In this podcast episode, Shashi Kumar, the Founder and CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic, discusses his journey from a technology professional to revolutionizing organic farming in India. After a 15-year career in the IT sector in India and the U.S., Kumar returned to India, driven by a desire to change how farming is perceived and practiced. He, along with 27 ex-Wipro colleagues, founded Akshayakalpa - a crowdfunded initiative focused on organic farming and technology solutions like Stellapps to address challenges in agriculture. Shashi elaborates on the inspiration behind Akshayakalpa, the emphasis on soil management, dairy farming for consistent cash flow to farmers, and the importance of organic practices. The discussion also covers the economic, technological, and ecological dimensions of farming, the role of consumers in sustainable agriculture, and Akshayakalpa's future vision. Shashi's story is a testament to leveraging technology and innovative practices to enhance farming sustainability and profitability. Timestamps: 02:00 Inception 03:28 Driving Force 05:20 Learnings So Far 09:47 Farmer Entrepreneurship 11:59 Future of Farming 13:53 Selection Criteria 15:26 Consumers 18:20 Vision going forward

In this podcast episode, Shashi Kumar, the Founder and CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic, discusses his journey from a technology professional to revolutionizing organic farming in India. After a 15-year career in the IT sector in India and the U.S., Kumar returned to India, driven by a desire to change how farming is perceived and practiced. He, along with 27 ex-Wipro colleagues, founded Akshayakalpa - a crowdfunded initiative focused on organic farming and technology solutions like Stellapps to address challenges in agriculture. Shashi elaborates on the inspiration behind Akshayakalpa, the emphasis on soil management, dairy farming for consistent cash flow to farmers, and the importance of organic practices. The discussion also covers the economic, technological, and ecological dimensions of farming, the role of consumers in sustainable agriculture, and Akshayakalpa's future vision. Shashi's story is a testament to leveraging technology and innovative practices to enhance farming sustainability and profitability. Timestamps: 02:00 Inception 03:28 Driving Force 05:20 Learnings So Far 09:47 Farmer Entrepreneurship 11:59 Future of Farming 13:53 Selection Criteria 15:26 Consumers 18:20 Vision going forward

Welcome to Episode 87! In this special face-to-face interview, our guest, Sudarshan Sarma, former CEO of Carz on Rent and a seasoned leader with experience in Flipkart, Google, and GM, shares profound insights into the auto industry's future and essential leadership traits. Join us as we delve into the intersection of AI and automotive innovation, discussing how AI is reshaping driving experiences, maintenance, and production logistics. We also explore the electrification landscape, debating the future of EVs and the critical considerations surrounding infrastructure, sustainability, and market dynamics, especially in India. Additionally, Sudarshan shares invaluable leadership lessons, emphasizing empathy, clarity of vision, and customer focus as essential traits for effective leadership. He underscores the importance of customer-centricity and cross-functional collaboration in driving business growth and adaptation to evolving market demands. Discover how marketing strategies have evolved from placement-based buying to audience-based targeting, leveraging AI and data insights to deliver more relevant and impactful brand experiences across diverse platforms. Tune in for an engaging discussion that traverses the realms of technology, leadership, and industry dynamics, offering actionable insights for leaders and enthusiasts alike. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation! Subscribe now and stay tuned for more thought-provoking episodes.

In the Season 18 curtain raiser, our host, Kaushik Bose talks with Pallavi Jha, who is the Chairperson and Managing Director of Dale Carnegie Training India, with over 21 years of experience leading their India operations. They discuss a lot about leadership (including introverted leaders), AI, and their impact on organizations. Overall, the discussion offers insight into developing strong, ethical leadership amidst technological transformations. They begin by discussing how perspectives on leadership have changed globally and in India over the past two decades. Pallavi notes impacts from globalization, technology advances, workforce demographic shifts, and India's emergence on the global stage. She debunks myths that leaders must be extroverted visionaries and says leadership is situational - we can all lead in different contexts. The discussion then touches on identifying high-potential leaders. The focus then changes to the effects and opportunities of artificial intelligence. Pallavi sees both risk and opportunity for leaders in AI's disruption of businesses and jobs. For employees, she advocates addressing fears through education, reskilling and psychological safety in change processes. For HR leaders facing new tech demands, Pallavi recommends clarity on AI uses and change management support.

