India has 96–97% school enrollment. So why can't 50% of Grade 5 students read a Grade 2 sentence?That's the question at the heart of this conversation — and it's the exact problem that Akshay and Madhuri from U&I have spent years trying to solve on the ground.In this episode, we go deep inside U&I Teach, one of India's most innovative after-school education programs, now running across 150 learning centers in 40 cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, and Chennai. #EducationIndia #SocialImpact #NGOIndia #LearningGap #TheoryOfChange #VolunteerIndia #FoundationalLiteracy #MentorshipIndia #AfterSchoolProgram #IndiaEducation #ShelterHome #ImpactPodcast #BengaluruNGO #HyderabadNGO #MumbaiNGO

What happens when one of India's brightest cricketers gets dropped not once, but twice and has to find a reason to keep going?

In this deeply personal conversation, Indian Women's Cricket Team star Jemimah Rodrigues sits down with Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti of Two Founders Walk Into to talk about the journey that most people never saw: the anxiety attacks before matches, the 35 days of faking smiles, the tears on a flight back to Mumbai and the faith, family, and community that pulled her back every single time.

This is not just a cricket story. It's a story about identity, belonging, and what it truly means to be part of a village.

About Jemimah Rodrigues: She is an Indian international cricketer known for her explosive batting and joyful presence on the field. She plays for India Women's cricket team across all formats and represents Delhi Capitals in the WPL. She scored a match-winning 105* against Australia in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup semi-final in Mumbai.

Subscribe to our channel and never miss the latest episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPichWEo9gwkwpABT8kgk9Q 

Two Founders Walk Into Featured in FeedSpot's Top 25 Indian Leadership Podcasts 

About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I Trust and Change+. 

About U&I - U&I is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through education and community engagement. Our two core programs are U&I Teach and U&I Empower. U&I Teach provides after-school tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged children across India, helping bridge the education gap. U&I Empower creates volunteering opportunities for corporate employees, enabling them to give back through meaningful, impact-driven experiences. At the heart of U&I are our core values: #bethechange #bigaudaciousimpact and #inthistogether 

About Change+ - The organization helps people become the leaders they’re meant to be. The leadership training journeys blend self-awareness, real-world practice, and people-first thinking, helping teams lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. From emerging managers to senior leaders, Change+ designs learning experiences that teach leadership. 

Follow them on LinkedIn: 

Ajit Sivaram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit4949/ 

Satish Manchikanti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-manchikanti/ 

Visit our Website: https://uandi.org.in/ 

Volunteer With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/volunteer 

Partner With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/csr 

Work With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/hiring 

Donate to our Cause: https://ui.danamojo.org/ 

Follow Us: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uandi.org.in/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/u&i-charity/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/uanditv 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/04ZaR7HIvmqL5iG9wAAdV4 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-founders-walk-into/id1806002327 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0a5b4559-645c-4b99-a556-adef1fab97c7/two-founders-walk-into 

#JemimahRodrigues #TwoFoundersWalkInto #IndianCricket #WomensCricket #ICCWomensWorldCup2025 #Faith #Leadership #MentalHealth #Cricket #IndiaWomen #Podcast #Inspiration #VolunteeringIndia #CricketPodcast #IndianWomensCricket #WorldCupSemiFinal

Millennials and Gen Z walk into the same workplace and see completely different things. In this episode, Ajit and Satish host Anu and Nandu, two employees of U&I Trust, for a frank cross-generational conversation about the debates reshaping work today.

Did remote work kill culture, or just reveal which teams never had it? Is job loyalty a virtue or a trap? Should burnout come with a leave policy? And is work-life balance even a real thing or do we need to redesign that idea from scratch?

This is the conversation your leadership team, your HR department, and your group chat are all having separately. We brought everyone into the same room.

Candid, funny, and genuinely useful, whether you manage a multigenerational team or you're building your own career in 2026.

What's really broken in Bangalore and how do we fix it?

In this episode of Two Founders Walk Into, we sit down with Srikanth Viswanathan, CEO of Janaagraha, one of India's foremost urban governance experts. With 15+ years working with city governments, constitutional bodies, and citizen groups, Srikanth breaks down why Indian cities keep failing their residents and what a systems-level solution actually looks like.

We cover:

→ Why traffic, pollution, and flooding are symptoms, not the real problem

→ The three city systems every urban leader must understand: planning & design, political ownership, and state capacity

→ Why Bangalore still doesn't have an elected mayor accountable to its citizens

→ How walkability could unlock clean air, public health, women's safety, and traffic relief, all at once

→ Tender SURE streets and what's already working in Bangalore

→ The citizenship ladder: how residents move from passive consumers to active contributors

→ The role of organisations like Janaagraha, U&I Trust as civic connective tissue

→ Srikanth's personal journey from Big Four consulting to systems-change nonprofit leadership

→ What genuine empathy looks like in leadership and why it took 15 years to learn

If you care about Bangalore, Indian cities, civic participation, or building organisations that create lasting change, this episode is for you.

