Launched in July 2020, Career Ahead is a unique media start-up in the EdTech sector. Learn from Experience is the tagline of the brand, which provides a platform for experienced professionals, entrepreneurs, educators and thought leaders from all fields to share their personal and professional journeys and experiences with the audience. The content is packed with useful advice and fascinating insights that only real-life experience can provide.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Career Ahead, Akhil Backliwal envisioned the magazine as a resource, a fountain of information for the next generation and for all those who are in the midst of their career journeys. The aim is to connect those who have experience in various fields and lines of work with those who are just starting out, or with others who are considering venturing into entrepreneurship, or thinking about a career shift. The website CareerAhead.in and magazine showcase content from fields as diverse as sports, photography, medicine, entrepreneurship, information technology, hospitality, fashion, interior design, and much more, with the ultimate intention of discussing every possible career option.
While the founders had conceptualized the magazine much earlier, the unforeseen turn of events in 2020 created the perfect environment for the launch of this project, which offers content to help overcome the confusion created by the overwhelming and unprecedented impact of the Covid pandemic. At a time when students, professionals, and entrepreneurs across the globe struggled to deal with the changes that came about because of lockdowns and the drastic measures taken to contain the pandemic, Career Ahead was launched with the intention of providing some hope of a normal future, along with inspirational content to help young people deal with the challenging aspects of finding their passion and following their dreams. The magazine aims to shed light on the way forward for young people, many of whom are at this juncture, quite understandably, confused and lacking direction. Akhil Backliwal, Editor-in-Chief, says, “It brings great satisfaction to know that our endeavors are guiding the youth and entrepreneurs alike, lighting up their path to success.”
The most unique aspect of the magazine is the fact that all articles are written and contributed voluntarily by the authors, most of whom are well known individuals and experts from across a range of professions. Each article has a distinct voice and a new perspective that everyone can benefit from.
The Career Ahead website publishes articles on a regular basis while the print issue of the magazine is released once every quarter. The latest print issue, which came out in October 2021, has articles on architecture and design, the Indian armed forces, stand-up comedy, entrepreneurship, and sales management, along with others. The cover story by Arvinder Gujral, ex-Twitter MD for South-east Asia, describes how a young man from humble beginnings made it to the top echelons of the corporate world. The issue also includes an in-depth Q&A with the gifted couturier Payal Jain, who shares what she has learnt over decades of working in the Indian fashion industry. Previous issues of the magazine have had contributions from industry leaders in various verticals, from across the globe, including internationally acclaimed stand-up artist Papa CJ, UK’s leading start-up guru Stephan Page, Indian tennis stalwart Vishaal Uppal, India’s number one women’s tennis player Ankita Raina, movie producer Tanujj Garg, pro golfer Shiv Kapur, international sustainability champion Larissa Miller, ex-NFL athlete LaVar Arrington, professional speaker and mentor Harry Singha, Michelin-star chef Manjunath Mural, global business leader Dejan Stancer, and many more.
Regarding future plans for the platform, Managing Editor Pooja Backliwal had the following words, “I believe we may be the only magazine in the market with the sole intention of providing insight into various career options through the first-hand experiences of real people. We fully intend to become more interactive to cater to the needs of our readers as we grow, and to organize workshops and seminars where people can delve into career options or avenues for education and learn more, to help them make informed decisions.”
The Career Ahead team is determined to be a source of valuable information and advice for jobseekers and young people at the precipice of their career journeys. The platform intends to expand into podcasts and video content along with plans for expansion in offline arenas, organizing events and seminars to cater to needs of the upcoming generation of professionals, entrepreneurs, sportspeople, and artists. The complete digital versions of the print magazines are currently available for free online at: https://www.careerahead.in
