In this episode of The Indianness Podcast, host Sanjay Puri sits down with Dr. Soumitra Dutta, Founding Dean of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and creator of the Global Innovation Index and Network Readiness Index. Dr. Dutta’s journey from academia to global leadership has been defined by innovation, impact, and a vision for digital transformation. Together, they explore how India’s global diaspora is shaping the future of innovation, governance, and AI policy — one transformative idea at a time. 

5 Key Takeaways 

• 🌍 How Dr. Dutta’s work on the Global Innovation Index became a global benchmark for over 100 countries. 
• 🧠 Insights into the intersection of AI, policy, and culture — and why “sovereign AI” matters for the Global South. 
• 🎓 Lessons from leading global institutions like Oxford and Cornell, and the mindset behind transformative academic leadership. 
• 🤝 Why collaboration between policymakers, technologists, and educators is key to ensuring responsible AI adoption. 
• 💡 Dr. Dutta’s reflections on Indianness — how values, resilience, and curiosity shape the Indian global identity. 

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to The Indianness Podcast for more inspiring conversations with global changemakers. 🌏✨ 

Resources Mentioned: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/soumitra-dutta/ 

What does it take to rise from an average student to becoming a visionary CFO in healthcare? In this in-depth conversation, Parinda Gandhi opens up about her extraordinary journey on the Indianness Podcast. 

• Early struggles & immigrant family life in Cleveland. 
• The importance of parental influence on spirituality, culture, and education. 
• How she turned setbacks—like being underestimated academically—into opportunities for growth. 
• Why embracing networking and adaptability transformed her career path. 
• Her perspective on imposter syndrome, failures, and trusting instincts as a leader. 

💡 This is a must-watch for aspiring professionals, leaders balancing cultural identities, and anyone chasing meaningful growth. 

Resources Mentioned: 

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

Prof. Priyamvada Natarajan joins the Indianness Podcast for a cosmic conversation on science, curiosity, and the invisible universe. 

In this powerful episode: 

• Learn how Priyamvada mapped the first dark matter models and studied black hole formation 
• Discover her journey from a curious child in Coimbatore to Chair of Astronomy at Yale 
• Understand the deeper meaning behind scientific mastery and personal growth 
• Explore her powerful reflections on humility, cultural context, and mentorship 
• Named to TIME100 in 2024, hear why she believes luck + preparation = magic 

🛰️ A must-watch for science lovers, aspiring change-makers, and anyone fascinated by the universe. 

👉 Subscribe and hit the bell icon for more stories of global Indian excellence. 

📺 Watch Now and get inspired. 

Resources Mentioned: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-natarajan-66b0215/ 

Join us on the Indianness Podcast with Alok Sama as he revisits: 

• A life of 17-hour workdays, massive mergers, and global finance 
• Deep personal reflections on mortality, regret, and missed phone calls 
• How a cadaver at age 10 turned him away from medicine forever 
• Lessons in failure—from cricket to startups—and how they shaped his resilience 
• The moment he realized his son thought he was cool again 

📘 This is not just a career story—it's an emotional reckoning. 

Resources Mentioned: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aloksama? 

⏱️ Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction and Setup 

04:30 - Welcome to the Podcast 

06:30 - Childhood and Family Background 

11:50 - The Influence of His Father 

15:00 - The Cadaver Incident 

18:30 - Luck, Serendipity & Career 

21:00 - Schooling and Rejection 

24:50 - Cricket, Sports and Resilience 

29:00 - Friendships and Long-term Bonds 

31:30 - Decision to Study Abroad 

36:50 - Cultural Shock in America 

40:00 - Wharton and Academics 

42:40 - Career at Morgan Stanley 

45:00 - Mentorship and Role Models 

48:00 - Joining SoftBank 

51:00 - Staying After Nikesh Left 

52:30 - Pivot to Writing 

56:20 - The Money Trap Book 

58:00 - New Writing Focus 

1:02:00 - Life After Loss 

1:05:40 - Redefining Success 

1:10:20 - Most Influential Person 

Join us in this episode of the Indianness Podcast as we explore Sonia Vora's inspiring journey—from her immigrant upbringing in Detroit to becoming the Chief Strategy Officer of a mental wellness company and CHRO of the Gates Foundation. 

💡 What you’ll learn: 

• How Sonia’s parents shaped her values through resilience and empathy 
• Her pivot from finance to HR, integrating AI and human-centric leadership 
• The power of intrinsic motivation and how to unlock it in yourself and others 
• Stories of cultural duality, name changes, and identity 

🔔 Subscribe for more stories of Indian origin change makers 📺 Watch now and be inspired. 

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

Indianness Podcast: Harini Gopalakrishnan on Learning, Integrity, and Career Growth 

🎧 How does integrity and a strong foundation shape career success? In this engaging episode of the Indianness Podcast, Sanjay Puri interviews Harini Gopalakrishnan, CTO for Life Sciences at Snowflake. Harini reflects on her career journey, from her early days in Chennai to becoming a leader in healthcare technology. 

📌 Topics Covered: 

• The impact of growing up in a joint family 
• How her grandmother’s lessons on integrity shaped her career 
• The value of foundational knowledge in professional success 
• Why saying "no" can build more trust than saying "yes" 
• How continuous learning and adaptability are key to career longevity 

🚀 Watch now to learn how Harini’s approach to integrity and learning drives her success! 

Resources Mentioned: 

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

⏱️ Timestamps: 

0:00 - Podcast Episode Highlights   

1:05 - Harini’s early life: Born in Kerala, raised in Chennai, bilingual roots, and joint family upbringing.   

2:05 - Emphasis on education and gender equality in her family.   

3:03 - Memories of grandparents and their influence (moral values, music lessons).   

4:03 - Learning veena and lifelong lessons from foundational skills.   

