New Delhi: Entrepreneur, author and popular educator Ankur Warikoo shared key insights with young attendees at Tagore International Literature and Arts Festival (Vishwarang) 2025 in Bhopal, emphasising that the future will belong to those who can learn continuously and make decisions for themselves, not for societal approval.

In an exclusive interview with News9, Warikoo discussed the pressures faced by students today, the evolving demands of the workforce and the mindset shifts required to thrive in an age of rapid technological change.

Warikoo, who earlier took the stage alongside Dr Siddharth Chaturvedi at Vishwarang 2025, spoke candidly about his own journey from quitting a PhD in the US despite being ‘successful but unhappy,’ to taking risks, building companies and becoming a widely admired voice for India’s youth.

Clarity Through Feedback: ‘Others See Us Better Than We See Ourselves’

Speaking about the increasing pressure on students to master new skills, Warikoo highlighted that clarity and self-awareness are not achieved through isolation but through honest feedback. ‘The best way to cultivate clarity is to seek feedback. Others observe us better than we observe ourselves. If we’re willing to listen with open ears, they’ll tell us exactly where we go wrong and what we must fix, ‘ he said.

For students navigating competitive academic environments, he stressed that constructive feedback is not criticism but a tool for growth.

Timeless skill students must master

Addressing the widening gap between fast-evolving technology and slow-changing education systems, Warikoo said the ability to learn independently is the defining skill of this century. ‘With AI, we have to learn something new every time the world changes. Those who wait for someone to teach them will lose. Those who can become students whenever required will win.’ he explained.

‘If you go back to when the internet was new, 1990s, people were overwhelmed, threatened. If you go back to 2007, when the smartphone was launched, people were threatened, people felt overwhelmed. It is happening right now as well. So that is the nature of how new technology happens. There are early adopters, there are people who wait, there are people overwhelmed. And then there are late adopters. That will always happen,’ he added.

Gen Z’s strength and the myth of ‘lazy youth’

Warikoo also pushed back against stereotypes about Gen Z, calling them uniquely poised to lead. Ankur stated, ‘ GenZ is going to win this planet as no other generation has. We are discounting them so much because we think that they are lazy, entitled, impatient and all of that. But what they have is something that very, very few generations have had, which is the power of technology and the will to make it work. So please don’t discount Gen Z. They are going to make it better than any other generation because they are far more settled, they’re far more aware, and they’re far more confident than any generation as well.’

When asked about balancing traditional jobs with content creation or entrepreneurship, he urged young professionals to avoid glamorising the creator economy. ‘If you can’t balance it, don’t do it,’ he said, adding that even today he spends less than a day a week on content creation despite his massive following.

The seventh edition of the Tagore International Literature and Arts Festival, Vishwa Rang 2025, saw participation from over 80 countries, reaffirming its role as a cultural and intellectual hub. At Vishwarang 2025, Warikoo highlighted its sharp focus on learners and the skills required in a rapidly evolving world. His core message was simple yet profound which is to learn continuously, embrace change and make decisions that align with own aspirations not the expectations of others.