Naved Qureshi - The Entrepreneurs of India Magazine

Naved Qureshi’s journey began with candy and Chennai heat. Selling Lotte confectionery in the trenches of India’s FMCG sector, he crafted campaign ideas while sweat soaked his notepad. That wasn’t just marketing—it was creative grit. Today, nearly two decades later, he’s launched Guinness in Cambodian pubs, built banking brands from scratch, and drives growth at apna.co, India’s leading jobs platform. His transformation from strategist to content creator traces back to Bali, where a sunset at Uluwatu sparked a shift: intentionality over ambition.

He now wears dual hats—growth leader and “conscious connoisseur.” His Instagram feed blends boardroom logic with bamboo toothbrushes, skincare serums, and capsule wardrobe tips. He’s the dad who debates AI strategies while arguing skincare with his son.

He’s made mistakes—honestly, who hasn’t? One still stings: launching Guinness in Cambodia with a global campaign that missed the cultural memo. Locals viewed stout as medicinal. “We chased scale, notsoul,” he confesses. It taught him to lead with insight, not assumption. Another time, he followed viral content trends until his kid called him out: “Daddy, why are you pretending?” That shifted his creation approach. Today, he shares both $200 serum routines and days when it’s just splashing water on his face.

COVID flipped everything. When Southeast Asia pubs shut, Qureshi pivoted overnight—reimagining their consumer business with Grab drivers as brand ambassadors. Sales spiked. It proved one thing: agility is survival. Another principle he swears by is authenticity. He discovered plant-based powders while marathon training and swapped them for protein shakes. That personal choice turned into a successful health supplement collab.

Family runs through his narrative like a grounding wire. His partner once framed his ‘Top 50 Marketer’ award next to a crayon note from his son: “Dad, come home before dark.” That moment sparked Conscious Fatherhood. These days, Sunday pancakes and a phone switched off feel like luxury.

Resources don’t define his output. At Diageo, he handled million-dollar budgets. In Bali, his studio was a $5/day warung with shaky Wi-Fi. Now? His Bangalore balcony at 6 AM, portrait mode, and golden light. “iPhone portrait mode beats ring lights,” he laughs. It’s a reminder: luxury is often about what you don't need.

Launching JANA Bank in the middle of a micro-finance crisis felt like scaling Everest in flip-flops. His team earned trust by telling real stories—like Radha, who built a school When people ask where to find him, his answer is casual, like a friend sharing his playlist. LinkedIn for strategy and bad jokes. Instagram for the blend of boardroom thoughts and bathroom mirror reviews. Or just email him—he’s always up for the chat.

And yes, don’t forget the serum.

with her loan. In his creator life, he broke the stiffness with candid posts, like a composting fail where his toddler buried his keys in the bin. That mix of self-deprecating humor and truth connects deeply.

The current phase of Qureshi’s career is about time wealth. He maps growth strategies for apna.co and Web3 brands by day, and starts mornings sharing skincare reviews or documenting his 7-shirt wardrobe. For him, modern abundance means feeling rich in time, not in stuff.Few marketers live their pitch. Qureshi does. Sustainability, for him, isn’t a section in a slide deck—it’s sipping chai from a reusable cup. His content blends marketing tech know-how with slow-living wisdom. His partnerships feel earned, not imposed. He really does use bamboo toothbrushes, not just for photos.

“Own your mornings,” he advises. He begins with yoga, black coffee, and planning the day with his son. That golden hour, he believes, shapes everything.