This episode with the deeply inspiring William (Bill) Huffaker- Transformational Talent Executive, AI-Driven HR Strategist, SVP of Global Integrated Talent at Newell Brands, Board Advisor, Adjunct Professor, and Board Trustee- was one of the most heartwarming and honest conversations I’ve ever had.

It’s the kind of dialogue you can only have with a leader who embodies humility, humanity, and authenticity in every breath. And a conversation that stays with you forever. 

🎧 In this episode, we talk about:

• Owning your story and bringing your whole self to work

• Why growth requires discomfort

• How vulnerability builds trust

• What leadership looks like in the age of AI
  

And a fun rapid-fire round, including interview advice for early careers and having dinner with Queen Elizabeth 👑

Learn more about my inspiring guest Bill

https://www.linkedin.com/in/billhuffaker/

Let’s connect:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/purnima-krishnamurthy-0299978/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/careerinprog/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CareerInProg⁠⁠

#CareerInProgress #Podcast #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #FutureOfWork #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #AITrends #Innovation #WorkplaceCulture #AIForBusiness #TechLeadership #CareerGrowth #MindsetMatters #ChangeManagement

This episode is truly close to my heart-  it captures the power of humility, heart, and humor in shaping a remarkable and purpose-driven career.

Every once in a while, you meet someone who reminds you of the true power of humility, heart, and humor. I laughed, learned, and left deeply inspired through this conversation with Kailesh Karavadra — a noted Silicon Valley leader, Managing Partner at EY, and a visionary who has led EY’s Growth Market Strategy, focusing on entrepreneurs, startups, VCs, family businesses, PEs, and the Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY) programs. With over 36 years at EY, Kailesh’s journey is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.

Kailesh has served on numerous boards including the College Futures Foundation, California Chamber of Commerce (2022 Chair), EY Social Justice Fund, Valley Humane Society, and Janyaa — among many others dedicated to education, equity, and community impact.

From climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raising funds for education in Africa, from teaching youth soccer in Mumbai to part-owning a football club, Kailesh lives every moment with purpose and adventure.

In this episode, we explore questions that shape the future of work and leadership:

- What are the skills that will truly matter in the next decade—and tips on how do you build them today?

- Why is skill-based learning redefining how we grow and lead? - What does it mean to build your own “board of mentors and sponsors”—and how do you find them?

- How do you decide which ventures are worth funding—and what drives those choices beyond returns?

- And how can humor and humanity become your greatest strengths in leadership?

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a life that blends success with significance, this one’s for you!

Learn more about my amazing guest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaileshkaravadra/

Let’s connect:

⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/purnima-krishnamurthy-0299978/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/careerinprog/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CareerInProg⁠

#CareerInProgress #PodcastLaunch #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Mentorship #EY #LearningJourney

We’ve had many large-scale transformations in history- but why does Artificial Intelligence (AI)  stand apart as the technology that could reshape the world? This episode is truly futuristic- packed with insights on the world of AI and what it means to the current workforce and society as a whole.

To explore this, I’m thrilled to host Arun Trivedi- an AI guru, founder and host of the AI with Arun Show (available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcast), and Vice President at Tech Mahindra, where he leads the Software and Platform business for North America. Arun’s inspiring career reflects his passion for shaping the future of enterprise technology and bringing leaders together to drive change and growth.

🎯 In this episode, we dive into: ✨ Emerging AI trends shaping the future ✨ Skills and mindsets to thrive in an AI-driven world ✨ Practical ways to build a culture of AI excitement for yourself and teams today ✨ Tools you can start using now to accelerate and augment yourself!

This was my first time interviewing another podcaster- someone who’s had countless insightful conversations with leaders and CXOs. I’ll admit, I had a few butterflies in my stomach going in… but it turned out to be such a fun and enriching experience! 🙌

Hit play, get inspired, and let’s dive in ➡️ 

Learn more about my inspiring guest Arun Trivedi

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aruntrivedi/

https://www.youtube.com/@AIwithArunShow

Let’s connect:

⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/purnima-krishnamurthy-0299978/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/careerinprog/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CareerInProg⁠

#CareerInProgress #Podcast #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #FutureOfWork #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #AITrends #Innovation #WorkplaceCulture #AIForBusiness #TechLeadership #CareerGrowth #MindsetMatters #ChangeManagement

Building one successful career takes perseverance. Building two? That takes vision, grit, and an extraordinary well of inspiration.

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Jyotsna Vaidee—a top tech leader and currently the Vice President of Product at Reddit. Her career spans leadership roles at industry giants like Microsoft and Google, where she helped shape products like Google Ads, YouTube, and Google Shopping. And today, she’s helping millions connect through Reddit.

But that’s only half the story. Jyotsna is also an acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer, known for her award-winning productions and decades of dedication to this intricate Indian classical art form.

We dive into the transferable skills that fuel thriving careers—on stage and in the boardroom.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• How to balance life and multiple passions

• How creativity, discipline, and storytelling can power both art and leadership

• How to build a bold vision—at work or in your personal life

• How to overcome self-doubt with a tactile, grounded approach

• How to rise after setbacks—and rise stronger

• How to foster collaboration in high-performing teams

• Or just need a dose of real talk on grit, resilience, and perseverance
  

✨ This episode is packed with game-changing insights, practical tools, and powerful inspiration you can start using right away.

