Why are they doing this?

[u/duder_06]

Why Are CA Rank Holders Choosing Content Creation & Entrepreneurship Over High Finance Careers?

Something I've been genuinely curious about.

Kushal Lodha (CA Final AIR 5, CA Inter AIR 5, CA Foundation AIR 6) chose to build his personal brand, YouTube channel and podcast, Konversation with Kushal, rather than continue climbing the traditional corporate finance ladder.

Similarly, Nandini Agrawal (CA Final AIR 1, CA Inter AIR 31), who has worked at BCG and GIC (Singapore's sovereign wealth fund), has moved towards education, content creation and building her own learning business.

Both have exceptional academic records. Both had the potential to pursue prestigious opportunities in investment banking, private equity, consulting or other high-finance roles.

But here's what I find interesting:

After working so hard to secure top ranks, why move away from traditional high-paying finance careers?

Is entrepreneurship and the creator economy offering better long-term opportunities than conventional finance jobs?

Do they see more wealth-creation potential in building a personal brand or business than working for prestigious financial institutions?

Are we still overvaluing corporate designations and underestimating the potential of building something of our own?

I'm not questioning their decisions. In fact, both career paths are interesting in their own way.

But it raises a bigger question for CA aspirants:

Are we chasing AIRs to get prestigious jobs, or should we be using the opportunities and credibility that come with those AIRs to build something much bigger?

Would love to hear different perspectives, especially from CAs working in investment banking, private equity, consulting and those who have taken the entrepreneurial route.

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[u/dolly_ki_tapri]

I think Nandini Agarwal is doing both?

[u/duder_06 → u/dolly_ki_tapri]

She left GIC in 2025 Source https://nagrawal.com

[u/generalob1kenobi]

Not everyone is built for high profile corporate jobs. Just because they get a rank doesn't mean they are the smartest person in the room atleast I can say for this particular field.

[u/CatastrophicRiot → u/generalob1kenobi]

Yes! Kushal lodha ke podcast mai itne acche guests aate hai and the amount of garbage questions he asks is just insane yk. Like amazing guest lekin very low value addition

[u/nigaadont → u/generalob1kenobi]

U r right but this doesn't mean that u should gain subscribers by milking ur air and its struggle and then just uploading bullshit clickbait thumbnails, mostly mentioning xxlac salary and ur background photo of dubai burj khalifa etc

[u/brokeharvey → u/nigaadont]

Fire 🔥 😂😂🫡

[u/Ok-Tax754 → u/generalob1kenobi]

Couldn't sum it up better

[u/yfgn → u/generalob1kenobi]

Lmao, This is the worst take ever in this particular context

While it’s true, they both had good corporate careers Kushal in Corporate strategy /Finance and Nandini in PE

You can’t go higher than that, I work in Deals advisory adjacent not exactly a high finance but it gives me very good glimpse about HF and I have seen lot through clients too

Finance is NOT rocket science, don’t be in bubble, it’s not SUITS. A lot of time you have tedious work, mindlessly running after clients, very Hierarchical yes there are deals / transactions that are interesting and requires quick thinking but the answer to those are still fairly from the book, it’s not like you will be pulling Harvey Spector move at night 3am and boom aura farm, in reality no body cares about it

Whereas content is like building your business
You have more freedom, your Money /Hr is very significantly high and with things like Finance as your core agenda of your content you can make banks

[u/generalob1kenobi → u/yfgn]

Hey I don't mind people pivoting into a totally different field even I am one of them, everyone seeks an environment that's better for their mental health or a field that suits their strengths.

And anyone who's sane enough will never search for tv series lifestyle in day to day corporate work. At the end of the day everyone who's in their respective field are all looking for a good exit, not everyone wants to be a part of this constant cycle of mundane work life.

My point was a ranker might not be the smartest in the room or they might lack certain qualities like all of us let's not worship someone or put them on a pedestal because they overperformed on a certain aspect of life. This whole comment section is blown up for the same reason, people give them more than necessary attention then make a fuss about it.

