Building a 10x Career: Tapojoy Chatterjee, VP Product at Swiggy

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Building a 10x Career: Tapojoy Chatterjee, VP Product at Swiggy

3-step playbook to thrive in the AI era, 4 habits that compound into career breakthroughs, how side projects supercharge learning, the “tiered update” format for leadership reviews, and so much more

Ana Kapur

Jun 05, 2025

Listen now:

Youtube | Amazon | Spotify

Tapojoy Chatterjee is Vice President and Head of Product at Swiggy Food and Dineout Experiences. Before Swiggy, he spent nearly a decade at Amazon, where he helped build the Amazon Ads business in India, launched miniTV (now MX Player), and even holds a US patent.

In this rich, candid conversation, Tapojoy shares:

His 3-step playbook to stay ahead of paradigm shifts like AI
The 4 habits that quietly compound into career breakthroughs
Using side projects as powerful tools to bridge skill gaps
Exactly what it takes to get promoted—whether you're at a lean startup or a layered org

If you want to learn what it takes to build a 10X Career, this episode is for you!

In The Career Clinic, Tapojoy answers your questions about cross-functional collaboration and execution, providing clear frameworks to tackle tricky workplace like:

How to unblock projects when the other team won’t budge
How to say no at work without sounding defensive
How to update leadership the smart way
How to hold peers accountable without ruining relationships

Some key takeaways:

Compound curiosity into a career advantage: Some of the best learning doesn’t come from formal training — it comes from side projects and being really curious about how things work
“Half my learning has come from building side projects. Don’t wait for your job to train you.”
Build a bias for execution: Credibility comes from consistent delivery—track records matter.
“Execution. A lot of people don’t talk about it, but just getting stuff done... I value employees who show that ability.”
Take intentional career bets: Be deliberate about placing smart bets on growing trends. Early risk-taking has limited downside, but exponential upside.
“Even a 1.01 vs 0.99 decision can change your path. One staircase opens another — and they compound.”
Master saying no (and yes): Protect your energy by learning to decline clearly, transparently, and kindly—show trade-offs clearly.
Raise your hand before you think you’re ready: From his first school computer class to product management at Amazon—Tapojoy didn’t wait for perfect readiness. He jumped in, learned fast, and delivered.
“A sign that somebody is ready for more responsibility? They raise their hand for it.”
Promotions differ by company size: Getting promoted in a startup? Focus on what matters to your founder. In a big company? Make sure your impact is visible beyond your manager.
Reflection is a career accelerator: Don’t wait for annual reviews. Regular self-reflection (weekly or daily) sharpens judgment and growth.
“Game changing career habit? I would say my journal… it’s very boring to implement every day… but it’s a game changer if you're able to.”