Podcast 41: Recruit for values. Train for the future. by Binod Shankar

It’s useful to get different perspectives on career and leadership and a Human Resources view from someone in the C suite is both fascinating and valuable.

I’ve known Muhammad for a decade and have always been impressed by his calm, analytical and strategic take of life in general and career in particular. It’s an informed and candid view sculpted by 30 + years of experience in industry and consulting in the Middle East. We talk of mid-life career crisis, how to switch from industry to consulting, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), why many managers don’t make it to leadership, when you should (and shouldn’t) do an executive MBA, strategic HR, the future of HR etc.

Listen, learn, grow.

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Lessons from the other side by Binod Shankar

I’ve known Hazel vaguely for a decade but only got to know her really well recently. That’s when I discovered over a two hour chat her experiences, successes, skills and overall mindset and I decided that I wanted her to be my next guest.

A UK trained lawyer who rose to become partner at a top law firm in the UAE, she is a successful litigator and negotiator. Recently Hazel quit to focus on consulting, entrepreneurship and mentoring young women.

We talk at length and in depth about, among other things, her early influences, why managers get stuck (and how to get unstuck), issues facing women at work, how women self-sabotage (and how to deal with it), the imposter syndrome, how an unforgettable failure turned her into a good public speaker, how to get better at negotiation, tips on building self-awareness etc. The session also includes references to the many coaches, books and podcasts that helped her.

Listen, learn, grow.

Its rare to find professionals who are successful, authentic and articulate, that too in banking.

I sat down with Deepak for this interview because I’ve known him for close to a decade and we have had many deep, long, intellectual discussions about the human condition, specifically careers and leadership. He possesses not just a remarkable amount of self-awareness and big picture perspective but also a willingness to articulate these quite boldly and compellingly. He’s also a practitioner in asset management.

We dig into mentoring, his career evolution, why leadership escapes many, avoiding the mid-life crisis, the future of asset management, who will survive the disruption, his next book, five career tips for senior professionals and more.

A young man from very small-town India graduates from one of India’s top colleges. Then, unlike his peers, he does a 180 degree turn and walks away from a potentially lucrative corporate career, choosing his first love- the big mountains. He first cuts his teeth in guiding as an employee and then as an entrepreneur, co-founding a mountain guiding firm and taking clients to the peaks of challenging 7,000m peaks and thereby establishing a top brand in that space.

We talk of why corporate was never a choice, what he learnt as an employee that helped in entrepreneurship, what it takes to climb mountains, how to build mental fitness, confronting the real risk of death at high altitude, how he’s managed to recruit and retain some great guides, the pros and cons of his job and how he’s managed to avoid the mid-life crisis & stay excited despite 25 years at the same activity.

A young woman packs her bags, moves to a different country, continent and culture 9,000km from home, starts off as a back-office junior and makes it to CIO. I was instantly attracted to her story.

We talk about the power of relationships and networking, the harsh realities of investment banking (and how it changed her), how to stand out when you don’t have the right creds, asking for that promotion, how to recover from getting fired (twice!), the role of qualifications vs attitude and experience, the many ways by which women self-sabotage, crafting your future no matter what and much more.

Listen, learn, grow.

My guest isn’t the typical finance professional who I usually have on this show. But you will relate to his fascinating journey and may even be inspired by it to transform your life and career.

From childhood abuse to alcoholism, drug addiction, depression and suicidal thoughts, Harbinder has been to hell and back to tell the tale. Listen as he talks eloquently and frankly about generational trauma, his scarring childhood, the unforgettable watershed moment, his grueling recovery journey, key mental health myths, the big role of sponsors and counselors, how to stay mentally healthy etc.

I have a strong bias towards covering subjects that few dare or care to cover. Mental health issues are soaring globally and hence this is undoubtedly a hot topic for our times. Stories like this deliver the essential awareness, acceptance and practical solutions to make life better.

Listen, learn, grow.

Senior professionals bring a wealth of experience and insight and that’s what Pascale does in this interview.

Every RFM episode dives deep and No 33 isn’t an exception. We talk about the effect of her upbringing, her role models, the impact of working overseas, why she chose product sales over CFA and portfolio management, how to juggle work and raising two kids, gender discrimination at work, the imposter syndrome (and how to tackle it), her best and worst hires (and why) and career tips for those in early career stage. Pascale and I both are focused on health and fitness and she shares details, challenges, and tips relating to her recent wellness journey.

She comes across as patient, non-judgmental and super calm-all traits Yours Truly wishes he could emulate! -and it was so easy to deal with her.

Listen, learn, grow.

How do you go from an under achieving and confused accountant stagnating in a small company in Sharjah to a Portfolio Manager and CFA charter holder with one of the largest independent wealth management firms in the US with an AUM of $ 35 billion? How on earth do you get hired in your chosen sector when you have zero industry experience and are totally new to a vastly different country? What’s the secret sauce of the metamorphosis from painfully shy introvert to confident public speaker? Etc. etc.

This is truly a story of transformation. I’ve known Saiyida for many years now so it’s an inspiring saga that has also impressed and delighted me. Crucially, it shows the potential for dramatic change in all of us.

Listen to Ms. Gardezi speak eloquently, openly, in detail and with passion. Quite a few insights in this episode so I hope you have pen and paper ready!