Spotify’s Harpreet Singh Reflects On Five-Year Journey: ‘I’d Make The Same Decision Again’

Harpreet Singh, Sales & Monetisation Leader at Spotify India, has marked five years with the audio streaming platform by reflecting on the risks, lessons and growth that have defined his journey, describing the move as one of the most rewarding decisions of his career.

In a LinkedIn post celebrating the milestone, Singh recalled joining Spotify at a time when audio advertising in India was still an emerging category and many questioned his decision to leave a market-leading company for a relatively untested opportunity.

“Five years ago this day, I joined Spotify,” Singh wrote. “It’s one of those career decisions that has stayed with me, not because it was easy, but because of what it taught me.”

Singh revealed that before joining Spotify, he had already spent four years in the audio industry before moving into the mainstream media business. At the time, he said, industry peers warned him that audio advertising was unlikely to become a meaningful business.

“The common advice was simple: ‘Audio advertising isn’t going to become a meaningful business. Why leave something established?’” he wrote.

Despite the skepticism, Singh said he remained focused on the long-term potential of streaming audio rather than its immediate market position.

“I wasn’t thinking about where the market was. I was thinking about where it was going,” he noted, adding that this conviction ultimately made the decision easier.

Reflecting on Spotify India’s early years, Singh described the challenge of building an entirely new advertising category. He said much of the team’s efforts initially revolved around educating brands and agencies on why audio deserved a place in their media strategies.

“The early days weren’t glamorous. Most conversations with clients started with explaining why audio deserved a place in their media plans. We weren’t walking into a mature category; we were helping build one,” he wrote.

Singh also paid tribute to Spotify India’s early team, recalling how a group of just eight employees worked across multiple roles, celebrated small victories and navigated setbacks together.

“I still remember that small team of eight people who were there in the early days. We all wore multiple hats, celebrated every small win, learnt from every setback, and, most importantly, always had each other’s backs,” he shared.

Looking back, Singh said Spotify’s rapid growth in India has mirrored his own professional development. He credited the experience with reinforcing that careers are shaped by conviction, patience and the willingness to build for the future rather than choosing the safest path.

“I’ve learnt that careers aren’t defined by taking the safest decisions. They’re shaped by having conviction, staying patient, and being willing to build something before everyone else believes in it,” he wrote.

Concluding his post, Singh expressed gratitude to colleagues, clients and leaders who supported him throughout the journey, saying that despite the challenges, he would make the same career choice again.

“Five years later, I’d make the same decision again. Here’s to the journey so far, and to everything that’s still ahead,” he said.