The third edition of Millennial Achievers has celebrated India’s brightest young leaders, and among them, Dr. Rakesh Gandla stands out for his clarity of purpose and conviction. Winning Gold for Entrepreneur of the Year has marked a defining moment for him, and the honour adds depth to an awards platform built to recognise next-gen talent that is shaping the future of marketing, media, business and innovation. As he shares his journey, his reflections bring forward the emotion, belief and responsibility behind building Kalories Nutra Solutions.
Speaking about the significance of the recognition, he said, “Winning this award is more than a recognition. It is a validation of a dream that dared to challenge conventional thinking. It instills confidence in me as an individual and reinforces the belief that purposeful entrepreneurship rooted in creativity, science, and human understanding can create real impact.” He added that such platforms influence the direction of the industry. “Awards like these shape the future of our industry by celebrating innovation over imitation, purpose over product, and impact over noise. They do not just honor what we have built. They signal where the industry is heading: towards authenticity, empathy, and problem-solving for the next-gen consumer.”
His interest in advertising and marketing began much earlier in life. “I have always been the kid who did not just watch ads. I studied them,” he said. He recalled how iconic campaigns like Fevicol and ZooZoo shaped his early understanding of storytelling, along with the influence of Piyush Pandey. “I remember researching how those ads were created, and that is where I discovered Piyush Pandey, who became my creative north star. That moment shaped my journey. From then, I was not just fascinated by products, but by purpose… not just by brands, but by how brands spoke to people. That curiosity turned into passion, and that passion became my profession.”
At the centre of his growth is a philosophy that guides both his decisions and his mindset. “I have always believed: ‘If you walk with the crowd, you end up where the crowd is. Build your own road and that becomes your way.’ I do not chase trends or comparisons. I choose the other road, the road not taken.” Thinking independently and building courageously, he said, has shaped his life more than any external validation.
The defining pivot of his entrepreneurial journey is Kalories. “My pivot point was Kalories. It was not just a startup idea. It was a deeper mission: to solve sexual wellness for millennials and Gen Z through science, emotion, and storytelling,” he said. The idea became a space where creativity met purpose and where research and empathy worked together to create solutions. “It was the moment when creativity met purpose, when research met empathy, and when entrepreneurship met responsibility. That moment did not just shape my career. It shaped my identity.”
What motivates him today is the interplay between insight and imagination. “For me, the magic lies at the intersection of creativity, consumer psychology, storytelling, and innovation,” he said. The excitement, he explained, comes from decoding people. “The real excitement is in decoding human emotions, behaviors, and desires and transforming them into meaningful brand experiences.” Looking ahead, he added that Kalories is evolving far beyond a conventional brand. “Where do I push boundaries next? By building Kalories not just as a product brand, but as a movement where functional food meets science, where wellness meets emotion, and where personal care meets cultural acceptance.”
Amid the pace and competition of the industry, he remains grounded by the same principle that has guided him since the beginning. “What keeps me grounded is the philosophy of the road less travelled. It reminds me that innovation does not always come from speed but from depth, reflection, and purpose.” For young professionals, his advice is shaped by experience. “Do not chase the crowd. That is where noise lives. Chase clarity. Choose creativity over comparison. Curate your own journey, even if it is unconventional. Because in a world full of roads, sometimes your job is to build one.”
As this edition of Millennial Achievers concludes, the energy of the platform continues to resonate strongly. The third edition of Millennial Achievers brought together India’s brightest minds as Marketing Mind unveiled this year’s winners across 17 categories. From bold creators to visionary strategists, exceptional leaders and innovators, the 2025 cohort represents the very best of next-gen talent shaping the future of advertising, marketing, media, and business.
