Offbeat: Why Piramal Finance’s Arvind Iyer wants to be a psychologist

Adgully’s special feature section – ‘Offbeat’ – seeks to give a peek into the lesser known facets of our very well-known industry leaders. We present video interactions with the prominent industry leaders’ on areas that are not usually highlighted in regular media coverage – be it about their childhood days, secret skills that they possess, how they unwind from their hectic schedules, and much more…

In a candid interaction with Adgully, Arvind Iyer, Head of Marketing, Piramal Finance, speaks about various facets of his life, his interests, using AI,  an unusual talent or skill he possesses, book and podcast he would recommend, one superpower he wishes he had, and much more.

What’s the one best advice you have ever received till now?

Someone once told me to keep building skills. It always gives you the ability to stay curious and keep learning.

This advice has even been referenced in pop culture. If you think of the movie ‘3 Idiots’, there’s a line where the actor says, “Kabil bano, kabil; Kaamyabi peeche bhagegi” (Be skilled, and success will follow you). That’s essentially the best advice I’ve ever received.

How are you using AI currently in your daily life?

This ties into the first question about building skills. AI is fascinating because it challenges you to learn and adapt. Instead of shying away, I’ve dived in, and it’s been a lot of fun.

I use AI every day, especially for inspiration. For example, one thing I’ve really enjoyed over the past few months is creating videos without any physical shoots or coding environments. We’ve even developed videos in various Indic languages using just a laptop.

It’s been a hands-on journey, where we’ve done everything ourselves. We’re really proud of the results, and it keeps us motivated to explore more.

Would you like to share one unusual talent or skill you have?

I don’t know if it’s unusual, but I moonlight as a musician. I play the bass guitar and also sing for a couple of bands in Mumbai. It’s something completely unrelated to my work, but incredibly fulfilling.

If someone went through your playlist, what would they find?

It’s a mix of old and eclectic stuff. You’d find Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jaco Pastorius, and a lot of jazz. I’m also into progressive rock and enjoy music from small Hindi outfits like Project Yuj. You’d also find Funktuation - Benny Dayal’s band on my playlist. It’s a quirky mix, but it reflects my taste.

What are one or two podcast recommendations you’d like to share with our audience?

One podcast I always go back to is ‘How I Built This’ by Guy Raz. A colleague recommended it to me, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

The podcast features founders and co-founders from various industries, mostly in the West, discussing how they built their companies. For example, it includes stories about PayPal and collaborations like one with Lady Gaga for a product launch. It’s fascinating and full of insights – something you can binge on.

What’s the one book that you would recommend to our audience?

I’d recommend ‘Poor Charlie’s Almanack’ by Charles Munger. It’s an adult book with illustrations, which is nostalgic because it reminds me of books from childhood.

Charlie Munger, who co-built Berkshire Hathway with Warren Buffet, offers his unique perspective on investing and life. It’s an incredible read, and I’d say it’s a must for anyone looking for insights into strategic thinking.

What is one superpower you wish you had, and why?

As a marketing professional, I’d love the ability to know what consumers are really thinking. It would eliminate the constant guessing game and provide clarity on what people actually want.

But if I could choose a superpower personally, I’d love to wake up one day as a psychologist. While I don’t have the skills right now, being a counseling psychologist would be incredibly rewarding. It would be personally satisfying to be able to interact with people and help them navigate life in general, offering support and guidance to improve their well-being.

Also Read: Offbeat:My whole life, I’d wanted to be an Air Force pilot - Neville Shah