Pallavi

Pallavi Buch founder of PepperProductions

About Beyond Cubicles

📢 #BeyondCubicles is a weekly LinkedIn series created by Carolina D’Souza, born out of her own experience transitioning from a corporate career to independent consulting. Since its launch in June 2024, the series has evolved into a platform that showcases the inspiring journeys of several founders who have redefined the traditional 9-to-5.

Through authentic narratives, #BeyondCubicles highlights themes of courage, resilience, and purpose. The stories feature individuals from diverse industries—ranging from tech and education to wellness and adventure—who share their experiences of stepping away from conventional roles to pursue passion-driven careers. 

✨ Note: All features in this series are unpaid and shared as a way to honor and amplify real stories of transformation.

"Anyone working should have a backup plan."

For Pallavi Buch, being a celebrated RJ and TV presenter for over two decades was a place of recognition.

She was 18 when she began her broadcast career after being picked from a talent hunt.

She hosted shows like ‘Oye Dilli with Pallavi’ on Radio City India and Nirvana Country on #NDTV. In the UAE, she became a prominent voice on Channel 4, ARN, and Radio Mirchi, interviewing icons like Shahrukh Khan and sporting legends like Ravi Shastri.

And then COVID-19 disrupted her career, sparking a new chapter.

“The radio let go of several key staff, including me,” she says. Though offers to return came, she chose a different path. “I asked myself, what do I truly enjoy doing?” she says.

This introspection led her to create an F&B podcast. When she joined a Michelin-star restaurant as Head of Marketing and PR, Pallavi asked to expand her role. “That’s how I started creating podcasts,” she says.

She transitioned to entrepreneurship in 2023, founding PepperProductions, an agency for podcasts and digital shows.

Her biggest challenge was breaking the image of being just a radio presenter, compounded by biases she faced in boardrooms due to her nationality, gender, and background.

“During meetings, people would ask me random questions like, ‘How was it interviewing Amitabh Bachchan?’”

Despite the hurdles, she relied on her radio experience to build her business. “Radio taught me so much—I was a one-woman army, scripting, producing, and even sitting for edits,” she says. Delegating work was key to growing her agency.

Her journey brought both professional and personal growth. “I have grown into a better human being through failures and challenges. It is very important to go through a reality check—fame and beauty are temporary, but respect from family, friends, and your work is what matters,” she says.

As her mindset shifted, she realized she could leverage her personal brand. “In my RJ days, being known as RJ Pallavi was irksome, but now I embrace it as a result of hard work.”

Pallavi’s story is a testament to resilience and reinvention. “Anyone working should have a backup plan—something they can own for life,” she says, adding, “Keep learning, improving, and discovering—you’re more than just your profession.”