But what about the middle-class, salaried staff who navigate careers not with million-dollar investments but with adaptability, resilience, and an unshakable work ethic?
Meet Anuradha Srinivasan, India’s original weathercaster, whose career trajectory defied every expectation.
Anu didn’t set out to be a TV presenter. She didn’t plan to get where she got. But over 33 years, she moved across five different roles, proving that success isn’t just about ambition—it’s about saying yes to opportunity, even when unexpected.
Anu began her career as a front office executive—or, as they were known then, a receptionist.
Her days were filled with answering calls, forwarding messages, and assisting visitors. The position required patience, efficiency, and a friendly demeanour. However, it wasn’t a role that provided substantial opportunities for career advancement.
Then, one day, the logistics manager resigned. The company’s founders, Prannoy and Radhika Roy, recognised Anu’s potential and offered her the position.
She stepped up, adapted, and excelled.
Soon, she oversaw logistics for an expanding media house that created content for India’s state-run broadcaster.
But change was around the corner again.
Private news channels were emerging with the liberalisation of India’s media landscape. The company required a weather presenter—a face to bring weather forecasts to life.
And once again, they turned to Anu.
“I never saw it coming,” she later told me. “The founders saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself.”
Facing the Camera: A New Challenge
One day, Anu was handling logistics. The next, she stood under studio lights, delivering weather forecasts to millions.
She learned quickly. She studied El Niño, La Niña, and monsoon patterns, perfecting her craft with time and becoming a familiar presence on TV screens nationwide.
But not every challenge was conquered so easily.
At one point, she was asked to present in Hindi. As someone of South Indian descent, she faced difficulties with her pronunciation.
“The production head, Shivani, coached me tirelessly,” she laughed. “But eventually, she raised her hands and said, ‘Forget it, this will never work.’ And just like that, my Hindi weather career ended before it began.”
From Weathercaster to TV Host
After five years as a weathercaster, Anu was chosen to helm a half-hour weekend show. The program connected the broadcaster with its viewers, featuring letters, requests, and feedback nationwide.
She had moved from delivering two-minute weather updates to presenting an entire programme.
By now, Anu was getting used to reinvention. But she never expected what came next.
The Toughest Role Yet
When the HR head at NDTV departed, the company’s leaders sought someone capable of managing people with empathy and fairness. The company had to let go of hundreds of employees under severe cost pressures at the time.
Once again, the founders chose Anu.
“HR was the toughest role,” she admitted. “Handling terminations was challenging—it affected me personally and professionally.”
Although Anu had no formal human resources training, she had emotional intelligence, experience, and an innate understanding of people.
When she began, the company had fewer than 100 employees. By the time she became Head of HR, NDTV had expanded to over 1,100 employees.
She adapted, learned, and thrived in every role she took.
There’s much to learn from the story of Anuradha Srinivasan. But not all the credit can go to her. Prannoy and Radhika Roy, the founders of NDTV, trusted her to venture into new areas. Not many would risk offering critical roles to someone without prior experience in it.
“I am incredibly fortunate to have had these mentors, who played a crucial role in my professional journey”, Anu says. “Dr. Prannoy Roy, for example, guided me with my weather scripts—he took the time to write for me despite his busy schedule and offered creative ideas to make weather interesting.”
Your Takeaway
You don’t have to chase success—sometimes, it finds you.
Anu never lobbied for any of this. She did her job well and stepped up when opportunities arose.
Growth isn’t about expertise—it’s about adaptability.
She didn’t have a logistics, TV presenting, or HR background. But she embraced learning, which set her apart.
The right leaders see potential, not just résumés.
Not many founders would entrust a logistics manager with a TV role or a weathercaster with HR leadership. But Prannoy and Radhika Roy did—and their faith in Anu paid off.
Success isn’t just about titles or money—it’s about impact.
Anu may not have become a multi-millionaire, but her career touched millions of viewers and hundreds of employees.
The Power of Saying Yes
Anu’s story is a testament to embracing change—not resisting it.
She didn’t plan for any of this. She didn’t strategise her way up the corporate ladder.
She showed up, did her best, and said yes to life’s offers of something new.
And sometimes, that’s all it takes.
About Me
I am a thinker at all times. I see, I think. I hear, I think. I read, I think. Every weekend I write. I would love to know what you think.