Learn more about my inspiring guest Jyotsna Vaidee

⁠LinkedIn⁠

Learn more about Ananta- Jyotsana's exciting upcoming production

Ananta tickets

Let’s connect:

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/purnima-krishnamurthy-0299978/⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/careerinprog/⁠

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CareerInProg⁠

This one is close to my heart.  I sat down with the incredible Jacqueline Brown, author of Be the CEO of You, for an honest, insightful, and deeply energizing conversation on self-leadership, visibility, and what it really means to own your voice- especially in rooms where you may feel unheard. 

We talk about what it means to truly be the CEO of you-to step into your own power whether you're building confidence and leadership, re-entering the workforce after time away, identifying strengths, or just feeling stuck.

If you've ever: ✨ Struggled with self-promotion ✨ Felt like you weren’t being heard

✨ Didn’t know how to create your brand ✨ Wondered how to rebuild your after being a stay at home parent ✨ Or simply wanted a fresh start with more clarity and confidence,
his episode is filled with game-changing tips, practical frameworks, and inspiring ideas that you can start using right away.

Timestamps & Highlights:

• 00:00 – Meet the incredible Jacqueline Brown + Top 3 takeaways

• 4:21 – Be the CEO of You: What it means and why it matters

• 8:41 – Confidence vs. Validation: Reclaiming your inner power

• 13:07 – Self-Promotion Tips: Get unstuck and show up with impact

• 16:33 – Speaking Up in Meetings: Pro tips to find your voice

• 20:17 – Visibility & Confidence: How to get started tomorrow

• 25:05 – Build Your Brand: Practical steps to own your narrative

• 29:02 – Re-entering the Workforce? How to find your strengths and create value

• 37:57 – “I am proud of myself”: Why saying it out loud is a gamechanger

• 48:46 – Rapid Fire! Top skills for aspiring executives: Listen, Connect Dots, Validate & more

Hit play, get inspired, and let’s dive in

Here is where you can get your own copy of Be the CEO of You

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Learn more about my inspiring guest Jacqueline Brown

LinkedIn

LinkedIn Newsletter⁠

Let’s connect:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/purnima-krishnamurthy-0299978/

https://www.instagram.com/careerinprog/

https://www.youtube.com/@CareerInProg

In this episode, I will dive into essential skills and share insights to level up your technical career. 

If you're just starting out, learn how to stand out in interviews, how to stay curious,and grow from a thriving technologist into an inspiring technical leader. 

For those stepping into leadership, hear tips on —navigating tough difficult conversations, building a culture of experimentation in the AI era, and creating high-performing global teams. Much more.

With no further adieu, 

I introduce our insightful guest, Sriram Subramanian.  An accomplished engineering leader with 28 years of experience in building top-tier software products. Sriram currently is the R&D Head India at Endor Labs, he’s led global teams at top companies including Citrix, Netskope, and Juniper Networks. Sriram is known for blending startup agility with enterprise rigor. He's also a published author of two books on OpenStack networking -"OpenStack Networking Cookbook" and "Software Defined Network (SDN) with OpenStack"- and maintains an active blog at cloudbuilder.in where he shares insights on cloud computing and leadership.Sriram's expertise spans cloud security, SaaS applications, distributed systems, AI and people leadership- making him the perfect guest to discuss a technical career in progress.

Openstack Networking Cookbook: https://a.co/d/2RmQCSP

Software Defined Networking (SDN) with OpenStack: https://a.co/d/3qF8Fap

In this powerful and uplifting episode, I sit down with the brilliant Prashanthi Ravanavarapu for a heartfelt, insightful, and genuinely fun conversation about the tangible skills that build thriving careers.

We unpack how she simplifies complex ideas, pitches for roles with impact, leads with purpose, and continuously evolves in an ever-changing world. Get ready for practical frameworks, simple tips, and inspiring ideas you can apply right away!

If you're ready to grow, get unstuck, and lead with clarity- this episode is for you. Hit play and let's dive in!

In this episode, you’ll learn:

00:00 Meet the incredible Prashanthi + top 3 takeaways

4:17 Struggling with complexity? A framework to simplify ideas using empathy

7:08 How a customer-centric mindset can shape your career

12:51 Do you struggle with asking for what you deserve? Here are 2 tips to get you unstuck.

23:37 Pitching for your next role: Tips, templates, and mindset shifts

33:51 Wearing multiple hats? Learn Prashanthi’s mantra for focus and flow

39:31 Reflecting on life goals: Purpose, fulfillment, and moving forward

48:50 AI is here—how to lead confidently in a tech-accelerated world

53:35 Rapid Fire! Top career skills, chaotic problem solving, inspiration & more!

Learn more about my amazing guest Prashanthi Ravanavarapu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pravanavarapu/

Let’s connect:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/purnima-krishnamurthy-0299978/

https://www.instagram.com/careerinprog/

https://www.youtube.com/@CareerInProg

Welcome to Career in Progress—a podcast about building the skills that build your career. If you’ve landed here, chances are you’re on a journey to grow or evolve your career—just like me. In each episode, I’ll share honest stories, practical strategies, and bite-sized takeaways to help you build your own manual of growth. You’ll also hear from inspiring guests who are actively learning, evolving, and building the skills we all need to thrive. So if you’ve ever asked yourself: What’s next? How do I grow and Where do I start?—you’re in the right place. I’m Purnima Krishnamurthy.—and together, let’s build your Career in Progress.