In this episode of DiscoverU Career Journeys, host Nahida Coelho speaks with Girish Chandwadkar, a seasoned visual communication designer with over 22 years’ experience leading creative teams at Tata Interactive Systems and Knowledge Works Global. Today, Girish has reinvented himself as a full‑time artist—painting, photographing wildlife, and exploring new creative mediums. In this Q&A, he shares the pivotal moments, mindset shifts, and practical steps that shaped his path from corporate design to independent creativity.
Q&A with Girish Chandwadkar
1. What Does Your Day Look Like Now, as a Full‑Time Artist?
“My mornings start calmly—no rush to an office. After meditation and shower, I make tea, tend my plants, and take care of errands like groceries. By midday I’m free to paint—often experimenting with new media or honing my watercolor skills. Some afternoons I read or catch up on podcasts, and weekends might include a movie. It’s a peaceful, self‑directed rhythm I never had in corporate life.”
2. When Did You First Realize You Wanted a Creative Career?
“In eighth grade I enrolled in an elementary drawing exam—and loved it so much I took private classes by ninth grade. Those early classes gave me clarity: I knew art would be my path after 10th standard. I was fascinated by drawing all day and felt no doubt even as I prepared for formal fine‑arts education.”
3. Who Guided You Early On?
“Teachers played a huge role. Whether it was a science teacher asking me to diagram a frog on the blackboard or my drawing instructor showcasing my work to the class, those moments built confidence. Beyond that, I had to seek out family friends and relatives who’d walked a similar path—though their guidance focused more on college entry than long‑term career.”
4. How Did You Land Your First Role in Design?
“I decided I’d take the first opportunity after graduation—salary, hours, commute didn’t matter. A relative told me of a small studio making Christmas‑themed animated CDs for the US market. My role was purely illustration—no computers. That six‑month stint gave me real‑world experience and introduced me to corporate creative processes.”
5. What Formal Training Did You Pursue?
“I completed a five‑year GDR diploma in Fine Arts—one year of foundation, four years specialization. It covered fundamentals deeply but lacked digital art and creative technologies. I learned those on the job later, supported by senior designers who mentored me in corporate setups.”
6. How Did You Choose Your Specialization?
“It starts with honest self‑assessment: do you really like animation or UX design, or just admire the final product? I urge aspiring creatives to pause a frame of an animated movie and redraw it—if that excites you, the medium might be your calling. Then research programs, consider part‑time vs. full‑time, and enroll where your interest and aptitude align.”
7. What Challenges Did You Face in Corporate Life?
“Corporate roles come with deadlines, long hours, and constraints you must accept for a paycheck. As I rose to leadership, I realized my satisfaction depended on others’ outputs, not my own art—mentoring could only go so far when I wasn’t the final decision‑maker. Eventually I craved freedom to create on my own terms.”
8. How Did You Prepare for Your Creative Transition?
“Over two to three years I mapped my assets, liabilities, passive income, and investments—my sister, a financial advisor, helped me build that safety net. I even lived off savings for six to eight months to confirm I could sustain myself. That objective groundwork, plus my wife’s support, gave me the confidence to make the leap.”
9. What Mindset Shifts Helped You?
“I had to redefine my self‑worth beyond job titles or company brands. As I matured, I learned that creativity isn’t bound by a role—it’s about exploring dimensions of myself. I stopped comparing my journey to others’, focusing instead on building my capabilities and trusting that my ‘season to blossom’ would come.”
10. Can You Really Make a Living with Art and Photography?
“Yes—but treat it like a new career start. Give it 100% the way you did at the beginning of your corporate job. Be patient: growth takes time. Define your own systems, goals, and metrics instead of relying on corporate structures. The freedom comes with responsibility, but with persistence and continuous upskilling, making art your livelihood is entirely possible.”
Key Takeaways
– Follow Early Passions: Childhood interests often signal lifelong career fits.
– Build Strong Fundamentals: A fine‑arts education provides versatile creative foundations.
– Prepare Financially: Real‑world financial planning reduces risk in career pivots.
– Shift Your Mindset: Redefine worth beyond titles, and trust your unique timing.
– Embrace Continuous Learning: Adapt and upgrade skills to stay relevant.
Girish Chandwadkar is a visual communication designer with over two decades of experience leading creative teams at Tata Interactive Systems and Knowledge Works Global Limited. A graduate in Fine Arts and a first-generation artist in his family, he has mentored aspiring designers while cultivating his personal passion for painting and wildlife photography. Now based in Thane after growing up in Badlapur, Girish continues to explore creative pursuits in his post-corporate journey.
