In this raw conversation, Gomathi Shankar - lead actor and co-writer of the Netflix Top 10 psychological thriller Stephen - reveals how a crew of complete outsiders turned a 10-minute short film into a feature that defied the industry.

Gomathi breaks down the brutal realities: why the "lone genius" myth is a trap, how collective ownership became their survival strategy, and why character psychology made the difference between obscurity and a Netflix breakthrough.

If you've ever felt locked out by gatekeepers or wondered if raw talent can still win, this will reignite your belief in what's possible.

What you’ll learn

• The Critical Importance of "Cracking Your Team.”

• Balancing Artistic Excellence with Business Logic 

• Understanding Character Psychology and "Cause and Effect.”

• The Strategic Advantage of Extensive Pre-production (Prep) 

• Navigating the Production Journey to Netflix

• Surviving the "Dark Journey" of Filmmaking

• Expanding Perspectives Beyond Acting and Directing 

• The Global Impact of Streaming Platforms

• Developing Character Ownership through Collaboration

00:00 Intro

01:37 Guest Introduction

02:34 The Transition from Short to Feature Film

04:12 The Five-Year Journey

06:29 Team Ownership

07:39 Importance of Teamwork

09:42 Balancing Artistic Success

12:02 Advice for Aspiring Directors

14:56 Recognizing Technical Roles

17:46 Collaborative Writing

22:24 Researching Intriguing Themes

25:52 Production Timelines

29:03 Global Impact

32:56 The Acting Journey

34:49 Character Ownership

37:03 The Crucial Role of Pre-Production

40:59 Cracking Your Team

42:06 Navigating the Dark Journey

44:00 Final Recommendation

To Know More,

Follow Arjun Dhannjayan On ⤵︎

Instagram @arjun.dhananjayan

 / arjun.dhananjayan  

LinkedIn - Arjun Dhananjayan

  / arjundhananjayan  

The Cognitive Brand explores the future of marketing and how brands can use AI to stay relevant, build trust, and grow smarter in a changing world.

Build a brand that thinks ahead. The Cognitive Brand. Buy the book from the link below.

https://notionpress.com/in/read/the-c...

In a world where attention spans are shrinking, this conversation explores what marketing must become to stay relevant. Mr.Shyam Sunder, a marketing leader with 30 years of experience across India and the Middle East, shares how marketing shifted from brand-building to performance obsession and why that’s risky.

From AI-driven research to brand vs demand and the growing gap between marketers and leadership, this episode focuses on what still matters. A thinking conversation for founders, CMOs, marketers, and students who care about the long game.

00:00 Marketing in a Time-Poor World
00:44 Brand vs. Demand: The 60/40 Rule
02:11 The Digital Life and Consumer Choices
03:28 Marketing in the AI Revolution
05:46 Short-Term Focus vs. Brand Building
10:13 Strategy vs. Execution: The Key Conflict
14:20 AI's Role in Research and Efficiency
18:39 The Impact of AI on Copywriting
22:52 Essential Skills: Strategic Thinking
29:53 Marketing's Role in the Boardroom
38:25 Marketing as the Voice of the Customer
46:21 The Role of the CMO
52:50 Insourcing vs. Outsourcing Creativity
57:23 Defining Great Marketing Talent
1:00:07 Comparing the UAE and India Markets

To Know More,

Follow Arjun Dhannjayan On ⤵︎

Instagram @arjun.dhananjayan

  / arjun.dhananjayan  

LinkedIn - Arjun Dhananjayan

  / arjundhananjayan  

The Cognitive Brand explores the future of marketing and how brands can use AI to stay relevant, build trust, and grow smarter in a changing world.

Build a brand that thinks ahead. The Cognitive Brand. Buy the book from the link below.

https://notionpress.com/in/read/the-c...

In this conversation we go beyond buzzwords with Vinita, one of India’s most respected voices in marketing research. We break down how founders, D2C brands, and marketers can use research as a growth engine from packaging and pricing to influencer strategy and film testing. Real case studies, zero fluff, and frameworks you can apply tomorrow.

