TRUE ARTIS
Sandeep Upadhyay
Co-Founder
“For me, will is more important than skill.”
After nearly 20 years of experience across organisations including Airtel, Ola, and OYO, Sandeep Upadhyay identified an underserved segment within healthcare: aesthetic care. Alongside his partner, he set out to build TRUE ARTIS from the ground up, with the ambition of creating a business that serves customers and society while building a lasting legacy. That same philosophy shapes how he builds his team. Sandeep looks beyond technical skills and prestigious educational backgrounds to understand a candidate's intent, attitude, and willingness to build. He believes the right person can recover from failure, learn quickly, and develop the skills needed to succeed. Every hire should raise the bar. I am not looking for someone who simply fills a role; I am looking for someone who makes the team, the business, and the people around them better.
At TRUE ARTIS the expectation goes beyond performing a defined role. Sandeep wants people who are willing to learn, experiment, challenge existing processes, and contribute to building the business. The company values a structured approach to work rather than constant hustle without direction. Candidates should be comfortable taking on different responsibilities, understanding the business end to end, and questioning established ways of doing things constructively. In return, employees get the opportunity to work closely with the founders, learn from their combined 35 years of professional experience, and develop an understanding of how businesses are built across startups and larger organizations.
- Will over skill
- Ownership
- Respect
- Structured execution
- Learning agility
- Constructive questioning
- Long-term commitment
- Lack of ownership
- Unrealistic growth expectations
- Frequent job switching
- Poor team collaboration
- Resistance to feedback
- Limited learning mindset
Sandeep approaches hiring with a clear objective: every new addition should improve the team's overall capabilities. He does not restrict his search to candidates from well-known institutions or large organisations. In his experience, people with the right intent and determination can outperform expectations, regardless of their educational background. Cultural alignment is another priority. Sandeep believes that culture starts with the founders, making it important to establish the right behaviours while the organisation is still small. At TRUE ARTIS, this means combining ambition with structure, encouraging experimentation while maintaining respect, and giving people the space to challenge ideas without making disagreements personal. He also believes in acting quickly when a hire is not working out. Employees are given feedback and an opportunity to improve, but if the situation does not change, the company is prepared to make a decision.
TRUE ARTIS takes a founder-led approach to hiring, particularly while the organisation is still establishing its culture. Depending on the role, the initial interview may be conducted by the relevant manager. Senior candidates are interviewed by both Sandeep and his co-founder, Ankit. The founders also retain the final say on hiring decisions to ensure that each person aligns with the organisation's values and working style. Beyond skills and experience, the process evaluates attitude, respect, career decisions, and cultural fit. The founders want to understand not just whether someone can perform the role, but whether they can thrive in the environment TRUE ARTIS is building. For Sandeep, the right fit is not necessarily the person who hustles the hardest. It is someone who can combine ambition with structure and contribute to a healthy, sustainable team culture.
If you want to join TRUE ARTIS, demonstrate your willingness to learn, your ability to take ownership, and your openness to exploring new ways of working. Be prepared to explain your career choices and what you want to build professionally. Show that you can challenge a process constructively, identify opportunities for improvement, and work respectfully with people across different roles and levels. Do not limit yourself to what you already know. Sandeep encourages candidates to experiment, question established practices, and remain open to responsibilities outside their immediate area of expertise. His advice is to approach work with curiosity and an open mind. The aim is not simply to fit into an existing system, but to help improve it.