Two Founders Walk Into is featured in FeedSpot's Top 25 India Leadership Podcasts.

Follow us for conversations with thought leaders, urban thinkers, and civic changemakers building a better India.

Can nonprofits create real buzz and drive impact without a marketing budget?In this episode, we unpack a practical playbook for zero-budget marketing in the nonprofit world. From leveraging passionate communities to empowering staff and using accessible technology, this conversation explores how organizations can amplify their voice even in a crowded digital landscape.The discussion focuses on people-powered marketing, community champions, and smart use of technology to create meaningful engagement and real-world impact.Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, communications professional, or social impact enthusiast, this episode offers practical, low-cost strategies to build visibility and momentum.Subscribe to our channel and never miss the latest episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPichWEo9gwkwpABT8kgk9Q About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I Trust and Change+. About U&I - U&I is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through education and community engagement. Our two core programs are U&I Teach and U&I Empower. U&I Teach provides after-school tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged children across India, helping bridge the education gap. U&I Empower creates volunteering opportunities for corporate employees, enabling them to give back through meaningful, impact-driven experiences. At the heart of U&I are our core values: #bethechange #bigaudaciousimpact and #inthistogether About Change+ - The organisation helps people become the leaders they’re meant to be. The leadership training journeys blend self-awareness, real-world practice, and people-first thinking, helping teams lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. From emerging managers to senior leaders, Change+ designs learning experiences that teach leadership. Follow them on LinkedIn: Ajit Sivaram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit4949/ Satish Manchikanti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-manchikanti/ Visit our Website: https://uandi.org.in/ Volunteer With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/volunteer Partner With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/csr Work With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/hiring Donate to our Cause: https://ui.danamojo.org/ Follow Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uandi.org.in/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/u&i-charity/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/uanditv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/04ZaR7HIvmqL5iG9wAAdV4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-founders-walk-into/id1806002327 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0a5b4559-645c-4b99-a556-adef1fab97c7/two-founders-walk-into Timestamps:00:00 Introduction: Can nonprofits market with zero budget?02:05 Community as leverage: Fans and supporters as co-creators04:15 How nonprofits can activate volunteers as ambassadors05:30 Equipping communities with toolkits and campaign kits06:10 The “Purple Cow” concept and standing out creatively07:20 What nonprofits without large communities can do08:30 Employees and staff as powerful brand amplifiers11:00 AI tools and templates for scalable campaigns13:10 Accessing nonprofit discounts for marketing tools15:50 The role of AI in simplifying content creation16:10 The shift from “work speaks for itself” to storytelling16:30 Recap: The three levers of zero-budget marketing#podcast #genz #leadership #ngo #entrepreneur #management

Why do so many NGOs struggle with visibility, funding, and talent despite doing powerful work on the ground?

In this episode, Girish Balachandran, Founder of On Purpose, shares why he believes the biggest challenge in the social sector isn’t just funding, it’s mindset.

We explore why “good work should speak for itself” is no longer enough, and why communications, storytelling, and founder visibility are critical for nonprofit growth and sustainability.

If you work in the nonprofit sector, CSR, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, or impact consulting, this episode offers practical insights into nonprofit communications strategy, NGO leadership, donor dynamics, and long-term sustainability.

Watch the full episode to understand how NGOs can move from impact to influence and why owning your narrative is essential in today’s digital-first world.

Volunteering in India is evolving and so is what it means to give back.In this episode, we explore why volunteering matters more than ever, especially for young people navigating purpose, identity and community in a rapidly changing world. From moving beyond a survival mindset to building meaningful connections, volunteering today is as much about personal growth as it is about social impact.

Our guests share their journeys, unpack what truly sustains long-term volunteering and reflect on how service shapes leadership, belonging and agency. If you’ve ever asked yourself “Why should I volunteer?”, this episode is a great place to start.

