Pooja Chitnis, The Upadhyays Founder: “I want to democratize marketing knowledge—ensuring that businesses, regardless of size, have access to high-impact strategies that don’t depend on large budgets.”

In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, businesses face the challenge of balancing growth with innovation—often constrained by limited resources. Enter The Upadhyays, a powerhouse of knowledge and strategy founded by Pooja and Malay Upadhyay. With over two decades of collective expertise in marketing and Applied AI, this dynamic duo has built a platform that empowers businesses, professionals, and learners alike. At its core, The Upadhyays is more than just a consulting firm; it is a movement dedicated to democratizing growth. Leveraging AI-driven insights, zero-cost marketing strategies, and deep industry expertise, Pooja guides companies toward sustainable success. Their work spans from hands-on business transformation to authorship, education, and advisory roles across industries.

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with The Upadhyays’ Founder, Pooja Chitnis, to discuss the vision behind the venture, the role of AI in reshaping marketing, and how businesses—regardless of size—can unlock exponential growth.

Q. Could you describe initial obstacles you encountered when starting The Upadhyays and how you overcame them?

Launching a new venture always comes with challenges, and The Upadhyays was no exception. One of the primary hurdles was educating businesses on the real-world applications of AI in marketing; and how much they could achieve without having to spend big by approaching things more tactically. To address this, I focused on thought leadership and education through my Zero-Cost Marketing Strategy course.

By demonstrating tangible results—such as achieving 4x website visits through SEO, 115x app downloads through omni-channel marketing – with limited budgets, I built credibility. Many of my clients today have come through referrals. That is testament to the value these companies see in addressing a desperate need for growth and survival.

Q. The Upadhyays is built on a foundation of knowledge, marketing, and AI. What makes your company’s approach truly unique?

That’s right. The Upadhyays was one of the very first companies to launch a version of Agentic AI, which is fast becoming the hype now. It was a set of solutions working together to automate the entire BDR activity to help organizations get 4x more output from their existing sales team at 80% lower costs, and avoid costly hiring risks. Any company can build that kind of solution if they have the know-how, and that’s what I bring to the table.

Another factor that makes our approach unique is our foundational strategic marketing template. Built proprietarily, it can be plugged at any stage of a company’s growth journey to guide the company on the next steps to take. The sheer number of initiatives that don’t break the bank in Marketing is mind-boggling, but the trick is to time them. That alone can be the difference between a 4-5x ROI or a 400-500x ROI. And that’s the other secret sauce in the mix.

Q. How does your company blend AI with human expertise to create transformational growth strategies for businesses?

AI is a guide and colleague, whose primary role is not to replace us but to augment what we can achieve manually. As with the BDR automation I mentioned earlier, the idea is to take over the repetitive cold reachouts that BDRs have to do and increase the lead coverage 4x. Add to that more customized and better-timed pings so that an interested lead doesn’t have to wait till the BDR gets time to engage her. What you have now is effectively a colleague who just freed your time to focus on the leads that have already been found, qualified, and warmed for you to engage. How many more deals could you close in your limited time?

Another example is where I implemented a time-efficient, SEO-friendly content engine for a professional services client by integrating AI-powered tools that empowered their small team to produce plagiarism-free and brand-compliant content at a scale comparable to major brands while enabling their team to focus more on strategy over execution.

These are some examples of how AI and humans can work to transform business growth, if managed in a responsible way.

Q. You’ve advised organizations globally. How does your experience across such varied sectors influence the strategic decisions you make for clients?

Every organization is at a different stage of its brand and customer journey. Some are very new in their journey, while others have good awareness but need to build more credibility. There are also organizations that have the entire sales and marketing vehicle built out but proving inefficient because few essential cogs are missing.

Industry generally impacts the nature of customers along this journey. And that is where strategies require customizations.

