ZENPod

“ZENPod” Season-3, episode 6, featuring Smt. Jayanti Kathale,

A TED-Ex Speaker , SEE Talk Speaker , SWAYAM - Speaker , Business Woman,  Founder & Managing Director Manaswini foods Pvt.Ltd and Brand owner of ‘Purnabramha’, the world’s largest Maharashtrian Restaurant, chain of all-veg restaurants specialising in authentic Marathi cuisine.

“In one word, Spirituality means confidence. You have to believe in yourself first, so spirituality should come from inside, and once you start believing in yourself, you will start believing in others and that leads to experiencing the meeting of two souls, resulting in a good world around us”, - says Smt. Jayanti Kathale in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan

Dreams do come true, if you have the desire and the determination to go after them, says Jayanti Kathale, founder of ‘Purnabramha’, the world’s largest Maharashtrian Restaurant, chain of all-veg restaurants specialising in authentic Marathi cuisine.

             Waqt kee Qaid mein, Zindagi hai magar

             Chandh lamhe aaj bhi azaad hain

             Unhee lamhon se hamaare khwwabon kee shurvaat hain

            Aur wohee lamhe hamein hamaare khwabon tak

            Pahunchne kee taqat deti hain!

An erstwhile IT professional, and a mother who quit her high paying IT job for the sake of her dream, a dream to serve homemade delicious Maharashtrian food, now she is running over 14 restaurants successfully all over the world.

From the spice-laced Misal Pav, to Sabudana Wada, to the sweet Shrikhand Puri and Puran Poli, Jayanti’s restaurants offer a wide range of true Marathi flavour. Jayanti is also the CEO of Purnabramha LLC in the United States of America.

Born and brought up in Nagpur, Jayanti holds a Masters degree in Computer Applications; an IT professional and a technical guru for over 10 years in Appplication development and maintenance projects, Jayanti has worked previously in various capacities like project manager, Technical Architect, Technical Lead. Etc.

A speaker at various international forums, such as TEDEx, SEE, SWAYAM. Etc., Jayanti, a Business Women and Founder and Managing Director, Manaswini foods Pvt.ltd and the Brand owner of “Purnabramha”.  Jayanti has 17 years of experience in the industry as an Entrepreneur.

“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 for Season-3, episode 6 of “ZENPod”, featuring Smt. Jayanti Kathale,

A TED-Ex Speaker , SEE Talk Speaker , SWAYAM - Speaker , Business Woman,  Founder & Managing Director Manaswini foods Pvt.Ltd and Brand owner of ‘Purnabramha’, the world’s largest Maharashtrian Restaurant, chain of all-veg restaurants specialising in authentic Marathi cuisine.

“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.

“ZENPod” Season-3, episode 5, featuring Shri Manjoor Khan,

A Folk Musician & President of Sarwar Lok Kala & Gramin Vikas Sansthan, Manjoor and his band have given shows in more than 40 countries. they continue to regale us with their music.

“When a drop of water experiences its connection with the mighty ocean, only then it experiences the strength of the mighty ocean, similarly when I experience a connect with my Gurus, it gives me immense strength and tremendous happiness, this is Spirituality according to me”, - says Shri Manjoor Khan in his conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan

Manjoor Khan is a name that finds special mention and great respect among the folk music circuits of Rajasthan. Today he sinks a wide repertoire of traditional folk and Sufi songs. The special style of the manga near folk music called ‘jangra’,  includes a universe of songs for all occasions in life.

“Classical music has its roots in folk”, declares Manjoor Khan, who belongs to the Manganiyar community from Barmer in Rajasthan. “There is absolutely no doubt that classical music was born from folk music. Notation came later. We, as folk singers, do not use notes in our singing. Just like, classical musicians learn from the books, we sing from our memory. Our tradition is one of the oral traditions that gave birth to the classical tradition,” says Manjoor Khan confidently.

From traditional wedding songs to welcome songs for a newborn child especially the happy occasions of life are accompanied by the strong and colorful songs of the Manganiar musicians. Manjoor and his group organize and collaborate with organisations and have presented the extraordinary western Rajasthan traditional music worldwide. One of their most famous collaborations has been with ‘Papiya’ a female kalbiliya dancer from Jodhpur.

Manjoor and his band have given shows in more than 40 countries some of which have been Paris Switzerland Los Angeles Chicago Dubai Hong Kong Bangkok Vienna and Italy they continue to regale us with their music.

Their songs such as Nimbooda and Dum a Dum mast kalandar makes the crowd go crazy whenever they sign it at public functions

“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 for Season-3, episode 5 of “ZENPod”, featuring Manjoor Khan,

A Folk Musician & President of Sarwar Lok Kala & Gramin Vikas Sansthan, Manjoor and his band have given shows in more than 40 countries. they continue to regale us with their music.

