Ep 008 - What Happens When a CEO Gives It All Up? - Rahul Agarwal

What does it take to walk away from the corner office at the peak of your career? In this episode of Chai & Chips, we sit down with Rahul Agarwal, the former CEO & MD of Lenovo India, who did just that to build his "second innings" in life. Under Rahul's leadership, Lenovo India became the #1 brand in PCs and tablets worldwide. But his journey is about more than just corporate success. We dive deep into the philosophy and courage required to make a radical life change, the surprising joy he found in "being nobody," and the hard-earned lessons from his 25-year career. Tune in for a candid conversation on: The Mindset of the Indian Consumer: Why they "want it all" and what it takes to win in this unique market. Real-World Leadership: The tough decisions that shaped his journey, including the jump from marketing to running a half-billion-dollar P&L. Make in India: A pragmatic look at the challenges and opportunities of building a manufacturing ecosystem in India. The Courage to Quit: The personal planning and mindset shift required to leave a high-profile corporate life behind. This episode is a masterclass in business strategy, leadership and the art of the career pivot. Resources: Find Rahul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-agarwal-1973476/ Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/   Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallya Find Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcast Find Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411 All episode transcripts are available on Substack and Medium. Chapters: 02:45 - The Pivotal Decisions That Shaped a Leader 09:10 - Cracking the Code: The 5 Things the Indian Consumer Demands 13:55 - Leadership Philosophy: Building Culture & High-Performing Teams 22:46 - The Philosophy of Quitting: Finding Joy After the Corner Office 36:15 – Rapid Fire: Chai, Tech Predictions, and Life Advice 41:32 - "Make in India": A CEO's Unfiltered View on the Challenges 46:45 - The Roadmap for True Manufacturing Success in India 55:22 - The Mindset That Separates Good from Great Performers 58:24 - The Final Question – Vision of India

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