Subscribe to our YouTubechannel and never miss the latest episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPichWEo9gwkwpABT8kgk9Q About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I Trust and Change+. About U&I - U&I is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through education and community engagement. Our two core programs are U&I Teach and U&I Empower. U&I Teach provides after-school tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged children across India, helping bridge the education gap. U&I Empower creates volunteering opportunities for corporate employees, enabling them to give back through meaningful, impact-driven experiences. At the heart of U&I are our core values: #bethechange #bigaudaciousimpact and #inthistogether About Change+ - The organization helps people become the leaders they’re meant to be. The leadership training journeys blend self-awareness, real-world practice, and people-first thinking, helping teams lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. From emerging managers to senior leaders, Change+ designs learning experiences that teach leadership. Follow them on LinkedIn: Ajit Sivaram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit4949/ Satish Manchikanti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-manchikanti/ Visit our Website: https://uandi.org.in/ Volunteer With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/volunteer Partner With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/csr Work With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/hiring Donate to our Cause: https://ui.danamojo.org/ Follow Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uandi.org.in/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/u&i-charity/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/uanditv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/04ZaR7HIvmqL5iG9wAAdV4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-founders-walk-into/id1806002327 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0a5b4559-645c-4b99-a556-adef1fab97c7/two-founders-walk-into Timestamps:00:00 – Intro02:15 – From Survival to Agency03:40 – Rameez's Journey: From Privilege to Purpose06:00 – Suchet’s Journey: When Service Became Identity07:45 – Why Volunteering Sticks 11:30 – The Evolution of Volunteering in India12:00 – Why Volunteers Say Yes12:50 – Making Volunteering Accessible13:30 – Psychological Safety & Support14:05 – Community and Belonging15:00 – Contribution, Connection, Co-Creation18:55 – How Nonprofits Can Start With Volunteers22:00 – I’ve Never Volunteered. Where Do I Start?26:00 – Final Reflections

Can schools go beyond marks, exams and rote learning to truly prepare children for life?In this episode, we sit down with Sreeja Iyer, Founder of Sparkling Mindz Global School, to explore what it really means to design education around the whole child. Drawing from over 15 years of experience, Sreeja shares her journey from engineering and corporate roles to building a school rooted in agency, autonomy, and community-driven learning.The conversation unpacks child-centric education, Reggio Emilia philosophy, learning sprints, experiential rigor, and why syllabus should be a tool—not the goal. We also dive deep into parenting, unconditional love, discipline, and how families and schools can work together to raise confident, compassionate change-makers.Subscribe to our channel and never miss the latest episodes:    / @twofounderswalktinto   About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I Trust and Change+. About U&I - U&I is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through education and community engagement. Our two core programs are U&I Teach and U&I Empower. U&I Teach provides after-school tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged children across India, helping bridge the education gap. U&I Empower creates volunteering opportunities for corporate employees, enabling them to give back through meaningful, impact-driven experiences. At the heart of U&I are our core values: #bethechange #bigaudaciousimpact and #inthistogether About Change+ - The organization helps people become the leaders they’re meant to be. The leadership training journeys blend self-awareness, real-world practice, and people-first thinking, helping teams lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. From emerging managers to senior leaders, Change+ designs learning experiences that teach leadership. Follow them on LinkedIn: Ajit Sivaram -   / ajit4949   Satish Manchikanti -   / satish-manchikanti   Visit our Website: https://uandi.org.in/ Volunteer With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/volunteer Partner With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/csr Work With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/hiring Donate to our Cause: https://ui.danamojo.org/ Follow Us: Instagram:   / uandi.org.in   LinkedIn:   / u&i-charity   YouTube:    / uanditv   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/04ZaR7H... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0a5... #podcast #genz #leadership #ngo #entrepreneur #managementTimestamps:00:00 – Intro01:45 – Sreeja’s Journey03:45 – Why Education Must Change06:30 – Birth of Sparkling Mindz09:30 – Child-Centric Learning14:00 – Learning Through Curiosity20:00 – Academic rigour without context27:30 – Parents as Partners34:30 – Unconditional Love42:30 – Final Takeaway for Schools, Parents and Educators

As the year comes to an end, it’s easy to label it as good, bad, or somewhere in between. But that kind of reflection is often shallow and misleading.In this conversation, we explore a more meaningful way to look back at the year gone by: your relationships.Think of every relationship as an investment account.Did you deposit into it this year or mostly withdraw?This video is for anyone who wants to reflect more honestly, lead better in their personal and professional life, and enter the next year with greater clarity and intention.If you’re looking for a grounded, thoughtful way to review your year beyond goals and achievements this is a good place to start.

Growth isn’t just about moving faster or getting bigger.

At some point, every organisation faces a choice:
Do we keep optimising what already works, or do we take the harder path of reinventing ourselves?

In this conversation, we explore why real growth demands exponential thinking — building systems and people that can scale, creating space for experimentation, and normalising failure as a source of learning rather than fear.

From Apple’s supply chain mastery to Google’s culture of curiosity and SpaceX’s approach to failing well, the common thread is clear: growth lives on the other side of discomfort.

For leaders and teams navigating constant change, the question isn’t whether the river will get rough — it’s whether we’re willing to learn how to ride it.