Was Karna just misunderstood

Remember Karna from Mahabharat? What do you think about him?

During our Masterclass for CXOs at the WOW Conference 2025, we ran a little experiment. Participants were randomly given two versions of Karna’s story—one highlighting his virtues, the other emphasizing his flaws. Then we asked them:

“How would you describe Karna in one word?”

The responses were fascinating! Those who read the positive version described him as brave, loyal, and skilled. Those who read the negative version called him arrogant, bitter, and unfair.

Same person. Two different narratives. Two completely different perceptions. Now, think about how that sometimes plays out at the workplace. On company review platforms and social media, disgruntled voices often dominate. When platforms only amplify one side of the story, perceptions become unfair—and employer brands suffer.

That’s why we created the WOW Workplace Awards, powered by our WOW Workplace Engagement Survey as a platform for authentic recognition. Instead of relying on skewed online reviews, we collect real WOW Reviews from employees to showcase companies that truly deliver a WOW experience.