Shakti Abhishek

From Startup Failures to Revenue Growth Leadership

Shakti Abhishek

Senior VP - Global Sales & BD

Shakti Abhishek calls his early entrepreneurial journey a series of “successful failures.” Straight out of college, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey, launching multiple startups. With each venture, his focus was purely on making money & multiplying revenue, with little emphasis on strategy, long-term impact, and customer relationships. Over time, He experienced multiple failures, each one a lesson, but still carried the same mindset into the first year at his last company. That is, until He had one defining moment that completely shifted his perspective on growth and business development. During a routine business review with a customer, the MD of an FMCG company thanked him for his insights, direction and constant support, praised his team’s dedication, and highlighted how his company’s solutions had boosted salesman productivity and grew regional sales. That moment shifted his perspective—sales wasn’t just about revenue; it was about driving real business impact. Helping customers grow their business. Embracing consultative, relationship-driven selling, Abhishek transformed his approach to sales and success. Today, Abhishek is building his own startup that is in stealth mode while offering consulting services parallelly. Speaking with TradeFlock, he shares his journey.

What principles shape your decision-making in global sales and business development?

One of the first lessons I embraced was the importance of validating feedback before taking action. When a client escalated a concern about a team member, my instinct was to jump into problem-solving mode. Instead, I listened to both sides, analysed the data, and made an informed decision. Often, I encouraged the same team member to resolve the issue, guiding them through the process. This reinforced my belief in “Own your own actions.” Accountability is more than just responsibility—it’s about ownership and commitment to results. Over time, I cultivated a culture where my team understood that their actions drive success. This mindset built trust, strengthened relationships, and promoted continuous learning. Empathy is just as critical. Leadership isn’t just about results; it’s about people. Understanding my team’s perspectives and challenges fostered an environment where collaboration thrived. When people feel valued, they perform better. Consistency matters. Frequent changes in decisions create uncertainty. Stability builds confidence, ensuring that teams stay aligned. Clear communication is key. Whether setting goals, discussing KPIs, or providing feedback, clarity prevents misunderstandings. I often say, “Expectations are the mother of all disappointments.” Managing them well is crucial.Ultimately, leadership is about making people feel heard, valued, and empowered. When that happens, organisations don’t just function—they thrive.

Share your entrepreneurial journey and key challenges you overcame.?

My entrepreneurial journey started young. At 10 or 11, I frequented a small Xerox shop for school printouts. The shop owner, a cricket enthusiast, often watched us play near his store. Over time, we built a bond, and he shared his business struggles. Spotting an opportunity, I suggested he sell badminton gear, corks, and tennis balls— items kids like me had to travel 3–4 km to buy. He laughed but agreed, and I promised to bring customers in exchange for commissions and free Xerox copies. Six months later, he expanded, joking, “You could even sell dead bodies!” I have to say, you’re pretty smart— you could eat up my business if you decide to go down this entrepreneurial path!” That moment solidified my hustler mindset. My true professional entrepreneurial journey started when I was in the third year of my BTech. In the span of four and a half years, I bootstrapped four startups across EdTech, HR, real estate, and marketing. While profitable, I faced challenges. Building a startup in a Tier 2 city with just selfmotivation and passion was tough. The real challenges? Team building, misaligned cofounder visions, lack of resilience in the co-founding team, and no mentor. Eventually, after four failed startups, I realised I needed a change. I needed structured exposure, so I sought a very early-stage tech startup in Bangalore. That’s when I met Lalit, co-founder of Bizom, my last company. We clicked instantly, and I joined the next day. Over the next decade, I helped scale Bizom from 0 to $10M ARR—selling stories, building processes, navigating chaos, breaking rules, and building teams.

If you were to mentor someone aspiring to excel in growth and revenue leadership, what advice would you give them?

