Struggling with the pace of constant change and uncertainty?
This episode with Haresh Khoobchandani shares grounded advice on how to adapt and thrive.
I’m Sital Ruparelia. I help organisations build future-ready teams and support individuals in shaping future-ready careers in an era of intelligence. With 25+ years in leadership, talent, and recruitment - including a decade at Microsoft leading executive hiring across Asia - I now host the Talent X Tech podcast, where we explore how AI and emerging technologies are transforming the way we work, lead, and manage talent.
In this episode, I sit down with Haresh Khoobchandani, Vice President for Asia Pacific & Japan at Autodesk, author of Growth by Choice, TEDx speaker, and Oxford alum. A senior leader with over 25 years of experience, Haresh has built and led multicultural teams across the region with Microsoft and Autodesk. He brings a calm and intentional approach to growth, leadership, and self-disruption in today’s fast-changing world.
You’ll learn:
- Why strong leadership is critical in an age of disruption, from AI to geopolitics
- What “dancing in the rain” really means when navigating volatility and setbacks
- How to grow by choice, not by chance, through intentional decisions we can all make
- Why disrupting yourself is smarter than waiting to be disrupted in a world of constant change
- Practical ways to stay future-ready in the AI era, even if you’re not in the tech sector
- What the Japanese concept of Kintsugi taught him about resilience and bouncing back
- The vital role HR plays in digital transformation and the future of work
- Haresh’s inspiring message to Gen Z and early-career professionals
🎧 If you're leading, learning, or navigating this era of change, this conversation is for you.
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(00:00) – Highlights reel
(00:45) – Introducing Haresh – his journey, roles, and mindset
(03:06) – Witnessing Singapore’s transformation and Asia's growth
(05:54) – Favourite Asian food and the role of food in connection
(07:40) – Key leadership influences and how they shape leadership today
(11:26) – Navigating a world of constant change, disruption, and uncertainty
(16:14) – Tech innovation: lifelong learning and solving problems with tech
(20:23) – Embracing change: owning our own disruption in a shifting world
(23:04) – Self-awareness: the key to Growth By Choice
(25:02) – Leadership traits needed in times of constant change:
(30:48) – Investing in yourself in a world of distraction and overwhelm
(34:29) – Defining success at different stages of life
(39:12) – Role of HR teams in times of change and tech transformation
(41:37) – Building Digital literacy: Importance of upskilling and change management
(48:36) – Leading businesses in Asia: cultural nuance and regional insight
(50:44) – Gen Z: career advice to his children and early professionals
(59:42) – Kintsugi - Japanese story of resilience
KEEP IN TOUCH:
👤 With Sital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sitalruparelia/
🌐 Talent x Tech LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/talent-x-tech/
🌐 Learn more at www.talentxtech.com
📸 Instagram - @talentxtech
