Venkatesh Mahadevan

From an HR Professional to a Champion for Women!

“ZENPod”, Season-6, episode 1, featuring Dr. Sulochana Segera,

Founder & Chairperson of the global brand Women In Management( WIM).

A Mentor, Counsellor and Investor of Goodwill, a member on the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Skill Development, Employment and Labour Relations @ SriLanka.

The Global Banking & Finance Awards® UK announced Dr. Sulochana Segera as the winner of ‘Business Woman of the Year Sri Lanka’.

Dr. Segera was listed as one of the ten most Influential People in Sri Lanka 2020 by the LNW website. She launched the First Sri Lankan Inspirational Women Calendar for year 2022 featuring 12 women leaders representing business, politics, careers, professions, social activities etc.,

“Spirituality is about understanding who I am, my good points and my not-so-good points. It’s also about seeing life in a good way. When you feel good inside, you can share more with others. So being spiritual is really about being true to yourself and liking who you are.”, says Dr. Sulochana in her conversation with Venki Mahadevan.

Dr. Segera was recently appointed to the Advisory Committee of the Global Global Equality Standard developed by GEA in United Kingdom.

She also heads the Sri Lankan project of Her Majesty the Queen’s seventy years of service and leadership.

https://www.womeninmanagement.org

https://womeninmanagementawards.org/

Dr. Segera is the Chairperson of the global brand Women In Management( WIM). Some of the key brands under WIM are the ‘ Professional Career Woman Awards’ and th e ‘ WIM Single Mother’ projects. One of Sri Lanka’s top social entrepreneur, Trainer and Motivational speaker with over 24 years of experience, Sulochana is a certified Personality Development Trainer in Asia. She is a trainer for the World Bank entity IFC on the area ‘ Sustainable Private Sector Investment’ whilst in the private sector for the top Global multinational- Coca Cola, She is an official trainer for the brand ‘ 5 by 20’ which is an initiative for the development of 5 million women by way of empowerment and Economic Development. She is also a trainer for British Council ‘ Active Citizen’ project.

Dr Segera has trained over 5000 police offers and 15,000 micro Women entrepreneurs and been recognized globally winning the ” Global CSR Excellence Awards- 2018, Women Super Achievement award- 2017, Leadership Excellence Award- 2016 and the ” Most Outstanding a Professional’ award.

Sulochana is a doctoral graduate from Global University,- California, USA and a Trainer for “Youth Parliament of Sri Lanka while she is the Managing Director of Deep International”.

She is the Patron of the T.E.A Project, (UK Based Project in Sri Lanka empowering Children) and she also sits in the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Skill Development, Employment and Labour Relations.

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

From an HR Professional to a Champion for Women!

Curtain raiser - Season-6, of “ZENPod”, featuring Dr. Sulochana Segera,

Founder & Chairperson of the global brand Women In Management( WIM).

A member on the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Skill Development, Employment and Labour Relations @ SriLanka.

https://www.womeninmanagement.org

https://womeninmanagementawards.org/

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

“ZENPod”, Season 5, episode 10 featuring Ms. Savitha Rao Founder of “India Positive Citizen” & “Tulsi Shakti” initiative, An Activist and Fashion Entrepreneur, a Sustainability Champion, Fashion Designer, an Artist & an Explorer of Environment space.

“Spirituality is an Awareness that there is something greater than oneself. Something more to being human than just a sensory experince. A lifetime is sometimes not enough to experience it.”, says Savitha Rao in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan

Savitha Rao is focused on sustainability and social work. She is the Founder of the India Positive Citizen initiative. The vision is to inspire every Indian to contribute towards nation building with one action, once a week, every week. Building a great nation one India Positive action at a time.

https://www.indiapositivecitizen.com

https://tulsishakti.com

An Activist entrepreneur Once she immersed herself in the environment space, Savitha felt alarmed by the inaction she saw around her. To that end, she conceptualised and ran a campaign titled, ‘India Kuch Kar.’ (India Do Something). The goal was to inspire the public to become active citizens, and the theme was public cleanliness. It was appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom she got to meet thanks to the resounding success of the campaign.

She is the author of :

- India Positive Citizen

- 500+ Ways to be an India Positive Citizen

- Putting India First : India Positive Citizen Perspectives

Currently she is writing a book ‘Made in India Movement’. The research for the book will result in regulatory changes that will power Indian Industry across sectors.

Through her non-profit foundation: Positive Citizen Foundation she leads on-ground initiatives to enable a kinder, joyous and more sustainable world.