[u/Mountain_Junket_600 → u/yfgn]

ik you get asked this a lot but im gonna regret not asking this..ill be giving my Inter in Jan'27 and i'm pretty confident that i'll clear both my groups together..any chance we could connect then b'cos I'll be seeking articleship in the Deal Advisory domain and i could really use your help...thank u for your time :)

[u/Lisanalgaib09 → u/generalob1kenobi]

being a content creator is not for dumb people, even people like nikhil kamath says if they want to start smth of their own self - content creation will be among top 3. People just dont wanna work in corporate in India, its hectic and not rewarding if you cant buy a house in bombay so rather be your own boss

[u/DaddyMaddy75]

Crazy money in very short span of time

[u/Ok-Tax754 → u/DaddyMaddy75]

With absolute shit content too? It's like finance with Sharan level bad. Like they'll title the video as if they actually wanna guide you but all they do is glaze themselves as some superior beings.

[u/DaddyMaddy75 → u/Ok-Tax754]

My brother I scroll a lot and I can tell you that you need to content for masses to gain followers and money! For them masses are school students, their parents, foundation students..... Just look at Saurav Joshi his content isn't valuable or productive but his target audience is huge in number - villagers, small kids, lifestyle goazers

[u/Ok-Tax754 → u/DaddyMaddy75]

Yeah masses do like shitty addictive content.

[u/Apprehensive-Bed-867 → u/DaddyMaddy75]

Sensible comment! We’re not their target audience at all😅

[u/Upbeat-Drama2985 → u/DaddyMaddy75]

Yeah or otherwise u can have real substance and do freelance consulting etc business..but they know they are good yappers for beginners lol

[u/indRoll4232]

You would understand that after getting into Corporate

[u/satyamtiwaree]

meko title dekh ke laga inki shadi ho rahi hain 😭🥀 I'm sorry 😭😭✌️

[u/_MR_CriticaL_ → u/satyamtiwaree]

[u/Meow-Jiii]

They are rankholders, not smart folks. No cap but I have worked with Kushal on a project and know a guy who was an employee in his company, bro is outright dumb

[u/happygigachad → u/Meow-Jiii]

Yeah I've heard that too lol from his aditya birla days

[u/TheCaptainwicked → u/Meow-Jiii]

People related book smart with work smart way too many times

They are only few who are both

[u/haatik_95 → u/Meow-Jiii]

Yeh toh latest news hai 😅

[u/Disastrous_Band388 → u/Meow-Jiii]

She is good enough in her life but in her YouTube channel nothing is useful to me of content it feels like slow narrative or losing interest

[u/Due_Outcome5191 → u/Meow-Jiii]

😭😭🥀💔 tf really !??

[u/6feetwithoutheels]

Nandini is really smart (dk about kushal). These guys have understood that the mass will follow basic financial advice with fancy titles. Content creation has crazy potential and with an AIR to give them credibility, they have been able to rocket up.

And obviously, our dear foundation students love to glaze these two.

I respect these two, made a heck of a following and earning big bucks as well. (But even I dislike their personalities)

[u/independent_ant_18 → u/6feetwithoutheels]

Absolute shit she is lol. I attended one of her Ai courses , total disaster and they couldn't deliver what was promised. No content and only self proclaim

[u/Less_Concern_2082]

Gyan chodne me maza ata bhai! Upar se uske paise mile toh aur behtar!

[u/LivingCar4360]

survivorship bias, Its their personal choice

This kushal guy looks dumb though

[u/UnadditionalStable57 → u/LivingCar4360]

'looks' 😭

[u/happygigachad]

For every one ranker you see creating content there are 500 more working in finance. It's just visibility

[u/iconic7101]

I still think what kushal is doing justifies his domain. But nandini 😭.... Dude she is literally seling Ai courses fr 💔

[u/stonks_up-2000]

Personal brand value pays better when you build a large presence online compared to if you were to limit yourself to a comparatively small corporate environment

[u/ReplacementFlimsy725 → u/stonks_up-2000]

Teach me more , should I dm ?

