From GoDaddy & WeWork to CEO of Epignosis: Scaling Learning for 22M People Globally | Nikhil Arora

Nikhil Arora has built a career at the intersection of leadership, global growth, and purposeful impact. Today, he’s the CEO of Epignosis, the company behind TalentLMS, serving 22M+ learners across 160 countries. But his story stretches far beyond EdTech.From helping build Kazakhstan’s first stock exchange, to leading international growth at GoDaddy, scaling Intuit in India, and launching WeWork in Asia, Nikhil has lived and worked across 9 countries and 4 continents—all while keeping up a daily running habit.In this episode, we cover:- What it takes to step in as CEO after two founders step aside.- How to balance mission and growth in a global SaaS company.- Why listening tours with customers and employees shape better strategy than any playbook.- Building culture across remote, hybrid, and global teams.- Vulnerability, failure, and why leaders must lead with authenticity.- The balance between being a missionary (purpose-driven) and mercenary (growth-focused) leader.If you’re a founder, CEO, or aspiring leader, this conversation is packed with insights on scaling businesses, managing up, and staying grounded while running at speed.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Declaring strategy vs listening first01:00 – Introducing Nikhil Arora, CEO of Epignosis02:00 – Building Kazakhstan’s first stock exchange04:00 – What Epignosis does today06:00 – Taking over from the founders08:00 – Balancing preservation and change as CEO10:00 – Product, customers, and culture as priorities12:00 – Leading a 250-person global team15:00 – Fireside chats, townhalls, and communication clarity18:00 – Vulnerability, failure, and celebrating mistakes22:00 – Creating a safe culture for feedback25:00 – Clarity, guiding principles, and decision-making27:00 – Staying focused and prioritising as a leader30:00 – Red, yellow, green framework for CEO focus33:00 – Managing energy, family, and fitness36:00 – Mission vs mercenary: purpose and growth40:00 – Managing up as an installed CEO45:00 – The #1 mistake founders often make48:00 – Why no one is truly self-made50:00 – Keeping your network and mentors alive53:00 – The importance of mentors (older and younger)56:00 – Skill vs luck in business59:00 – Where to find Nikhil online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.