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.Â
✨ Note: All features in this series are unpaid and shared as a way to honor and amplify real stories of transformation.
“Sales is the biggest challenge any entrepreneur will face.”
The first time Kishore Dharmarajan walked away from his corporate role was in 2006.
The agency (Saatchi) had just won a creative award, and the energy was high.
“Everyone was excited, but I was thinking, we keep having this success year after year, so what will be different next year?” he says.
The high-octane pace of agency life had worn thin.
“Agencies have a live-wire atmosphere, but it wears out. I wanted to explore the business world and do things on my own.”
He launched his first venture, Eureka, an advertising agency.
Sales proved difficult. Hiring a sales team didn’t help. “I realized the business owner must be the rainmaker,” says Kishore.
It was his first taste of entrepreneurship, and of the misconceptions that often come with it.
He returned to corporate life, but in 2016 he made his second leap.
“The first was due to boredom, and the second one was due to FOMO,” he says.
Those around him recognized the change. “Family opposed the first time; by the second, they saw I was more seasoned,” he says.
With hard-won lessons, he launched Seo Souq.
“We started off as an SEO agency, but after building one of the largest professional groups in the region, we realized community building was our real forte,” he says.
Today, the company focuses on podcast marketing and community-led growth.
Kishore has also written three books on innovation and marketing. “Building a personal brand is crucial for success, and you need to have visibility across all social channels,” he says.
Over time, he’s come to value simplicity. “It’s not a good idea to spend a lot on a large
office, large team, or large infrastructure. You need a good product and a way to attract clients.”
He adds: “Sales is the biggest challenge any entrepreneur will face. But when you build a community around your brand, clients and projects come looking for you.”
His journey has shaped him personally too. “It helped me become confident enough to speak, present, and sell.”
With greater control of his time, he is now working on an upcoming novel.
For anyone considering the leap, he advises: “It’s going to be tougher than you think. And if you’re not the chief rainmaker, it’s going to be even tougher.”