Kraftshala Marketing Launchpad Review: From CA Dropout to Associate Manager at Publicis (Badrul Jamali Kanchwala)

Written ByNishtha Jain

Updated on 02 Jul 2026

This blog is a transcript of a video testimonial shared by Badrul Jamali Kanchwala, an alumnus of Kraftshala’s Marketing Launchpad. You can watch the full conversation here: Watch the video on YouTube.

Quick facts

Name: Badrul Jamali Kanchwala
From: Pune
Background: Former CA student, small-business manager, and entrepreneur
Program: Kraftshala Marketing Launchpad (MLP), Batch 7
Placed in: Dentsu as Senior Business Analyst (Paid Media)
Currently working in: Publicis Global Delivery as Media Performance Manager
In his words: “Kraftshala is the person sitting next to you with Google Maps open. You still have to walk the path.”

Badrul had already tried a few things – CA, managing a small business, running his own venture – when COVID pushed him toward digital marketing. A Google course left him with theory but no idea how to begin. Then an Instagram ad changed his trajectory.

How did you get to know about Kraftshala?

COVID was a time when digital marketing was booming, and I wanted to understand how it works and how to leverage it for my own venture. I started with Google’s fundamentals of digital marketing course – but there was zero hands-on experience and zero understanding of how to actually begin.

At the most opportune moment, I came across Kraftshala’s ad on Instagram. I landed on the website, read the reviews, and it just felt right. My family was a little hesitant – ‘pay after placement’ and ‘guaranteed placement’ sound too good to be true, like a scam. But I took a leap of faith, cleared the screening test, and the journey began.

When did you know you’d made the right choice?

Very early – maybe day three or four – because of how serious Kraftshala was about educating us. An institution taking students’ careers that seriously is rare. They could have just taken the money and not cared. But they kept an eye on everyone’s progress, attendance, and assignments.

That felt really special. They really cared.

Over three months we were grilled and taught – human skills, technical skills, everything. We were interviewed for Google and for Meta. They taught us how to tailor our resumes and speak in our own individual voice, combined with our personal story. When recruitment began, the partners reached out personally: ‘This is coming in from your city.’ That’s how I got my first job – one of the most grueling processes ever, five rounds. If it weren’t for Kraftshala making me ready, I’m not sure I’d have landed it.

What’s the best thing about your job in digital marketing?

My previous job was blue-collar – going around the city to factories and industries, doing proper offline sales. While doing that, I realized the same people I was reaching physically were being reached online through ads. I was sweating it out while others reached people en masse online.

That’s when I thought: digital marketing is powerful. It can change the face of your business if you know how to leverage it.

Compared to my previous life, I’m now in a more comfortable environment – an AC office, working with like-minded colleagues, instead of roaming around in the sun.

How did you manage the hectic schedule?

For three months I sacrificed things – family time, going out with friends. But it was only three months, and it was worth it. Afterwards, going to work didn’t feel grueling, because I was used to sitting for hours focused. In fact, work felt easier. Three months of sacrificing a couple of things is fine – you’re getting a good deal.

What did you enjoy most about Kraftshala?

Unpopular opinion: I enjoyed my peers the most. I found the best peers one could ask for. I’ve never met these people in person, yet we’re still in touch, helping each other with referrals and cheering each other on.

Look around you – the people in the classroom are your future CEOs, CMOs, CFOs. The network is going to help you a lot.

Kraftshala gives you not just your own batch but a huge alumni network across India. That’s what got me through the three months.

What career advice would you give the next generation?

While Kraftshala helps with technical skills, and your seniors will help once you join a company – the best investment is the one you make in yourself. After your hours are over, do you take the extra effort to research more, learn deeper? Everyone sits through the same sessions – but are you investing in yourself beyond that?

People think Kraftshala is in the driver’s seat of their career. No – you’re still in the driver’s seat. Kraftshala is the person next to you with Google Maps open, guiding you. You still have to walk the path.

Did you notice a difference between Kraftshala and non-Kraftshala freshers?

Absolutely. People who joined as interns – say from engineering – became executives after the internship, whereas people from Kraftshala were hired directly as executives, because their learning phase was considered complete. My understanding of how Facebook and Google work, and of the algorithm, was far superior to peers who’d been there six months.

In fact, my notes were the most passed-around notes in my team. Interns asked for hard copies and referred to them before interviewing at other companies. That’s how well Kraftshala structures the course – there are no huge gaps in your knowledge, and you have a strong base before you start building on it.

What was your parents’ reaction?

They were really surprised. I don’t think they believed a three-month course could change the face of someone’s career – it’s rare, but it did. They were even happier that I got a job within Pune itself. Getting it was nothing short of miraculous for me – it was the only company from Pune that came to MLP, and I cracked the interviews.

Your advice for future Kraftshala students?

Buddy, go for it. If you’re thinking about Kraftshala, it means you’re serious about digital marketing. Look at the placement reports – 92-93% placement is not a joke. If you’re hardworking, even an average person will fall within the 92% who get placed.

Take a chance on Kraftshala and go for it. Once you enroll, you’ll see what I mean.