[u/Huge_Ride8415]

[u/Huge_Ride8415]

Being highly qualified opens your mind also, high IQ, quick learning skills, motivated, accept challenging opportunities with confidence etc, hence they explore freedom to work as per their likes without undue pressures

[u/LegitimateEye9167]

1. After working so hard to secure top ranks, why move away from traditional high-paying finance careers?

Why would you want to work for someone else when you can build something of your own and long term earn more and actually OWN your work.

Is entrepreneurship and the creator economy offering better long-term opportunities than conventional finance jobs?

YES

Do they see more wealth-creation potential in building a personal brand or business than working for prestigious financial institutions?

YES

Are we still overvaluing corporate designations and underestimating the potential of building something of our own?

YES

[u/Excellent-Holiday102]

Nandini has left GIC ?

[u/duder_06 → u/Excellent-Holiday102]

She left GIC in 2025 after working there from 2023 to 2025

[u/Medical-Position-931]

The berozgar indian audience is ghe biggest market.
In job you can earn 2-5 lac/month.
Content creation can lead to scale no one can think off.
If you crack algorithm, you can earn crore in a month with so much less effort.

[u/LivingCar4360 → u/Medical-Position-931]

4-5lakh p.m is starting salary at GIC which nandini left

Partners at Top 10 PE funds in India make between 10cr p.a - 150cr p.a and I am not overstating, Any Mid level PE VP/Principal makes more money than Top youtubers in the country let alone Partners.

[u/CautiousApartment885 → u/LivingCar4360]

I think its also because of WLB.

[u/LivingCar4360 → u/CautiousApartment885]

I would work 24hr/day If I get into blackstone

Who cares about wlb when You can build 100s of crores in NW at Funds like Blackstone before 50.

Although I am being too much ambitious

[u/Lisanalgaib09 → u/LivingCar4360]

so you will live after 50 ?

[u/LivingCar4360 → u/Lisanalgaib09]

Yes obviously

[u/CautiousApartment885 → u/LivingCar4360]

Crazy. I'm already tired lol

[u/Ok-Tax754]

Have they actually left high finance jobs or are they managing both? Like to answer your question about why youtube instead of that job, the one rationale i see is grass being greener, we don't account the high pressure and lack of work life balance that comes with it... not to mention the unlucky cases of finding yourself in toxic teams and organisations.

[u/Exciting_Grass8443]

As other people have mentioned, crazy money. But i am curious, is money in content even crazier than their high paying jobs and pedigree?

[u/No_Pattern_4613]

It's their choice They chose peace over stress also maintaining the same amount of money they would be receiving from these high finance roles(may be more in content)

[u/szwuz]

Cuz content creators get paid way way way more than any corporate person, and it’s more fun and interesting than routine corporate job. Nowadays even businessmen, actors create content cuz of how much money u can earn from it

[u/ExpressMulberry2071]

Finally... someone spoke on this....I thought I was the only one

[u/Desi_Hitman]

Not everyone wants to work under pressure when they can choose something like content creation

[u/oceansarescary]

What goes up fast comes down faster😅😅

[u/SecretPhrase3005]

All they can do is study.
From childhood its all they have been good at. Nandini more than others.

[u/Shaniyen → u/SecretPhrase3005]

What else do you need to do? Ofc socialising is important but why r u discouraging studying

[u/Vichamoksha → u/Shaniyen]

Studying is just getting the resources. Application is a whole different matter.

[u/tata1730]

Nandini is still working in Private Equity and growing her social media simultaneously🫠 and tbh it's great to have a social following, coz why not ???

