Our story

Born from confusion. Built for clarity. Career Plan B didn't start in a corner office. It started in 2009, in a college corridor — with a student who was just as confused as everyone else. Our founder, Shahnaz Hussain, was still studying when she noticed a painful pattern: bright, capable students settling for careers that weren't truly theirs. She was one of them. What troubled her most wasn't just the confusion — it was the fact that career decisions were being made without any scientific or structured process. Advice was random. Guidance was opinion-based. Outcomes were irreversible. So she decided to change that. What began as informal guidance between lectures soon turned into a mission: to build a research-driven, structured, and evidence-based approach to career counselling — so no student has to rely on guesswork.

Empowering students to make informed career decisions.

Unlike commission-based models, we focus on transparency and unbiased advice. We've worked with thousands of students and professionals who felt stuck, lost, or unsure about their next steps. Whether you're navigating stream selection, college admissions, or a career shift — our industry-backed programs help you identify your strengths, explore new paths, and take confident next steps.

Headquartered in Gurugram, with branches in Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Bihar, and Jharkhand — we're building a pan-India presence to reach students everywhere.

A community built for growth.

Career Plan B brings together curious minds from across industries — students, parents, educators, professionals, and mentors — all working toward one goal: informed career decisions, not just quick fixes.

Through PsycheIntel assessments, 1-on-1 counselling, workshops, mentorship, and peer networks — we help people move from confusion to clarity, faster.

2009

The Beginning

Balancing college lectures and counselling sessions, Shahnaz began helping students find direction — not just degrees. Early success stories validated something important: when guidance is structured and research-backed, results follow, and word spreads. That’s when she made a bold choice: to stop treating this as a passion project — and dedicate her life to building a scientific career counselling platform.

2012

Helping Students Go Global

Before “study abroad” became mainstream, students and parents were already asking questions — and feeling unsure. Career Plan B emerged as one of the early trusted voices helping Indian families navigate foreign admissions, documentation, visas, and the emotional leap — all through a well-defined, research-led process. It was hand-holding, trust, and transparency — long before the market caught up.

2015

Expansion with Purpose

Instead of pursuing a master’s degree, Shahnaz invested her own savings into building Career Plan B. No investors. No shortcuts. Just belief in a better system. As the platform grew, a deeper flaw in the Indian education ecosystem became clear — students struggling with India’s admission maze: JEE. NEET. State counselling rounds. Endless forms. Complex admission processes. High stakes. Zero unbiased guidance.

2020

Building the Full Ecosystem

By now, one truth was clear: career confusion is rarely just about careers. Behind it lie anxiety, family expectations, behavioural challenges, school environment itself and educators who need support too. So we expanded the vision: ManoMitra — behavioural counselling for students and parents. UpskillEd — training programs for teachers and educators Because fixing outcomes means fixing the ecosystem. Because sustainable career outcomes require systemic change.

2024

Pan-India, People-First

Today, Career Plan B is headquartered in Gurugram, with a growing presence across Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Bihar, and Jharkhand. We launched DecodeEd, our podcast that brings real, honest career conversations to students everywhere. From a college side gig to a team of 500+ counsellors, serving thousands of families across India—one thing hasn’t changed: structured, scientific, student-first. No student should make a career decision in the dark. And we’re just getting started.