‘Corporate refugees are building fabulous creative businesses’: Oindrila Roy on life beyond corporate

Mumbai: Nearly a year after stepping away from corporate leadership, former Publicis India Managing Director Oindrila Roy has shared her thoughts on what life has looked like outside the traditional agency ecosystem. After spending over 25 years in advertising and marketing leadership across organisations including Publicis India, Essence, Leo Burnett, JWT, and more, Roy transitioned to entrepreneurship in 2025. In a LinkedIn post, Roy reflected on how her understanding of work has evolved since leaving the corporate world. “Meanwhile, those of us who left are having a bizarre realization that the outside world is vastly more interesting,” she wrote. According to Roy, the past year has exposed her to people building businesses driven by creativity, problem-solving, and purpose. “Everywhere I look, corporate refugees are building absolutely fabulous creative businesses. And by ‘creative,’ I don't mean they are designing aesthetic pitch decks. I mean raw, industrious, ingenious creativity. People are fixing real-world friction, launching nimble micro-businesses, and creating genuine value out of sheer grit, wit, and necessity.” She also observed that conversations around independent work have shifted, with entrepreneurship increasingly being seen as a fulfilling career path rather than an alternative to corporate success. Ending her post on an encouraging note, Roy wrote, “To my fellow builders, hustlers, and accidental entrepreneurs who are out here creating something magnificent out of thin air, keep going! The work you are doing is fabulous.” While acknowledging the challenges of corporate life, she also offered a light-hearted message to those still navigating it, “Hang in there buddy. We will save a seat for you on the outside.” Roy's post offers a glimpse into how one of the industry's seasoned leaders views work after a year of building independently, placing the emphasis not on leaving corporate behind, but on discovering new forms of creativity, autonomy and fulfillment.