Our host, Kaushik, has an insightful discussion with Sudeshna Basu Roy, CEO of Marg Business Transformation, around her journey in leadership development and change management, what drives success or failure in organization, and considerations around diversity, collaboration and flexible leadership styles. They have an insightful discussion about how they started with change management, but quickly moved to business coaching and leadership training, which helped them expand pan-India. They partnered with ProSci, an organization that provides a robust, methodical approach to change management focused on both professionalism and science. Empathy and collaboration are also emphasized as increasingly important traits for leaders to enable change. Command and control styles are less effective. Diversity, equity, and women in leadership are discussed. The need to better understand different talents and make the workplace more inclusive is noted. Allowing flexibility, work-life balance, and adapting to different needs is important for retention and effectiveness. Gender norms and stereotypes are still challenges to address.

In Episode 84, I have a very interesting chat with Sean Linehan, who is the Managing Director for the UK operations of Blue Helion, a boutique consulting firm. He has over 25 years of experience in sales, leadership, and mergers and acquisitions. Some of the key points we discuss are: - His methodology for taking sales teams from 70-110% achievement - How he tackles "Underperformance". - Organic growth vs Acquisitions - How & why cultural fit is critical post-acquisition - Micromanagement - Large / SMB customers with the intent to being acquired - The right time to hire M&A consultants

In one of my most interesting chats, I have with me Blake Hutchison, the CEO of Flippa, the leading global marketplace for buying and selling websites, online stores, and digital properties. Some of the topics we discussed: - Criticality of sales - How valuations are data-driven based on extensive transaction history across different business types and metrics; Factors like revenue, growth, costs, category are considered. - Why founders should focus on product-market fit without investor funding initially. - Traits needed for a startup founder to be successful - How mindset differs within regions globally - Managing cross-functional teams to build high-performing teams - Branding to be a very effective tool for sustainable growth through organic traffic and referrals.

One of the most interesting chats I had, where Dr. S.P. Mishra of India Career Centre, asked me vey insightful questions which actually got me thinking! This is a long one... but it's super insightful! Enjoy

This is the second webinar of the "Brain Box" Gurukul series, this time with the theme of Sustainability. In this episode, Sravan, the CEO of iGo, discusses their electric three-wheeled scooter called the BeiGo X4, designed to address sustainability beyond just emissions, focusing on safety, family needs, and women riders.Key features include active balancing assistance and a narrow tilting bridge for unprecedented stability. Sravan envisions providing the comfort of a car in a small footprint vehicle. He discusses how mobility needs to shift from private vehicle ownership to shared utilization given space constraints in cities. Sravan also talks about iGo's vision to be a technology supplier rather than OEM, enabling hundreds of brands to build vehicles on their platform for both domestic and export markets.

On the Season 16 finale & what was also our first webinar, Raymond Yeh, whose latest venture is with AI, talks about how this technology is set to disrupt life as we know it.

The Evolution of Marketing: AI, SEO & Influencers. In this episode, our host, Kaushik Bose, deep dives with Dipti Agarwal, a seasoned marketer with a track record in integrating strategy with creative and content. They delve into areas such as how to increase website visits, the power of branding, and the impact of AI on the marketing industry. Dipti offers insights on the transformation of SEO with AI and her entrepreneurial journey with Little Food Diary. She also shares her experiences working on numerous campaigns, including the award-winning Project Streedhan. Finally, the discussion sheds light on the changing dynamics of working with influencers in the social media landscape. Timestamps: 00:17 Increasing Website Visits: Strategies and Experiences 02:26 Project Streedhan: A Viral Campaign Success Story 04:53 The Reality of Viral Videos and Their Impact on Business 07:50 The Role of AI in Marketing and Job Security 11:24 Is SEO Dead? A Discussion on the Future of SEO 15:25 Entrepreneurial Journey: Founding Little Food Diary 17:56 The Evolution and Future of Influencer Marketing

Episode No. 78 is out & the guest is a serial #entrepreneur, #cio & a #cmo combination - Aka Praveen Pinto! Praveen's career is a testament to the power of adaptability and perseverance in the ever-changing landscape of #technology and #business. With over 24 years of experience, Praveen has navigated through various industries, leaving a mark in each domain he ventured into - be it Jacky's Electronics or RAKBANK or DAMAC Properties in #dubai!

On today's show, I have Justin Breen, who after 16 years as a sports journalist built his own company, authored an international best-seller & an Amazon Bestseller across 6 countries! He's currently the CEO of BrEpic Network, an invitation-only premium connecting platform which connects the visionaries on the planet.

