From IT Engineer to India’s Leading Digital Educator: Tarun Makhija’s Inspiring Journey of Reinvention

Success Story Jun 19, 2025 Add to Reading List

Mumbai, India – June 2025 – In a world where career pivots are rare and risky, Tarun Makhija stands out as a shining example of courage, clarity, and continuous reinvention. From beginning his career as an IT engineer to becoming one of India’s most recognized digital educators and corporate trainers, Makhija’s story reflects the evolving ambitions of India’s young professionals in the digital age.

After earning his engineering degree in IT and securing placements at firms like Zensar Technologies and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tarun made an unconventional move—he turned down the corporate track. In 2016, a spontaneous call from a friend in Mumbai inspired him to co-found Big Mouth Digital & Media, a full-service digital marketing agency. Over six years, he helped 270+ brands across 15 industries with data-driven campaigns and performance marketing strategies, executing more than 750 global campaigns.

Yet, amidst agency success, Tarun discovered a deeper calling: education.

“Building brands was fulfilling, but building people felt transformative. That’s when I knew I had to teach,”says Tarun.

Today, he leads #TarunSpeaks, an education and mentorship initiative that has already impacted over 26,000 students and professionals through live training, corporate sessions, and digital content. He has delivered more than 1,700 sessions and spoken at 100+ workshops and conferences nationwide.

From Startups to Industry Giants: Notable Engagements

Motilal Oswal Financial Services – 10-city India tour training RMs on LinkedIn and personal branding
Google HQ, Mumbai – Led closed-room training for top digital agency leaders
Reliance Entertainment & D’Decor – Conducted internal workshops on storytelling, social media, and sustainability
Master’s Union, Chitkara University – Faculty engagements and marketing hackathon judging
Capturing Wow – Designed Instagram Marketing curriculum for 500,000+ photographers

Beyond the Classroom: Building Community-Led Learning

Tarun’s approach is built on the "Learn, Implement, Share" model—emphasizing hands-on learning, community building, and content-first upskilling. He runs multiple peer-learning WhatsApp communities and provides mentorship via Topmate.io. His podcast “Be Limitless with Tarun Makhija” and Instagram Live series #TarunKeSaath feature candid conversations with founders, creators, and change-makers.

He also launched a merchandise line under the #TarunSpeaks banner, symbolizing authenticity and continuous learning.

Mission 2029: Empower a Million, Impact a Billion

With a clear long-term vision, Tarun aims to:

Educate 1 million individuals by December 1, 2029
Empower 1 billion people to earn doing what they love

“Everyone deserves to thrive in the digital economy. All they need is the right mindset, mentorship, and momentum,” he adds.

Recognitions & Media Highlights

Tarun’s influence in the digital and education ecosystems has earned him several accolades:

Featured on Times Square (2023) – Topmate’s Global Top 10 Creators
BW Marketing 30 Under 30 (2023)
Unacademy’s Top 50 Educators – Ranked 38th in India
Top 50 Upcoming Podcasters in India (2021)
Captain of the Year – Top 3 (2021)

About Tarun Makhija

Tarun Makhija is a digital marketing strategist, educator, and founder of #TarunSpeaks. With a background in IT engineering and over 10 years in the digital ecosystem, he now mentors students, entrepreneurs, and professionals to build personal brands, master performance marketing, and grow their careers online. From engineering to entrepreneurship to education, Tarun’s journey continues to inspire a generation of professionals to pivot with purpose.