Dr. Elson Joy

After almost 3 years of not being in touch, I texted him at 6:08 PM asking if he'd do an episode of my podcast. At 6:08 PM, he replied: "I'm in."

That's when I remembered the pace at which Dinesh Goel operates.

DG, as we called him, is easily one of the most influential people in my startup career. We worked together for about a year, and it was a masterclass in execution, team culture, and relentless work ethic.

After building a 400-person company with 6 offices across the country and successfully exiting to OLX People, you'd expect him to be wearing designer clothes and sipping Mai Tais on a beach somewhere. Instead, he still wears simple clothes, drives the same car, and blends into any crowd. It was the same back then. It's the same today.

While we worked together, I asked him about his philosophy on money, why he works so hard, and how he manages to sustain that pace. What I loved about his answers was how efficient they were—just like him.
Simple. Direct. No fluff.

Some of those answers still stick with me, just like the sage advice he gave during our time together.

What I appreciate most about conversations with DG is how rarely personal agenda enters the picture. Everything stays objective.

I remember him once saying that integrity is non-negotiable—he won't work with people who lack it, no matter how talented they are.

A lot of the advice I've passed on to my juniors came from him.

I'm glad I got to shoot 2+ hours with him.

At the end of the recording, I asked how it went and whether it felt long. His reply? "Yes, it was good. But it was long." No sugar coating.

It was a Saturday. I thought he'd be relaxing after that draining conversation, but he replied: "Have to head back to work."

And it brought back memories from the old days.

I can't wait for you to absorb as much from this conversation as I did.

You're welcome.
-El

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Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/7seZo7PsPY0

3 months ago | [YT] | 2

Dr. Elson Joy

Sudarshan and I first connected for work, and I casually mentioned my podcast where I interview founders. We decided to record an episode later that month, and I'm so glad we did.

One of my favorite parts about doing this podcast is peeling the layers behind founders that most people never see.

When we first spoke, I had no idea Sudarshan was the one who spearheaded Ola's explosive growth from 5,000 rides to millions, back when booking a single ride could take hours.

I also learned he's an IIT-K alum. Naturally, I assumed he was the textbook studious type. Turns out, he did everything but study in college, and he's glad he did.

He's also an avid fitness enthusiast with a regimented routine that's been crucial to his founder journey. Not just because he's building India's largest functional food brand, but because he underwent his own transformation, becoming the mountain-climbing, handstanding, tennis-playing founder he is today.

His journey from a kitchen startup in a 2BHK apartment to building a house of brands sounds like a planned strategy and a masterclass in execution. But Sudarshan revealed that until a few years ago, things weren't as polished as they seem now. He didn't always have the answers. He just put his head down, executed, and earned support from the Rainmatter team.

Sudarshan is incredibly comfortable on camera. Whether that's natural or comes from the content he regularly creates across his social channels, I'm not sure, but it shows.

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our conversation. When I told my editor to cut it down to 30-35 minutes, he said he was "putting a rock on his heart" because there's so much value packed in.

I hope you find it as valuable as he did.

This is a masterclass in overachieving.

-El

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Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/QXUQHEOJco4

3 months ago | [YT] | 1

Dr. Elson Joy

Jay and I go way back. I was referred to him for a freelancing gig when he was building a startup (or business unit) within LetsVenture, a well-known name in the Indian venture capital ecosystem.

His vision was to build for founders and startups. Many people have ideas, but when it comes to execution, they falter. Even something as straightforward as getting a company registered can be daunting. Doing it all alone makes it infinitely harder. But seasoned founders know the playbook, and thank god there's a playbook. At least in those initial days, having that support system and community helps. And that's why Scalix was launched to take founders from idea to scale.

I joined him just as they were launching. I remember it was August 5th or something (still remember it because of how important that day was for them). We worked together for a year. After that, I moved to Mumbai, and later I learned that Jay had also moved on once Scalix shut down.

But we both moved on to bigger and better things. And interestingly, to similar roles. I was leading product at 1% Club, and Jay was leading product as CPO at Collective Artists Network. Our offices were about a hundred meters apart, and my studio was in the same locality as his apartment. You get the gist.

So one day, I dropped him a message about my podcast and told him he couldn't refuse. Jay's not very active on social, so I knew that if I didn't arm-twist him into it, he wouldn't agree. But I'm really glad it happened, and we kicked it off immediately because of the shared stories and the vibe.

If you've heard of product management or are wanting to get into the zero-to-one journey, this is a solid watch. It's also great for those later in their careers wondering what work-life balance actually means. Jay is a recent father (I remember him breaking the news during one of our standups). He's also a bike enthusiast and a vintner. And he's leading India's largest creator network without even being active on social media.
So yes, all of that is possible.

And especially because you're only likely to hear from him at big conferences, this is probably the first time you'll find an hour-long chat with him on the internet.

So enjoy!

