ChetChat: Empowering Youth with Authentic Career Guidance

Taruna Sharma

She heads one of the largest online chat shows in the career and education space, with a special focus on guiding students toward informed decisions. In a conversation with Life&More, Chetna Vasishth shares her journey of building ChetChat—a pro bono initiative launched two years ago to bridge the information gap in career counselling.

Driven by the belief that students often lack access to accurate guidance, while parents and counsellors may be limited or biased, Chetna set out to create a platform offering reliable, free career advice to young minds across the globe.

The Idea Behind ChetChat

The idea of launching an online chat show in the education space was deeply rooted in Chetna’s own journey. A postgraduate from XLRI Jamshedpur, she began her career as a corporate banker, working with leading global banks for a decade.

After taking a break following the birth of her son, she transitioned into teaching at prestigious institutions such as IIM Bangalore, NMIMS, and IIPM. Later, she founded a training company for bankers in India and abroad.

However, her experiences made her realise a critical gap—students needed guidance much earlier, at the stage where they make career-defining decisions. With this insight, ChetChat was born to provide authentic, accessible, and free career information through engaging video content.

From India to a Global Audience

What began as an initiative for Indian students soon gained traction internationally. Students from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal started reaching out for guidance.

Over time, ChetChat has featured more than 150 inspiring personalities, including industry leaders, celebrities, entrepreneurs, and students, making it a trusted platform for career insights.

Challenges in Building the Platform

While social media helped amplify reach, the initial challenge was convincing people to appear on the show. Many were hesitant, unsure about the format and its impact.

Chetna recalls investing immense effort and passion into each conversation to win their trust. Today, the situation has reversed, with PR managers actively seeking to feature their clients on ChetChat.

A Passion-Driven, Pro Bono Model

ChetChat operates largely as a pro bono initiative. Despite the limited revenue potential of YouTube, Chetna remains committed to her mission.

Supported by her husband and a small team—including an editor and a digital marketing manager—the platform thrives on dedication and multitasking.

Engaging with a Growing Community

With over 100 daily messages across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and email, audience engagement is at the heart of ChetChat.

Chetna personally responds to messages, valuing the connection with her audience. The appreciation and trust from students worldwide continue to motivate her efforts.

Handling Seasonal Surges

Interest in career guidance peaks throughout the year, aligned with major academic milestones—board exams, entrance tests, and international applications.

This creates a steady demand for content, allowing ChetChat to address diverse topics across different stages of a student’s journey.

Maintaining Authenticity and Trust

One of the platform’s biggest strengths is its commitment to unbiased and genuine information. Even when collaborating with educational institutions, the focus remains firmly on student welfare.

This integrity has been key to building trust among viewers.

Future Vision: Expanding Impact

Looking ahead, Chetna aims to make ChetChat India’s number one talk show and expand its reach beyond careers.

With the launch of MasterClass with ChetChat, the platform is introducing research-based, analytical content featuring experts and entrepreneurs. Plans are also underway to create a discussion board where students can interact directly with experts.

Her ultimate goal is simple yet powerful—to positively impact millions of young lives through knowledge and guidance.