Workplace Dilemma: Assessing the Advantages of a High-Risk Career Path

In the dynamic world of business, taking on challenges and venturing into uncharted territories is often the norm. This is a lesson that Kamal Karanth, the co-founder of Xpheno, a specialist staffing company, has learned firsthand.

High-risk industries, such as energy supply, mineral oil processing, mining, metal production and processing, automotive, glass and ceramics, stones and earth, and paper industries, face regulatory challenges due to high emissions, stringent regulations, and low innovation activities. Large hospital groups, too, are affected by supply chain laws. Employees in these sectors, particularly those involved in emissions-intensive production and industries facing declining demand or heavy regulation, are often the most vulnerable during difficult times.

Despite the warnings from well-wishers that taking up a CXO role could be a "suicide mission," Kamal Karanth saw it as an opportunity for potential fame if it succeeded. This daring approach is not uncommon among leaders who join risky sectors, new start-ups, or take on turnaround assignments. They often view the possibilities as mostly positive, until they go wrong.

The start-up landscape offers its own set of challenges and opportunities. Joining a start-up early often requires doing all the grunt work and bearing initial struggles. However, the potential rewards can be significant, with the possibility of earning bragging rights if the company takes off later. Crypto currencies have created multibillion-dollar companies overnight, demonstrating the potential for rapid growth and success in this sector.

The Indian gaming industry, employing over 1.5 million developers, is another example of a thriving industry. For a considerable time, the online gaming industry benefited from regulatory loopholes. However, the landscape is changing, and the industry is now navigating the challenges of increased regulation.

The Indian start-up ecosystem is also evolving rapidly. Despite the high failure rate, with 95% of start-ups in India failing, more start-ups are being founded every year. If a start-up fails, the blame can be placed on the founders, sectors, and regulators. Yet, the aspirations to become a CEO never go away, which is why entrepreneurs continue to start companies despite the high failure rate.

In the face of these challenges, the CEO's role is the most vulnerable when a company underperforms. Kamal Karanth himself took up a CXO role with a new employer who had sacked two of his predecessors in quick time.

The online platform TikTok, valued around $330 billion, provides another interesting case study. Despite its economic activity directly benefiting 3.1 million jobs in the US and indirectly benefiting 1.6 million jobs, TikTok faces regulatory pressures in the US due to national security issues.

The Indian economy also offers a wealth of opportunities, with over one lakh tech jobs open in India at any given time. In the RMG industry, about 30% of employees are in highly skilled roles like sales, marketing, operations, and art and design.

In conclusion, navigating the complex world of business requires courage, resilience, and a willingness to take calculated risks. Kamal Karanth's journey serves as an inspiring example of a leader who has embraced these challenges and made a significant impact in the industry.