5:15 - Career advice: Importance of foundational knowledge and adaptability.   

7:34 - Balancing passion vs. practicality in career choices.   

10:14 - Transition to college: Networking, curiosity, and cultural adaptability.   

13:05 - Discussing integrity and saying "no" in professional settings.   

17:38 - Choosing computer science: Pragmatism and societal expectations.   

20:07 - Undergrad experience: Fun vs. academic rigor, soft skills.   

24:27 - First job at Cognizant: Corporate challenges and self-discovery.   

30:01 - Pursuing a master’s in bioinformatics: Risk-taking and career pivots.   

34:06 - Career inflection points: Moving to tech, international exposure.   

39:56 - Working in Europe and cultural adaptability lessons.   

46:04 - Leadership style influenced by Indian values (integrity, customer focus).   

50:10 - Failures and resilience: Returning to India post-master’s.   

53:44 - Role of mentors: Grandmother, professors, and customer guidance.   

55:34 - Lightning round: Coffee lover, remote work preference, intuition over data.

In this episode of the Indianness Podcast, we sit down with Anjana Harve, EVP & CIO at BJ’s Wholesale Club, to explore the intersection of leadership, innovation, and digital transformation. With a career spanning multiple industries, she shares insights on navigating AI advancements, leading global teams, and fostering an inclusive tech culture. 

💡 Key Takeaways: 

✔ How to drive large-scale digital transformation across diverse industries. 

✔ The future of AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making. 

✔ Lessons from leading Fortune 500 companies through technological shifts. 

✔ The importance of mentorship and diverse leadership in tech. 

🚀 This episode is a must-watch for aspiring leaders, tech professionals, and innovators! 

Resources Mentioned: 

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

⏱️ Timestamps: 

00:00 - Episode Highlights 

01:05 - Early Life & Roots in India 

03:46 - Father’s Influence: Integrity & Perception 

08:11 - Leadership Lessons from a Judge 

13:23 - Mother’s Role: Curiosity & Self-Improvement 

17:00 - Adapting to Change & Building Connections 

20:14 - Work-Life Balance & Family Feedback 

25:39 - Career Journey: From India to the U.S. 

30:27 - Defining Indianness in Leadership 

36:09 - Mentorship & Inflection Points 

44:47 - Lightning Round Q&A 

52:55 - Final Takeaways 

In this episode, Dr. Pradeep Khosla reflects on his career, the role of mentorship, and the importance of embracing challenges. Learn how his Indian roots influenced his approach to leadership and innovation in the U.S. education system. 

Resources Mentioned: 

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

https://chancellor.ucsd.edu/about/about-the-chancellor/index.html 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pradeep_Khosla 

On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha, Founder and Trustee at Ashoka University, Founding Dean of ISB, Founder of Harappa Education and President at upGrad. Dr. Sinha is a visionary leader in education and entrepreneurship. He has reshaped higher education in India and is now setting his sights on the entire world.

Dr. Sinha shares how his upbringing, his father and his sisters’ resilience inspired and motivated him. He discusses his views on India’s educational system, the skills educational leaders should possess and how even introverts can learn them.

Key Takeaways:

(02:18) Dr. Sinha’s upbringing in Patna and his father’s influence.

(03:54) Leadership lessons that shaped Dr. Sinha’s career.

(10:22) How mentorship impacted his career and life. 

(20:16) Dr. Sinha’s sister’s challenges and resilience. 

(39:02) On the straitjacketed Indian education system.

(54:17) On creating a plan for Malaysia’s economic growth.

(57:28) Learning from the best universities and applying it to the Indian context. 

(58:06) The importance of giving students a choice.

(01:00:29) Developing tribe and leadership skills online.

(1:03:06) The importance of solving the right problems in entrepreneurship.

(1:07:19) Introverts can develop people skills and be effective leaders.

Resources Mentioned:

Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha -

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

Ashoka University | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/school/ashoka-university/

Ashoka University | Website -

https://www.ashoka.edu.in

upGrad LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ueducation/

upGrad | Website -

https://www.upgrad.com

Indian School of Business (ISB) -

https://www.isb.edu

Harappa Education -

https://harappa.education

Thanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show.

#Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness

On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health. Dr. Jha shares his inspiring journey from growing up in a small village in Bihar, India, to being asked by the President of the United States to join his administration. He also opens up about facing racism in high school and how support at Columbia University helped shape his dual identity and career.

Key Takeaways:



(03:01) Dr. Jha’s childhood memories in Bihar.

(08:51) The great unknown of moving to Canada.

(17:11) The move to New Jersey and the harsh reality of facing racism.

(19:25) Facing a high school teacher who told him to change his name.

(25:47) Learning to embrace both his Indian and American identities.

(38:59) The President’s invitation to join the White House as COVID-19 Response Coordinator.

(40:00) The privilege of working in the West Wing as an Indian immigrant.

(41:25) The value of building and maintaining meaningful relationships.

(42:34) Why service is one of the most enriching experiences in life.

Resources Mentioned:

Dr. Ashish Jha -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashish-jha-b9aab41/

Columbia University -

https://www.columbia.edu

Brown University School of Public Health -

https://graduateprograms.brown.edu/graduate-program/public-health-mph?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=MPH&utm_content=traffic&creative=613468509292&keyword=brown%20university%20masters%20in%20public%20health&matchtype=b&network=g&device=c&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwreW2BhBhEiwAavLwfLqUIDqHZqKhWapyYPIskdsJHEW872WYuwCVEI0U4PObifvPrFTEdxoCRUIQAvD_BwE

Harvard Medical School -

https://hms.harvard.edu

University of Toronto -

https://www.utoronto.ca

World Health Organization (WHO) -

https://www.who.int

Thanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show.

#Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness