Success may have taken him to Harvard and boardrooms across the globe, but Indian entrepreneur and CEO Sameer Maheshwari hasn’t forgotten where he came from—or more importantly, what his upbringing taught him.
In a recent keynote that drew both applause and a few chuckles, the HealthKart founder shared 5 transformative life lessons that he attributes not to Ivy League textbooks, but to his unshakable middle-class roots. Let me tell you, Sameer is a Harvard Business School graduate and shared his experience on how he stretched ₹500 over two weeks.
“You don’t need a spreadsheet to learn frugality,” Maheshwari quipped.
His post earned nods and laughter from netizens well-acquainted with Maggi-for-dinner days and family vacations via second-class trains.
Here are the five key takeaways from his refreshingly candid talk:
1. Value Over Vanity
“Growing up, brands mattered less than bargains,” Maheshwari noted. “We were taught to find value—whether in shoes or in relationships.”
The founder credits this mindset with helping him build consumer-focused businesses with real substance, not just flashy marketing.
2. Budgeting as a Survival Skill
As a teenager, he had learned budgeting when he had to save for bus fare and college snacks. A lesson learned the hard way.
However, he says, this early financial discipline laid the groundwork for managing multimillion-dollar budgets as a CEO.
3. Hard Work > Hype
There were no shortcuts in a middle-class household, only chores, studies, and more chores. Well, that’s true, these chores are never-ending—believe us.
“We didn’t grow up with startup incubators—our first pitch was convincing our parents to let us go out past 9 pm,” he joked. “That work ethic stays with you.”
4. Humility Is Non-Negotiable
Sandeep believes that when humility is coupled with resilience, it builds lasting leadership.
5. Family: The Original Board of Directors
Lastly, Maheshwari highlighted how the collective decision-making in a middle-class home—where everyone has a say on everything—shaped his collaborative leadership style. “You don’t need MBAs to understand group dynamics. Just try changing the TV channel when Dad was watching!”
Today, when CEO and Influencer are often confused among all, Sameer Maheshwari’s message serves as a reminder:
You can dream big, even global, without losing sight of home.
What he said is proven by his example when he learned the best business lessons between power cuts, borrowed books, and a plate of leftover roti (chapati).
