At the 2025 convocation ceremony of Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath delivered a speech that blended humor, personal reflection, and business insight, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. His remarks not only admired Mukesh Ambani‘s exceptional foresight but also shared valuable lessons from his own unconventional journey.
Praise for Mukesh Ambani’s Foresight
Kamath began his address with a lighthearted remark about Mukesh Ambani’s ability to foresee market trends:
“I don’t know how much Mukesh bhai is into stock markets,” Kamath joked, “But if anyone here knows what will happen tomorrow, it’s probably him.”
While the remark brought laughter from the audience, it reflected Kamath’s deep respect for Mukesh Ambani‘s foresight in business, a trait he considers rare and invaluable in today’s fast-moving markets. Even though Nita Ambani smiled and shook her head, her expression seemed to reinforce the notion that Mukesh Ambani, though not a frequent trader, doesn’t need to be one to predict market shifts successfully.
A Journey of Unconventional Success
Kamath also shared the story of his unconventional rise—a journey that began in humble circumstances. Dropping out of school at the age of 15, he took a night job at a Bengaluru call center at 17, selling health insurance to UK customers. However, Kamath dedicated his mornings to following the stock market, marking the turning point in his career.
He likened his relationship with the stock market to that of a complex partnership: “The markets were like a relationship. They start off great, get bad, and if you stick around, maybe they get better again,” he shared with the audience, highlighting the resilience required in trading.
Emotional Stability and Objectivity: Keys to Success
Now at the helm of Zerodha, India’s largest stock brokerage by active clients, Kamath credited his success not to endless hard work but to traits like emotional stability, pattern recognition, and surrounding himself with the right people. He stressed the importance of maintaining objectivity in chaotic situations, calling it the biggest skill for success in his line of work.
“Being stable, not reacting, being objective in chaos—that’s probably the biggest skill to succeed,” he noted, offering the students in the room a glimpse into the mindset that shaped his achievements.
Hard Work: Overrated in Certain Contexts
In a thought-provoking moment, Kamath also questioned the glorification of hard work in today’s culture. “Hard work becomes a defense mechanism when the ego asks why you didn’t make it,” he explained, recounting how even his leadership team admitted they sometimes worked more for optics than actual outcomes. Kamath challenged the audience to rethink the conventional wisdom around hard work, emphasizing efficiency over mere effort.