The Brand Called You

In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY) podcast, host Ashutosh Garg sits down with Praveen Kakulte, Founder & CEO of The POWERCON Group, to explore how India’s renewable energy future depends not just on asset creation—but on asset performance, longevity, and engineering excellence.

Praveen shares his journey as a first-generation entrepreneur who built a 100% bootstrapped renewable energy company in a highly capital-intensive industry. He explains why intellectual capital matters more than financial capital, and how transparency, data, and technology can unlock long-term value in wind and solar assets.

The conversation dives deep into the Energy Studio, Asia’s first centralized renewable energy diagnostics platform, the role of the Center for Engineering Excellence in tackling technology obsolescence, and how predictive analytics, AI, digital twins, and storage solutions are shaping the next wave of renewable transformation.

Welcome to another insightful episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY), featuring Amy Jacobson, a global emotional intelligence expert and thought leader from Perth, Australia. Hosted by Ashutosh Garg, this conversation explores the science, psychology, and real-world application of emotional intelligence—especially in leadership, change, and difficult conversations.

Drawing from Amy’s acclaimed book, The Emotional Intelligence Advantage: Mastering Change and Difficult Conversations, this episode breaks emotional intelligence down into practical, actionable steps that anyone can apply at work and in life.

Below is a detailed, question-led timestamped summary highlighting key moments from the conversation.

In this episode of The Brand Called You, host Ashutosh Garg sits down with Don Weber, Global Communication Strategist and former HUMINT operative, for a masterclass in influence, executive presence, and high-stakes leadership communication.

From reading people under pressure to navigating boardrooms and investor conversations, Don shares lessons drawn from intelligence operations and real-world leadership advisory work. Whether you’re a founder scaling up, a CEO managing pressure, or a leader aiming to elevate your communication, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Join us for an unmissable episode of The Brand Called You, featuring Dr. Vikas Malik, Founder of Wonder Years, in conversation with host Ashutosh Garg.

Dr. Malik shares his journey from India to the United States, the inspiration behind building an integrated mental health practice, and how psychiatry must evolve to meet today’s challenges. The discussion explores cultural sensitivity, technology in healthcare, rapid-acting treatments, and the human side of being a psychiatrist and founder.

If you’re curious about mental health, integrated care models, or leadership in healthcare innovation, this episode is for you.

Unlock the realities of startup leadership and tech entrepreneurship in this insightful episode of The Brand Called You.

Host Ashutosh Garg sits down with Vladimir Baranov, a serial tech entrepreneur and executive coach for founders and technical leaders. Together, they explore the myths of entrepreneurship, the inner battles founders face, and the leadership skills required to scale both businesses and people.

From understanding why ideas should be treated as experiments, not identities, to developing emotional intelligence as an analytical leader, Vladimir shares practical frameworks, real-world examples, and coaching insights that every founder can apply immediately.

• Why curiosity is a founder’s greatest advantage • The biggest misconceptions founders have at the idea stage • How product-market fit determines success more than intuition • Common leadership blind spots for technical founders • How startups break down—and the early warning signs • Practical emotional intelligence tools for engineering-driven leaders • Balancing engineering perfection with business urgency • When and how to delegate without losing control • Growing into a C-suite role without losing your technical edge

Welcome to another insightful episode of The Brand Called You! In this episode, host Ashutosh Garg sits down with Vijay Kumar, Founder & CEO of TSUYO Manufacturing Pvt Ltd, for a deep dive into the world of entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and innovation in India.

Vijay Kumar shares his incredible journey from launching his first venture, Biryani Box, to leading multiple startups today. Discover how his approach to risk, decision-making, and building resilient supply chains evolved through real-world challenges—including GST and demonetization. Vijay reveals the critical importance of execution over ideas, offers actionable lessons on building sustainable businesses, and discusses how lean and Six Sigma principles power TSUYO Manufacturing’s success.

You’ll also hear practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs interested in the manufacturing sector—how to tackle capital intensity, the significance of cultivating a strong quality culture, and the future of automation, AI, and digital twins.

On this episode of The Brand Called You, host Ashutosh Garg sits down with Jay Delsing—PGA Tour veteran, author, and nationally syndicated host of Golf with Jay Delsing.

Growing up as a blue-collar kid on the public golf courses of St. Louis, Jay’s journey is a powerful story of grit, integrity, and perseverance. From earning his PGA Tour card in 1984 to sharing unforgettable encounters with legends like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Jay reflects on how golf shaped his values, leadership mindset, and life philosophy.

In this conversation, Jay opens up about:

• Why golf demands personal integrity—especially calling penalties on yourself
  

• How failure and resilience define true success
  

• Why storytelling is at the heart of his popular radio show
  

• What inspired his memoir You Wouldn’t Believe Me If I Told You
  

• The one lesson from golf every leader should live by
  

Whether you’re a golfer, a leader, or someone who enjoys meaningful life stories, this episode offers timeless lessons on accountability, respect, and character.

In this powerful conversation, host Ashutosh Garg speaks with Carl Manlan — author of I Can Breathe and an influential development leader — about how meaningful change happens when innovation is guided by values, proximity, and long-term thinking.

From transforming financial inclusion across Africa to building resilient development ecosystems, Carl shares hard-won lessons from his work with the Global Fund, UNDP, AUDA-NEPAD, and beyond.

✔ Why purpose-driven innovation comes with real costs and trade-offs ✔ What most financial inclusion strategies are missing ✔ How innovation succeeds — and fails — inside large organizations ✔ Why values-based leadership is essential for inclusive economies ✔ How sustainable initiatives outlive donor timelines

In this episode of The Brand Called You, host Ashutosh Garg is joined by Peter Novak, Founder & CEO of Strictly Speaking Group, joining us from Hawaii, USA. Peter shares his fascinating journey from academia and theatre to executive leadership coaching—and explains why he never changed careers, only audiences.

This conversation dives deep into the art and science of executive communication, exploring why information is not the same as communication, how executive presence goes far beyond posture and tone, and why storytelling is a strategic business skill—not fluff.

You’ll also hear Peter’s thoughtful perspective on:

• How AI is reshaping communication—and the risk of reinforcing accent bias
  

• Why multilingual professionals should see language diversity as a strength
  

• Practical tools that help global teams communicate more inclusively
  

• How leaders can stay calm and persuasive under high-stakes pressure
  

• The skills that will define the next generation of effective communicators

Welcome to The Brand Called You! In this insightful episode, host Stephen Ibaraki sits down with Looi Teck Kheong, President of the Singapore Chapter of the Global Council for Responsible AI, to explore his remarkable journey across law, technology, public policy, cybersecurity, and AI governance.

From a curiosity-driven childhood to a defining pivot from engineering to law, Looi Teck Kheong shares how multidisciplinary thinking shaped his 25+ year career spanning private legal practice, ASEAN policy work, journalism, consulting, and teaching. The conversation dives deep into responsible AI, regional and global governance, South–South collaboration, and the growing impact of quantum computing on cybersecurity.

This episode also tackles pressing questions around AI ethics, existential risks, data privacy, and how societies can embrace rapid technological change while keeping humans at the center of innovation.

Whether you’re a technologist, policymaker, entrepreneur, or lifelong learner, this conversation offers practical insights and thoughtful reflections on building a future guided by ethics, collaboration, and curiosity.