When the Air Tells the Truth

Guest: Tanya Singhal – Founder, SolarArise | ClimateTech & Renewable Energy Expert

Air pollution tells the truth about the cost of growth.

In this episode of The First and Only, I speak with Tanya Singhal, founder of SolarArise and a leading force in India’s renewable energy transition. We discuss India’s clean energy momentum, climate leadership, and what it takes to scale climate-tech solutions in a rapidly developing economy.

We also explore leadership, responsibility, and why the Global South must be central to climate action.

A focused and timely conversation on energy, impact, and the future we are building.

🎧 Now streaming on Spotify.

In this episode of The First and Only, I speak with Sara Abdullah Pilot, co-founder of Centre for Equity and Inclusion (CEQUIN), about what it truly costs for girls to play — especially when they are the first and only in their families.

Before the pitch, there is permission.
Before ambition, there is justification.
Before talent, there is negotiation:

Is it safe? Is it respectable? Is it necessary?

Sara works with girls who are fighting systems they should never have had to fight — families to convince, institutions to educate, silence to push against. Our conversation makes one thing clear: resistance is systemic, not personal.

This episode is not just about football.

It’s about power, voice, and what it takes to claim space without apology — so that the next generation doesn’t have to fight the same battles alone.

In this episode, we travel into the world of elite youth football with Minerva Academy — one of India’s most respected football academies, known for developing young talent through discipline, belief, and world-class training.

We meet Chetan Tiwari (14) from Minerva Academy U14, whose journey recently reached an international milestone at the Norway Cup — the world’s largest youth football tournament.

Minerva Academy’s U14 team emerged as champions, marking a proud moment not just for the academy, but for Indian grassroots football on a global stage.

Beyond the win, this episode is about:

• What it takes to compete internationally at a young age
• The unseen discipline behind success
• Family sacrifice, belief, and resilience
• How Indian youth football is finding its place globally

As Chetan shares, his journey is inseparable from his older brother — who gave up his own dream so Chetan could live his.

In this episode of The First and Only, Ranjit Bajaj — founder of Minerva Academy — shares how he’s transforming Indian football from the grassroots. With 183,000 annual applications and no government or corporate backing, Minerva has produced champions who’ve won the Norway Cup, Dana Cup, and World Youth Cup.

Ranjit talks about spotting raw rural talent, building discipline and belief in young players, and what India must change to become a true football nation. A powerful conversation about opportunity, ambition, and the future of Indian football.

On August 12, Det Moderne India hosted Norway–India Collaboration on Energy Security at Arendalsuka, bringing together leaders from both countries — including our special guest Smriti Irani, Chairperson of the Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality.

In this podcast, you’ll hear the full debate with Henrik Inadomi (Executive Vice President, New Energies, Aker Solutions), Swapan Kataria (Co-Founder & CEO, Crown LNG), Tellef Thorleifsson (CEO, Norfund), Rina Sunder (Co-Founder, Det Moderne India), and Gjert Melsom (Associate Partner, EY).

Together they discuss how Norway and India can work towards a secure and sustainable energy future. This is more than an energy conversation — it’s about building bridges, sharing knowledge, and shaping solutions that matter for both nations.

Founder of Maritime SheEO and Director at Sitara Shipping Ltd

Our newly released book The First and Only celebrates bold trailblazers across industries—those who’ve chosen the harder path of leading without precedent. Sanjam Sahi Gupta is one of them.

In this powerful episode, Sanjam opens up about what it means to lead in one of the world’s most traditionally male domains: maritime. As a changemaker and policy advocate, she’s redefining what leadership looks like—not just for women, but for the global industry as a whole.

We talk about breaking through old hierarchies, resisting the pressure to conform, and disrupting exclusionary systems without apology. Sanjam shares what kept her going when no one else had done it before, what invisible barriers still need dismantling, and what legacy she hopes to leave behind.

This is an episode for anyone who’s ever felt like the only one in the room—and decided to stay anyway.

In this episode, we speak with Mali Holde Skogen, a leading voice on digitalization and sustainability in Norway, to explore the current state of gender diversity in the Nordic IT sector.

We delve into the progress and persistent challenges in achieving gender balance, comparing Norway’s efforts to other Nordic countries, and examining what’s working—and what’s not. Mali highlights key success stories and innovative approaches that are reshaping the tech landscape.

We also turn our focus to India, where many IT companies are setting ambitious gender targets. What can the Nordics learn from India's strategies? Mali offers a nuanced perspective on cross-cultural insights, mentorship programs, and the importance of policy and business alignment.

Topics covered include:

• The state of gender diversity in Nordic IT
• Leadership development for women in tech
• Lessons from India’s gender balance initiatives
• The role of mentorship and networking
• Cultural and policy differences impacting gender equity
• Potential for Nordic-Indian collaboration in tech

Tune in for a candid and thoughtful conversation on how inclusive leadership can drive both innovation and equity in the global tech sector.

From New York to rural India, Ajaita Shah’s journey is anything but typical. In this episode, we dive into the founding of Frontier Markets and her bold goal: to empower 100 million women through She-Leads Bharat by 2030.

We ask:
– What sparked her commitment to rural women’s leadership?
– How did she challenge social norms and win trust in male-dominated systems?
– What setbacks taught her the most about resilience and scaling impact?
– How are rural women quietly driving climate action and digital finance?
– And what must change in funding and policy to truly unlock women’s economic power?

Ajaita doesn’t just talk systems change—she lives it. Tune in for a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.