Who is manish

Manish Upadhyay is a globally recognized Leadership Coach, TEDx Speaker, and Founder of OPEN BOX Consulting. With over 12 years of expertise in personal branding, leadership development, and team productivity.

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A Fall, A Fear, A Bond

Childhood

I was always a quiet child—watching, and listening, but rarely speaking. Then, one moment in my early years changed me forever.My father’s younger brother lived with us. He was different, though I didn’t understand why back then. He had a mental condition, and small things could make him very angry.

One afternoon, my elder brother and I were playing. He teased my uncle and ran away, laughing. I stayed behind. Maybe I was about to tease him too. Maybe I already had. I don’t remember. But I do remember what happened next—clearly.

My uncle got very angry. His face changed. His hands shook. Before I could move, before I even understood, he grabbed me. I was small, helpless. He lifted me by my legs and, in a second, threw me out of the window.

We lived on the second floor.

I was falling. The world spun around me. I felt light, like a feather in the wind.

But fate had other plans.

A man—a neighbor I barely knew—was standing outside. He saw everything. The moment my uncle picked me up, he ran. And just as my tiny body flew through the air, he reached out and caught me.

I hit his shoulder—headfirst. The force hurt his neck, but he held on. He didn’t let me fall. He saved me.

I don’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t been there. But I know what happened after.

I was terrified.

I ran straight to my mother, crying. I buried my face in her lap, shaking. From that day, she became my safe place, my whole world. I clung to her like never before.

But the fear stayed. It changed me. I started stuttering. Words wouldn’t come out right.I couldn’t even say my name clearly.Speaking felt like climbing a huge mountain.

I became shy. Quiet. A “Mumma’s boy,” as some called me.

But I was safe. And when you’re a child, feeling safe is everything.

The Silent Student Who Spoke

School Days
In my early school years, I was invisible.

Until the fourth grade, I barely spoke in class. Even saying PRESENT during attendance felt impossible. My voice would freeze, my throat would tighten, and I would sit there, hoping no one noticed.

But by the time I reached the sixth grade, something changed. I started focusing on my studies—not just to learn, but to prove something. I had no presence, no identity in school. No one talked to me. No one noticed me.

I thought, If I can’t stand out by speaking, maybe I can stand out by scoring well. And it worked. My grades improved. People started recognizing me—not for my voice, but for my marks. It was a small victory, but it meant everything.

Then came the seventh grade—the day that changed something inside me.

Our class teacher announced we had to give a presentation. She called out the names of the top students, and I was one of them. Four of us were selected, each given a different topic. My topic? The Lights Bulbs (tungsten filament).

I had never spoken in front of the class before. A presentation? That was terrifying. But I didn’t back down. That evening, I went home and prepared. I found a real bulb, studied it closely, took notes, and read everything I could.

The next day, as I walked into class, my heart pounded.

Then I noticed something.

The other students who were supposed to present? They weren’t there. I was the only one left.

There was no escape now.

Nervous but ready, I walked to the front of the class. My hands shook. My voice felt trapped inside me.

But I spoke.

For the first time, I stood before my classmates and said something.

The whole class laughed. Maybe I stuttered. Maybe my nervousness showed. Maybe they weren’t used to hearing me speak at all.

But I didn’t care.

Because for the first time, I had done something I never thought I could do.

That was my school life. No debates. No songs. No cultural programs. No school trips. No conversations with girls.

But that day, in that moment, I found a tiny piece of confidence.

And that was enough to start something new.

From Maharashtra to Kerela to Maharashtra

2003 – The Unexpected Path

I never planned to become an engineer.

Biology fascinated me. I dreamt of becoming a doctor—partly because my aunt used to say I looked like one. But my father had a different vision. He wanted one of his sons to become an engineer. That’s how I found myself in an engineering program in Sevagram (Maharashtra), even though I wasn’t fond of mathematics.

I wasn’t a bad student, but I wasn’t passionate either. By my third year, I had decided—I wouldn’t continue with engineering after graduation. Instead, I started considering an MBA. My elder brother was studying in Jaipur, and his journey inspired me. The idea of moving out, exploring new opportunities, and stepping into the business world excited me.

The Seminar That Changed Everything

One defining moment in engineering changed my perspective.

I had to give a seminar in 3rd year on The ‘Basic Role of Parts Cleaning’. I wanted to make an impact, so I practiced—73 times—on my terrace, loudly rehearsing every word.

Finally, the day arrived. I took the stage, heart pounding. But as I began speaking, something unexpected happened—my voice boomed across the room with full energy.

My project guide interrupted: “Speak slowly! Don’t shout!”

That moment made me realize something. I enjoyed being on stage. I loved the energy of speaking in front of people.

Maybe, just maybe, this was what I was meant to do.

2007 – The MBA Decision and My First Breakthrough

I prepared for the CAT but I knew I was not a CAT Material

So, I took MAT instead. Two admission offers landed on my table:

📌 IILM Delhi

📌 SCMS Cochin

When I visited SCMS Cochin, something clicked. The lush green campus, the calm atmosphere—it felt right. That’s where my PGDM journey began.

Before SCMS, I was the guy who stayed quiet in the back.

But MBA? It pushed me into the deep end—presentations, debates, leadership roles.

I became the coordinator of the Industry Scan Committee, analyzing companies, forming groups, breaking down insights, and presenting in front of an audience.

Each presentation sharpened me.
Each discussion built my confidence.
Each challenge transformed me.

Then came the moment that changed everything.

The Unexpected Placement

During campus placements, Centurion Bank of Punjab (now HDFC Bank) was offering one of the highest salary packages.

One catch: They were primarily shortlisting South Indian candidates.

I applied anyway.

To my surprise, I got selected.

Not just that—I was the only Hindi-speaking candidate placed in the South region.

And just like that, my sales journey began. A journey that would test me, shape me, and eventually lead me to something much bigger.

Struggles in Banking

The first two months in sales? Brutal.
❌ Zero performance.
❌ Struggled to adapt.
❌ Felt completely lost.

Every day felt like a battle, and honestly, I wasn’t sure if I’d make it.
But then—my team.

They pushed me, guided me, and helped me survive. Slowly, I started learning. The rejections hurt less.

The conversations got smoother.

The sales started trickling in.

After 1.5 years, I was transferred to Aurangabad—a new city, a new challenge.

That’s when something unexpected happened.

I attended a training program at my bank. Sitting there, listening to the trainer, a thought suddenly hit me:

💭 "I can do better than this trainer."

That one thought changed everything.

It didn’t just cross my mind—it stuck.

It lit a fire inside me.

For the first time, I wasn’t just thinking about banking. I was thinking about training.

And just like that, a new path began to unfold.

2009 – Entering the Training World

When I was transferred to Nagpur, I saw it as a chance to start fresh. To pivot.

I had always been drawn to teaching and mentoring, so I started actively looking for opportunities as a financial trainer.

But breaking into training? Not easy.
❌ Six interviews.
❌ Multiple demo presentations.
❌ Countless rejections.

Each time, I walked in with confidence.
Each time, I walked out with a polite, “We’ll get back to you.”

But I refused to give up.
Then came the breakthrough.
I landed a job at Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. (BALIC)—not as a salesperson, but as a trainer.

For the first time, my role wasn’t just about selling. It was about teaching, coaching, and mentoring others.

And that’s when I realized—this is what I was meant to do.

That first training job wasn’t just a career move. It was the beginning of something bigger.

2010 – The Turning Point

By 2010, life on paper looked perfect.

💰 Salary hikes.
🎉 Bonuses.
🏆 The prestigious Master Blaster Award for my performance.

Success, right?

But deep down, something felt… off.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was meant for something more. Something beyond the predictable cycle of corporate life.

At first, I ignored it.

Tried to dismiss it as a phase.

But the feeling didn’t fade.

It grew louder.

Until one day, I made the boldest decision of my life.

🚪 I quit my corporate job.
⏸ Took a break.
🛤 Set out to explore what truly mattered to me.

I had no roadmap. No plan. Just a belief—there was something bigger waiting for me.

And I was ready to go find it.

Exploring Teaching & Finding My True Calling

When I left the corporate world, I joined an engineering college as a Training In-Charge, teaching management subjects. It wasn’t a permanent job—the contract ran for 10 months, with a 2-month break in between.

But those two months? They became my playground for growth.

🚆 I traveled.
🎤 I explored.
📖 I learned from every experience I could find.

Then came a moment that changed everything.

I was invited to conduct a two-day (20+ hours) workshop for a logistics company. The agreed fee? ₹7,500.

I poured my heart into that session—engaging, teaching, and connecting.

At the end of it, the company’s director handed me a cheque. But instead of ₹7,500, it was ₹10,000.

I looked at him, surprised.
He smiled and said something I’ll never forget:

“You work really hard, but you don’t charge enough.”

That moment hit me like a revelation.

💡 Lesson 1: People genuinely valued the way I connected with them.
💡 Lesson 2: I had the potential to build something bigger in training.

That workshop? It wasn’t just another session.
It was the spark that ignited my belief that I could do this on my own.

