Will AI take your job? 100 million Indians use ChatGPT every week — that's more than the entire population of Germany — so we asked OpenAI India directly. In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, Vasundhara Mudgil (Head of Communications, OpenAI India) and Raghav Gupta (Head of Education, OpenAI India & APAC) decode what artificial intelligence really means for your job security, career advice for 2026, and the future of work.

Saying no at work feels risky but saying yes to everything can cost you your health, your growth, and your peace of mind. In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, Babita Baruah, CEO of VML India, shares how to say no at work without hurting your career or your reputation.

With over 25 years of experience working with brands like Coca-Cola and Ford, Babita walks us through real workplace scenarios from last-minute requests to vacation interruptions and shows exactly how to respond with confidence, clarity, and professionalism.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• How to say no to your boss without damaging your relationship
• The right way to handle last-minute and after-hours work requests 
• How to spot early signs of overcommitment before burnout sets in 
• Why people-pleasers struggle to say no and how to break the pattern
•  How to say no during performance review season without hurting your appraisal 
• The 3-step framework to say no confidently: Assess, Be Confident, Stay With Your Decision 
• When saying yes is actually the smarter career move

Independent Communications Consultant Karthik Srinivasan discusses his career journey from Edelman to Flipkart to Ogilvy, and his decision to become independent in 2018. He shares insights on personal branding, the impact of AI on marketing, and how to develop human judgment and taste as essential skills in an increasingly automated industry.

Kim Sharma, EVP, DCAA, takes us through the career pivots she made in her life, from Bollywood to the Boardroom, what skills she carried with herself during the switch, how women should navigate workplace dynamics and more!

Ankur Warikoo joins the Naukri podcast to walk through every major career stage - from landing your first job without connections to negotiating raises, managing Gen Z teams, navigating career breaks, and upskilling in the age of AI. Packed with practical advice, a live salary negotiation roleplay, and a rapid-fire CV review, this one's a must-watch for anyone building their career in 2026.

In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, Harinder Singh Pelia, an author, entrepreneur, and marketer, engages in a high-stakes salary negotiation roleplay. He demonstrates advanced negotiation tactics by challenging standardized salary "bands," leveraging a competing offer, and proposing a performance-based variable pay structure that aligns his potential earnings with the company's financial success.

Marketing expert Harinder Singh Pelia discusses how AI poses a threat to mediocre, mechanical copywriting while emphasizing that high-level creativity and storytelling will remain human-led. He advocates for reading fiction to build the empathy and storytelling skills necessary for creating emotional responses in consumers. Finally, he offers the uncomfortable truth that consumers do not care about brands, advising marketers to focus on solving a problem and then getting out of the way.

In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, guest speaker Harinder Singh Pelia, an experienced marketer with a leadership background at major brands like Amazon, Diesel, and Reliance Jio Fashion, shares a comprehensive roadmap for navigating a marketing career in 2026. This discussion provides actionable advice for aspiring professionals and mid-level marketers looking to elevate their standing in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, Harinder Singh Pelia, an author, entrepreneur, and marketing expert, discusses the shifting landscape of marketing and consumer behavior. Having led teams at major companies like Amazon and Diesel, Pelia shares his perspective on why modern marketing often feels like "noise" and how professionals can refocus on what truly matters to drive revenue.

Negotiating your salary can feel like walking a tightrope—ask for too much and risk losing the offer, ask for too little and short-change yourself.

In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, we’re joined by Manjit Singh Chhandok, Founder and Director of Search PartnerZ, who shares an insider’s view of how salary negotiations really work from the employer’s side.

From preparing the right research to framing your ask and handling counteroffers, Manjit explains what impresses recruiters, what turns them off, and how candidates can approach negotiations with confidence and clarity. He also unpacks the behind-the-scenes process of how offers are made, approved, and sometimes rejected.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ How to research your true market value before an interview

✅ Why quoting a realistic range works better than a single number

✅ The right way to present your case without sounding rigid

✅ What really happens behind the scenes when HR takes your request to management

✅ Perks and benefits you can negotiate beyond salary

✅ How to keep the door open for renegotiation without losing credibility

Moonlighting has become one of the most debated workplace topics today. Is it a breach of trust or a way to chase your passion? In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, Vinayak Burman, Founder and Managing Partner at Vertices Partners, explains the legal and ethical realities of side hustles in India.

He breaks down what employment laws actually say about moonlighting, how to read the fine print in your contract, and when a passion project can cross the line into a conflict of interest.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ What Indian law really says about moonlighting and dual employment

✅ How to check your contract for hidden restrictions

✅ When a side hustle becomes a legal risk

✅ The right way to disclose passion projects

✅ How to protect yourself from conflict-of-interest issues

✅ Why intent matters more than income when it comes to moonlighting

Healthy detachment at work is often misunderstood. Does it mean not caring enough about your job, or caring smartly about yourself too? In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, we’re joined by Mansee Singhal, Careers Leader, Mercer, to decode what it truly means to care deeply about your work without being consumed by it.

From setting healthy boundaries to handling “always-on” work culture guilt, Mansee explains how employees can stay invested, build resilience, and still protect their mental space. She also discusses why over-attachment often leads to burnout and how managers can spot early signs of emotional fatigue on their teams.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ The difference between caring deeply and overinvesting in work

✅ How to set healthy boundaries without hurting career growth

✅ The psychological signs of burnout and quiet quitting

✅ How to respond to feedback without taking it personally

✅ Why resilience and self-care are essential for long-term success

✅ How employers can identify and support over-detached employees

Is it burnout… or are you just bored? 

