CIRCLE

Women Leadership Circle
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Welcome to CIRCLE- a podcast where women lead the conversation. Hosted by two dynamic leaders, Gayatri Rangachari Shah and Jaya Mehrotra. This podcast brings together thought leaders to explore innovative approaches to leadership. Each episode dives deep into real stories and hard-earned lessons around business growth and inclusive leadership. A must-listen for aspiring leaders and seasoned executives alike!

Episodes

  1. 31/07/2025

    The Power of Personal Agency & Career Pivots | Circle Ep 7

    In Episode 7 of Circle, hosts Gayatri Rangachari Shah and Jaya Mehrotra are joined by dynamic business icons Shalini Sekhri and Vivek Gambhir. Together, they unpack career pivots, moments of bold decision-making, and the true power of owning your path, highlighting how personal agency empowers leaders to shape their own futures. Through heartfelt stories and hard‐won lessons, they discuss all about the tough turns, unexpected opportunities, and the mindset shifts that redefine careers. Each anecdote is packed with insight, sparking new ways to think about growth, ambition, and purpose in today’s fast‐changing world. If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or anyone in transition, this episode is a must watch for you! 00:00 - Start 1:51 - Introduction 2:54 - Things They Did in Their First Jobs That Feel Irrelevant Now 7:14 - What Does Agency Mean to Them? 11:14 - How to Exercise Agency When You’re New 14:53 - How Has Agency Helped You 17:28 - Have You Exercised Agency to Your Benefit? 18:39 - How ‘Agency’ Applies to All Facets of Our Lives 19:29 - Collaborative Agency: Who Gets It Right? 20:17 - Important Tips for Organizations to Exercise Agency 21:29 - Amazon’s Two-Door Policy 22:11 - Exercising Agency in a Multi-Gen Family Business 24:24 - Personal and Career Pivots 31:08 - Hiring Decisions: What They Value in Talent 36:57 - Gender Bias in Hiring 41:53 - AI, Automation & the Future of Jobs 44:51 - Staying Relevant in a Fast-Changing World 46: 20 - Getting Unstuck Mid-Career 50:32 - Balancing STEM Subjects & Soft Skills 53:52 - Recruiting Process in India 55:07 - One Trait That Makes Founders Effective HMU: Looks Salon Location: Honeycomb Studio

    1 hr

  2. 24/07/2025

    How Women are Steering Change in the Auto World Women Leadership | Ep 6

    In Episode 6 of Circle, hosts Gayatri Rangachari Shah and Jaya Mehrotra engage in a powerful conversation with Renuka Kirpalani and Pooja Choudary, two exceptional leaders who are redefining what it means for women to lead and excel in the traditionally male-dominated automobile industry.  Renuka shares her exhilarating journey as a car racer and journalist smashing speed records and challenging stereotypes, while Pooja opens up about the rise of her luxury car business in India, overcoming skepticism and societal expectations. They reflect on raised eyebrows, broken myths, and the determination it takes to take the wheel literally and metaphorically in leadership roles.  This episode dives deep into their challenges, triumphs, and the unique insights that come from steering careers in auto, offering inspiration to anyone striving to break barriers in male‑dominated fields. Location: BMW Infinity Cars, Worli HMU: Looks Salon Chapters 0:00 - Start 1:51- Introduction 3:32- First car they drove 5:40- Teaching kids driving 6:25- The test Gayatri failed 7:17- Favourite cars 9:56- Pooja’s Pivot 13:04- Architecture & Automobile 15:38- Renuka’s Journey 19:01- Women & Automobile  20:44- Renuka’s critical point 22:52- Importance of Pivoting 23:55- Jaya’s Story 24:58- Women pivot daily 26:11- Expectations: Women Vs Men 27:21- Breaking Stereotypes 30:45- People Management  32:53- Women are underestimated  35:01- Women are safer drivers 41:36- Driving the fastest car 43:31 - Renuka’s fastest speed 46:58- Are EVs the future? 50:36- New Generation's buying behaviour  53:40- Sustaining an Automobile Business  55:41- Adapting to changing times 1:02:25- Building Collaboration & Trust 1:18:36- Closing Remarks & Takeaways

