For All Podcast by Great Place To Work India

Amitabh Dube, Country President and Managing Director, Novartis India, joins Balbir Singh, CEO, Great Place To Work® India, for an insightful conversation on purposeful leadership, innovation, workplace culture, trust, and the future of healthcare. 

With more than three decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and over fifteen years at Novartis, Amitabh shares his remarkable journey from Varanasi to leading one of the world's most innovation-driven healthcare organizations. What began as a desire to make a meaningful impact on human lives evolved into a lifelong mission to improve patient outcomes through science, innovation, and leadership. 

In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India, Amitabh reflects on the leadership principles that have shaped his career, including curiosity, trust, empowerment, and integrity. He explains why purpose has been the strongest force behind his decisions and why leaders must create environments where people feel trusted, inspired, and empowered to do their best work. 

A major focus of the conversation is Novartis' distinctive "Unbossed" culture, built on three core pillars: being curious, being inspired by purpose, and acting with integrity. Amitabh discusses how empowering people with accountability, creating psychological safety, and encouraging open dialogue help unlock innovation and strengthen workplace culture. 

The discussion also explores Novartis' transformation into a pure-play innovative medicines company and how a shared purpose of reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives brings together teams across research, development, operations, and commercialization. Amitabh shares how connecting every employee to this mission, from molecule to medicine, creates alignment and drives meaningful impact. 

Balbir and Amitabh also examine the future of the Indian pharmaceutical industry. Amitabh outlines why India must evolve from being solely the pharmacy organisation of the world to becoming a global powerhouse for research, development, innovation, and manufacturing. He highlights the role of collaboration between industry, government, researchers, healthcare institutions, and policymakers in building a thriving innovation ecosystem. 

A key part of the conversation centers on leadership, culture, and employee experience. Amitabh shares how Novartis uses employee feedback to strengthen transparency, manager capability, wellbeing initiatives, and leadership effectiveness. He discusses why belonging, inclusion, and psychological safety are essential for organizations seeking to foster high performance and long-term success. 

The episode also explores the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence on healthcare. Amitabh explains how AI is reshaping drug discovery, clinical development, decision-making, and patient outcomes. He shares how Novartis is investing in AI capability building across the organization and why leaders must balance technological advancement with continued investment in human potential. 

Listeners will also hear Amitabh's personal leadership philosophy, daily disciplines, and advice for the next generation of leaders. From embracing challenging opportunities and building future-ready organizations to focusing on character, learning, resilience, and purpose, he offers practical lessons for anyone aspiring to lead with impact. 

Listeners will gain insights on: 

• Purpose-driven leadership and career growth 
• Building high-trust and high-performance workplace cultures 
• The power of curiosity, trust, and empowerment 
• Novartis' "Unbossed" culture and leadership philosophy 
• Psychological safety, belonging, and employee experience 
• The future of the Indian pharmaceutical industry 
• Innovation, research, and healthcare transformation 
• AI, drug discovery, and the future of work 
• Building future leaders and strengthening manager capability 
• Creating organizations that balance performance, purpose, and integrity 

If you are interested in leadership, workplace culture, innovation, healthcare transformation, AI, employee experience, or the future of work, this episode offers practical insights from one of India's most respected healthcare leaders. 

Tune in to the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India to hear Amitabh Dube and Balbir Singh discuss how purpose, trust, innovation, curiosity, and people-first leadership can help organizations create lasting impact, transform lives, and build great workplaces for all.

Sanjiv Mehta, Executive Chairman of L Catterton India and former CEO and Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever (HUL), joins Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work® India, for an insightful conversation on leadership, workplace culture, trust, and building organizations that create lasting value. 

With more than three decades of global leadership experience across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, Sanjiv has led business transformation, driven innovation, and built high-performing organizations rooted in trust and purpose. Throughout his career, as a leader, he has always focused on people, assisting organizations with transformations while reaching success in business. 

In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India, Sanjiv shares the leadership principles that have shaped his journey to leading one of India's most respected organizations. He explains why leadership is forged during adversity, how trust is built through consistent actions, and why organizational culture remains a competitive advantage.  