– El

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Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/NDO_XQWkZsU

3 months ago | [YT] | 1

Dr. Elson Joy

Vikram is the most passionate Kombucha brewer I know.

Well, to be fair, I don’t know that many Kombucha brewers, but even if I did, I’m certain he’d still be right up there at the top.

If you’ve been paying closer attention to grocery store shelves lately, you’d have noticed that Kombucha has quietly become a regular feature. But that wasn’t always the case.

It’s only in recent years that people started recognizing its health benefits. And Vikram took things a notch higher by adding Kefir, Kimchi, and other fermented foods to his lineup. These are not just trendy; they’re genuinely healthy and still fairly uncommon in our everyday diets.

What sets Vikram apart is his insistence that every product be organic and free of heavy preservatives, something not all his competitors can claim.
That was news to me.

Here’s what I learned:

Kombucha is basically fermented tea. The fermentation process creates good bacteria that are beneficial for your gut. But adding heavy preservatives kills those very bacteria. It’s a bittersweet dilemma (pun intended): to scale, you need longer shelf life, but that very process undermines the product’s natural goodness.

During our podcast, I also learned a lot about resilience.

Vikram’s journey from earning ₹10 lakhs a month in a merchant navy job to accidentally becoming an entrepreneur, facing rejection after rejection including on Shark Tank Season 1, was nothing short of inspiring.
It reminded me that entrepreneurship isn’t all nice and rosy, or rather, hibiscus-sy (one of the drinks we tried on the show). It’s a true test of navy-like mental toughness.

Watch this episode. I promise it’ll leave you inspired too.

-El

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Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/T4l8N0UY_fY

3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Dr. Elson Joy

Almost every senior doctor in Kerala would know of Dr. Panicker.

We met the previous night to align on the shoot. There was so much ground to cover, so we decided to focus on a few key themes that would bring the most value to viewers while keeping the conversation engaging.

We had planned to start around 10 a.m., but began a couple of hours later after he attended to an urgent patient. He wanted to finish that first, so he could give me his full attention without feeling rushed. And despite his packed schedule, he still carved out an hour for me right between patient consultations.

I used that window to record a one-take monologue introducing all of his achievements. The kind of introduction a guest like him truly deserves (some of those points below).

For five decades, he has set the benchmark for what it means to be a doctor, entrepreneur, and leader.

In 2007, he was recognized as Best Doctor by the Government of Kerala.
He was also among the first surgeons in the state to perform a successful cochlear implant surgery. That very first patient still visits him to this day to thank him. Since then, he has performed nearly 400 such life-changing surgeries.

Even after half a century in medicine, he can recall medical concepts word for word, with the same precision and passion as someone just out of medical school.

Beyond medicine, he founded one of Kerala’s leading multi-speciality hospitals, serves on multiple public and private boards, and regularly advises government authorities.

But what struck me most was his reputation. When I was first introduced to him, someone said, “He’s the doctor every VIP goes to first for a consult.”
And I saw that brand in action. Right after our recording, he rushed to take a call from a well-known playback singer with a throat issue.

This was my first episode in Kerala, and it felt extra special not just because I got to go back to my roots, but because I got to work with local wedding photographers for the shoot and a close relative who opened up their space for filming.

This one made me want to pick up the scalpel again.
Inspiring. And showed me that a doctor can be a lot more than just a doctor.

— El

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Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/EY50S8hwP7U

3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Dr. Elson Joy

This was the first time I shot an episode outside of a traditional studio, inside a factory at Curry Road, South Bombay.

It came on the recommendation of a mutual friend of Rishi and mine, who had helped make this podcast happen.

I first met Rishi at the Lil Flea in Mumbai. He was showcasing his products to a crowd, and honestly, I didn’t pay much attention. The label read “Butters & More”, and I thought, “Blueberries and hazelnut in my butter chicken? Really?”

Fun fact: I didn’t even sample his products that day. The crowd was thick, and my friends and I were eager to kick off our night.

Yet, one detail stuck with me: the spark in his eyes. Despite the late hour and obvious exhaustion, he was there, sweating, repeating his pitch like a true hustling entrepreneur.

I thought, why not invite him onto my podcast and see what he was building and his experience at the flea?

Walking into the podcast, I was in for a surprise. Honest Foods Co. operates out of an expansive factory within the Bombay Metal Industries Compound. Why does that matter? That entire compound, worth millions and millions, is owned by his family. And is part of their legacy.

Rishi was not the first-time hustler I had assumed him to be. He is part of a third-generation Marwari business family. And as the episode unfolded, I discovered that this legacy extends to both sides of his family. His maternal grandfather ran M. M. Mithaiwala, a sweet shop I had ordered from just a week prior. Talk about serendipity.

This was one of the longest episodes we have shot and it is packed with insights. By the end, neither of us had eaten a thing, despite talking about delicious spreads, yet we were left exhausted in the best way.