She is the Founder of Tulsi Shakti : a first of it's kind initiative to inspire and empower people to enhance their well being in a safe, accessible, affordable and planet friendly way.

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

From A FASHION Entrepreneur to a SUSTAINABILITY Champion

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Savitha Rao,

Founder of “India Positive Citizen” & “Tulsi Shakti” initiative,

An Activist and Fashion Entrepreneur, a Sustainability Champion, Fashion Designer, an Artist & explorer of Environment space.

https://www.indiapositivecitizen.com

https://tulsishakti.com

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

#sustainableliving #ecofriendly #sustainability #sustainablefashion #sustainableliving #zerowaste #vegan #handmade#indianfashion #indian #instagram #instagood

#fashiondesigner #indialiving #UnitedNations #UNSDG #tulsi #fashionforgood #NarendraModi #NamoNamo #indians

First Singaporean Artist to send her art to the Moon

“ZENPod”, Season 5, episode 9 featuring Ms. Lakshmi Mohanbabu, an Architect, Fashion Designer, an Artist & a NFT Creator.

Two of her sculptures are on the International Space Station, orbiting Earth and will reach the Moon by 2025 as part of the Moon Gallery, the first extra-terrestrial art gallery.

She started her career as an Architect, illustrated books on disability for the Voluntary Health Association of India and the WHO, became a Fashion designer, Educator / Mentor at NIFT, Delhi and Lasalle College of the Arts.

https://www.lakshmimohanbabu.com/

Lakshmi is a Singaporean Artist of Indian origin, an Architect and Fashion designer by training, who spent her formative years in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan. Two of her sculptures are on the International Space Station, orbiting Earth and will reach the Moon by 2025 as part of the Moon Gallery, the first extra-terrestrial art gallery. Her art has been featured as a mosaic animation on the largest HD screen in the world at Singapore's Suntec Convention Centre, displayed in prominent galleries, and is collected worldwide. The 5 Interactions designs now in space are being launched in the metaverse as a series of NFT art available at https://www.liqnft.com/gallery/collection/MOON

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

She started her career as an Architect, illustrated books on disability for the Voluntary Health Association of India and the WHO, became a Fashion designer, Educator/Mentor at NIFT, Delhi and Lasalle College of the Arts. An artist of many mediums, her art spans all facets of design, is multisensory and multidisciplinary, an intersection of Art and Technology.

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Lakshmi Mohanbabu, an Architect, Fashion Designer, an Artist & a NFT Creator.

First Singaporean Artist to send her art to the Moon

Two of her sculptures are on the International Space Station, orbiting Earth and will reach the Moon by 2025 as part of the Moon Gallery, the first extra-terrestrial art gallery.

She started her career as an Architect, illustrated books on disability for the Voluntary Health Association of India and the WHO, became a Fashion designer, Educator / Mentor at NIFT, Delhi and Lasalle College of the Arts.

https://www.lakshmimohanbabu.com/

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

A TECHIE who also makes MUSIC!

Season-5, episode 8 of “ZENPod”, featuring Shri HK Venkatram – “HKV”, a Violin Vidwan, a “Ganakala Shree”, “Gaanavaradhi”, “Satyashree” and recipient of “Parur Sundaram Iyer Award for Senior Violinist“. HKV is also an ‘Asthana Vidwan’ of Sri Kanchi Kamokoti Peetam, Kanchipuram.

A Techie, Social Evangelist, HKV has also published a book ‘TyagarajaVachanamrita‘ with text, transliteration, and translation of popular Saint Tyagaraja’s compositions.

He works as a Senior Director at Intel for the R&D group.

“Spirituality is about deeper involvement in whatever we do, Carnatic music gives us enough room for this. The framework of creative music within Carnatic music itself gives us the space to get very deeply involved and for me, this is spiritual” says Shri HKV, in his conversation with Venki Mahadevan.

https://www.hkvenkatram.com/

• HK Venkatram (HKV) is one of the most accomplished and sought-after violinists in the Carnatic Music field. Born into a musical family, Venkatram received his musical training from his illustrious father and Guru Sangita Kalaratna Professor H.V. Krishnamurthy. Venkatram started learning violin at the age of eight and gave his first public performance in Bangalore along with his brother HK Raghavendra at the age of 11.

• HKV is an ‘A’ Grade artist on All India Radio. He has traveled extensively and has given solo and accompaniment performances at prestigious sabhas (including Music Academy, Krishna Ganasabha, Bangalore Gayana Samaja, and others) in the country and abroad for close to four decades and has received raving reviews. He has given several performances abroad (USA, Canada, HK, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and United Kingdom).