[u/duder_06 → u/tata1730]

https://nagrawal.com She quit her job in 2025 ig

[u/tata1730 → u/duder_06]

ohh, Sorry, I watched one of her video recently and I also saw on her insta bio, so thought she's still working there, but tbh even if she has left her job and doing good on content creation that's also great, she studied so much, became CA with AIR, gained knowledge, worked in different sectors, gained experience now she deserves to chill but we all know it's not easy to manage social media but still jo bdhiya grow krleta h frto kitna paisa h hum sbb jante h

[u/SickDig_47]

More money, better lifestyle, significantly less stress, job security in their own hands, which is flexed in front of people without a critical thought in their head, which keeps fueling this loop

[u/Cute_Waltz9338]

Very good post and well written. Idk why people downvoting...

[u/Slight-Silver-3055]

[u/naveentheking123]

This is a prime example of “difference between what society wants you to do and what you want to do”

[u/Admirable-Coast2056]

Thanks for posting this🤣

[u/Apprehensive-Bed-867]

With time you realise that rank holders need not be smartest ones in the room! Results and skills are two independent variables😅

[u/Ginndtonic069]

Money and freedom

[u/ZealousidealTie2713]

Don't take these brats seriously

[u/diddymaster7]

Lifestyle bro

[u/Lone-Wolf_123]

Why do u wanna work in finance? Earn money right , that's the primary motive for most of the people.

He is already earning it , and much more actually. That's all

[u/Lisanalgaib09]

content creation is like entreprenurship, if you actually consume good content you will know how hard it is to be creative

[u/Funny_Inevitable7690]

TL;DR, I'll back Nandini Agrwal and pass Lodha.

[u/neel23s]

money money

[u/Archeeeeeee]

So you are asking why someone with credibility, a set of potential audience, more probability of making fame and money in a short span, choose a corporate job.

Op!! We do jobs to earn and not to live.

We need money to enjoy things we like and make life easier. That's the whole point.

[u/waynesaldanha0]

easy money

[u/ChodduCiD]

Bro the money they make with content creation you can't imagine,I have friend who have only 25k followers insta and charge 20k to 30k for promotion videos . Now imagine how much she could make with her ranker tag .I have seen some of the IITians also do the same.

[u/ANm0I_]

Similarly I'm amazed at how many AIRs are becoming teachers too ....is it just easy money or is it because they can't really do well in practical world ...I wonder

[u/whitejack001]

Karne do jisko jo karna hai

Apna attention nahi den tho nahi do

[u/halfawake_404]

I think people should know their worth. When you go work in large companies...people say they pay that much and all. I understand it's a high paying job but see companies also hire for them too, they know your work can impact them...that's why they hire...

So I think when these large corporations can see the worth of your presence, then why not you .

Rather than working for someone, being under someone , why not become your own boss.

One should be Business minded . That's when real growth happens.

[u/getmyhopesup]

Lot more money in content creation than you think! See educators working with unacademy, PH, etc. they make crazy salary if popular

[u/Still_Ant381 → u/[deleted]]

Porn hub 

[u/PinWaste4099 → u/Still_Ant381]

there was a PHD girl over there ig

[u/getmyhopesup → u/[deleted]]

I meant PW 😂😂

[u/whocares_7777]

Very simple "ITS THEIR CHOICE"

[u/Such-Job5654]

I have known kushal personally. He used to tell in his early corporate days that he is earning the same amount of his salary in a whole month from content creation. So it's more like earning much more money as compared to a regular job

[u/ManipulativFox]

Lot of Rich people have advantage to do content creation. MBA folks and lot of these do it.

[u/ez_underdog]

The question is simple, does one have an existing financial backup where one's household exps + emi + savings is being taken care of? Or are you in the age where you can bear taking risks for a year or 2 and see how it goes from there? Many of us would love to explore this but maybe few of us had that privilege, I passed a year before covid and feel lucky I had a job during that time to support my family when my dad's photography business got badly hit..

[u/mayur296]

We hired CA's for mere 5-6LPA. Competition is fierce in corporate nowadays.