I remember catching the train back, inspired to push the boundaries of Elsonomics. It was also a lesson in serendipity and a reminder of how friends play such a crucial role in one’s journey.

Truly grateful for this one.

-El

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Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/5GMZKmIHBt4

3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Dr. Elson Joy

I met Salil Datar at a networking event in Mumbai. We were both guests. The host introduced him as a “fintech veteran.” He had a commanding presence: tall, sharp, and a smile that stretched from eye to eye. The kind that puts you at ease instantly.

We spoke briefly. I told him about the personal finance community I was building. He was curious. A week later, he called me to understand more.

Later, when I looked him up, I discovered this “fintech veteran” had captained a young Sachin Tendulkar in Ranji, played with Sanjay Manjrekar and Rajdeep Sardesai… and was the COO of Jupiter.

That’s when a little voice in my head whispered... “If I ever do a podcast, I should bring him on.”
Turns out, his dad, Mr. Ashok Datar, was a Stanford graduate who once sailed to the US by boat. I even had the chance to visit their home and hear some of those stories firsthand.

We booked a new studio. I called in a friend to bring his DSLR camera. Bought mics, stands, tripods. Everything was on track.

Until the day of the shoot.

The batteries didn’t work. The studio somehow arranged a spare camera (at an added cost). I arranged laptops and extra gear. Then traffic slowed us down.

Just as I was stuck mid-ride, I got a call from Salil. He had reached.
I wasn’t even there to greet him.

We finally began.

Halfway through, I noticed a bit of commotion from my team. I whispered, “All good?” They nodded.

After Salil left, I found out: the camera had shut down mid-episode. We had lost everything. Or so I thought.

By some miracle, the camera had autosaved everything except the chaos-filled 10 minutes.

But the drama wasn’t done yet.

My editor started work. Then his software crashed. He began again. I even saw a preview of the timeline.
Then... he disappeared.
No updates. No replies. Nothing.
I waited. Called. I could hear what sounded like nurses in the background. Maybe a hospital? Never found out. He never came back.

After more scrambling, I finally found another editor who could handle it. And a solid teammate to rely on for the next episode.

We had over an hour of footage. We cut it down to 30 minutes.
No fluff. No filler.

If you’re curious about:
- How a cricketer turned fintech COO thinks
- Whether Plan B is actually smarter than Plan A
- Or what it’s like leading teams at the top...

Then this one’s for you.
And I’m glad I stuck it out. Because this episode was worth every setback.

-El

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Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/w9udxrm62_g

3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Dr. Elson Joy

This was the first time I had to think like a producer.

I wasn’t just showing up and talking. I was now figuring out studios, equipment, questions, angles, backups, lighting, noise, and whether the AC would mess with audio.

To make it trickier, I had never met Arjun before.

And too many scheduling back-and-forths with a stranger? That’s usually the beginning of a cancellation.

I had shortlisted a few studios in Goregaon and Andheri, where most creator types hang out.
But Arjun preferred Bandra. He even suggested we do it at a café.

Now, I love cafés, but they don’t love podcasts. Too noisy, too unpredictable.
Also, that’s when I wasn’t sure if Arjun even knew what he had signed up for.
Worse - it was a weekend.
Which in Mumbai means: all studios booked, all creators shooting, zero luck finding something last minute.

After a few rejections, I found a music studio that wasn’t really meant for podcasts… but they said “try if you want.”

We reached early. Picked up a tripod en route. Set up two iPhones — my 15 Pro Max and a friend’s 13. Shot the whole thing DIY.

Now a little bit about our guest and the conversation.
Arjun's the founder and CEO of Pivot: a platform helping people switch careers.

Ironically, I discovered Pivot when they featured me in one of their social media posts for a content piece that I had created a couple of years ago that even I had forgotten.

When I went down the rabbit hole, I realised I was already following their work.
And it was something that I would have likely built if I weren't doing what I'm doing.

As someone who’s pivoted endlessly — from dentistry to marketing to product to founder, the theme felt personal.

I often joke my first dream job was Pizza Hut waiter. I loved pizza, and those family weekends were nostalgic.
Since then, I’ve pivoted more times than I can count. Often diagonally, not vertically. Sometimes by design, sometimes by sheer accident.

This conversation with Arjun wasn’t just about his company.
It was about why people pivot.
What are they trying to escape?
And where do they hope to land?

There was no studio team. No full crew.
Just a tripod, two phones, one mic, and a lot of curiosity.

This was Episode 1 of Elsonomics.
And I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.


— El

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Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/Nbdwzdzis6U

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Dr. Elson Joy

Build trust before traction.

Not with ads, funnels, or fancy logos.
With you.
Showing up.
Sharing what you’re building, breaking, learning.
(...even your college project or unscalable side hustle)

People back momentum.
But people stay for the person behind it.

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8 months ago | [YT] | 3

Dr. Elson Joy

You didn't come this far to play it safe.

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8 months ago | [YT] | 3