0:00 Cold Open & Episode Setup

2:50 Marketing vs Sales & Real Market Research

5:45 Brand Equity as a Growth Lever

10:00 Perception & Brand Stretch (Bata, Crocs, HUL)

18:00 Why SMBs & D2C Must Front-Load Research

25:46 Pricing Power Through B2B Research

27:50 Why Not All Feedback Should Be Implemented

29:15 Founder DIY Framework: From Unbranded to Brand

34:56 Word of Mouth vs Ads

36:08 Turning Research into Action

36:52 Legacy Brand Refresh & Expansion (MTT)

40:39 Informal vs Formal Market Research

45:38 Benefits vs Problems & UX vs UI Explained

51:19 Market Research Basics: Qual vs Quant

55:11 DIY Research Toolkit & Sample Sizes

58:27 Category Entry Strategy (Masala Example)

1:01:08 The Future of Market Research

1:03:58 Film Testing & Biometric Signals

1:05:51 Passive Nudges & Attention Design

1:07:03 Influencers to Users as Researchers

1:10:43 GenAI’s Impact on Market Research

1:16:37 Data Bias & Predictability Limits

1:23:07 Trend Spotting & Exploratory Research

1:26:10 Digital Self vs Real Self

1:31:17 Tools Deep Dive: Eye Tracking & Biomarkers

1:37:06 Multimodal Research in Large Organisations

1:38:27 Is Market Research Good for Society?

1:40:20 Humans vs AI — Final Take

In this episode, Mr.Imran, Director at Black Tulip Group, share insights from a 35-year journey of building a family-run business into a global enterprise. He discusses the realities of scaling across markets, the importance of people-first leadership, and the decisions that shaped long-term growth. The conversation also explores Black Tulip Group’s presence across floriculture, farming, logistics, and retail, offering practical perspectives on building resilient, legacy-driven businesses in a global landscape.

00:00 Intro

01:17 The Black Tulip story

02:28 Flower gifting for everyone

04:05 Three brothers, one business

06:43 Learning from the ground up

08:41 People-first culture

10:24 Building without middlemen

12:34 Legacy vs startup mindset

15:10 Second-generation leadership

18:22 Experience over degrees

22:52 From research to retail

28:36 India’s floral market growth

33:54 The emotion behind flowers

36:59 Farm-to-consumer supply chain

42:36 Import and policy challenges

46:37 India’s floriculture regions

49:35 Why Agri talent exits

55:37 AI in floriculture

01:02:30 What’s next for Black Tulip

01:09:39 Family and faith

01:12:11 Final thoughts

In this powerful episode of the Dare2Begin Podcast, part of The Future Unveiled series, we sit down with Larissa Murman, the pioneering Digital Chief HR Officer of Unilever International, to explore how AI is reshaping the future of work — and what it truly means for leaders, employees, and organizations worldwide.From walking into her first tech summit as “the HR lady” surrounded by engineers, to confronting her own AI clone that even fooled her mother, Larissa shares raw, personal stories of fear, transformation, and courage. She explains how she reinvented herself as a Digital CHRO, why Unilever is embedding AI in HR and marketing, and what it really takes to lead teams across cultures in a time of exponential change.More than technology, Larissa emphasizes the human edge: combining AI (Artificial Intelligence) with EI (Emotional Intelligence) and SI (Subconscious Intelligence) to create leaders who can adapt, empathize, and innovate in ways machines cannot.Across two hours, we cover: • Her journey across 8 countries, from Bavaria to Singapore to UAE • How AI bots are replacing 85% of HR queries at Unilever • The shocking moment an AI clone of her was created in 15 minutes • Why interns using AI can outperform CMOs • The framework of AI + EI + SI as the new leadership DNA • Silva Method, subconscious practices, and manifestation in leadership • Reverse mentoring: Gen Z teaching CEOs, retirees coaching Gen Z • The future of HR roles, workforce design, and AI agents in every team • Why self-upskilling is the only safe strategy for employees • What makes a great leader in the AI age — and how to manage egoThis conversation is a masterclass on the future of work — equal parts practical, vulnerable, and visionary. Whether you’re an HR professional, a leader, or simply curious about how to survive (and thrive) in the AI age, this is one episode you can’t miss.👉 Also, don’t forget to pre-book my upcoming book "The Cognitive Brand" here: www.arjundhananjayan.com

