Curiosity Builds Better Careers: Non-Linear Paths with Tarun Kohli

What if the best career move you can make is choosing curiosity over the script everyone expects you to follow? For Tarun Kohli, stepping away from traditional and trendy paths opened doors he never could have predicted — IBM, consulting, ESG strategy, and a career built on learning, contribution, and long‑term purpose.Tarun shares how uncertainty, exploration, and self‑awareness shaped his early career. From support roles at IBM to radical innovation consulting to investing in an ESG program long before it paid off, his journey shows why non‑linear careers often lead to the most meaningful growth.He opens up about:• Navigating away from traditional and trendy Indian career expectations• Why curiosity — not titles — shaped his early years at IBM• How adding more value than expected leads to promotion• Leaving IBM to pursue innovation consulting• Why setbacks often reveal their meaning years later• The importance of mentorship and self‑awareness• Investing in an ESG program long before it paid off• Remembering that we’re living our lives while building our careers• Why your career doesn’t need to look like anyone else’sEpisode Chapters00:00 Introduction to Tarun Kohli and His Background04:41 Navigating Away from Traditional and Trendy Career Paths09:04 Following Curiosity Early in Your Career11:33 Starting at IBM Support and Learning Through Opportunity16:57 Driven by Curiosity and Problem‑Solving, Not Ladder‑Climbing22:34 How to Get Promoted: Add More Value Than Expected26:21 Leaving IBM for Radical Innovation Consulting30:47 Setbacks Often Reveal Their Meaning Later37:34 Mark Reflects on Wisdom He Wasn’t Ready to Receive41:24 Hiring Reflections: When a Resume Looks Unstable43:03 Tarun’s Experience Hiring Someone with a Non‑Linear Path45:22 Investing in an Expensive ESG Course Without Knowing the Payoff47:52 That Investment Paid Off Three Years Later51:21 Don’t Forget We’re Living Our Lives While Building Careers55:00 Tarun’s Advice: Embrace How Your Career Is Different58:05 Careers Will Work Themselves Out Over Time59:16 Closing RemarksDiscovery OptimizationThis episode explores curiosity‑driven careers, non‑linear growth, early‑career exploration, IBM pathways, innovation consulting, ESG strategy, and the value of learning over ladder‑climbing. Ideal for listeners navigating uncertainty, career detours, or the pressure to follow traditional scripts.