CA Abhijit Kelkar on GDP, AI & the future of the profession | Coffee with CA скачать в хорошем качестве

CA Abhijit Kelkar on GDP, AI & the future of the profession | Coffee with CA

What does it mean to be a chartered accountant in a world shaped by AI, policy, and rapid economic change? In this episode of Coffee with CA, host Geena Bharwani sits down with CA Abhijit Kelkar—a lawyer, policy voice, author of GDP Decoded, and a thought leader who has spent 25+ years shaping the profession. In this powerful conversation, CA Abhijit Kelkar shares: His journey from qualification to building a 25-year practice Why he believes “you live as a CA and you die as a CA” The real meaning behind India’s GDP and why he wrote a book on it His bold take: “AI won’t replace CAs—but CAs who use AI will” How CAs can stay relevant across generations—gurus, mavericks, and digital dynamos Why India’s Tier-2 & Tier-3 cities hold the key to the nation’s next big leap Leadership lessons from serving on ICAI, economic councils, and policy boards Whether you're a CA, a commerce student, a business leader, or someone fascinated by India’s economic future, this episode is packed with clarity, perspective, and wisdom you'll enjoy. Subscribe for more conversations with CAs shaping the future of business. Powered by Zoho Books. Watch. Reflect. Be inspired. Be sure to click the notification bell to get alerts for our latest uploads. #cainterviews #FinanceCareer #CoffeeWithCA #ZohoBooks #CASuccessStory #AccountingLeadership #ZohoForCAs Host: Geena Bharwani, Zoho 00:00 – Introduction 00:25 – “You live as a CA, you die as a CA” 01:01 – Why he stepped into the world of economics 01:21 – The responsibility behind decoding GDP 01:31 – Writing GDP Decoded & simplifying complex terms 01:49 – Early career choices after qualifying as a CA 02:02 – Entrepreneurship mindset from family influence 02:10 – Starting practice from Day 1 02:38 – Building a firm and 25 years in practice 03:02 – Leading the Nagpur Branch of ICAI 03:31 – His leadership philosophy: Taking everyone along 04:18 – The evolution of the CA profession over 25 years 04:50 – The three generations of CAs: Gurus, mavericks & digital dynamos 05:40 – How technology challenges each generation differently 06:29 – Why digital-first CAs will shape the future 07:01 – Importance of adapting to regulations & technology 08:00 – Access to information: Then vs. now 08:31 – Applying judgment vs. relying on tools 08:47 – His perspective on AI in CA practice 09:14 – “AI won’t replace CAs—but CAs who use AI will” 10:02 – The risks of over-relying on technology 10:55 – Advice to young CAs entering the profession 11:24 – Why he pursued law along with CA 12:03 – How LLB shaped his understanding of interpretation 12:41 – Common misconceptions in law 13:27 – Why he chose GDP as the subject of his first book 14:04 – What GDP really represents (and its limitations) 14:57 – The metric he thinks matters more than GDP 15:14 – Advice for leaders: Ask the right question 15:49 – Experience working with government authorities 16:06 – Why India must refocus on Tier-2 & Tier-3 cities 17:00 – His advice to new CAs on India’s economic rise 18:48 – The reality of starting a CA practice 19:09 – His vision for legacy & building a 300–400 person firm 19:51 – Moving into the fun rapid-fire segment 20:11 – What GDP would be like if it were a person 20:25 – Which balance sheet item best represents him 20:32 – The historical event he would audit 21:16 – The mindset he carries into high-stakes rooms 21:30 – Closing thoughts