Tapojoy Chatterjee is Vice President and Head of Product at Swiggy Food and Dineout Experiences. Before Swiggy, he spent nearly a decade at Amazon, where he helped build the Amazon Ads business in India, launched miniTV, and even holds a US patent.

In this rich, candid conversation, Tapojoy shares:

• His 3-step playbook to stay ahead of paradigm shifts like AI

• The 4 habits that quietly compound into career breakthroughs

• Using side projects as powerful tools to bridge skill gaps

• Exactly what it takes to get promoted—whether you're at a lean startup or a layered org

If you want to learn what it takes to build a 10X Career, this episode is for you!

In The Career Clinic, Tapojoy answers your questions about cross-functional collaboration and execution, providing clear frameworks to tackle tricky workplace like:

• How to unblock projects when the other team won’t budge

• How to say no at work without sounding defensive

• How to update leadership the smart way

• How to hold peers accountable without ruining relationships

  
  

  Some key takeaways:

• Raise your hand before you think you’re ready: From his first school computer class to product management at Amazon—Tapojoy didn’t wait for perfect readiness. He jumped in, learned fast, and delivered.

• Compound curiosity into a career advantage: Intentional, curiosity-led learning from side projects and observation is as powerful as formal training.

• Build a bias for execution: Credibility comes from consistent delivery—track records matter.

• Take intentional career bets: Be deliberate about placing smart bets on growing trends. Early risk-taking has limited downside, but exponential upside.

• Master saying no (and yes): Protect your energy by learning to decline clearly, transparently, and kindly—show trade-offs clearly.

• Promotions differ by company size: Understand that promotions in startups rely heavily on your direct impact with founders, while large orgs demand cross-functional visibility and wide stakeholder support.

• Reflection is a career accelerator: Don’t wait for annual reviews. Regular self-reflection (weekly or daily) sharpens judgment and growth.

In this episode we cover:

Referenced:

• The CEO Factory by Sudhir Sitapati https://amzn.in/d/akQtm8F

• The Lean Product Playbook by Dan Olsen https://amzn.in/d/hThFJrP

• Only the Paranoid Survive by Andy Grove https://amzn.in/d/2t6mAlC

• The Power of Moments by Chip Heath & Dan Heath https://amzn.in/d/iYbL9yk

Editing and production: GreyLabs Media https://www.instagram.com/greylabsmedia/

Recording: https://riverside.fm/

Priyamvada Srivastava, former Vice President & Country Manager at Procter & Gamble, is an ICF certified leadership coach. Priya started her career at P&G after pivoting from academia and economics, and faced a tough first year that fundamentally reshaped how she approached her work.In this episode, Priya candidly shares:• Why her first year was a disaster: the critical conversation she never had with her manager (but you should)• The three habits of top-performing new hires: based on Priya's years leading P&G’s new hire onboarding• Why your manager is one of three people in life you don’t get to choose—and practical steps to make that relationship thriveIf you’re transitioning from student life to working life, or if your career didn’t start the way you hoped, this episode is for you._________________________________________________________

In The Career Clinic, Priya answers your career questions on how to manage your manager, including:• The "ways of working" conversation every new hire must have—setting clear goals and expectations from day one• The three-bucket method for giving smart updates: show what’s under control, where you need some guidance, and where you're completely blocked• When you get over your fear of judgement, leadership reviews become less scary and more useful• How to get real, useful feedback from your manager: Directly ask, “please tell it to me straight, don’t sugarcoat it. I'll handle it better if I know the truth.”…and so much moreSome key takeaways:1. Doing well in school doesn’t prepare you for doing well at work: “I knew how to ace exams. I didn’t know how to align with a manager.”2. Not aligning with your manager can undo your effort: “I thought hitting the target was enough. But I’d never even had a goals discussion.”3. A bad start can fuel long-term growth: “If I hadn’t had that rough start, I’d never have learned the habits that helped me grow for the next 20 years.”4. Be open to hard truths—feedback isn’t judgment: “I tell my manager: Don’t sugarcoat it. I’ll feel bad for 30 seconds, then I’ll get better.”5. Fear of judgment holds you back more than getting judged ever will “If you don’t speak, they’ll still judge you—just without context.”6. Your manager is one of three people in life you don’t get to choose—so make the equation work: “Don’t wait for them to change. Adapt to their style to get what you need: goals, feedback, teaching, resources.”7. Use the three-bucket method to give updates that build trust: What’s on track (just FYI); Where you need input; Where you’re blocked and need help8. Get your hands dirty to learn fast: “Spend less time on Excel. Be on the ground. Go where the action is.”9. Be organized—it’s the easiest way to build credibility: “When you’re not structured, people notice. And it sticks.”10. Have a working styles conversation upfront: “Figure out how your manager likes to work—printouts, weekly syncs, WA pings. Don’t assume.”

__________________________________________________________Where to find Priyamvada Srivastava: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyamvada-srivastava

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Submit your career queries to The Career Clinic: https://forms.gle/MYC9XmpqeF5MUJbe8

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Production and Editing: https://www.instagram.com/greylabsmedia/

Recording: https://riverside.fm/