19. The Opportunity Cost of Education, Dropping Out, & Building from Zero

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On The Up & Up

Janine Vanessa Heinrich

30 episodes

1 day ago

On the Up & Up is a podcast created to encourage critical conversations in the startup ecosystem, amplify the untold stories and achievements of the underrepresented and underestimated, and inspire visionaries to take the next step into entrepreneurship. The three core pillars are representation, conversation, and education.

Entrepreneurship

Business

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All content for On The Up & Up is the property of Janine Vanessa Heinrich and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Entrepreneurship

Business

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19. The Opportunity Cost of Education, Dropping Out, & Building from Zero | Aniket Kumar

On The Up & Up

53 minutes 21 seconds

1 year ago

19. The Opportunity Cost of Education, Dropping Out, & Building from Zero | Aniket Kumar

In this episode, I had an enlightening conversation with Aniket Kumar, a 23-year-old entrepreneur, HR leader, and mentor with a unique background as a child of Afghan refugees growing up in Germany. We explored his experiences navigating a multicultural identity and how his parents' guidance shaped his career choices. Aniket opened up about:

The challenges he faced breaking into HR
His journey across various industries—from media to human resources
His current venture centered on promoting diversity in hiring practices

Our discussion highlighted the power of empathy, mentorship, and the importance of community and accountability in overcoming societal expectations. Aniket's story is a powerful testament to resilience, the pursuit of passion, and breaking into unconventional paths.

This episode is truly inspiring and offers valuable insights for anyone striving to carve out their own unique path.

Enjoy the Episode and Happy Listening!

Acknowledgments

Intro/Outro & Interlude Music: Music by ⁠⁠oussama arichi⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠

Timestamps

00:00: Welcome, Reflection, and Aniket’s Introduction

03:36: Navigating Cultural Identities & Embracing it as a Superpower

07:21: Parental Advice, Influence, and Career Decisions

11:53: Dropping Out of University and Early Career Struggles

17:01: Freelancing and Learning the Hard Way

24:06: Building a Support Network and Mentorship

28:20: Overcoming Confidence Issues, Networking, and Personal Growth

31:44: Early Career Experiences, Venturing into HR, and Entrepreneurship

42:34: Building a Diverse and Inclusive Future