In this episode, we host Ratna Viswanathan, the first Indian CEO of the social impact organization, Reach To Teach, funded by the Larry Ellison Foundation.

Ratna shares her experience transitioning from a 21-year career in civil service to leading significant changes in the development and education sectors.

She discusses the importance of community engagement, designing for scale, and fostering partnerships with government entities. Ratna emphasizes the critical role of leadership in both government and social enterprises, shares valuable insights on improving education in low-resource environments, and highlights the importance of passion, patience, and flexible policies within the social sector.

With a mission to drive substantial impact, Reach2Teach has already positively affected the lives of 8.2 million students in India.

In Episode 92, we dive deep into the essence of company culture and alignment with special guests Sirisha and Harish, co-authors of the acclaimed book 'Hope is Not a Strategy'.

Sirisha shares her experiences from her Nehru Fulbright Scholarship at Carnegie Mellon and her insights from interning at Zappos.

Harish discusses the importance of alignment in leadership, drawing from his journey with 'choose to Thinq'. They introduce the Dilemma Resolution Framework (DRF) and debunk common myths about company culture.

The discussion emphasizes the deliberate effort needed to maintain and evolve a company's culture while aligning it with long-term strategies. This episode is a must-watch for founders, leaders, and anyone interested in organizational culture.

Join us for the premiere of Season 19, recorded from our new podcast studio, as we sit down with Manish Dabkara, the Chairman and Managing Director of EKI Energy.

In this Season 18 finale, award winning host & serial entrepreneur, Kaushik Bose, hosts finance veteran Iftikhar Shaikh, who brings nearly three decades of experience from leading financial institutions.

Pls note that all views shared are his personal ones and by no means reflect his current or any past organizations that he's worked with.

In the 89th episode of "Brain Box", we have an amazing chat with guest Nimisha Morkonda, who has extensive experience in AI and data science from working with large corporations.

In the 89th episode of "Brain Box", we have an amazing chat with guest Nimisha Morkonda, who has extensive experience in AI and data science from working with large corporations.

Pls note that all views shared are her personal ones and by no means reflect her current or any past organizations that she's worked with.

In this podcast episode, Shashi Kumar, the Founder and CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic, discusses his journey from a technology professional to revolutionizing organic farming in India. After a 15-year career in the IT sector in India and the U.S., Kumar returned to India, driven by a desire to change how farming is perceived and practiced.

He, along with 27 ex-Wipro colleagues, founded Akshayakalpa - a crowdfunded initiative focused on organic farming and technology solutions like Stellapps to address challenges in agriculture.

Shashi elaborates on the inspiration behind Akshayakalpa, the emphasis on soil management, dairy farming for consistent cash flow to farmers, and the importance of organic practices.

The discussion also covers the economic, technological, and ecological dimensions of farming, the role of consumers in sustainable agriculture, and Akshayakalpa's future vision.

Shashi's story is a testament to leveraging technology and innovative practices to enhance farming sustainability and profitability.

Timestamps:

02:00 Inception

03:28 Driving Force

05:20 Learnings So Far

09:47 Farmer Entrepreneurship

11:59 Future of Farming

13:53 Selection Criteria

15:26 Consumers

18:20 Vision going forward

In this podcast episode, Shashi Kumar, the Founder and CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic, discusses his journey from a technology professional to revolutionizing organic farming in India. After a 15-year career in the IT sector in India and the U.S., Kumar returned to India, driven by a desire to change how farming is perceived and practiced.

He, along with 27 ex-Wipro colleagues, founded Akshayakalpa - a crowdfunded initiative focused on organic farming and technology solutions like Stellapps to address challenges in agriculture.

Shashi elaborates on the inspiration behind Akshayakalpa, the emphasis on soil management, dairy farming for consistent cash flow to farmers, and the importance of organic practices.

The discussion also covers the economic, technological, and ecological dimensions of farming, the role of consumers in sustainable agriculture, and Akshayakalpa's future vision.

Shashi's story is a testament to leveraging technology and innovative practices to enhance farming sustainability and profitability.

Timestamps:

02:00 Inception

03:28 Driving Force

05:20 Learnings So Far

09:47 Farmer Entrepreneurship

11:59 Future of Farming

13:53 Selection Criteria

15:26 Consumers

18:20 Vision going forward

Welcome to Episode 87! In this special face-to-face interview, our guest, Sudarshan Sarma, former CEO of Carz on Rent and a seasoned leader with experience in Flipkart, Google, and GM, shares profound insights into the auto industry's future and essential leadership traits.

Join us as we delve into the intersection of AI and automotive innovation, discussing how AI is reshaping driving experiences, maintenance, and production logistics.

We also explore the electrification landscape, debating the future of EVs and the critical considerations surrounding infrastructure, sustainability, and market dynamics, especially in India.

Additionally, Sudarshan shares invaluable leadership lessons, emphasizing empathy, clarity of vision, and customer focus as essential traits for effective leadership.

He underscores the importance of customer-centricity and cross-functional collaboration in driving business growth and adaptation to evolving market demands.

Discover how marketing strategies have evolved from placement-based buying to audience-based targeting, leveraging AI and data insights to deliver more relevant and impactful brand experiences across diverse platforms.

Tune in for an engaging discussion that traverses the realms of technology, leadership, and industry dynamics, offering actionable insights for leaders and enthusiasts alike.

Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation! Subscribe now and stay tuned for more thought-provoking episodes.

In the Season 18 curtain raiser, our host, Kaushik Bose talks with Pallavi Jha, who is the Chairperson and Managing Director of Dale Carnegie Training India, with over 21 years of experience leading their India operations.

They discuss a lot about leadership (including introverted leaders), AI, and their impact on organizations. Overall, the discussion offers insight into developing strong, ethical leadership amidst technological transformations.

They begin by discussing how perspectives on leadership have changed globally and in India over the past two decades. Pallavi notes impacts from globalization, technology advances, workforce demographic shifts, and India's emergence on the global stage.

She debunks myths that leaders must be extroverted visionaries and says leadership is situational - we can all lead in different contexts.

The discussion then touches on identifying high-potential leaders.

The focus then changes to the effects and opportunities of artificial intelligence. Pallavi sees both risk and opportunity for leaders in AI's disruption of businesses and jobs.

For employees, she advocates addressing fears through education, reskilling and psychological safety in change processes.

For HR leaders facing new tech demands, Pallavi recommends clarity on AI uses and change management support.