The First Two Years The Ken

You want to be visible at work, build a reputation, and be known for your strengths. Research suggests that there is no guarantee that putting your head down and doing good work pays off. Neither can you always count on your manager to notice and amplify your achievements. 

Self-promotion gets a bad rep because it sounds a lot like bragging. But if done well, it can be a game-changer at work. Learning how to talk about your strengths, accomplishments, highlights, and milestones, can help you access the right opportunities and gain the right kind of visibility. 

Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks to Charu Sabnavis, HR consultant and author, and Navin Madhavan, Chief of Staff, Amagi, to figure out how to advocate for yourself at work and communicate your strengths without coming off as a braggart. This season of the podcast is all about the firsts one might encounter in the world of work. This is the seventh episode in the lineup, let us know what you think? 

You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. 

If you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. 

This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. 

The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. 

Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

​​Pearl embellished jeans. Pretty pink bows. Summery pinstripe vest. Vintage corset tops 

2024 fashion is all about glitz, glam, and reminding everyone that we are no longer holed up in our houses. Sweatpants, the peak pandemic uniform, may be officially gone 

For many Gen Z workers, this is probably the first time they are having an office job. They are inevitably romanticising the idea of going to work. Imagining themselves as the main character of a workplace. The new ‘corpcore’ or office siren trend is both reflective of changing workwear trends on the runway and on social media. It is super reminiscent of 90s, dripping in nostalgia, and a hyperfeminine understanding of classical workwear. 

Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks to fashion features writer Garima Gupta and Bangalore-based fashion stylist Aashita Mani to figure out what the cool kids are wearing in 2024. Think of this episode as a tiny makeover in your years. This season of the podcast is all about the firsts one might encounter in the world of work. This is the sixth episode in the line up, let us know what you think?
Find 'Corpcore' moodboard on Pinterest here.
Here for Daybreak's episode on deep fakes in democracy? Listen to it on Spotify or Apple!

You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. 

If you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. 

This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. 

The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. 
Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

You made your first mistake at work – and it feels terrible. Maybe you messed up on an important project or failed to meet the expectations set for you. In your first two years, these mistakes can feel devastating. You don’t have years of experience to fall back on and it can feel like you’ll forever be defined by this mistake at the workplace. 

The next few months can feel like an extended interview where everyone overanalyzes your subsequent moves. The pressure to regain the lost trust and prove yourself is high. How do you truly own up to your mistakes beyond just saying sorry? What are the concrete ways in which you can recover from this mistake? How do you earn the trust of your peers? 

Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks to experts who’ve truly mastered the art and science of bouncing back from a mistake. On this episode, you’ll hear accounts of crises and turnaround and pragmatic ways to mend the tricky situation at hand. 

This season of the podcast is all about the firsts one might encounter in the world of work. This is the fifth episode in the lineup, let us know what you think? 

You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. 

If you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. 

This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. 

The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. 

Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

In your first job, you can feel like a fish out of water. Confused, lost, and unsure of how to proceed. You don't have any connections or networks yet. You've just got a foot in the door. At this juncture, finding a mentor can dramatically change your career trajectory.

Research suggests that just having a mentor can improve your performance at work and having a strong relationship with a mentor can directly result in promotions and raises. 

The truth is nobody wants more mentees. But you still have to find one to succeed at work.
You often feel like you’re making this grand request from someone who is probably way more busy or has way more things on their plate. And reaching out to someone you admire — especially if that person is more senior than you — can be super intimidating. 

So, how do you find a mentor to best help you and your career? 

Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks to people who’ve benefited from healthy mentoring relationships, those who’ve been mentors and mentees, to find out the steps it takes to begin your mentor hunt. On this episode you’ll hear about what makes a good mentor, how to establish the right dynamics with your mentor, and how to nurture the relationship. 

This is our fourth episode in season 1, let us know what you think? 

You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. 

Have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. 

This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. 

The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. 

Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

Most fresh graduates quit their first job within the next six to twelve months of joining, according to a survey by The Ken. The top three reasons were toxic managers, disagreements with the workplace culture, and most interestingly, a want for more challenging work. More and more young, ambitious, and curious professionals prefer shorter stints not because they are unhappy, but because they realised they could be happier.
And it may not be such a bad thing. But only if it is done so....consciously.
Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks with Prasadh MS, head of workforce research at Xpheno, a specialist staffing company; and Leo Fernandez, founder, Talentease; to break down why shorter stints benefit your career and how to go about quitting your first job.
Let us know what you think. You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. 
Have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. 
This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. 
The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. 
Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff. 

Your workplace loves therapy-speak. Everyone seems to know and use the mental health lingo. That meeting was “triggering,” your boss “gaslit” you into doing something, and your colleagues want you “hold space” for them and do all the “emotional labour” at work. What should you do – give in or give up? Neither, there’s a way out. 

In this episode of The First Two Years, we ask and answer some of these questions. Are there downsides to casual therapy-speak? What do these words actually mean? If someone using excessive therapy-speak, and I don't know what it means or don't think it is necessary, how should I respond? Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks with organizational psychologist Radhika Bhalla and counseling psychologist Gargi Ranad to answer the why of it, and ways to move forward. 

Let us know what you think. You can write to Akshaya, the host, at akshaya@the-ken.com. 

Have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. 

This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN. 

The First Two Years is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. 

Subscribe for more exclusive business stories, deeply-reported newsletters, and a whole lot of stuff.