The Ultimate Journey of Ankit Agarwal – Talking about Passion, Art & Work
“Life is about making an impact, not making an income,” reflects Ankit Agarwal, the passionate founder behind Essence of Qatar. A man of many talents, Ankit has built a unique path that weaves together finance, creativity, and community. In this interview, he shares his inspiring journey and the driving forces behind his work.
The Tycoon Times: Would you like to tell us something about yourself?
Ankit Agarwal: Hello, everyone. I am Ankit Agarwal, born and raised in the City of Joy—Kolkata, India. Professionally, I am a qualified Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, and CPA (Ireland). I moved to Qatar in 2012 after passing my Chartered Accountancy exams and worked as Deputy Finance Manager for a leading construction company here. In 2022, I transitioned to the oil and gas sector, taking on the role of Senior Financial Analyst.
Beyond analyzing balance sheets and profit-and-loss statements, I have a deep love for traveling, music, painting, socializing, volunteering, and adventure sports. These interests add color and meaning to my life outside the corporate world.
The Tycoon Times: That sounds excellent. Could you tell us more about your career and projects?
Ankit Agarwal: My passion for social media, video creation, and painting inspired me to launch my own platform last year—www.essenceofqatar.com. It serves as a one-stop destination for everything about Qatar. Through this website, I introduced the People of Qatar Series, which shares stories and highlights the talents of individuals living here. I also started Sheroes of Qatar, a blog dedicated to women’s empowerment and their success stories.
In addition, I founded Indian Meetup Friends (IMF) in Qatar, a group connecting over 100 young Indians. It’s like a home away from home, where we celebrate special moments together. I’m also an ambassador for Internations, the largest expat community worldwide, which helps people living abroad connect and thrive.
The Tycoon Times: What does passion mean to you when you say that you are passionate?
Ankit Agarwal: Passion is the energy that keeps us moving forward. It fills us with meaning, happiness, and excitement. It’s a powerful force that helps us achieve our goals and experience life and work to the fullest. In the end, passion is what drives both success and happiness, enabling us to live richer, more fulfilling lives.
The Worlds Times: We see that you are very interested in art. Would you like to share something about your artistic journey?
Ankit Agarwal: Art is one of the purest and most uplifting forms of human expression. It trains the mind through the eye and the eye through the mind. Just as the sun brings color to flowers, art brings color to life.
I began my artistic journey in 2020 during the pandemic under the guidance of my art guru, Biswajeet Ray, from India. As a child, I always wanted to be an artist, but academic responsibilities put that dream on hold. When we started working from home during the pandemic, I found the perfect opportunity to rekindle my love for painting.
I am particularly drawn to abstract art because it encourages thinking outside the box and unlocks new levels of creativity. What I love most is that every abstract piece holds a deeper meaning. I’m still learning and growing as an artist, and I hope one day to become a recognized name whose work makes a positive impact on society.
As the saying goes, “The artist is not a different kind of person, but every person is a different kind of artist.”
On the professional front, I’m also honored to serve as one of the youngest Chairpersons for the Doha Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for 2022–23.
Connect with Ankit Agarwal on LinkedIn.
