Where to buy
Carried by Amazon in every market, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Waterstones, Booktopia, Kinokuniya, Flipkart, Google Books, Apple Books and Kobo. Printed on demand close to wherever it is ordered.
Listed with the worldwide trade network, so any bookstore or library can order it. Ask for it by ISBN: 978-1957456522 (paperback) or 978-1957456553 (hardcover).
What is inside
UNCHARTED: Surprising Lessons from Business Leaders brings together the personal journeys of seven business leaders, each sharing how they navigated challenges, made critical decisions, and built their own path forward. The book was created to capture their stories, perspectives, and practical lessons on how they did what they did.
Through first-person narratives, the book explores entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, innovation, career transitions, organizational growth, and the courage to act when the way ahead is uncertain. The contributors include Dr. Santosh Batni, Narendra Ram, Anu Wakhlu, Shravan Gupta, Deepak Mohla, Dr. Mohammed Aslam Khan, and Prashant Panigrahi, whose chapters range from entrepreneurial triumph and serial entrepreneurship to leadership development, business transformation, and journeys from employee to employer.
Rather than presenting success as a straight path, UNCHARTED focuses on the struggles, choices, lessons, and experiences behind each journey. A recurring idea throughout the book is the importance of taking action, learning from experience, and applying those lessons to one’s own career, business, and life. This book is for aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, business owners, professionals, and leaders who want to learn from real-world experiences rather than theory alone.
It is also relevant to readers navigating career transitions, business challenges, leadership responsibilities, or periods of uncertainty, and to anyone interested in understanding how experienced leaders responded when confronted with unfamiliar territory.
Excerpt
From “Acknowledgments”
Life is a journey. Not a destination.”— This seemingly simple statement is rich in meaning, capturing the essence of life's endless adventures and experiences. It suggests that the value of life does not lie in arriving at a particular destination but rather in the moments and lessons learned throughout the journey. In this journey, there will be many pleasant and unsatisfactory chapters. But no matter what happens, it is vital never to stop turning the page because every chapter teaches something new. I believe we are travelers traveling through the endless adventures that life offers. However, every individual has a different experience, destination, and itinerary to tick off.
As I sit here today, attempting to distill my experiences of "The journey of an employee to an employer" into a unified narrative, I find myself confronted with the sheer enormity of my life's journey. Reflecting on it feels like peering into an infinitely complex kaleidoscope, each tiny reflective shard representing a different moment or lesson contributing to my life's rich tapestry. In a world where economic disparities persist like deep chasms and opportunities appear as elusive as a mirage in the desert, countless individuals find themselves trapped within the suffocating confines of their circumstances. Amidst the depths of their struggles, a flicker of hope beckons—a chance to break free from the shackles of the past and harbor a future brimming with possibility.
Like many other individuals, I— Dr. Santosh Batni- vowed to dedicate myself to a disciplined life full of hard work and achieve tremendous success no matter what hindrances come my way. Hailing from a lower-middle-class family, I did not have the luxury of experiencing the fancy aspects of childhood. From studying in an underprivileged school to attaining a Diploma in Engineering from Oxford Polytechnic to graduating from Dayanand Sagar College in Civil Engineering, and further getting a PhD from California Public University— it was an enormous change in my life. Today, I firmly believe that your circumstances never define who you are. If you believe in yourself, work hard, and acquire the skills to thrive, you will emerge victorious. I say this with conviction because, as a child, I always aspired to be a Civil Engineer. As a student, the biggest lesson I learned was that there is no substitute for hard work or, as Beverly Sills rightly states, "There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going."
In 2004, I was offered campus placement at an Engineering firm as a Trainee Engineer. With a twinkle in the eye and fire in my heart, I began the second phase of my journey as an employee. A lot of hard work occupied the next six years of my life, and my performance stood out from the crowd. However, I did not receive my fair share of recognition. To be honest, this bothered me vehemently as I have always been a dedicated and hardworking person, and not being credited for my ideas and performance seemed underwhelming
Trailer
About the author
Chairperson and Executive Director, Pragati Leadership Institute · Pune, India
“The publishing process was structured, responsive, and customer-focused. From the first interview to script iterations and feedback, the experience felt smooth and well guided.”
Anu Wakhlu is Co-founder of Pragati Leadership, an executive coach, author, and advocate for women’s empowerment. Her work spans leadership development, organizational change, HR consulting, and social impact.
About the author
Chairman & Managing Director, InspireOne · Delhi, India
“Stardom Books helped me move past the blocks and encouraged me to turn my experiences into a book that could help others reach their potential and learn from my journey.”
Deepak Mohla is Chairman & MD of Inspireone Consultants and Inspireone Technologies, with nearly 50 years of corporate and consulting experience. He is widely known for leadership development and senior executive coaching.
About the author
Founder , Chairman & MD, Octaware Technologies · Mumbai, India
Dr. Mohammed Aslam Khan is the Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Octaware Technologies Limited and Transpact Enterprises Limited. He is also a founding trustee of RIDA Foundation and serves in professional and non-profit roles.
About the author
Founder, Lifespan Private Limited · Hyderabad, India
Narendra Ram is a first-generation entrepreneur whose journey began as an HR trainee. He leads Lifespan Pharmacies and Lifespan Super Specialty Hospitals and combines business leadership with philanthropy and social impact.
About the author
Global Delivery Director, Tata Consultancy Services · Bubaneswar, India
“Stardom helped shape an idea I carried within me into its present form. Their support throughout the journey played a meaningful role in bringing out the author in me”
Prashant Panigrahi is a Global IT Leader, Purpose Alchemist, and Lifestyle Coach. He inspires individuals to discover their authentic purpose, overcome obstacles, unlock potential, and pursue a more meaningful life.
About the author
Founder & Chief Editor, Stardom Group · Bangalore, India
Raam Anand is Founder, Chief Editor and Publisher of Stardom Books. He has guided 260+ leaders to become internationally published authors and created The Authority Forum and Authority Quotient for senior leaders.
About the author
Founder & Ceo, Brainstorm Infotech · Bangalore, India
“The idea of sharing successful entrepreneurs’ stories immediately appealed to me. The team listened patiently, understood my journey, and shaped it into a beautiful book with care.”
Dr. Santosh is an expert in steel design and detailing with 20+ years of industry experience. Founder of Brainstorm Infotech, he has built the company into one of India’s leading steel detailing firms.
About the author
Chairman, Kriya Ventures · Bangalore, India
“The experience was comfortable from beginning to end. The team helped with language, chapter structure, and guidance whenever I needed support, making the entire process smooth”
Shravan Gupta is an entrepreneur with 25+ years in India’s tourism sector and Founder of the Travel Tours Group. A Commerce graduate from Bangalore University, he holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
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