“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.

“ZENPod” Season-3, episode 4, featuring Ms. Jacqueline Shaw,

A professional Fashion Designer, Birthed the Africa Fashion Guide, Author of “Fashion Africa”, International Public Speaker and African Fashion Business Coach.

“Spirituality for me is about connection with God, understanding who I am, knowing that I am here for a purpose’, - says Jacqueline Shaw in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan

With 16 years experience in the global fashion industry, living and working in 4 countries over 4 continents, Jacqueline has worked for brands and retailers such as Puma, C&A, Fila, Russell Athletic, Animal, Wilson.

A Professional Fashion Designe, Jacqueline birthed Africa Fashion Guide, the only sourcing consultancy and information based platform for African fashion, as a tool to educate, inform and retune the perceptions of Africa's fashion and textile industry - a vehicle she sees for trade and development.

Jacqueline is the Author of the coffee table book Fashion Africa (2011 and 2014) and the business book ‘Fashion Cannot Be Made in Africa (2020). An International Public Speaker, a University Fashion lecturer, an African Fashion Business Coach, a Sourcing Consultant and industry researcher, Jacqueline, who is a Masters degree holder in Ethical Fashion and a Masters in Social Research is known for being an expert and most proudly an ambassador in the Ethical African fashion landscape.

Jacqueline believes Africa is Fashion's Future and has used her African fashion tee shirt campaign using Fairtrade, organic African cotton tees made in Africa by Africans to spread this message on the catwalks of London Fashion Week to Ghana to Los Angeles. She aims to equip as many people as possible in setting up businesses in Africa to build trade, contribute to Africa's GDP, and impact thousands of African lives using the vehicle of Fashion.

Jacqueline has delivered talks at elite venues such as House of Lords in London, @ the London Eye, European Commission Brussels, Fashion Institute Technology NYC, Who's Next Paris and a Panel moderate at the UK-Africa Investment pre-Summit Manufacturing Panel, to name a few. She actively campaigns for a more responsible way of doing fashion business and doing it well in Africa. Jacqueline has built up her name and is recognised internationally as a public speaker

As an African Fashion Business Coach with past clients that include Lineapelle, Miroglio, Brighton Museum for Fashion Cities Africa exhibition, Prospero World and British Council for their Enterprise Africa Summit she uses her expertise to bring to life African fashion led projects. Jacqueline, with her unique tools and strategies, specialises in creating sustainable solutions that help new and existing fashion businesses successfully navigate the sourcing and manufacturing landscape of Africa's fashion and textile industry.

Jacqueline through Africa Fashion Guide Ltd has now launched programs including Fashion Africa Conference, Fashion Africa Voices, Fashion Africa Business Academy, Fashion Africa Trade Expo and Fashion Africa Sourcing Trips."

“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.

“ZENPod” Season-3, episode 3, featuring Ms. Hiromi Maruhashi,

A Japanese and Winner of the prestigious 1stNIHON KAIRALI KERALEEYAM Award. An exponent of Mohiniyattam and Nangiarkoothu, and Proficient in “Kalaripayattu”, a classical Martial Arts Form, Hiromi established Kerala Planning, a cultural project to spread the Fine Arts Culture of Kerala.

“Spirituality for me is about ‘Peace’, ‘Being brave’, it gives me the ‘Calm’. Whenever I am on stage, I feel spiritual”, - says Hiromi Maruhashi in her talk with Venkatesh Mahadevan

Born in Utsunomiya, Japan, Hiromi is a graduate from the Japanese Social Welfare University, Hiromi Maruhashi came to India in 1996, and started learning  Mohiniyattam from Kalamandalam Leelamma and Nangiarkoothu from Margi Sathi.

Ms. Maruhashi Hiromi Maruhashi Hiromi has been awarded for the prestigious 1st NIHON KAIRALI KERALEEYAM AWARD for her contributions in promoting Kerala culture and arts in Japan.

She learned Mohiniyattam under the instruction of Dr. Kalamandalam Leelamma and completed a course on Mohiniyattam at Kerala Kalamandalam, a public institute for art and culture. She further learned Nangiarkoothu under the instruction of late Margi Sathi.

She learned classical martial arts - Kalari Payat at CVN Kalari.  Hiromi was selected as an artist in an overseas internship from the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan in 2001. She established Kerala Planning in April 1999, a cultural project designed to spread the performing arts of Kerala; Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam, Nangiarkoothu, Kerala Natanam, and Kathakali, throughout Japan.

Hiromi has been involved in a wide range of activities and has appeared in films and TV shows in India. She has been performing with disciples in Japan and has received several awards in India and in Asia.

She has immense respect for her Guru: Prof. Kalamandalam Leelamma, one of foremost Mohiniyattam exponent of India.

