Beyond the Batch: Our Alumni Stories Don’t End at Certification

HCL GUVI has always stood for one thing: learning that opens doors, regardless of background, language, or starting point. That mission didn’t stop at building courses. It extended to building careers. And now, with Beyond the Batch, it extends to building community.

Launched in April 2026, Beyond the Batch is HCL GUVI’s alumni initiative,  a dedicated community ecosystem built to keep that connection alive long after the course ends, through mentorship, peer networks, founder conversations, and the kind of sustained support that turns individual growth into collective momentum.

HCL GUVI’s goal was never just to skill its learners. It was always to stand with them, beyond the batch, beyond the certificate, and beyond the placement. 

Learning changes lives, and at HCL GUVI, we believe that transformation shouldn’t end with a certificate or course completion. Certification marks completion, not closure. Learning never stops, and neither does the community. Every alumni community claims to stay connected.

‘Beyond the Batch’ is designed to make that possible through ongoing learning sessions, structured mentorship, founder interactions, and meaningful opportunities to collaborate with peers who share similar beginnings and aspirations.

The First Conversation That Set the Tone 

Every initiative needs a first moment. For Beyond the Batch, that moment was “Learner to Entrepreneur”,  our first online alumni connect session, bringing together current learners, alumni, mentors, and industry professionals in one room.

The idea at the centre was simple but important: entrepreneurship isn’t a privilege reserved for graduates of elite institutions or founders with investors already in their corner. 

It’s a mindset, one that begins the moment you decide to stop waiting for the right conditions and start building with what you have.

The event began with a warm welcome address by Ms. Shweta Vishwanath, Senior Executive, ZEN Alumni Team,  HCL GUVI,  who set the tone by reframing the audience’s thinking about entrepreneurship. She reminded attendees that entrepreneurship is not merely a job title or a destination reserved for a select few. 

Instead, it is a mindset, one rooted in curiosity, problem-solving, and the willingness to question the status quo.

Encouraging participants to view entrepreneurship as a lens rather than a label, she highlighted how entrepreneurial thinking can shape the way individuals approach challenges, create value, and identify opportunities for impact. 

Her address laid the foundation for what followed: two hours of candid, insightful, and energising conversations that went beyond theory and explored the realities of building, learning, and growing.

Raw and Real: Entrepreneurial Lessons from Our Founder 

The keynote came from Mr. Arun Prakash, Founder & CEO, HCL GUVI, who reflected on a journey shaped less by certainty and more by persistence.

He didn’t begin with a polished success story. Instead, he spoke candidly about financial strain, navigating unfamiliar territory, and building without a predefined roadmap or mentor.

His entrepreneurial journey began with a passion for teaching and a growing frustration with how difficult it was for many people to access quality education. What started as an attempt to address that gap gradually evolved into a larger mission.

“I was not a planned entrepreneur. My journey started from passion, not from a business idea.”

Arun Prakash, Founder & CEO, HCL GUVI.

The statement resonated because it challenged a common perception about entrepreneurship. It dismantles the quiet myth that holds many capable people back, that founders arrive pre-equipped, with resources and certainty already in place. 

His message was the opposite. Where you start matters far less than what you choose to do from there. 

He went on to challenge several assumptions that many people accept without question. 

Some believe that success is reserved for graduates of top institutions, that funding is essential to build something valuable, or that entrepreneurship is only for people from certain backgrounds.

Instead, he shared a simpler and more practical perspective. He emphasized that success comes from taking action, staying persistent, and understanding real problems before trying to solve them.

One insight stopped the conversation completely:

“Countries grow not because of systems like capitalism or communism, but because of entrepreneurs.”

 Arun Prakash, Founder & CEO, HCL  GUVI.

It reframed the stakes. Entrepreneurship isn’t just a career choice; it’s a contribution. Every person who identifies a real problem and builds something to solve it is participating in something larger than themselves. That framing gave the room a different sense of what was possible and what was at stake.

Our Founder & CEO, Mr. Arun Prakash,  also broke down one of the most common early-stage mistakes: confusing a user with a buyer. Knowing who benefits from your product is useful. Knowing who will actually pay for it,  that’s the question that determines whether an idea survives its first year. 

Validation, he stressed, is not a box to tick before moving on. It is the foundation on which everything else is built. Get this wrong, and no amount of passion or persistence can compensate. 