First thing—believe in your process. Success is not an overnight achievement; it’s the result of consistent effort, patience, and resilience. Stay committed, embrace feedback, and see criticism as an opportunity to improve rather than a personal attack. You don’t have to agree immediately—take time to reflect, validate the input, and assess both short- and long-term impacts before acting. Second, build a strong team culture. People always come first. A thriving culture is built on trust, inclusion, and open communication. Fun and celebrations should be natural, not forced. I believe in the Trust vs. Performance principle—high-trust individuals, even with moderate performance, contribute more to long-term success than high performers who lack trust. The best teams are diverse in talent, behaviors, and skills. Recognising and nurturing these differences is the real game-changer. Next, keep your skills validated. Growth leaders must continuously assess and refine their expertise to stay relevant. The market evolves, and so should you. Stay curious, keep learning, and adapt. Finally, prioritise data-driven decisions with a long-term mindset. Balance “So what?” with “What if?” Ground your choices in data, internal trends, market benchmarks, and customer feedback. Sustainable success comes from strategic, consistent effort.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I’m currently in the ideation phase of building a new startup, with a long-term vision of scaling it into a potential unicorn over the next fiveten years. I’m also leveraging my experience to support early-stage startups in shaping their go-to-market and revenue strategies as GTM & Revenue growth consultant.

What strengths drive your success as a growth leader?

Ask any cricket fan, Dhoni, Kohli, or Rohit alone can’t win a World Cup. It takes a complete team—Jadeja’s all-round brilliance, Bumrah’s precision, and unexpected heroes like Joginder Sharma in crunch moments. Individual heroics don’t drive long-term success; playing to people’s strengths does. That’s a principle I’ve followed to drive growth. At the core of this is empathy. Whether with team members, clients, or partners, relationships go beyond numbers. Understanding what drives people, their challenges, and ambitions fosters long-term success. When people feel valued, they perform at their best.

The goal was always to make sure the problem was not only solved but also that the person responsible had the opportunity to learn from it. I called it “OWN YOUR OWN ACTIONS”.

Situational awareness is equally crucial. Reading the room—expressions, tone shifts, body language—helps prevent issues before they escalate. Anticipating challenges before they arise has been a gamechanger. I often joke, “Maybe this is my superpower.” Then comes negotiation. I’ve learned that 80% of negotiation is preparation. People buy stories, emotions, and value—not just products. The best deals create lasting partnerships. Above all, growth is a mindset. The real competition is with yourself—question, adapt, evolve, and never settle.

What ethical priorities matter in AI for retail and distribution?

When leveraging AI in retail and distribution, leaders must balance ethics with innovation. Data privacy and security are critical—obtaining explicit consent, anonymising sensitive information, and enforcing strong safeguards to prevent misuse. Bias and discrimination in AIdriven decisions require proactive auditing, diverse training data, and model refinement to ensure fairness and inclusivity. Transparency builds trust; customers should know when AI influences their experience and have the option to opt out. Job displacement is a concern, but AI should empower, not replace. Leaders must invest in upskilling teams and creating AIaugmented roles that add value. Ultimately, ethical AI means more than just compliance; it’s about fostering a customer-centric, sustainable ecosystem where technology drives progress without compromising trust, fairness, or opportunity.

Can you cite one of the most interesting incidents that was a wake-up call for you, and why?

In the chaos of daily life, we often ignore wake-up calls until they hit hard. In 2012, my second startup failed, leaving me emotionally drained and financially shattered. With no money left, I refused to ask for help—my pride wouldn’t allow it. Surviving in a metro city without a single rupee became my toughest challenge yet.For 49 days, I lived on just `45 a day. Every expense was calculated with precision—finding free mobile recharges, negotiating a rent waiver, securing free metro rides, and rationing food to survive. It wasn’t just the lack of money that hurt; it was the fear, helplessness, and harsh reality of survival. That experience changed my relationship with money. I realised it’s not about how much you have, but how much control it has over you. When it disappears, it tests your resilience and self-worth. That was my wake-up call. I vowed never to let money dictate my life again. Since then, I’ve shifted my focus from chasing money to creating long-term value. Success isn’t about quick wins—it’s about impact, sustainability, and purpose. That lesson still guides me today.

As an individual, what is your contribution to society?

As an educationist, I have empowered aspiring young graduates by equipping them with both theoretical knowledge and practical, job-ready skills. Through hands-on learning in the fields of robotics, embedded systems, digital electronics helping them secure jobs faster, and build successful, fulfilling careers. As an entrepreneur, I’ve created job opportunities, driven economic growth, and fostered innovation by introducing impactful products and services. As a sales and growth professional, I’ve fueled demand for products and services that have improved lives, supported thousands of career advancements, and helped hundreds of businesses scale. By enabling job creation and facilitating billions of transactions within the business world, I’ve contributed to economic growth. As a leader, I’ve empowered individuals to unlock their potential and built a work culture that encourages inclusion, growth, learning, celebrations, trust, and mutual respect.