Ankur Warikoo Reveals Layoff Guilt, Darkest Career Phase & Coping Strategies

• Ankur Warikoo shared his "darkest phase" in 2016, laying off 80 employees after his startup raised $17 million from Sequoia India.
• He admitted the layoffs stemmed from his "terrible decisions and judgment," leading to immense guilt and feeling he let everyone down.
• To cope, Warikoo relied on reading "Better Under Pressure," a daily ritual of crying to Eminem's "Lose Yourself," and transformative meditation.
• His candid post on X resonated widely, highlighting the unspoken emotional burden and mental health challenges of leadership.
• Warikoo's experience underscores the human cost of entrepreneurship and the importance of self-work in building resilience.

Why It Matters: Ankur Warikoo's candid reflection on layoffs and guilt reveals the emotional toll of leadership and coping strategies.