• He has accompanied many top-ranking musicians, including Sriyuths Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, DK Pattammal, Dr. ML Vasanthakumari, KV Narayanaswamy Dr. M Balamuralikrishna, Dr. RK Srikanthan, Nendanuri Krishnamurthy, Dr. N Ramani, TN Seshagopalan, TV Sankaranarayanan, Chitravina Ravikiran, Mandolin U. Srinivas, TM Krishna, Sanjay Subrahmanyam , and others.

• HKV is also the Principal of Vijaya College of Music a premier music institution established by his father in 1953 and has been training several disciples. The music college has worked on the ‘Social Responsibility initiative (Prathyarpana Foundation) and has been actively supporting various NGOs and needy individuals and organizations.

• In 1999, HKV released a multimedia CD on Tyagaraja’s Ghana Raga Pancharatnam during the Tyagaraja Festival held in Cleveland, USA. The CD was released in Bangalore too. The CD featured a multimedia presentation on Life and Times of Saint Tyagaraja as well as audio tracks of Panchratnam songs with music notation and translation.

• HKV has effectively utilized the modern form of communication to take Carnatic Music to the masses. He has presented comprehensive multimedia presentations on the Life and Works of Muthuswamy Dikshithar and also documentaries on several doyens of Carnatic music like Sri Semmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer, Veena Sheshanna..etc

• HKV has also started the ‘Shabda’ initiative together with TM Krishna and RK Shriramkumar, Shabda (www.shabda.co.in) is a project aimed at creating an online archive of the various aspects pertaining to the Indian Performing Arts.

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

A Techie who also makes Music!

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Shri HK Venkatram – “HKV”, a Violin Vidwan, a “Ganakala Shree”, “Gaanavaradhi”, “Satyashree” and recipient of “Parur Sundaram Iyer Award for Senior Violinist“. HKV is also an ‘Asthana Vidwan’ of Sri Kanchi Kamokoti Peetam, Kanchipuram.

A Techie, Social Evangelist, HKV has also published a book, ‘TyagarajaVachanamrita‘ with text, transliteration, and translation of popular Tyagaraja’s compositions.

https://www.hkvenkatram.com/

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

Social Entrepreneur from Nepal turns "TRASH" into "CASH"

Season 5, episode 7 of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Aayushi KC, A Social Entrepreneur and Founder, CEO of Khaalisisi , ♻️ A socially inclusive waste management platform dedicated to transform Nepal’s waste dumping sector to Waste Management sector.

Aayushi is a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree in Asia, & Asia 21 Young Leader in 2019. Khaalisisi has been recognized by Google as Google Business story in 2017.

“Spirituality is about being grateful and not taking things for granted. I try to replicate that in everything that I do. Working Hard and not taking things for granted” says Aayushi in her conversation with Venki Mahadevan.

https://www.khaalisisi.com/

Aayushi KC is the Founder, CEO of Khaalisisi Management Pvt. Ltd., a waste management platform that currently connects waste workers, in an industry with more than 13,000 waste workers, to waste sellers. Aayushi’s goal is not just to create a company, but a waste management industry in Nepal.

Khalisisi is a social enterprise disrupting the recycling industry in Nepal through connecting waste entrepreneurs with the public on an innovative digital platform.

Khaalisisi works to digitally empower the informal waste workers/stakeholders to increase the diversion of recyclable materials away from landfills. Aayushi works to raise public awareness of recycling in Nepal and ultimately hopes to create a waste management industry in the country. The 200 plus waste entrepreneurs involved with khaalisisi have been able to earn 35% more income and also found a respectful space for themselves in this industry.

Aayushi KC is looking to change the world by working towards a zero-waste goal in Nepal. The former USAID worker-turned-social entrepreneur founded Khaalisisi Management Pvt. Ltd. (Khaalisisi.com), which currently connects more than 13,000 recyclable waste-buyers to waste-sellers, helping to substantially increase the diversion of recyclable materials away from landfills. She is also active in trying to change public opinion when it comes to the importance of recycling and the waste-collectors who facilitate it.

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Aayushi KC,

"Nepali entrepreneur turns trash into cash"....

A Social Entreprneur and Founder, CEO of Khaalisisi , ♻️ A socially inclusive waste management platform dedicated to transform Nepal’s waste dumping sector to Waste Management sector.

Aayushi is a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree in Asia, & Asia 21 Young Leader in 2019. Khaalisisi has been recognized by Google as Google Business story in 2017.

https://www.khaalisisi.com/

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.