And then came the admission that perhaps landed hardest: he had considered shutting GUVI down. More than once. It’s rare to hear a founder say that publicly. Most success stories are told in reverse, from a position of certainty, looking back at difficulties that were always going to be overcome. But our CEO keeps it straight.

There were moments when the doubt was real, the pressure was serious, and stopping felt like the rational choice.

But it was this honesty that connected with the learners in the room. It showed that resilience is not something people talk about only after they succeed. It is a choice people make every day, even when the future is uncertain, and the outcome is unclear. 

The Q&A session that followed reflected the audience’s genuine curiosity about the realities of entrepreneurship. The questions went beyond theory and focused on real challenges. 

 How do you begin with limited resources and no prior experience? How do you gain the support of family members who may not yet understand your vision? How do you stay focused when the path ahead is uncertain? And how do you decide whether to persevere or change direction?

In response, Mr. Arun Prakash, CEO, HCL GUVI, emphasized a consistent theme: purpose is what sustains entrepreneurs through uncertainty. 

Business strategies may evolve, markets may respond unpredictably, and difficult decisions may invite skepticism from others. Yet a clear sense of purpose provides the resilience needed to navigate challenges, remain committed, and continue moving forward.

From Learner to Leader: Lessons from a Startup Founder 

After the keynote, the session shifted, and this is where things became genuinely special.

 Mr. Shikandar B, Co-Founder,  Flowkiq and  HCL GUVI alumnus, took the stage. Not as an expert positioned above the audience. Not as someone delivering wisdom from a comfortable distance. As someone who had sat in exactly those seats, uncertain, ambitious, and figuring it out one decision at a time.

That distinction mattered. The audience wasn’t just receiving information. They were seeing themselves, a few years ahead, in someone who had navigated the same starting point and made something real from it.

Shikandar’s story isn’t a highlight reel. It’s the full picture.

He started with a ₹10,000 salary, not unusual for someone starting, but not a comfortable position from which to take risks either. Early on, he made a deliberate, uncomfortable choice: to prioritise learning over earning. 

That meant taking a 50% pay cut to move into a role that would stretch him more, teach him faster, and build the kind of skills that compound over time. It meant 16 to 20-hour days in the early startup phase. It meant choosing ownership over comfort, again and again, until the compounded effect of those choices became impossible to ignore

“Even if a startup fails, your skills and experience never go to waste.” – Shikandar B, Co-Founder, Flowkiq 

Shikandar B, Co-Founder, Flowkiq 

That statement resonated strongly with the audience because it offered a different perspective on failure. While many startups may not succeed, the experience of building one is never wasted. Entrepreneurs gain valuable skills by making difficult decisions, solving real problems, working closely with customers, and navigating uncertainty.

Even when a venture does not achieve its intended outcome, the knowledge, resilience, and practical experience gained throughout the journey remain. The startup may end, but the lessons learned continue to shape and strengthen the individual behind it.

At the same time, he was clear about what makes the startup journey worthwhile. While traditional career paths often provide stability and predictability, startups offer opportunities for rapid learning, greater ownership, and accelerated professional growth. The challenges are significant, but so are the rewards.

The audience responded with thoughtful questions that reflected a genuine interest in entrepreneurship. They wanted to know how to build products with limited resources, make sound financial decisions in uncertain situations, leverage AI tools without neglecting core skills, and build effective teams during the early stages of a venture.

Drawing from his own experiences, Mr. Shikandar addressed each question with honesty and practical insight. Rather than presenting entrepreneurship as an easy path, he offered a realistic perspective on both its challenges and opportunities, giving the audience a clearer understanding of what it takes to build something meaningful.

Where Persistence Can Lead: Celebrating Learner Success Stories

Beyond the Batch is not only about preparing learners for what comes next, but it is also about celebrating the achievements of those who have already taken that journey.

The alumni showcase highlighted the diverse career paths pursued by HCL GUVI learners. Today, they are contributing as Data Scientists, AI Consultants, UI/UX Designers, Business Analysts, and startup founders across leading organizations in India and beyond. 

While their journeys differ, they share a common foundation: continuous learning, perseverance, and a commitment to growth.

Among those recognised was Mr. Arshad Ayub Ahmed, who made a bold domain transition and executed it with conviction,  recognised for excellence in career transformation. 

