Gurucharan Singh Gandhi (Guru) is the CHRO of Vodafone Idea Limited and has held leadership roles at Madura, Aditya Birla Capital, Max Life Insurance, and more. He’s the author of Kabir in Corporates and Careerathon, and a passionate marathon runner who brings a poetic clarity to life and work.

In this episode Guru and I explore how careers are best viewed as long-distance runs rather than short-term races. Guru shares his unconventional, adjacency-led career path and the life lessons that came from embracing change, nurturing endurance, and respecting the track—whether in work or while running a marathon.

In this episode, we cover:

• Guru’s zigzag yet intentional career journey across sales, L&D, and HR
• Why personal evolution is the real foundation for career growth
• The metaphor of running – from hydrating well to forgetting the last race – and how it mirrors modern careers
• Learning to recognize your own “drivers” and how not to get trapped by comparison
• How resilience, reflection, and mentorship help you navigate downturns
• What forgetting the last race teaches us about transitions and adaptability
• A provocative take on the future of work – and why the question should be “whose future of work?”

Whether you're early in your career, rethinking your path, or just looking for a fresh take on leadership and growth, this episode is a thoughtful listen packed with insights.