The conversation explores what it takes to build high-trust workplaces where employees feel empowered to innovate, take ownership, and continuously learn. Sanjiv discusses the importance of an ownership mindset, a growth mindset, psychological safety, and fairness in creating great workplace cultures that drive engagement, innovation, and long-term business success. 

A key highlight of the episode is Sanjiv's philosophy of humbition, which is the balance between humility and ambition to develop leaders who combine character, competence, and contribution. He also shares how initiatives such as Big Q and Project Symphony helped strengthen a culture of endless improvement and employee ownership at Hindustan Unilever. 

The discussion also examines compassionate capitalism, Sanjiv reflects on why organizations must balance business performance with purpose, sustainability, and inclusive growth to build enduring enterprises. 

Looking ahead, Sanjiv discusses the future of work, the growing impact of artificial intelligence and the need for leaders to concentrate on lifelong upskilling, and interpersonal skills development such as compassion, creativity and decision-making skills. The speaker describes how companies can prepare their workforce for the age of AI. 

Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work® India, adds perspective on the importance of building workplace cultures where trust, leadership, and employee experience enable people and organizations to thrive together. 

Listeners will gain insights on: 

• Leadership during crisis and change 
• Building high-trust workplace cultures 
• Humbition and people-first leadership 
• Psychological safety, trust, and ownership 
• Compassionate capitalism and stakeholder value 
• AI, leadership, and the future of work 
• Creating resilient, future-ready organizations 

If you are interested in leadership, workplace culture, organizational transformation, employee experience, AI, or the future of work, this episode offers practical insights and timeless leadership lessons from one of India's most respected business leaders. 

Tune in to the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India to hear Sanjiv Mehta and Balbir Singh discuss how trust, humbition, compassionate capitalism, and people-first leadership can help organizations build great workplaces and lasting business success. 

Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO and Board Director of Magic Bus India Foundation, joins Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work® India, for a powerful conversation on leadership, youth employability, and scaling social impact in India. 

Jayant brings nearly three decades of corporate leadership experience and entrepreneurship into the development sector. Over the past nine years, he has helped Magic Bus expand one of the world’s largest youth development and livelihood programs. The organization now works with millions of young people across India, helping them move from education to sustainable employment. 

In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India, Jayant shares the leadership philosophy behind Magic Bus’ mission of “childhood to livelihood.” He explains how the organization works with adolescents from marginalized communities, equipping them with life skills, education support, and job-ready training that prepares them for the workforce. The conversation explores how youth employability, skills development, and inclusive growth are critical to India’s long-term economic future. 

Jayant also discusses the scale of the challenge. Millions of young people drop out of education or struggle to transition into employment due to lack of skills and opportunities. Magic Bus addresses this gap through large-scale skilling and livelihood programs, helping young people build confidence, develop workplace readiness, and secure meaningful employment. 

Technology is another central theme in the discussion. Jayant shares how Magic Bus is leveraging digital platforms, data systems, and artificial intelligence to strengthen learning outcomes and improve employability. From tracking program impact to training youth in emerging technologies like AI, the organization is preparing young people for the future of work. 

The conversation also explores leadership and workplace culture. Jayant reflects on how Magic Bus transformed its internal culture to become a trusted and high-performing workplace. By focusing on people, programs, processes, and partners, the organization has built a culture rooted in trust, accountability, and purpose. 

Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work® India, adds perspective on the importance of building high-trust workplaces that enable employees to do their best work while contributing to meaningful impact. 

This episode is packed with insights for leaders, policymakers, and professionals who care about the future of work, youth development, and social innovation. 

Listeners will gain insights on: 

• Youth employability and skills development in India 
• Leadership lessons from the social sector 
• The role of technology and AI in future jobs 
• Building high-trust workplace cultures 
• Collaboration between NGOs, corporates, and government 
• Scaling social impact and livelihood opportunities 

If you are interested in leadership, youth skilling, workforce development, or the future of work in India, this episode offers valuable perspectives and actionable insights from two leaders shaping the conversation. 

Tune in to the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India to hear Jayant Rastogi and Balbir Singh discuss how purpose-driven leadership, technology, and strong workplace culture can help unlock opportunities for millions of young people.

In this episode of the For All Podcast, Damodar shares with Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work India, all about his first hand experience on the shop floor and instances on how data backs his everyday observations around consumer patterns. 

