Redefining Success: From Failure to Visionary Leadership | Sarthak Mittal | TEDxMRU
Sarthak Mittal shares his rollercoaster journey of self-discovery, failures, and entrepreneurial success. He begins with his early struggles in academics, scoring 81.25 percentile, which led to pressure from his parents to focus on studies. However, his passion was in graphic design and entrepreneurship, but he faced constant resistance from his family.
During 11th grade, a turning point came when he saw his mother making beautiful crafts, which sparked an idea to sell them online. Initially, he failed in the e-commerce market but pivoted to selling raw materials instead, which turned out to be a success. He experimented with buying clay for ₹5 and, using his graphic design skills and YouTube knowledge, sold it for ₹200, eventually making ₹2 lakh in profits.
Despite this success, academic failure struck—he failed his math exam, his grandfather’s favorite subject. While his family supported him, he felt lost. Then came the COVID-19 era, which added more struggles, and after completing 12th grade, he was left wondering what next? Without many options, he opted for B.Tech, as MBA seemed like a distant dream.
The first six months of college were great—he enjoyed coding and hackathons, but a visit to Mumbai changed his perspective. Seeing tall skyscrapers, he wondered about the wealthy business owners behind them. He realized that just coding wouldn’t get him there—he needed business acumen and vision.
Sarthak then launched multiple startups, hiring eight co-founders, but they all failed terribly. He learned the hard way that self-development and networking were crucial. Determined to improve, he worked six months unpaid to gain experience, after which companies started approaching him for mentorship. Soon, prestigious colleges like IITs and IIMs invited him to mentor students about business, even though he was still an undergraduate.
However, success came with criticism. After launching a failed business, he earned the reputation of a "bad CEO", despite his consulting company making clients huge profits. He even published a book in his college library, yet he felt unfulfilled. Reflecting on his Mumbai experience again, he asked himself:
"Is the owner of those skyscrapers truly creating value for society?"
This realization redefined his meaning of success—success is not just about personal achievements but about creating more successful people and adding value to society. He observed how the education industry operates as a business, where students are the product, parents are the investors, and the profits go to the industry. With this insight, he created Mittal Alliance, an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry.
Sarthak ends with four key lessons for aspiring leaders:
1. Be a Visionary – Great people have a big vision.
2. Self-Introspection – Don't overthink; take action and strive to be the best in the world.
3. Networking Skills – Connect with the right people in your industry.
4. Believe in Yourself – Society will criticize you, but stay determined and make it happen.
His journey proves that failures are stepping stones to success, and true leadership is about empowering others and making a meaningful impact.Sarthak Mittal began his journey as a changemaker in class 11, overcoming social resistance to emerge as a youth leader. Now, as Chairman & CEO of Mittal Alliance India, he connects with 1.5M+ students on LinkedIn, providing insights into jobs, internships, and skills.With 4+ years as a social entrepreneur, he has impacted 50,000+ students through internships, job placements, and guidance. Leading 150+ seminars, he bridges academia and industry, sharing expertise through 50+ blogs, podcasts, and speeches.His initiatives, like the Mittal Innovators Network, connect students with mentors and real-world experiences. Aiming to empower 10 crore students in five years, Sarthak is a driving force in youth empowerment, inspiring students to dream big and lead boldly. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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