The Silicon Dreams

Join us for a live panel moderated by Preethy Padmanabhan featuring Schwark Satyavolu, Co-founder & CEO, Startup, and Bhargavi V., Founding Partner at Java Capital, as they discuss the future of fintech, venture capital, and emerging innovation shaping 2025 and beyond.

The panel also explores what investors are looking for in early-stage startups, how entrepreneurs can build resilient and scalable companies, and the broader shifts redefining financial services globally.

From AI-driven finance and digital infrastructure to startup growth and evolving investor priorities, this conversation offers valuable insights for founders, builders, and investors navigating the rapidly changing fintech landscape.

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Divya Raghavan, Early Stage VC at Hitachi Ventures Global, for a thought-provoking conversation on the power of grit, resilience, and perseverance in building long-term success. Drawing from her experience working closely with startup founders, Divya shares insights into the passion and determination she sees in entrepreneurs, the importance of cultivating grit in the workplace, and the lessons that shaped her own journey into venture capital.

Inspired by the ideas explored in Angela Duckworth’s “Grit,” the discussion dives into why passion and perseverance often matter more than talent alone, how individuals can develop resilience through challenges, and the mindset required to achieve meaningful goals in an ever-evolving world.

Divya also reflects on the value of growth, adaptability, and learning through setbacks while navigating the fast-paced startup and investment ecosystem.

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Molly McCabe, CEO of HaydenTanner, to unpack the major global trends shaping humanity, business, and innovation, leading up to From Africa’s rising economic potential and the rapid expansion of the global middle class to the critical role of immigration in driving innovation, Molly unpacks how these macro trends will impact businesses, governments, and communities worldwide. The discussion also explores the rise of senior demographics, the future of healthcare and age-friendly technology, shifting economic power toward Asia and India, and the evolving role of women in shaping tomorrow’s workforce and leadership.

Molly shares powerful insights on adapting to change, identifying 10X growth opportunities, and preparing for a rapidly evolving future.

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Andrew Romans, General Partner at 7BC Venture Capital and author of Masters of Corporate Venture Capital. Drawing from his extensive experience in Silicon Valley, Andrew unpacks the real motivations behind corporate venture capital and why it operates differently from traditional VC models. From navigating corporate structures to understanding strategic investments, the conversation sheds light on what truly drives CVC decision-making.

Andrew also shares key challenges faced by corporate venture arms and offers practical, no-fluff advice for startups looking to raise capital from CVCs—what to do, what to avoid, and how to stand out.

This episode is a deep dive into the intersection of innovation, capital, and corporate strategy—perfect for founders, operators, and anyone building in today’s evolving tech ecosystem.

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Lucie Newcomb, Founder & CEO of The NewComm Global Group, an international advisory and training firm specializing in global business development and leadership.

Inspired by the book Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman, the conversation explores what truly defines impactful leadership. From empowering teams to unlocking collective intelligence, Lucie shares actionable insights on how leaders can shift from being “diminishers” to becoming “multipliers.”

This episode dives into the power of collaboration, innovation, and global leadership strategies—offering a fresh perspective on how to build high-performing teams that thrive in today’s fast-evolving world.

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Catharine Montgomery, Founder & CEO of Better Together, a communications agency focused on purpose-driven brands and social impact storytelling.

Inspired by the book Built to Sell by John Warrillow, the conversation explores what it truly takes to build a business that is not only profitable—but scalable and sellable. From creating repeatable systems to sharpening your value proposition, Catherine shares practical insights on building a company that can grow beyond its founder.

This episode goes deeper into the importance of clarity, positioning, and long-term vision—especially for founders looking to create sustainable, future-ready businesses.

In this episode of Silicon Dreams, host Preethy Padmanabhan speaks with Sushma Malhotra, President & CEO of S5 Advisory, about how How to Win Friends and Influence People shaped her leadership journey.

Sushma also shares actionable leadership strategies — giving sincere praise, avoiding direct criticism, encouraging growth after mistakes, and using empathy to influence clients and teams effectively. The discussion also touches on insights from How to Stop Worrying and Start Living and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

A powerful reminder that great leadership starts with genuine interest, meaningful relationships, and the ability to make others feel heard, valued, and inspired.

In this episode,Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Ash Seddeek, CEO at The Executive Greatness Institute, with an impressive background spanning Deloitte Consulting, Oracle, and Cisco. Inspired by his book Road to Success, Ash breaks down a powerful framework for career growth through three strategic steps — Own it, Win it, and Crush it.

This conversation goes beyond traditional career advice, diving into how strategy, excitement, and personal energy can become your biggest competitive advantage. Ash shares insights on taking ownership, building momentum, and consistently delivering at a higher level to unlock exponential growth.

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Prof Mrs Rajita Kulkarni, President of Sri Sri University, for a thought-provoking conversation inspired by her book Unknown Edge.

Unknown Edge explores a powerful idea — that true transformation lies beyond what we can logically measure or predict. It uncovers the subtle forces that separate the mystical from the mundane, guiding individuals and organizations toward deeper clarity, stronger relationships, and sustainable growth.

Drawing from her journey from banking to academia and leadership, Prof. Mrs. Rajita Kulkarni shares insights on self-discovery, decision-making, and how aligning inner awareness with external action can unlock new dimensions of success. The conversation also highlights the importance of intuition, purpose-driven leadership, and navigating uncertainty with clarity.

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Shaloo Garg, Managing Director of AI Startup Ecosystem, Microsoft, for an energizing conversation inspired by 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗺 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗯.

Antifragile introduces a powerful idea — that some systems, people, and organizations don’t just survive shocks but actually 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆. The book challenges the traditional mindset of avoiding risk and instead encourages embracing change and disorder as catalysts for growth.

Shaloo shares insights from her journey in leadership and social impact, reflecting on how volatility can drive innovation and how startups and leaders can prepare themselves to succeed in uncertain environments. The conversation also explores the importance of resilience, taking calculated risks, and maintaining “skin in the game” when building for the future.