In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, we’re joined by Ashdin Doctor – Habit Coach & Founder of Awesome180, who unpacks one of the biggest workplace confusions today: the fine line between burnout and boredom.

Ashdin shares why burnout isn’t about working “too much” but about overstimulation, how boredom can actually fuel creativity, and the simple daily habits that can protect you from both. From the Pomodoro technique to rethinking workplace routines, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways on how you can cure burnout. 

• What you’ll learn in this episode:
• How to spot the signs of burnout and boredom?
• Why leads to burnout?
• Simple work habits to cure burnout
• How managers can help their teams stay motivated
• When it’s time to change your habits — or your job?

Talking to your manager can feel intimidating, even for the most confident professionals.

In this episode, Karan Hasija, Co-Founder and CEO of Quantum Leap Learning Solutions, explains how to approach tough conversations at work with clarity and confidence. Whether you're asking for a raise, setting boundaries, giving feedback, or addressing a sensitive issue, this conversation gives you the tools to do it right.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why even top performers get nervous before speaking up

• The Context, Intent, Message, Impact framework

• How to sound assertive without sounding needy

• How to say no without damaging your reputation

• The “Three Strikes” rule for following up

• How to give honest feedback that lands well

AI jobs are everywhere right now but most companies still don’t know what they actually want.

In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, we’re joined by KVS Dileep, Head of Gen AI Education at Outskill, who breaks down the reality of AI hiring and what it takes to land and thrive in these roles.

Dileep explains why most AI roles today are driven more by FOMO than clarity, why being an “AI generalist” matters more than being a specialist, and the roadmap every professional technical or not can follow to stay future proof. He also shares his simple but powerful prompt writing formula that can instantly level up your AI game.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ The hiring mistakes companies are making in AI today

✅ What do AI companies like OpenAI and Perplexity look for in candidates?

✅ The 5 level roadmap to becoming AI ready for tech and non tech roles

✅ How to future proof your career with AI frameworks not tools

✅ Common mistakes to avoid in your AI learning journey

✅ The 90 day learning map to start creating impact with AI

Workwise with Naukri is a podcast from Naukri.com, produced and managed by LeverageX Media.

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/qP7YnFOcR4s

Surviving your first year as a manager is never easy

In this conversation, Dr Pavan Soni, Author of Design Your Career and Faculty at IIM Bangalore, shares what new managers really need to get through that tough first year.

His advice is practical and straight to the point:

• Build three essential skills big picture thinking, clear communication, and courage to let go

• Give feedback that is factual and clear instead of sugarcoated

• Communicate upward, downward and across while sharing bad news quickly

• Test your success by checking if you can take a vacation without your phone buzzing

In this episode, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-Founder, Info Edge, and Hitesh Oberoi, Co-Promoter, Managing Director & CEO, Info Edge India Ltd, share how they built one of India’s most enduring companies.

They open up about building culture from scratch, earning loyalty that lasts decades, and leading through every crisis without a single layoff. From the dot-com crash to the age of AI, their story is a masterclass in trust, patience, and people-first leadership.

Watch this episode on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy9VOJ6JKk0

Ever dreamed of building wealth without sacrificing your current lifestyle? In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, we chat with Gajendra Kothari—Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Etica Wealth Private Limited—who has amassed over 50 crores through smart money moves.

Discover simple strategies for saving, investing, and planning life goals—be it buying your dream home, traveling the world, or retiring comfortably. Gajendra shows how anyone—from freshers to experienced pros—can leverage the power of compounding, prioritize finances wisely, and still enjoy the present. Tune in for a practical guide to taking charge of your money and future.

Workwise with Naukri is a podcast from Naukri.com and produced by LeverageX Media.

Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/DcxmUpAjpIA

How can women truly thrive in the workplace, break biases, and take control of their careers? In this special episode of Workwise with Naukri, we bring together powerhouse women leaders—Priyanka Gill, Malika Sadani, and Supriya Paul—to discuss the realities of being a woman at work.

From negotiating salaries and navigating biases to building a strong professional presence, they share candid experiences and actionable insights on how women can create impact, ask for what they deserve, and own their success. The conversation also explores leadership, financial independence, and the mindset shifts needed to excel in today’s workplace.

build Whether you’re an aspiring leader, a working professional, or someone looking to support and empower women in the workplace, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. Tune in to learn how to navigate your career with confidence and take charge of your professional journey!

Workwise with Naukri is a podcast from Naukri.com and produced by LeverageX Media.

Watch this episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-VseG4ZLTs

Ever wondered why Indian consumers make the choices they do? In this episode of Workwise with Naukri, Damodar Mall, CEO of Reliance Retail and a leading expert in consumer behavior, deciphers the evolving Indian consumer mindset—insights every working professional should know. 

From shifting brand loyalties to changing spending habits, Damodar unpacks the key trends shaping India’s retail landscape. He explores how digital adoption, cultural shifts, and economic factors influence buying decisions—insights that can help professionals in marketing, sales, product management, and beyond. 

Whether you're building a brand, scaling a business, or working in a consumer-facing role, understanding what truly drives Indian consumers can give you a competitive edge. Tune in for real-world strategies and expert perspectives to help you stay ahead in today’s fast-evolving market.

Workwise with Naukri is a podcast from Naukri.com and produced by LeverageX Media.