Titles may get attention, but contribution, reliability, and consistency build a career: A conversation with Arnav Bajoria

If you've ever wondered whether building a strong career is about collecting the right titles or learning to become someone people can rely on, this conversation might make you think differently.

Our next guest’s journey moves across leadership, entrepreneurship, finance, and student initiatives, but the thread connecting them is not a long list of positions, it is the gradual process of earning trust, taking ownership, and continuing to show up. From winning a student government election by just one vote to navigating rejections, leading teams, managing finances, and eventually finding his direction in finance, his journey reflects how meaningful growth is rarely immediate.

Joining us today is Arnav Bojaria, a student leader and aspiring finance professional who believes that titles may get attention, but contribution is what people remember.

Let's dive into a conversation about leadership, comparison, rejection, credibility, meaningful opportunities, and learning to build a career one responsibility and one “yes” at a time.

Q1.Your journey spans leadership, entrepreneurship, finance, and student initiatives. Looking back, what has been the biggest turning point that shaped the way you think and lead today?

 Looking back, contesting my first Student Government election was the biggest turning point in my journey. I almost backed out before every debate and speech because I was scared of losing. Winning by just one vote changed how I viewed myself. It gave me the confidence to pursue opportunities in leadership, entrepreneurship, and finance that I would have once hesitated to take. Along the way, working with people from different backgrounds taught me that good leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about listening, understanding different perspectives, and finding common ground.

Q2. Many students feel pressured to excel in academics while also building an impressive profile. How did you decide what opportunities were actually worth pursuing, and what did you intentionally choose to say 'no' to?

 Honestly, I wanted to be everywhere doing everything. Like most first-years, I thought I had to build the perfect CV while keeping up with academics. I tried a lot of things, got rejected from quite a few, and showed my credibility. As I took on more responsibilities, I also realised that credibility takes a long time to build but can be lost very quickly. That made me much more careful about the opportunities I committed to. Academics always remained important, but I also realised college is about learning outside the classroom and only academics won’t take you anywhere. If I couldn't give something my best, I'd rather turn it down than do it without complete focus. Looking back, a few experiences where I took real ownership shaped me far more than a long list of short-term commitments ever could.  

Q3. Leadership often looks glamorous from the outside, but it comes with difficult decisions. Can you share a moment when a decision you made was unpopular but ultimately the right one?

 One experience that stands out was while working on a large student-led event where I was heading the finance team. As things changed, we had to make a few difficult trade-offs that not everyone initially agreed with. As registrations came in lower than expected, we had to rethink parts of the budget. Not everyone agreed, as there were concerns it would affect the scale and perception of the event. I felt it was more important to make the event happen than to hold on to the original plan because it was the first time we were hosting an event of that scale. The event was a success and I learnt a lesson that good leadership isn't about avoiding difficult decisions, but making practical ones when circumstances change. Looking back, it taught me that leadership often requires putting the larger objective ahead of personal preferences. It's easy to make decisions that keep everyone happy today, however it's much harder, but far more important, to make decisions that are transparent, consistent, and in the best interest of the larger community.  

Q4. You've worked in environments that require collaboration with people from diverse backgrounds. What's one quality you believe matters more than talent when building successful teams?

 For me, it's ownership and reliability. Talent gets you noticed, but ownership is what makes people want to work with you again. Across student initiatives, classes and my internships the best teammates I've worked with were genuinely curious, communicated well, took accountability, and cared about the outcome, not the smartest, instead of just the credit. Reliability creates trust, and trust makes collaboration much easier. When someone treats a responsibility as their own, consistency naturally follows. At the end of the day, I don’t think the teams remember who was the smartest person in the room but they remember who they could count on. 

 Q5. In today's world, students are constantly comparing themselves to others on social media. How do you stay focused on your own journey without getting distracted by comparison?

I compare myself to others all the time, and honestly, it has helped me more than it has hurt me. Whether it's internships, leadership roles, or even LinkedIn, comparison gives me something to work towards. The difference, I think, is what you do with it. Instead of sitting with jealousy, I try to channel it into action and ask myself what I can learn or improve to beat the competition. And trust me, it helps me to be more productive and work outside my comfort zone. One thing I've realised is that comparison isn't the problem but how you respond to it is. Additionally, when you work towards a goal it makes you realise how much the other person worked to achieve the target. For me, it's always been a source of motivation rather than self-doubt. 

Q6. If you had to identify one skill that has consistently opened doors for you—whether communication, networking, problem-solving, or something else, what would it be, and how can students start developing it?

 Looking back, most opportunities in my journey came from people who had seen my work and were willing to trust me with more responsibility. I learnt that by simply interacting with people, staying approachable, and never letting my ego come in the way of work. Whether I was approaching sponsors for campus events, collaborating with faculty, or leading student initiatives, clear communication helped establish trust long before technical skills came into play. Every conversation taught me something, and every interaction left an impression. I'd tell any first-year student not to shy away from meeting new people and having conversations. Be curious, communicate well, follow through on your commitments. A positive attitude and consistency leave a much stronger impression than simply knowing the right people. Skills may get you noticed, but it's the relationships you build that keep opening new doors. 

Q7. What is one misconception students have about leadership or career growth that you wish more people understood before entering college or the professional world?

One misconception I had myself was that collecting titles and adding them to my CV would automatically create opportunities. Honestly, getting a title today isn't the difficult part but living up to it is. Over time, I realised that titles may help you get noticed, but they aren't what keep opening doors. Sooner or later, you'll find yourself in a room where your title doesn't matter anymore. That's when your knowledge, attitude, and the way you work with people start speaking for you. Titles may get attention, but your contribution is what people remember.

Q8. Imagine you're speaking to a first-year student who is ambitious but overwhelmed by the endless opportunities available today. What practical advice would you give them to build a meaningful career without burning out?

If I could tell a first-year student two things, it would be this: first, it's okay if your journey doesn't look the way you imagined. I came into college after studying science, and today I'm heading towards the field of finance, something I never really expected. Second, don't let early rejections define you. In my first year, I wasn't even selected as a TEDx volunteer. The following year, I volunteered but didn't make the core team. A year later, I joined the core team, and today I'm part of the advisory board. Looking back, I realised opportunities didn't come all at once; they came as people started trusting my work. So keep learning, keep showing up, and don't rush the process. One day, you'll realise you're choosing between opportunities that you once wished you had. In fact, saying no eventually became harder than getting a yes. 

About Conversations by Brains in You

Conversations by Brains in You is a curated interview series featuring students, professionals, entrepreneurs, creators, researchers, and changemakers whose journeys offer meaningful lessons beyond conventional achievements.

Rather than focusing solely on titles or milestones, each conversation explores the decisions, experiences, challenges, and perspectives that shaped the individual behind the profile. The aim is to create a growing repository of practical insights that help students and young professionals navigate their own careers with greater clarity, productivity, integrity, and purpose.

Every featured conversation is thoughtfully selected with the belief that authentic experiences can inspire informed decisions, lifelong learning, and better human development.