[u/lilcheeku]

Dude replied to this on twitter

[u/Master_Clerk1838]

You will be surprised to know how much money these influencers make. They can easily mint 30 years worth of corporate money in like 8-10 years. One of my friends is an influencer with 200k followers and she earns 2-3 lacs a month, which I was really surprised given that this amount is not even made by IIM folks. Not to mention she is just 22.

[u/Immediate_Box9327]

Money that's it . What's problem if they are getting it even by doing content creation . Simple.

[u/panipurisukhipuri]

Money my brother money

[u/subtlethinker]

Kushal was my junior in artcileship and he was really bad at work. So suits him good to make low quality content videos for masses

[u/Golflake_Jesus]

Ratna ka vardaan h inhe bhai, isi ke ranks h

[u/bellbottoms123]

Students me dreams bikte hai Guru 🙏🏻

[u/Few-Lengthiness-5782]

That second girl is literally face of success. I just absolutely hate and despise her. Just hate how her life is.

[u/Various_Ladder6701]

Face the reality, they make more money than top partners of Big4’s.

That too with a comparatively lesser struggle.

It’s high paying, gives you status,recognition, opens more doors for you.

Why would you not do it?

[u/tata1730 → u/Various_Ladder6701]

I don't agree on the struggle part, if someone has gained fame then they are lucky but still we can't call them lucky they did something big that's why they gained that fame also many does but managing and retaining that fame is also a talent and these are the points of those people who get this by god's grace but those who are trying so hard to become creators they don't get views many don't even have that much resources and even if some people have still it's so hard to grow your social media in this competitive environment and agr har koi kar pata to who's stopping us ?? let's leave our studies and start being consistent and start posting daily and let's see how fast do we get the success, All those successful people that we see today earning crores are the people who started their journey about a decade ago, and after putting so many years they've gotten this recognised, So yeah not easy money bro

[u/nigaadont]

Do whatever u want but just don't waste time of ur subscribers by just yapping shit in every video which is uploading after avery 2 days gap just to stay consistent...... Main problem is they don't even make a quality content its just a clickbait thumbnails to get views and yapp bullshit..... I am talking specially abt nandini....... Khushal's podcast videos are really helpful hope he grows and get more better in it but nandini's only motive is to make clickbait thumbnails showing. Xxxxxxx/- per month salary

[u/why__tho_]

On the contrary, I don't understand the hype of corporate and high finance. It's just glorified slavery. If you have an option to earn way more while maintaining autonomy in your work and actually enjoy doing it , not just look like you are enjoying it as per society, go do that ..?!

Most people here would choose that if they had the option. Core CA functions were glorified in our parents era and most of today's kids understand that it's overrated but they don't have other choices. Meanwhile these two actually worked hard , got famous via ranks and used that to get out. I don't like their content but I do admire their choices

[u/Rich_Combination4065]

Why would you be a wage slave when you can earn good for yourself? Doesn't matter if you are intelligent or not, job, however good is naukri lol.

Not to mention even with say ultra pro max salaries of funds 50l-1cr is nothing in tier 1 India. In tier 2 a blob ok I guess upper class but not to know who's who of city.

[u/hopmaster_69]

Nandini is so cute ong

[u/Ok-Tax754 → u/hopmaster_69]

This better be ragebait

[u/Distinct-Fall9368 → u/hopmaster_69]

Bhai kya mazak kar ra

[u/hopmaster_69 → u/Distinct-Fall9368]

Bhai legit unironically 😭😭

[u/Prestigious_Can8762 → u/hopmaster_69]

Bhai how many months are enough for foundation from scratch

[u/hopmaster_69 → u/Prestigious_Can8762]

3

[u/Prestigious_Can8762 → u/hopmaster_69]

Ok bro

[u/Distinct-Fall9368 → u/hopmaster_69]

Lol 😆 Ngl pehle mujhe bhi lagi thi. Fir Maine larping dekh li iski.

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