With a career spanning over 3 decades, Damodar has worked with Hindustan Unilever and Future Group, amongst others. He has authored, 'Supermarketwala', and is well known for “retail by observation” that decodes shopper behaviour by watching them.

Rachana Bahadur is the Senior Vice President and Country Head for Synchrony in India, with 25-year career spanning leadership roles in the banking and financial services sector. In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place to Work® India, she elaborates on her leadership journey, leveraging culture as a force multiplier, and establishing executive excellence for GCCs in India.

What does it take to build a purpose-driven organization in an industry that deals with people at their most vulnerable moments? Krishnan Ramachandran, MD and CEO of Niva Bupa Health Insurance, takes us behind the scenes of leading a company where talent practices aren't just HR initiatives but the bedrock of sustainable success.

Krishnan reveals the sobering reality that approximately five crore Indians fall into poverty annually due to hospitalization expenses – a statistic that fuels Niva Bupa's purpose of giving every Indian confidence to access the best healthcare. This purpose isn't just words on a wall; it's brought to life through innovative programs like "Smile Ko Claim Karle," where employees meet families whose lives they've transformed, connecting daily transactions to real human impact.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Krishnan discusses his evolution as a leader, particularly his growing appreciation for talent development as the cornerstone of organizational success. He shares how Niva Bupa has systematized talent acquisition through their "Hire Right" program, which evaluates candidates not just on skills but on their ability to build high-performance teams, deliver outcomes, maintain strategic thinking, and demonstrate entrepreneurial ownership.

For professionals navigating today's rapidly changing landscape, Krishnan offers timely wisdom on embracing AI as a force multiplier rather than a threat. "Either you eat it or it eats you," he advises, suggesting that technology can handle routine tasks while amplifying human creativity and intelligence. This perspective, coupled with his emphasis on finding passion in one's work and prioritizing physical and emotional well-being, provides a blueprint for sustainable career success.

Ready to transform how you think about leadership and organizational culture? Listen now to discover why humility might be the most underrated leadership trait and how the health insurance industry represents one of India's most exciting multi-decadal growth opportunities.

In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India, Harit shares with Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work India, how storytelling has shaped his leadership journey and offers insights into the mindset future leaders need to thrive.

Harit Nagpal, the MD & CEO of Tata Play has a career spanning over four decades and has held leadership roles at renowned brands like Shoppers Stop, Vodafone, and PepsiCo. He has also authored the book “Adapt- To Thrive, Not Just Survive” and co-authored a case study for the London Business School curriculum.  

Leading one of the world’s most iconic hospitality brands in a fast-growing and culturally diverse region requires more than just operational excellence; it calls for emotional intelligence, cultural fluency and a deep commitment to people. At Hilton, these are embedded in how teams work, lead and serve every day. 

In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place to Work® India, Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work India, is joined by Zubin Saxena, Senior Vice President and Regional Head, South Asia at Hilton, for a candid conversation on how to sustain a people-first culture that promises higher revenues and shareholders’ returns.

Balfour Manuel, Managing Director of Blue Dart Express, joined the company as a young MBA graduate and rose through the ranks to lead one of India’s most trusted logistics brands. He was named ‘CEO of the Year’ at the 23rd Business Leader of the Year Awards in 2025.

In this episode of the For All Podcast, hosted by Balbir Singh, CEO, Great Place to Work® India, Balfour reflects on Blue Dart’s enduring culture, from early values to everyday actions that build trust, resilience, and belonging. 

Dhiraj Singh is the CEO of SIS Group Enterprises, a market leader in security. An IIT Mumbai graduate with degrees from Tulane and Thunderbird, he has led several startups in the infrastructure and services sectors and held leadership roles at Tata Steel, Bechtel, Laing O’Rourke, and DLF’s vKarma Capital. He’s also a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and internationally featured wildlife photographer.

In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place to Work® India, Dhiraj Singh shares how SIS Group fosters belonging, trust, and performance across a 300,000-strong workforce. From eliminating the CHRO role to redefining care, he unpacks the values and practices behind SIS’s people-first culture. With sharp insights and relatable stories, this episode offers a real-world look at building purpose-led workplaces at scale.