Working across diverse sectors has given me a 360-degree perspective on marketing. In academia, the focus is on knowledge-sharing and credibility. In tech, agility and innovation take center stage. In tourism and SaaS, engagement and user experience drive results. And in the non-profit sector, where I play the role of a fractional CMO for Sai Dham Food Bank, it’s about strategic partnerships and revenue generation. This diversity allows me to adapt marketing strategies dynamically.

Q. How do you envision The Upadhyays influencing the future of AI and marketing cooperation? And what legacy do you hope to leave behind?

The future of marketing isn’t AI replacing humans—it’s AI enhancing human capabilities. At The Upadhyays, we are pioneering a human + AI collaboration model, where businesses can harness AI for efficiency while retaining the soul of storytelling.

My legacy? I want to democratize marketing knowledge—ensuring that businesses, regardless of size, have access to high-impact strategies that don’t depend on large budgets.

Q. We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

Throughout my journey, I have been fortunate to be guided by incredible mentors who have profoundly shaped my approach to leadership and marketing. Malay Upadhyay, my business and life partner, has been a transformative force in deepening my understanding of AI-driven business strategies. With his unwavering support, I have had the opportunity to co-author educational resources and cultivate my entrepreneurial spirit.

Another pivotal mentor has been Dr. Cindy Gordon, a visionary leader in AI. Her guidance has played a key role in shaping my leadership style, and her consistent encouragement has pushed me to challenge my limits, empowering me to grow both personally and professionally.

Q. What’s your ultimate vision for The Upadhyays, and how do you plan to leave an indelible mark on the future of business and leadership?

The Upadhyays is our umbrella organization to drive initiatives that help businesses and society alike. Our first aim is to be the go-to global resource for businesses looking to scale using innovative marketing strategies. That is why you can find a wealth of resources at MyBrandClass.com and at ClassesAI.com on the topics of Marketing and AI, respectively.

It also comes down to the kind of businesses I work with. For instance, at Sai Dham Food Canada, my work is helping the organization sustain its mission of feeding thousands of underprivileged, senior or homeless people every day. I am also working on a solution to help people make their partnerships work better, which I hope to bring to you soon.

Q. You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amounts of good to the most amounts of people, what would that be?

I would champion a movement that would allow young companies to compete with those having deeper pockets on the merits of their offering and the value it brings to the market. AI is a great leveler, and knowledge increases when it is shared. Together, these two can allow us to make more informed decisions. And Marketing for Good—leveraging marketing not just for profit but for social impact—can play a crucial role in that.

Through storytelling, businesses have the power to educate, inspire, and drive positive change. I believe every brand, no matter its size, can integrate purpose-driven marketing into its strategy—whether it’s supporting sustainability, championing inclusivity, or spreading awareness about important causes. If I could inspire businesses to align their growth with a greater good, that would be my most meaningful contribution.

Meet the leader behind the success of The Upadhyays

Pooja Chitnis, Founder

Pooja Chitnis is an award-winning marketing strategist and thought leader with over a decade of experience driving business growth across industries. She is the co-author of Modern Marketing Using AI and the creator of the Zero-Cost Marketing Strategy Course, equipping businesses with innovative, budget-friendly scaling strategies.

As the Founder of The Upadhyays, Pooja specializes in AI-driven and human-centric marketing, helping organizations achieve transformational growth. In her roles as a fractional CMO, Advisor and Consultant, she has advised businesses globally on digital transformation, content strategy, and customer engagement. Her contributions to the field have earned her numerous accolades, including HubSpot User Champion, Rocheston Distinguished Service Provider, recognition as one of CATA’s “20 Amazing Women in Tech in Canada”, and her role as an Expert Advisor at #StartUpChats.

Passionate about democratizing marketing knowledge, Pooja is committed to ensuring businesses of all sizes can access and implement cutting-edge strategies for sustained success.

“By demonstrating tangible results—such as achieving 4x website visits through SEO, 115x app downloads through omni-channel marketing – with limited budgets, I built credibility. Many of my clients today have come through referrals. That is testament to the value these companies see in addressing a desperate need for growth and survival.”