In the opening episode of Season 16, I had the pleasure of speaking to Shyam Kesarwani, an industry veteran with two decades of experience in technology and banking. We discussed how technology has transformed over the years from starting his career in the early 2000s. Key evolutions highlighted included the rise of the internet, AI/ML and cloud computing. In banking specifically, Shyam noted the shift from solely branch-based services to fully digital and mobile banking. Emerging technologies like blockchain, cryptocurrencies and more recently chatbots like ChatGPT were also explored. It was fascinating to gain insights from Shyam on his technology journey and views on where industries may head in the coming years. The podcast provided thought-provoking discussion on both the promises and precautions of rapidly advancing technologies.

Niiamah hosts a podcast for high-performing unconventional leaders and entreprenuers (aka Outliers) who use what makes them different to make a difference. "It takes something different to lead what is coming." So, what happens when you put together two podcast hosts who want to be the change? You get one heck of a 75th episode! Niiamah & Kaushik have a completely unscripted chat where they discuss leadership through hiring, biggest leadership mistakes, criticality of failures etc. Don't miss this one!

On the latest episode from Brain Box Media's TECH TITANS, Kaushik hosts Akhil Minocha, a seasoned tech leader with over two decades of experience.across CAST Software, Persistent Systems, Intel and more.The discussion dives into the technical topics of #application modernization, #cloud migration and assessing applications' readiness for the cloud.He also provides insightful explanations of important emerging technologies like #AI, machine learning, large language models, and how APIs power many aspects of our digital lives.They discuss the promise and challenges of generative AI tools like #ChatGPT and what may come next.The role of AI in jobs and careers is also covered.For technical leaders looking to stay on top of the latest trends, this #podcast episode provides valuable perspectives on strategizing for the future of #technology.

On the first episode of "Tech Titans" by Brain Box Media,Alka Selot Asthana shares her inspiring career journeyin the telecom industry spanning over 25 years.where she helped lead the 3G revolution in India as DGM of MTNL.We discuss:- Why CDMA technology lost market share to GSM.- One of her favorite projects 'Housing for All'- Smart city projects in the private sector.For all the future women #leaders,she encourages them to believe in themselvesand not second guess their potential or abilities based on gender.Don't miss this 20 minute episode& follow us for more such #leadership #podcasts

Vandana Tolani, one of the top women leaders in wealth management, sat down for an insightful discussion on her 25+ year career in venture capital and startups. - We had a very inspiring discussion on her journey breaking barriers as a female leader in the VC world. - We discussed how dramatically the startup landscape has transformed from the 1990s, when it was still uncommon, to today's global innovators across industries. - Vandana shared her perspective on the differences between startup ecosystems in India vs. Southeast Asia, where she was based (in Indonesia) for 15 years. - When assessing founders and ideas to invest in, she emphasized the importance of the "horse before the cart" - focusing first on a founder's traits like resilience over just a promising concept. - She's also launched her new angel investment network Avinya to support underserved founders at the seed stage with small tickets and mentoring.

For the Season 15 curtain-raiser, Kaushik hosts Jon Davids, who is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO of Influicity, a company that builds brand communities through influencer marketing, social media, podcasts etc. His early entrepreneurship was displayed when as a student in 2004, Jon made $300,000 by building a website with blogs on various topics and getting traffic from MSN, AOL and Yahoo portals by promoting the content. He monetized through Google AdSense. In 2009, Jon discovered the power of influencers/YouTubers after seeing someone get views in the tens of thousands for fashion videos. He worked with influencers to promote products and drive sales. Jon believes the future is in building communities and using influencers/one's own community to promote products and businesses, not just celebrity endorsements. His latest ventures Influicity and Demand Scope help clients build communities and also use performance marketing like paid ads to drive shorter term revenue. Jon thinks newsletters, podcasts and owned channels are important to build direct connections with audiences into the future.

In the Season 14 finale, Kaushik talks with growth expert Anuj Mittal about how to achieve exponential scale through a thoughtful approach to sales. Anuj discusses how he helped P&G (FMCG), Healthians.com (B2C), Zovi.com (D2C) grow massively by redesigning their sales process to eliminate friction and focus solely on meeting customer needs. He talks through the multi-step process they implemented to naturally upsell customers at each touchpoint. Anuj shares insights on how to structure an inside sales team for scale without needing extensive training, and how focusing on attention and value over transactions is key. This discussion provides very useful perspectives, you wouldn't have considered on sales strategy, leadership, and building systems for sustainable growth.