Humans of Telecom

“Scale sensibly to sustain — that’s the only way to build a lasting company!” 🚀

— Rajdip Gupta, Founder & Managing Director at Route Mobile Limited, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal

From bootstrapping Route Mobile in 2004 with just $2,000 and a second-hand PC…

To building a $1.2 billion publicly listed global 'proficorn' (profitable unicorn) that is proudly 'Made in India, Built for the World'…

To leading one of the largest CPaaS exits ever, and now steering the company within Proximus Group, along with Telesign and BICS as the newly formed Proximus Global…

Rajdip’s journey is a rare story of vision, resilience, and people-first leadership!

In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Rajdip opens up about:

💻 The early days of coding Route Mobile on a 486 second-hand PC

📈 The rollercoaster ride from bootstrapped startup to IPO on Bombay Stock Exchange in 2020

🌍 Scaling globally while staying rooted in values of profitability & sustainability

🏏 His unreal cricket story — from being denied a chance to play for lack of $30 spike shoes, to today owning Route Mobile’s professional cricket team

❤️ His most emotional moment: when office boys and drivers became shareholders and cried seeing life-changing money in their accounts

🌿 And - along with his brother Sandip - diversifying through Sanraj Family Ventures which spans across telecom, hospitality, renewable energy, sports, and even a 350-bed charitable cancer hospital in Mumbai

Rajdip’s story reminds us that success isn’t just about creating enterprises, but about empowering people, creating opportunities, and giving back to society!

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!

“Even when life strips you of everything familiar, you still carry the power to rise again!” 🌍

— Vimal Odedra, Founder & Director at LiYF Limited, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal

From being born in Uganda and forced to flee as a child during Idi Amin’s expulsion…

To starting over in England with nothing but resilience and hope…

From building an IT career at British American Tobacco…

To venturing into telecoms with Annecto, launching innovative companies, and now embracing World Mobile Group’s mission to connect the unconnected…

This is the story of Vimal Odedra — a journey of grit, reinvention, and purpose!

In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Vimal opens up about:

🚢 His family’s steamboat voyage from Uganda to the UK

👬 His brother Vj Odedra - one of the world’s leading breathwork masters — pioneering the use of CO₂ science to help unlock peak performance through the power of breath

📱 The moment a woman begging with two mobile phones made him see telecom as a life-changing force

💡 Why innovation is his constant north star

💃 Launching a fashion label at London Fashion Week and producing his first dance album

🌿 His grounding practices in Reiki, nature, and energy alignment

❤ How his company LIYF supports women’s health — tackling PCOS, endometriosis, menopause, and more

Vimal’s story is proof that technology is at its best when it serves humanity.

It’s about balancing ambition with empathy, finding harmony in chaos, and choosing courage — every single time!

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!

"My wow moment hasn’t happened yet — and that’s what keeps me moving!" 🌟

— Mila Budylo, Chief Commercial Officer at BSG, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal

From lecturing in linguistics to leading one of the industry’s most prominent A2P hubs…

From juggling three jobs in Ukraine just to make ends meet…

To stepping — almost by accident — into telecom, and never looking back…

This is the story of Mila Budylo: fearless, vibrant, and impossible to miss (just look for the brightest hair in the room 💜💗💙)!

In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Mila opens up about:

🌍 Growing up and working in Western Ukraine during wartime, and the resilience it takes to keep building

📡 Navigating 19 years in telecom — from branded content to SMS, alternative messaging, AI voice & beyond

💡 Why her most “wow” career moment is still to come

🐕 Finding calm in mountain walks with her three quirky Chinese-crested dogs

🎬 Her second life as a movie blogger with 80k followers

🎉 And why she embraces color, rebellion, and a little irreverence in everything she does

Mila’s journey is a reminder that telecom isn’t just about connections between devices — it’s about courage, joy, humor, and the human drive to keep showing up.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that shape the industry and inspire the human spirit!

"Curiosity, courage and listening — that's what being human is to me!" 🌟

— Eva Gildum, Managing Director at Yaana Solutions, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal

From a chance internship at Telia during Denmark’s GSM revolution…

To learning the ropes in data & financial clearing at Dan Net…

From employee #1 at NeuString (building analytics where none existed)…

To today leading Yaana Solutions — supporting 130+ mobile operators worldwide.

This is the story of Eva Gildum — a people-first leader who turned questions into products, and products into impact.

In this candid episode of Humans of Telecom, Eva explains how she:

🔎 Challenged the status quo by putting autonomy and real decision-making back in the hands of telecom professionals

📊 Built analytics that translate complex roaming data into actionable value (and proved customers would pay for it)

💡 Gained her masterclass in customer experience from none other than Disney!

Plus — the human side you’ll love:

🏃‍♀️ A “meditative runner” who clears her head on the road

🎷 A saxophone player who learned to perform for hundreds (and survived the stage nerves)

🧩 Quiet moments: puzzles, knitting and the introvert who also lights up the after-party

Eva’s story is a reminder that innovation is equal parts tech and trust — and that curiosity + courage + listening make the best product teams.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that shape the industry and inspire the human spirit!

"You can sell a company — but you can’t sell the heart you’ve poured into it!" ❤️

— Andreas Felke, Board Advisor at IDM and AnyMessage, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal.

From a chance encounter with mobile messaging in a Coca‑Cola sweepstake… to building IDM into one of Europe’s largest telecom aggregators!

