Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | August 23, 2023

Shruti Mishra: Unveiling the Powerhouse of Financial Insights

Shruti Mishra, Deputy Editor of CNBC-TV18 should be in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-serving ‘intern’! What began as a two-month stint as part of her internship at her Journalism College blossomed into a wonderful relationship with the organization she first started her baby steps. It has now been 15 years and there’s no sign of the fire diminishing. If anything, it is only burning brighter. From intern to Deputy Editor… the journey has indeed been fascinating. Did she ever think that her internship would lead to this wonderful 15-year-long (and counting) association? “No,” is her honest reply.

Shruti Mishra has been actively involved in various aspects of TV and production—from producing feature shows to breaking news, anchoring bulletins, moderating panels, and creating content for social media and special shows. She has also developed expertise in tracking and reporting on the start-up ecosystem. She’s the anchor of CNBC-TV18’s daily start-up bulletin, ‘Startup Street’. She’s also the co-producer of ‘Young Turks,’ India’s longest-running show on entrepreneurship, which has won several awards. She is also one of the first producers to put the spotlight on start-ups when it wasn’t the cool thing to do!

With an unwavering commitment to delivering accurate and insightful financial news, Shruti Mishra has cemented her position as a prominent voice in the realm of business journalism. As we delve into an interview with Shruti Mishra, CNBC-TV18, we explore the mind behind her analytical prowess, the experiences that have shaped her perspectives, and the invaluable lessons she’s garnered while traversing the fast-paced world of financial reporting. 

Excerpts: 

What got you interested in media, especially the electronic medium?

While I wanted to be a doctor growing up and also took up a B.SC at Delhi University to prepare for the same, I was also very much interested in news and in telling stories from my teenage years. TV news was evolving, getting pacier. With the electronic medium, one could tell the same story in a visual and in a much more engaging way. The scope for creativity is endless. So that’s what got my interest.

Who were the Television journalists you looked up to as a youngster?

As any young girl, I was a big fan of Barkha Dutt. Her Kargil news coverage and the hard-hitting ground stories she would cover inspired me to become a journalist. While it was the general news channels that lured me to journalism, it was only in college when I was pursuing my Bachelor’s in Journalism, that I started taking an interest in business and corporate news. Yes, I switched from BSC to Journalism! In my second year of journalism college, we were supposed to intern with a news channel. I got an internship with CNBC-TV18 and that too in Shereen Bhan’s team to work on the only start-up show at that time—Young Turks. Today, this is a multiple award-winning show and the longest-running on start-ups. It turned 21 this year and I am proud to be the longest-serving producer of the show.

What are the challenges you faced (if any) being a woman, and now at the top?

I have been incredibly lucky to have worked at an organization that never differentiated based on gender. Having worked under a woman boss and my mentor Shereen Bhan my entire career, I have honestly never faced any challenges as a woman. I have only been empowered to do more, given the freedom to work creatively on shows, and given prestigious opportunities. I am very happy to be a part of CNBC-TV18’s initiative—Future. Female. Forward: The Women’s Collective. This is an initiative that aims to mainstream gender parity and is putting the spotlight on the struggles, strengths, and successes of women.

How supportive were your parents in your choice of profession?

Though it came as a shock to them after I quit B.SC after my first year, my parents have always been extremely supportive from the time I decided to pursue Journalism. Be it the late working hours and night shifts early in my career to the travel that the job entails, they always only encouraged me to do more.

Being a working mom has been easier because of their support. They always rush to Mumbai from Noida to take care of my twins whenever I have to travel. I am extremely lucky that I have such great support especially as I was and I am still the only girl in the family to be in the media business.

For you to have reached where you are professionally, there must have been encouragement from your husband…

My husband has been my biggest cheer leader. Every step of my professional journey he has encouraged me to carry on. It’s difficult when you are a new parent [as a mother] and want to focus on your family, but he has been hands-on despite his hectic schedule. He has been an amazing partner. Being a pilot has its own share of stress and time constraints. I never had to compromise professionally or as a parent. Between the two of us, and our parents, we have balanced beautifully. And that can only happen with a supportive life partner.

Did you at any time feel you ventured into the wrong profession and wanted to turn back?

I have never felt that I ventured into the wrong profession. Being a journalist has shaped me into what I am today. The journey has only made me more confident and has helped me view every situation from different perspectives. I have met some of the greatest corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, celebrities, and the ‘Who’s Who’ because of my profession. There has never been a dull day at work. How many of us can say this about our profession?

But did I want to quit? Honestly, I have had that thought a couple of times but the support, the opportunities, and the flexibility given to me at my workplace has ensured that I continue to grow.

How has life been for you at CNBC?

Life has been a rollercoaster, honestly. But in a very good way! I started here merely as an intern and over the years I have been able to work to the best of my ability and rise through the ranks to where I am today. Over the past 15 years, I have seen the organization change and evolve and I also evolved with it.

How would you describe your ‘journalist’ self?

Not to sound pompous but I would like to call myself a versatile journalist. Throughout my career in covering business news, I have reported on major stories that have shaped the business landscape and interviewed high-profile newsmakers and policymakers, such as Nandan Nilekani, Adi Godrej, Minister KTR, Harsh Mariwala, Debjani Ghosh, Karthik Reddy, and others.

Besides covering the Indian start-up ecosystem, I have also covered stories from the US and Israel start-up ecosystems. I have interviewed various celebrities turned entrepreneurs, including Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, and Vicky Kaushal, among others, for the ‘Weekender’ show on the channel. It’s been 15 years, but the thrill of the newsroom is still the same!

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