MAM
‘Weekend Unwind’ with: Krazyfox co-founder Vishal Srivastava
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is the time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind — a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of corporate executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session we have Krazyfox co-founder Vishal Srivastava opening up the windows to his thoughts.
KrazyFox is one of the fastest-growing multi-channel networks, offering a smooth collaboration between brands and creators with a network of over 80,000 influencers in India, the Middle East, and Singapore.
Srivastava is an enthusiastic 24-year-old entrepreneur driving the success of the influencer marketing industry in India. In just two years since the inception of his venture into Krazyfox, the revenue has doubled from the first year.
In his previous role, Srivastava worked as a business unit head at Talenzo Media. People recognise him as a thought leader in the influencer marketing industry for his startup and investment-related expertise. He studied engineering at Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune.
So without further ado, here it goes…
Your mantra for life:
I live by only one mantra: “Be patient in learning; results will come automatically.”
A book you are currently reading/plan to read
I am currently reading “The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, and Change the Way You Lead Forever” by Michael Bungay Stanier. I am reading this in an attempt not to be an advice monster.
Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
I have taken fitness more seriously post-pandemic. But I feel my body will take a lot more time to recover from all the stress-eating and bad food choices I made during the pandemic. However, I am doing yoga for 40 minutes daily, which helps me stay active and focused throughout the day.
Your comfort food
Like every Indian guy, I love ‘Maa Ke Hath Ka Khana.’ So no cuisine can beat that taste for me. Apart from that, I enjoy eating chicken biryani.
When the chips are down, a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going?
“It’s not about money or connections — it’s the willingness to outwork and outlearn everyone when it comes to your business. And if it fails, you learn from what happened and do a better job next time,” says Mark Cuban.
Your guilty pleasure
I think I have a lot of guilty pleasures. The ones I am comfortable disclosing are having too much ice cream and stress-eating. So, whenever I feel the situation is not going my way, I have ice cream to chill me out, and genuinely, it works like magic.
When was the last time you tried something new?
Since the inception of Krazyfox, every new task, every recent meeting, and every client is something new I am doing. So, I can say I am trying something new every hour. Every time I meet new people, I learn new lessons and have new takeaways.
I am also thrilled to explore new business ideas and help them with investment and funding.
A Life lesson you learnt the hard way
In the initial years of your business, you meet different people; some want you to see them grow, and some take advantage of you as a tool to further their success. But it would be best if you weren’t disappointed or afraid of them because these people will teach you who to trust and who not. So, if you are ambitious and desire to make it big, be your pillar and be ready to embrace anything life throws at you.
What gets you excited about life?
Hustle! I approach life with curiosity. Life has a lot of happiness and lessons in store for us all. I am too excited to wake up every day to find out what’s in store for me.
What’s on top of your bucket list?
Climb Kilimanjaro, the tallest free-standing mountain, and get eight hours of sleep every night.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Someone’s opinion of you doesn’t have to become your reality. Never lose faith in yourself; others are not aware of your capabilities.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
Let life and relationships be the foremost priority. Every relationship you create, personally or professionally, is essential because it defines your character and personality. You will receive the same if you have ethics and respect for others.
An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
I am trying my best to be disciplined in life because I have witnessed that disciplined people are always energetic and motivated. Whenever I feel low, I try to share that feeling with family and friends who care.
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
It is often said that tomorrow is not promised. So the possibility of a new tomorrow helps me channel and navigate my mindset to get the desired outcome.
Your go-to stress buster
Stress is a constant; talking to my confidante helps me relax and motivate again, whether it is work-related or personal. Also, I never mind reading something that interests me.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
