Knowing Our Members

Knowing Our Members

Knowing Rtn. Vinit Ketan

By Rtn. Krishna Kumar

Knowing more about one of our new members, Vinit Ketan, CEO/ Founder of Wantstats Research and Media Pvt. Ltd, was like a bottomless pit. Or rather like peeling an onion. The more I spoke to him, and asked questions, new dimensions about him revealed itself.

 Let me begin this interview with this question: Who is Vinit Ketan?

I’m Vinit Ketan, born and raised in Bhagalpur, Bihar, in a family of educationists. Both my parents are professors, so I grew up in an atmosphere where books, debates, and ideas were part of daily life. My father taught at Delhi University in my early childhood, so my initial schooling was in Delhi. Later, when he was transferred to Patna University, I continued my education in Patna from Class 5 to 12.

After school, I moved to Pune to pursue my graduation in International Business and later did my MBA in Marketing.

If I were to describe myself, I’d say I’m someone who has been shaped by both intellect and curiosity. Growing up, my father, a sociology professor always spoke about how education and social structures influence people’s lives. My mother, being a political scientist, introduced me to history and politics in a way that made me think deeply about the world.

Even as a child, I was entrepreneurial at heart I remember trying to sell Avon cosmetics through a family friend or setting up a photocopy booth during college just to experience business firsthand. These little experiments gave me a taste of what it meant to create something of your own.

My real entrepreneurial journey began in 2015, after I worked at Markets and Markets. That’s where I realized that I could build something meaningful and decided to take the plunge.

You were at MIT and did your BBM there and went on to complete your MBA from the same institution. How did those years help you find your true calling?

Those years at MIT were truly transformative for me. I’ve always been a Type A personality – a bit of a risk-taker, never afraid to step into something new. At MIT, I jumped into student politics, contested elections, and served as class representative. I became deeply involved in the cultural and social fabric of the college. I was part of the NSS and volunteered to build dams in villages.

I also explored my creative side through ad-making competitions where I’d conceptualize and shoot media ads for brands and that really awakened the marketing guy in me. Those experiences helped me understand how creativity connects to people and business.

Being part of the Student Council and events like Chhatra Sansad also exposed me to leadership, teamwork, and the responsibility of representing others. Looking back, these were the years when my entrepreneurial instincts and my desire to contribute to society really began to take shape.

Market research is about asking the right questions and analyzing outcomes. Are you a keen listener? How can anyone become one?

Absolutely! Market research is all about listening and observing without bias. We’re often the intelligence hub for our clients, and that demands not just collecting data but truly understanding what people are saying.

Over time, I’ve realized that the key to being a good listener is asking thoughtful questions and then pausing. That silence gives people the space to open and say what’s truly on their mind. Everyone wants to feel heard, and real listening is the foundation of meaningful communication, whether in business or life.

Tell us about an interesting incident in your life that transformed you.

The pandemic in 2020 was a life-changing experience for me. Until then, I thought I’d faced challenges, but nothing prepared me for what came with COVID.

I was responsible for 300 employees and their families and suddenly, people around me were falling sick, losing loved ones, and struggling. At the same time, I had to keep the business running because so many livelihoods depended on it.

I remember getting calls from employees late at night, not just about work but about their fears, their losses. People saw me as someone who could help them, and I wanted to but I was just as human and helpless in many ways.

That time taught me that entrepreneurship isn’t just about making profits. It is about standing by your people, listening to their pain, and being there when they need you. It deeply changed how I see leadership and my role as an entrepreneur.

What hobbies do you pursue in your leisure time?

I love swimming as it clears my mind and energizes me. I also enjoy reading books on self-help, psychology, and spirituality – anything that helps me understand people better.

I spend a lot of time reflecting on deeper questions too exploring Vedantic philosophy, asking “Who am I?” or “What does it mean to live a meaningful life?” These contemplations and conversations about relationships, purpose, and human nature really fascinate me.

How do you differentiate between the traditional model of market research versus the modern AI-based method? Does AI make research easy for everyone?

Traditional market research was very hands-on creating questionnaires, conducting interviews, and manually validating findings. It was a blend of primary and secondary research, and while effective, it was time-intensive and limited in scope.

With AI, things have changed dramatically. The internet has become this massive, open repository of behavioural and company data. AI allows us to scrape, organize, and analyse this data at a scale that was unimaginable before.

For example, we once helped a hair colour company identify the most popular colour. Traditionally, we would’ve run surveys and interviews. But instead, we wrote a script to scrape millions of posts with hashtags like #ILoveMyHair and #BestHairColor. The data showed “ombre” as the trending hair colour. This method was faster, richer, and arguably more objective than traditional methods.

AI doesn’t replace research expertise, but it enhances it and democratizes access to insights.

Tell us about your family and your life in Pune.

I come from a close-knit family. My father is a sociology in education professor who served as registrar of Patna University. My mother just retired as head of political science department. My sister, who studied mass communication from AMITY Delhi, now heads partner relations at Market Research Future.

My wife, Indu, has an M. Tech in Biomedical Engineering from Martin Luther University, Germany and is currently partner as well as COO of Wantstats Research & Media Pvt. Ltd. We have two beautiful kids our daughter Reva is 10 and studies at Delhi Public School, and our son, Som is 3.5 years old, is about to start school at Symbiosis International School.

Life in Pune has been warm and enriching it’s where I grew into who I am today, both personally and professionally.

What is the magic formula in your beautiful relationship with your wife, Indu?

Listening. Truly listening. I make it a point to acknowledge her dreams, support her, and never stop appreciating her beauty inside and out.

We connect deeply through our spiritual conversations about Vedanta, life, and our connection to the universe. I think that shared journey of growth and understanding is what makes our bond so special.

How would you define your happiness index?

I’d say it’s a 9 out of 10. Of course, no life is perfect but I’m deeply grateful for what I have, and that keeps me content and grounded.

Tell us about the Vinit very few people know about.

Most people see me as confident, outspoken, and always ready to connect. But inside, I’m quite shy and private.

I really value my personal space, my quiet time. Every morning, I spend about 1.5 hours just by myself, often reflecting or simply being. That’s my sanctuary and very few people, really know about this side of me.

What would be your message to us RCPCians?

It’s been just a month since I joined RCPC, but in this short time, I’ve been so inspired by the incredible work everyone here does for society and social welfare. At 36, I feel like a student among all of you learning, observing, and growing. Right now, I don’t feel I’m able to offer advice, but I want to express my admiration and gratitude for letting me be part of this journey.