.
Some students would invite me to their college as a keynote speaker, whereas some invited me as an anchor, chief guest or a faculty. These students would regard me highly and speak well about the learning experience they had with me. My teaching methodology and experience continued to evolve with them.
Each student learns differently. Some understand quickly, some take time. Some read and learn, some write and learn. I try to teach them the way they learn, they remember, they experience
As a business coach I don’t always solve their problems, but I make them ask the right set of questions, which help them, solve their problems.
As these students graduated and started their journey as entrepreneurs, they absorbed me as a coach and mentor.
Since 2010, I have been a part of multiple entrepreneurial initiatives as an investor. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a coach and mentor for these entrepreneurs.
It’s been an amazing journey to see these vibrant minds present real life problems and come up with possible solutions. These entrepreneurs I guide have taken a decision to be their own bosses and have taken charge of their own future. I feel extremely privileged to be able to provide them with pointers to start, to innovate, to solve, to grow and to achieve.
I feel passionate to imagine all possible business situations, break down complicated ideas into easier to understand concepts; help individuals and teams win in their pursuit of entrepreneurship.
From startups to corporations - Each of these ventures voyage and experiences has been our journey together, been unique and special in its own way.
What I love Doing
I love public speaking
Interacting with people
Learning from them
Sharing with them
Making them better
and getting better too!
where
Next = to start and look forward
Big = to get better
Feat = to leave a mark, to leave an impression
? = A choice to do it if I enjoy it
Each day I start, look forward, get better, leave a mark and live up to my name.
