Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO, Magic Bus on Skills, Scale, and Social Impact

Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO and Board Director of Magic Bus India Foundation, joins Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work® India, for a powerful conversation on leadership, youth employability, and scaling social impact in India. Jayant brings nearly three decades of corporate leadership experience and entrepreneurship into the development sector. Over the past nine years, he has helped Magic Bus expand one of the world’s largest youth development and livelihood programs. The organization now works with millions of young people across India, helping them move from education to sustainable employment. In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India, Jayant shares the leadership philosophy behind Magic Bus’ mission of “childhood to livelihood.” He explains how the organization works with adolescents from marginalized communities, equipping them with life skills, education support, and job-ready training that prepares them for the workforce. The conversation explores how youth employability, skills development, and inclusive growth are critical to India’s long-term economic future. Jayant also discusses the scale of the challenge. Millions of young people drop out of education or struggle to transition into employment due to lack of skills and opportunities. Magic Bus addresses this gap through large-scale skilling and livelihood programs, helping young people build confidence, develop workplace readiness, and secure meaningful employment. Technology is another central theme in the discussion. Jayant shares how Magic Bus is leveraging digital platforms, data systems, and artificial intelligence to strengthen learning outcomes and improve employability. From tracking program impact to training youth in emerging technologies like AI, the organization is preparing young people for the future of work. The conversation also explores leadership and workplace culture. Jayant reflects on how Magic Bus transformed its internal culture to become a trusted and high-performing workplace. By focusing on people, programs, processes, and partners, the organization has built a culture rooted in trust, accountability, and purpose. Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work® India, adds perspective on the importance of building high-trust workplaces that enable employees to do their best work while contributing to meaningful impact. This episode is packed with insights for leaders, policymakers, and professionals who care about the future of work, youth development, and social innovation. Listeners will gain insights on: Youth employability and skills development in India Leadership lessons from the social sector The role of technology and AI in future jobs Building high-trust workplace cultures Collaboration between NGOs, corporates, and government Scaling social impact and livelihood opportunities If you are interested in leadership, youth skilling, workforce development, or the future of work in India, this episode offers valuable perspectives and actionable insights from two leaders shaping the conversation. Tune in to the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India to hear Jayant Rastogi and Balbir Singh discuss how purpose-driven leadership, technology, and strong workplace culture can help unlock opportunities for millions of young people.