Leadership Journeys [237] - Anant Agarwal - " Sales is vanity. Profit is sanity, and cash is reality. "

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other's stories - of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

What does it really take to walk away from a stable global career and build something from the ground up?

In this episode, Anant Agarwal, CEO of Skill Mine, shares the raw emotional journey of choosing leadership and stepping into entrepreneurship with courage and conviction.

From growing up surrounded by business conversations to building a tech company that aims to serve the world, Anant’s story is packed with insight and inspiration.

He talks about the weight of starting over, the power of frugality, and how he nurtures leadership within his team.

Tune in for an honest, energizing conversation that will challenge you to dream bigger and lead with intention.

You can find Anant Agarwal at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/agrawalanant/
• https://skill-mine.com/

In the interview, Anant shares

• "Choosing leadership is not a role—it's a decision, driven by dreams too big to ignore."
• "Leaving a secure global career wasn’t easy, but I realized—if not now, then when?" – Anant Agarwal
• "Business wasn’t just a subject in school—it was dinner table conversation in my family."
• "You can’t build something new while clinging to the comforts of the old."
• "Frugality is not about scarcity—it’s about intelligent resourcefulness."
• "When you lead with purpose, your team stops being employees and starts becoming ambassadors."
• "We’re not just building for India—we’re building in India, for the world."
• "The hardest part of entrepreneurship? Leaving behind people who only knew the professional version of me."
• "Innovation happens when failure isn’t punished—it’s studied and celebrated."
• "Choosing leadership is a daily act—it’s not about titles, it’s about responsibility and courage."