At the Karthika Thirunal Theater, Fort, Thiruvananthapuram, Organized by BEAM & SPARK, At the Soorya Dance & Music Festival, At an Indo-Japan Cultural Evening (Organized by IJFA), the Nritha Upasaki Award program (Organized by Prenavam Kelasaavhana Singapore, at the Hyderabad Indo-Japan friendship Association, at the Nasik Indo-Japan Friendship Association Nasik  Award program (Organized by Fujiganga),

“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 for Season-3, episode 3 of “ZENPod”, featuring Hiromi Maruhashi,

A Japanese and Winner of the prestigious 1st NIHON KAIRALI KERALEEYAM Award.  An exponent of Mohiniyattam and Nangiarkoothu, and Proficient in “Kalaripayattu”, a classical Martial Arts Form, Hiromi established Kerala Planning, a cultural project to spread the Fine Arts Culture of Kerala.

“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

“ZENPod” Season-3, episode 2(part 2), continuing our conversation with Smt. Chetna Gala Sinha, an Activist, Farmer and a Banker.  Recipient of the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India’s highest civilian award for women who work in the area of women’s empowerment, Chetna has served as a Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum in Davos (2018), Switzerland and as a Co-Chair of Financial Inclusion at the W20 Summit (2018) in Argentina.

“Anything is Possible; Listen to People,Listen to humble people, Listen to communities, and you will find solutions!”, - says Chetna Gala Sinha in her talk with Venkatesh Mahadevan

Chetna founded the Mann Deshi Foundation in 1996 in Mhaswad, a drought- stricken area of Maharashtra, with the aim of economically and socially empowering rural women. In1997, she set up the Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank-India’s first bank for and by rural women.

In 2006, Chetna founded the first Business School for Rural Women and in 2013, she launched a toll-free help line and the first Chamber of Commerce for women micro-entrepreneurs in the country. In 2012, she set up a Community Empowerment Programme for Farmers that supports Water Conservation.

Chetna has been awarded the 2005 Jankidevi Bajaj Award for Rural Entrepreneurship, the 2005 Ashoka Change makers Award, the 2009 Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award, and the 2010 EdelGive Social Innovation Honors. She has won the 2013 Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the 2017 Forbes Social Entrepreneurs of the Year Award and was ranked by Fortune India as one of the country’s 50 top business women in 2018.

She has been instrumental in driving significant policy changes and the Reserve Bank of India, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, and several other national planning and regulatory institutions regularly seek her advice on financial inclusion. She is on several national boards including the National Advisory Panel for Niti-Ayog’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Cell (since 2018) and the Advisory Committee of the Reserve Bank of India’s Financial Inclusion Strategy (2019-2024).

“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.

“ZENPod” Season-3, episode 1, featuring Smt. Chetna Gala Sinha, an Activist, Farmer and a Banker.  Recipient of the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India’s highest civilian award for women who work in the area of women’s empowerment, Chetna has served as a Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum in Davos (2018), Switzerland and as a Co-Chair of Financial Inclusion at the W20 Summit (2018) in Argentina.

“Spirituality is about people who have a different experiences; when you bring your Talent & Art out and together, even under the most difficult circumstances, and when it gives Peace to others, that is Spirituality to me”, - says Chetna Gala Sinha in her talk with Venkatesh Mahadevan

Chetna founded the Mann Deshi Foundation in 1996 in Mhaswad, a drought- stricken area of Maharashtra, with the aim of economically and socially empowering rural women. In1997, she set up the Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank-India’s first bank for and by rural women.

In 2006, Chetna founded the first Business School for Rural Women and in 2013, she launched a toll-free help line and the first Chamber of Commerce for women micro-entrepreneurs in the country. In 2012, she set up a Community Empowerment Programme for Farmers that supports Water Conservation.

Chetna has been awarded the 2005 Jankidevi Bajaj Award for Rural Entrepreneurship, the 2005 Ashoka Change makers Award, the 2009 Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award, and the 2010 EdelGive Social Innovation Honors.  She has won the 2013 Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the 2017 Forbes Social Entrepreneurs of the Year Award and was ranked by Fortune India as one of the country’s 50 top business women in 2018.

She has been instrumental in driving significant policy changes and the Reserve Bank of India, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, and several other national planning and regulatory institutions regularly seek her advice on financial inclusion.  She is on several national boards including the National Advisory Panel for Niti-Ayog’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Cell (since 2018) and the Advisory Committee of the Reserve Bank of India’s Financial Inclusion Strategy (2019-2024).

“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 for Season-3, episode 1 of “ZENPod”, featuring Chetna Gala Sinha, an Activist, Farmer and a Banker.  Recipient of the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India’s highest civilian award for women who work in the area of women’s empowerment, Chetna has served as a Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum in Davos (2018), Switzerland and as a Co-Chair of Financial Inclusion at the W20 Summit (2018) in Argentina.

“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.