    1h 12m

  3. 17/07/2025

    Decoding Entrepreneurship in India | The Circle Ep - 5

    In Episode 5 of The Circle, we explore what it truly means to lead when no one else sees the vision — or believes in it. We discuss why your vision doesn’t need permission to be powerful, how timing beats perfection, and why disappointment often means you're pushing in the right direction.  We also take a closer look at entrepreneurship in the Indian market — the challenges, the opportunities, and what it really takes to grow in a space that’s always changing. Whether you're a founder, leader, or changemaker, this episode offers real value for your journey. Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction & Overview 2:15 – The Landscape of Indian Entrepreneurship 6:40 – Key Challenges Faced by Startups 11:05 – Government Initiatives & Policies 15:30 – Role of Technology in Business Growth 20:00 – Success Stories: Inspiring Entrepreneurs 25:45 – Funding and Investment Opportunities 30:10 – The Future of Entrepreneurship in India 35:00 – Expert Panel Discussion 40:20 – Q&A Session with the Audience 45:00 – Closing Remarks & Takeaways Hosted by: Gayatri Rangachari Shah– Journalist, Editor & Author: GRS Consultants Jaya Mehrotra – Leadership Coach & Founder of WLC Featuring Guests : Minal Vazirani- Co-founder at Saffron Art Mallika Parekh- CEO, Fluent Health; Owner, Physique 57 Venue Courtesy : Saffron Art Hair and Makeup : Looks Salon

    1h 1m

  4. 26/06/2025

    Scaling Up: Managing the Financial & Creative side of Running a Business ｜ CIRCLE EP 04

    What does it really take to lead, scale, and stay creative in today’s business world? In this power-packed episode of Circle, hosts Gayatri Rangachari Shah and Jaya Mehrotra are joined by fashion entrepreneur Payal Singhal and content leader Priya Tanna for an unfiltered conversation on leadership, ambition, and reinvention. From the bold truths of building a fashion brand to navigating leadership in the media world, this episode unpacks why it’s never too late to learn about finances—and how women can start building a nest egg, even in middle age. Watch now and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more such conversations. ⁩Hosted by: Gayatri Rangachari Shah– Journalist, Editor & Author: GRS Consultants  Jaya Mehrotra – Leadership Coach & Founder of WLC Featuring Guests : Payal Singhal- Creative Director, Payal Singhal Design House, PR & Marketing Chair at WLC Priya Tanna- President at TRS Creative Consulting, Former Launch Editor-in-chief, Vogue India Watch now and don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes! Venue courtesy- Payal Singhal Design House Chapters: 0:00 - Start 0:25 - Guest Introduction  1:04 - Diving into Priya’s Background 4:32 - Monetizing IPs & Building a PNL 11:28 - Balancing Business With Creativity  16:19 - Importance of Saving 17:49 - Myths about Ambitious Women 19:27 - Gayatri & Priya’s Journey with Money 26:15 - Fears while Scaling Up 33:35 - Women & Self-Pressure 35:23 - Breaking through Beauty Standards   45:22 - The Power When Women Unite  47:34 - Social Media - A Necessary Evil 53:23 - Is Print Journalism Dead? 57:02 - AI vs The Human Touch 58:46 - The Role of Influencers 1:00:54 - Great Leaders aren’t Always Liked 1:05:25 - Being a New-age Leader 1:05:52 - The Pursuit of Excellence 1:07:12 - Having High Standards  1:08:01 - Respect is Earned, Not Commanded  1:08:48 - The Rapid Fire 1:21:20 - Final Reflections & Learnings

    1h 22m

  5. 19/06/2025

    CIRCLE ｜ EP 03 – The Leadership Choices That Shape Success

    In CIRCLE | EP 03, Anita Bhogle and Aditi Dugar join host Gayatri Rangachari Shah and Jaya Mehrotra for a thought-provoking roundtable on redefining leadership on their own terms. From breaking barriers to making bold choices, they share the mindset shifts, pivotal moments, and strategies that have helped them sustain purposeful growth. Subscribe to Women Leadership Circle (WLC) for more leadership insights. ⁩Hosted by: Gayatri Rangachari Shah– Journalist, Editor & Author: GRS Consultants  Jaya Mehrotra – Leadership Coach & Founder of WLC Featuring Guests : Anita Bhogle - Partner, Prosearch consultants, Author - Equal and Advisory board member, WLC  Aditi Dugar- Director & Founder- Masque & Urban Gourmet India Pvt. Ltd. Watch now and don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes! Venue courtesy- Masque Restaurant Hair by - Streax Professional Chapters  0:00 - Quick BTS and Trailer  2:00 - Guest Introduction  3:00 - Personal stories about the childhood and early years 5:20 - Anita about her IIT & IIM experience 7:30 - Aditi on her early years  10:15 - Aditi on building Masque Restaurant  13:00 - Anita on post IIT and IIM Journey ~ from a corporate setup to self-employment  16:22 - Aditi on her journey, career pivots and her book  18:36 - Gayatri on the title of Anita’s book “Equal, yet Different” 19:32 - Anita on “What she could have done differently?” 20:59 - Gayatri on women’s career graph and child care 22:00 - Aditi on her family support and business  26:37 - Aditi in fighting the crit 28:42 - Anita’s take on mentors  30:04 - Gayatri and Jaya’s take on mentors 30:44 - Aditi on her mentors 32:40 - Aditi on fundraising and capital  37:14 - Anita on women entrepreneurs and fundraising  38:36 - Jaya on women vs men on fund raising and capital  39:33 - Accountability and Risk 41:37 - Lessons learned, Key takeaway and Challenges  54:04 - Women on rejoining work after a break  55:47 - Salary cut for women and women entrepreneurs guilt 1:02:42 - Refections and Learnings