I stratted learning about training. I got Certfication from Indian Trainer’s Association as well as AMERICAN TESOL USA

It was a turning point—the moment I stopped thinking like an employee and started seeing myself as an entrepreneur.

2013-2015: Marriage & The Leap Into Business

In 2013, I married Shilpa. Even before we tied the knot, she had a stable job. She was my anchor, my constant.

By 2015, I made a decision that would change everything.

One evening, I told her:
“You continue with your job. I’m starting a business.”

She didn’t hesitate. No questions, no doubts. Just trust.

And just like that, I took the plunge into full-time training.

Up until then, I had been conducting Faculty Development Programs (FDPs), freelancing, guest lectures, and panel discussions. I loved training. It was my passion. But there was one big uncertainty—

Where was the money going to come from?

I had no clear roadmap, no financial cushion—just conviction.
I wasn’t sure how, but I knew I had to make it work.

That was the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey.
A leap of faith.
A test of resilience.
And the start of something bigger than I ever imagined.

2016: The Birth of OPEN BOX Consulting

In November 2015, I officially started OPEN BOX Consulting—just me and my trusted advisor, Milind.

What would I sell? No clue.
How would I sell it? No idea.
Why was I doing it? Because deep down, I knew training was where I belonged.

So, I took on everything—
→ Counseling
→ Keynotes
→ Guest lectures
→ Corporate training
→ Public programs

If there was an opportunity, I grabbed it.

On social media, I looked like a success.
But in reality? I was not making good money.

It was a brutal grind. But I knew one thing—I wasn’t giving up.

2018-2019: The Fall and the Breakdown

2018 was transformative years for me, Two things happned.One good and One Life Long Learning

May 2018 I became TEDx Speaker.And then….

I made a mistake that would haunt me—I invested in real estate before working on my business foundation.

I had no trainers, no team,no sales structures and I was handling everything alone.

By February 2019, to fund my real estate investment, I took 3 loans Home Loan, Gold Loan, and Personal Loan.

Every rupee I earned went into repaying my business loan. Some months, I had to borrow money just to pay my EMIs.

By October-November 2019, my account balance was negative.

I bankrupt, That was my lowest point.

I was so cautious with money that I even controlled my food intake—falling sick was a luxury I couldn’t afford because a doctor’s visit wasn’t in my budget.

I remember standing at the railway tracks, watching the trains rush past.
At first, it was just that—watching trains.
But the longer I stood there, the more my thoughts drifted to something darker.

One day, my father visited me. I looked at him and said:

“Dad, there’s something about business that I just don’t understand. I know I’m a great trainer, but I can’t seem to grow.”

But there was another thought that haunted me, one I couldn’t say out loud:

“Why does my brother always have money in his account, but I don’t? Why am I always struggling just to pay my bills?”

I was drowning—not just financially, but mentally.

And something had to change.

2020: Learning the Game of Business

By January 2020, I hit another crossroad.

I had spent years perfecting my craft as a trainer, but running a business? That was a different beast altogether. I finally admitted to myself:

“There is a difference between conducting training & running a Training Business”

So, I did something I had never done before.

I swallowed my pride, picked up the phone, and borrowed ₹45,000 from my brother.
Not for survival. Not for debt repayment.
But to learn the game of business.

I enrolled in a business course.

For the next four to five months, I studied like my life depended on it—because, in a way, it did.

These months, I didn’t do anything in OPEN BOX Consulting.

I unlearned old habits.
I learned about money, sales, systems, and scaling.
I realized that talent alone doesn’t build an empire—strategy does.

By April 2020, something shifted.

I hired my first trainer.

That wasn’t just a hire.
That was the moment I stopped being a solo hustler and became a real business owner.

That was the turning point. Yes, I started building a team.

In 2021, I have been selected among Top 250 Speakers out of 40K+ Speakers in Super Speaker Season 1- Success Gyan India.

In 2022 & 2023, OPEN BOX Trainers Team trained UAE & USA participants.

In 2024, Launched My First Book and Got featured in 3 Podcasts.

Fast Forward to Today

No sugar-coated success story till here—just the raw truth.

Today, I have a team of 11 People.

Most are associates and freelancers, but I have two full-time employees. People like Vishesh work almost full-time, along with Rishi, Harsh, and Sumit.

I’ve learned two powerful lessons the hard way:

You build People (team)-People Build Business
Managing Money is way different than Earning Money. If You can not manage 10 Lacs, you will never make 10Cr.

By 2025, we’ve made it our mission to help MSME business owners scale their businesses, make money, and build strong teams.

Because that’s exactly what I struggled with.

And as someone who has worked with teams, I know the power of team development. That’s why I focus so much on it.

Who is manish

Trusted By 63,000+ Client