Influence is what happens after people listen’: Ranveer Allahbadia

Hyderabad, September 7, 2026: “Influence is not about how many people listen to you; it is about what happens after they listen.” That was the message from prominent podcaster, content creator and entrepreneur Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, at a special session on the future of digital influence organised by FLO Hyderabad at ITC Kakatiya on Monday.
Speaking at “Beyond the Algorithm: Building Influence in the Digital Age,” Allahbadia said influence should not be measured merely by followers, views or reach, but by the ability to change perspectives, inspire action and make people believe in themselves.
The 33-year-old engineer-turned-content creator was in conversation with Seetha Reddy, Chairperson, FLO Hyderabad, before an audience of more than 400 FLO members, past chairpersons of FLO and YFLO, entrepreneurs and professionals.
One of Allahbadia’s key messages to businesses was to rethink the way they approach digital marketing. “I think it is time for enterprises to create a youth department to handle such tasks,” he said, adding that young people below 25 from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities could bring a fresh perspective to digital marketing, given their familiarity with rapidly changing platforms, trends and online behaviour.
He said algorithms are changing at an extremely rapid pace and are becoming increasingly difficult and tiring to manage, making it important for organisations to bring younger perspectives into their digital strategies.
Allahbadia also identified WhatsApp marketing as an emerging area of opportunity, saying that audiences and marketers are increasingly moving beyond conventional social media platforms into more direct and demanding forms of digital engagement.
Explaining the role of different platforms, he said X drives conversation, LinkedIn builds business connections, Instagram creates visual influence, Facebook builds communities, while YouTube establishes authority through storytelling.
On the future of podcasting, Allahbadia said the space has become increasingly crowded and that there has been some decline in podcasting.
He, however, said talk shows and long-form conversations will continue to have relevance.
His advice to aspiring podcasters was to begin with short-form content before graduating to long-form conversations.
“Political podcasting is scary,” he said, referring to the challenges and sensitivities associated with the space.
Sharing a personal insight, Allahbadia said he had learnt a great deal from Priyanka Chopra after podcasting with her.
“I want to give back to society through my work by creating more jobs. I want to spread values through my work,” he said.
Looking ahead, Allahbadia identified quantum computing as one of the technologies that could have a major impact on the future, suggesting that it could dramatically expand computing capabilities.
His comments highlighted the rapidly changing technology landscape and the need for businesses and professionals to keep looking beyond today's dominant technologies.
Speaking about Hyderabad, Allahbadia revealed that he had tried Hyderabadi biryani in Mumbai and was keen to experience the authentic version in Hyderabad.
He also invited his followers in Telangana to send him suggestions through social media and direct messages about places he should explore in the state, saying he would like to discover more of Telangana based on recommendations from his audience.
The session examined a fundamental question of the digital era: Does visibility automatically translate into influence?
For generations, influence was largely associated with institutional positions, credentials, professional achievements and years of experience. Digital platforms have dramatically changed that equation. Today, an individual with a phone, an idea and the ability to communicate can potentially reach millions.
But, as the discussion highlighted, attention is not influence, reach is not trust, and popularity is not necessarily credibility.
Speaking about the relevance of the session, Seetha Reddy, Chairperson, FLO Hyderabad, said: “Influence today is no longer something that simply comes with a position or title. The digital world rewards speed, visibility and attention. But attention is not influence, and a large audience is not necessarily trust. The real challenge is to build relevance, credibility and staying power. Influence has to be built deliberately—through what we say, what we stand for and the conversations we create.”
She said the issue was particularly relevant for women as more women take on public-facing roles as entrepreneurs, founders, professionals, spokespersons, creators and thought leaders.
“FLO believes that the ability to communicate effectively, shape conversations and establish credibility is becoming an increasingly important component of modern leadership,” she added.
The “Beyond the Algorithm” session brought together digital influence, entrepreneurship, personal branding and leadership, encouraging women to look beyond simply being visible online and focus instead on building credibility, trust and lasting impact.