From darkness to IIMT to Nivea

When you’ve spent your early years in darkness, it’s difficult to believe that there’s light. Yet, Nikunj never stopped believing. Throughout his teenage years, he often felt hopeless, because being a person with low vision means you’re considered ‘not normal’ by society. And indeed, he was above normal. He was one of the brightest minds in India, and that’s how he earned his place at IIM Trichy. Nikunj not only aced his MBA, but also secured a role at NIVEA, a brand that believes in creating room for every kind of talent, shutting down every voice that doubted him. “Atypical Advantage played a key role in making my dream come true, and kudos to NIVEA for such a structured and inclusive hiring process.” Watch him find his light at the end of the tunnel.

What’s common between a 140-year-old company and a cancer survivor?

It’s about survival, hope, and the refusal to be defined by what tries to break you. As part of its 140th anniversary celebration, Johnson Controls invited Rachit Kulshrestha to their Commerzone Pune office. A resident of Pune and a skilled single-handed cyclist who has conquered even the most challenging terrains, Rachit is a three-time cancer survivor and an amputee. Rachit took to the stage and spoke of the light he clung to. It wasn’t just another corporate session, but a quiet, powerful reminder that stories of grit, human connection, and never giving up matter as much as a company’s balance sheet. “His courage made me reflect on my own battles,” shared a Johnson Controls employee, “if he can rise after everything life threw at him, maybe my problems aren’t as big as I think.”

For Rachit, it was about sharing a piece of his heart, hoping to remind people that resilience isn’t just a corporate value, it’s a human one.

Vineet Saraiwala gets felicitated with Distinguished Alumni Award by IIM Bangalore

In the bustling city of Bangalore, amidst the swaying trees, four alumni from IIM Bangalore wore their hearts on their sleeves. Felicitated with the Distinguished Alumni Award 2025, one of them was our very own Vineet Saraiwala, Founder & CEO of Atypical Advantage. “Exactly 10 years ago, I was just another student on campus, memorizing every turn to reach my classroom because I couldn’t see. IIM Bangalore has played one of the most transformative roles in my life. Without this place, Atypical Advantage would never have been born. From student to awardee, it’s a full circle I never imagined," says Vineet.

Atypical Advantage is India’s largest livelihood platform for Persons with Disabilities(PWD). Whether it is a singer looking for a show, a visual artist looking to sell their paintings, or job seekers with disabilities looking for career opportunities, it bridges the supply & demand side inefficiencies so that Persons with Disabilities can earn a dignified income. We have a large pool of 40,000+ talents with disabilities and have worked with 450+ corporates within a short span of 4 years. We were also featured on Shark Tank Season 2 and were declared the winner of the prestigious National Startup Award for Social Impact, and the National Award for Best Organization empowering persons with disabilities in 2024, conferred by the Union Government. For more information, visit our website here.