AI is transforming classrooms, careers, and entire industries. But how much of education can truly be automated—and where do humans still matter most?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Christopher Abraham (CEO & Head, SP Jain Global Dubai; TEDx Speaker; 30+ years in academic leadership) to decode the future of learning and work in the AI era.We discuss: •CMU’s experiment: Can an AI corporation run itself? (22% yes, 78% still human) •Why fake references & AI hallucinations demand new assessments •The rise of EdTech ($90B by 2032) and micro-credentials shaping careers •“Digital deduction”: how over-reliance on tech rewires the brain •Why whole-brain thinkers (STEM + creativity) will lead the future •The T-Model: Master one, sample many—with AI as your amplifier •The 3 L’s of a meaningful career: Live • Love • Leave a legacy🎓 Who should watch: Students, educators, entrepreneurs, and policy-makers looking to future-proof their skills, institutions, and careers.💡 What you’ll take away: A roadmap to thrive in an AI-first world—where success comes not from fearing AI, but from learning to blend technology with human wisdom.👉 Stay tuned—our next episodes feature global AI leaders from Singapore, Germany, Dubai, and the US. Subscribe so you don’t miss it.

How Dubai is building an AI-first nation — from education to infrastructure, governance to sustainability.📌 Why Watch This Episode? • Real insights into UAE’s trillion-dollar AI strategy • Ground-level view of Dubai’s smart city development • The mindset behind rapid innovation in government • Learn how nations can ethically, practically and powerfully adopt AI • Get inspired to rethink what’s possible — in tech, business, and policy

He built a data company before most Indians knew what Google was.

Today, he’s building AI-powered airships, helping global enterprises govern data, and warning the world: “AI without governance is like airplanes without air traffic control.”In this deep, no-fluff conversation, Shailesh Dhuri, Founder & CEO of Decimal Point Analytics, breaks down 20+ years of experience in data, analytics, and how India can lead the AI revolution.We talk about:AI’s real risks (and why most people misunderstand it),The evolution of data from newspaper clippings to GenAI,What most companies get wrong about data lakes,Founders vs algorithms,And why he believes jobs aren’t dying—just the tasks are.If you’re a founder, professional, policymaker, or student trying to understand how to think clearly in the AI era—this episode is for you.

In this powerful episode of The Future Unveiled, I sit down with Fahed Bizzari, Managing Partner at Bilami Alden AI Consulting, and one of the world’s leading minds in AI transformation and organizational evolution.We go deep into a truth few talk about:👉 AI transformation isn’t a tech project with a people component—it’s a people project with a tech component.Fahed shares insights from 20+ years of consulting enterprises on how to move beyond pilots, fix broken systems, reduce friction, and lead real, sustainable change.What you’ll learn in this episode: •Why 80% of AI initiatives fail and what successful organizations do differently •Why companies must invest more in people and processes than in tools •How to make your organization “AI-native” •The key mindset shifts every CEO and CXO needs to lead in the age of AI •The role of systems thinking in scaling GenAI •How to align workforce readiness with AI acceleration •Why culture is the hardest—and most important—part of AI adoption •The future of leadership, governance, and decision-making in an agentic world

In today’s episode of Dare2Begin, I sit down with Akash Rai Kamat (@fermented_banter), the fourth-generation leader of the Kamat Group, a renowned name in the food industry. Akash and I reflect on our shared journey from university to building successful careers, with Akash taking on the monumental task of leading a legacy business that has stood the test of time.During our conversation, Akash opens up about the challenges and rewards of running a family business, the strategies he’s employed to modernize and scale the Kamat Group, and how the food industry has evolved over the years. He shares valuable insights into leadership, entrepreneurship, and the importance of maintaining a strong brand identity across generations.Whether you're an aspiring food entrepreneur, a fan of family businesses, or someone looking to learn how to build a lasting brand, this episode is packed with wisdom from a true industry leader.🚀 What You'll Learn in This Episode:The unique challenges and rewards of leading a fourth-generation family businessKey lessons in entrepreneurship, leadership, and scaling a legacy brandInsights into the future of the food industry and how to adapt to changing consumer demandsAkash’s personal journey from university graduate to the leader of Kamat GroupHow to balance tradition and innovation in a business that’s been around for generationsIf you’re passionate about food, entrepreneurship, or simply looking for inspiration to start your own business, this episode is a must-watch!