From selling it to a global player… to the rare moment of buying it back years later!

This is the story of Andreas Felke — a journey of vision, grit, and coming full circle!

In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Andreas shares how a non‑tech founder built a global telecom business from scratch, navigated the highs of acquisition, endured the lows of watching his vision fade, and seized the once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance to take back what he started!

Beyond work, Andreas opens up about his unconventional adventures and passions:

⚾ Surviving a near‑fatal baseball accident during his university days

🌊 Kite‑surfing as his ultimate escape and source of energy

🤝 Building businesses where respect outweighs titles every single time

Andreas’s story is a reminder that business is never just business — it’s deeply human. It’s about protecting what you’ve built, staying true to your values, and finding the courage to return to where it all began.

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that shape the industry and inspire the human spirit.

"Life is not a race. There is always time to grow, and always a chance to start again." 💫

— Simona Maga, Head of Sales and Operations at Sparkle, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal

From a small Italian town near the French border…

To Brazil, Switzerland, the U.S., and back to Rome...

From dreams of being a painter…

To leading global telecom strategy at one of the most respected names in the business…

This is the story of Simona Maga — and it's anything but ordinary.

In this deeply personal episode of Humans of Telecom, Simona opens up about her journey across continents, cultures, and career pivots. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 “𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱,” 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 — 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲. 💪❤

🎨 From brushstrokes to business strategy

🏋‍♀ From the gym to the global stage

🌍 From Rome with curiosity and courage

Simona’s story is a beautiful blend of strength, creativity, and self-kindness — a reminder that being human means being strong yet soft, driven yet gentle, and above all, true to yourself.

🎧 Tune in to this unforgettable episode on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that move the industry forward and remind us what it means to be human!

“Mentor someone so one day they can be your boss!”

– Sam Evans, Senior Managing Director at FTI Delta, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal, Founder of Humans of Telecom

🎙 Featured two years in a row in the Capacity Power 100 List, Sam isn’t just shaping telecom strategy — he’s shaping people, communities, and careers.

In this new Humans of Telecom episode, we go beyond the polished boardrooms and industry roundtables to meet the rock band member turned marathon runner, the introvert who commands stages, and the father who jams to Taylor Swift with his daughters on weekends.

From the corridors of GSMA to the global influence of the ITW Leaders Forum, Sam takes us through the surprising stops along his journey —

💡 His first brush with media through free CDs and university radio

📺 His TV moment on The Weakest Link

🏛 Breakfast in the staff canteen of the U.S. Supreme Court

🥊 A quick foray into amateur boxing

🧠 And the mentors who helped shape the leader he is today

💬 Honest, reflective, and full of insight — Sam reminds us that passion and people always come before PowerPoint.

🎧 Tune in to this unforgettable episode on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that move the industry forward and remind us what it means to be human!

“When there’s no space for you — make your own! When there’s no door — build one! Neurodiverse kids don’t need pity — they need opportunity!” – Gisselle Ramirez, Sales Executive at Shred-it, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal.

From the bright aisles of RadioShack to impactful roles at T-Mobile, AT&T, Altice USA, and The Telecom Company, Gisselle has walked the talk in telecom! 📶

But that’s only one side of her incredible story!

In this candid episode, Gisselle shares how her early love for tech and people turned into a career built on human connection and resilience. We unpack her transition from neuroscience labs 🧠 to selling copper lines and wireless bundles, and how she’s now shaping a future in information destruction and cybersecurity. 🛡️

We also dive into her passion project: "Bronx Special Kids" 🌱 — an initiative helping children with disabilities unlock independence through sustainability, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.

Gisselle talks about cosplaying, Caribbean dancing 💃, and the thrill of bungee jumping at the age of 10 years (much to her mom’s horror 😅). But more than anything, she speaks from the heart—about living authentically, creating space for neurodiversity, and building a more inclusive world!

🎧 Tune in to this unforgettable episode on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that move the industry forward and remind us what it means to be human!

“If I leave this earth tomorrow, I want people to say I was truthful and compassionate!”

– Richard Kwabena Asare, CEO at We2Stars, Ghana, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal, Founder of Humans of Telecom

Today, we spotlight the story of man who’s lived many lives and stayed true through them all! In this candid episode, Richard shares how a childhood fascination with cars and traffic-lights led to a love for systems and communication! He talks about his time in healthcare and finance, and why telecom was never the plan—but became the passion!

Giving a sneak preview into his future plans, Richard ppens up about building a VoIP app, and what it takes to break into a crowded industry with purpose! He also reflects on how farming grounds him, and why his BMW is his therapy! And, finally, he reminds us that kindness, compassion, and truth are the real legacy!

Richard’s story is equal parts grit, grace, and Ghanaian spirit!

🎧 Tune in to this unforgettable episode on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that move the industry forward and remind us what it means to be human!

Raluca Berchiu, CEO of CXM, shares her journey from Transylvania to Dubai, beginning with icy 5 a.m. swims and leading to the creation of a purpose-led business in telecom. In this episode of Humans of Telecom, she opens up about discipline, intuition, and the leap that changed everything.

From childhood lessons on her grandmother’s balcony to leading CXM in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, this episode explores the inner engine that drives true transformation.

Learn how storytelling, discomfort, and saying “yes” to bold opportunities shaped Raluca’s unique leadership path.

🎧 Listen now and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary stories behind the industry that connects us all.