Switching domains is one of the hardest moves in a tech career. It requires rebuilding credibility, relearning fundamentals, and convincing a new industry that you belong. Arshad did all of it.

Ms. Vijayasheela S took her ambition to a global stage and delivered. Her story is a reminder that the ceiling HCL GUVI learners often imagine for themselves is almost always lower than what’s actually possible.

Mr. Santhosh Nagaraj proved that growing within your organisation is a strategy, not a compromise. In-house growth is often underestimated, but Santhosh’s journey shows what’s possible when skills meet focus and the willingness to keep raising the bar from wherever you are.

Mr. Lokesh became the kind of community contributor who quietly strengthens everyone around them. Not every impact shows up on a resume. Some of the most valuable people in any network are the ones who show up consistently, share what they know, and make the community around them better. Lokesh is that person.

Mr. Srinath set a CTC benchmark that gives the next generation something concrete to aim for. Numbers matter, not because they define success, but because they make possibility visible. Srinath’s achievement does exactly that.

Mr. Akash BV showed that every startup begins with an idea worth pursuing. His innovative thinking and entrepreneurial vision made that possibility visible, earning him the title of “Innovation Ninja.” 

These aren’t exceptional outliers hand-picked to make a point. They are what becomes possible when skills meet community, and community meets sustained opportunity. They are the proof that the HCL GUVI journey, pursued with intention, leads somewhere real.

Building a Stronger Alumni Community, Together

“Learner to Entrepreneur” was more than an event theme; it reflected a larger vision for the future of the HCL GUVI alumni community. At its core is a simple idea: as learners grow in their careers, they become a source of guidance, support, and inspiration for those who follow.

The experiences gained through career transitions, startup journeys, professional growth, and industry changes hold immense value. Beyond the Batch aims to create opportunities for these experiences to be shared, helping learners gain practical insights from those who have already navigated similar paths.

What’s Ahead for Beyond the Batch?

Interactive Industry Sessions

More online sessions featuring professionals across domains, designed to provide practical insights, career guidance, and real-world perspectives beyond traditional learning.

Offline Community Meetups
In-person gatherings that encourage meaningful conversations, stronger connections, and opportunities to learn directly from peers and industry professionals.

Founder and Leadership Talks
Conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders who share honest experiences, lessons learned, and the realities of building and growing successful ventures.

Structured Mentorship Opportunities
Mentorship programs that connect learners with experienced alumni, providing guidance, career support, and valuable industry perspectives.

Alumni Networking Initiatives
Opportunities for alumni to build lasting professional relationships that can lead to collaborations, referrals, partnerships, and career growth.

The goal is not simply to extend the classroom experience. It is to build a thriving alumni network where learners and graduates continue to support one another long after completing their programs. By fostering knowledge sharing, mentorship, and meaningful connections.

Beyond the Batch seeks to create a community where learning remains a lifelong journey, and success is strengthened through collective growth.

Where Every HCL GUVI Story Continues…..

A HCL GUVI learner’s journey does not end with certification. In many ways, that is where it truly begins.

The skills gained during the learning experience continue to evolve through career transitions, new opportunities, entrepreneurial ventures, and the commitment to keep learning in an ever-changing world. Along the way, the support of a strong community can make all the difference.

That is the purpose of Beyond the Batch: to create a space where learners, alumni, mentors, and industry professionals can continue to learn from one another, share experiences, and grow together.

The event served as a powerful reminder that success is not defined by a single milestone. It is built through continuous learning, meaningful connections, and the willingness to take the next step, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

For current learners, the stories shared during the session offered proof of what is possible. For alumni, they highlighted the impact that comes from giving back and helping others navigate their own journeys.

The batch may come to an end, but the community continues to grow. And with it, so do the opportunities to learn, connect, and build what comes next.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need a top college to become an entrepreneur?

No. Clear thinking, consistency, and execution matter more than college background.

2. Is funding necessary to start a business?

Not always. Many startups begin with minimal resources and grow through validation and execution.

3. What is the most important first step in building a startup?

Understanding the real problem and validating whether people truly need your solution.

4. What is the difference between a user and a customer?

A user is someone who uses the product, while a customer is someone who pays for it.

5. Is failure common in entrepreneurship?

Yes. Most founders face setbacks; what matters is learning and continuing forward.