    1h 15m

  6. 12/06/2025

    Strengthening an entrepreneurial legacy ｜ CIRCLE EP 02

    In CIRCLE | EP 02, we dive into the world of leaders navigating and furthering family built enterprises - how they navigate resources , fundraise, and drive innovation. This episode offers invaluable insights into continuing family businesses, and overcoming challenges unique to women leaders. Hosted by: Gayatri Rangachari Shah– Journalist, Editor & Author: GRS Consultants  Jaya Mehrotra – Leadership Coach & Founder of WLC Featuring Guests : Purvi Sheth: CEO- Shilputsi Consultants & Advisory board member, WLC Aditi Kothari Desai: Vice Chairperson, DSP Asset Managers Watch now and don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes! Venue courtesy- The Clearing House  Hair by - Looks Salon Chapters: 0:00 - Start of the podcast 0:17 - Introduction to women and investment challenges. 1:42 - Introductions and objectives of the podcast. 2:18 - Goals of the podcast to inspire future generations of women. 3:21 - Introduction of Purvi & Aditi, their professional background, and multiple roles. 4:36 - Purvi describes her identity and entrepreneurial journey & work across boards and passion for leadership. 5:51 - Aditi shares her family legacy and her role in the family business. 6:35 - Purvi talks about her involvement in wildlife conservation and philanthropy. 6:58 - Icebreaker question on fulfilling leadership moments. 7:20 - Purvi shares leadership program initiatives during COVID-19. 8:51 - Corporate and philanthropic initiatives for Diwali and Christmas. 9:32 - Aditi discusses launching her FinTech business and its challenges. 10:24 - Aditi reflects on personal growth through her sister's family. 10:42 - Importance of building ecosystems and mentorship through WLC. 12:06 - Discussion on women's workforce participation and challenges. 13:01 - Aditi and Purvi's alignment with their family businesses. 13:24 - Purvi discusses challenges in aligning personal purpose with business. 14:34 - Aditi shares her father's legacy in investment banking and personal learning. 15:59 - Story about Aditi learning finance concepts from a comic book. 16:01 - Aditi’s experience transitioning into asset management and banking. 16:43 - Aditi reflects on her time in the US and the challenges faced in her career. 17:45 - Aditi's take on investment management versus banking. 19:20 - Reflecting on mentorship, loneliness, and leadership roles. 20:18 - Women navigating their careers and balancing authenticity. 21:10 - Expectations and the mindset required to succeed in legacy businesses. 24:05 - Importance of authenticity and grit in leadership. 25:46 - Creative aspirations of Aditi and Purvi beyond their businesses. 26:11 - Aditi and Purvi’s passion for Indian crafts and cultural preservation. 29:15 - Gayatri's love for books, yoga, and creative pursuits outside work. 30:07 - Discussion on the role of passion and purpose in life. 31:21 - Parental influence on women's independence and financial literacy. 35:20 - Empowering your daughters through Financial literacy 36:22 - Authenticity in leadership and overcoming societal conditioning. 38:00 - Importance of unlearning and embracing one's authentic self. 41:14 - Insights into balancing personal and professional life for women. 44:36 - Aditi and Purvi share their unlearning journeys. 45:08 - Leave your Amazon at Work 48:47 - Purvi's FinTech initiatives and digital product development. 56:40 - Leveraging technology for scaling businesses and learning programs. 1:00:47 - Aditi's insights on women and investment decision-making. 1:04:09 - Challenges women face in raising capital and scaling businesses. 1:08:33 - Overcoming fears and scaling businesses as women leaders. 1:09:57 - Concluding discussions on authenticity and purpose-driven careers. 1:11:27 - Final reflections, podcasts recommendations, and ending remarks.

    1h 19m
  7. EP 1 - The Journey Behind Transforming Vision into Successful Ventures

    12/05/2025

    EP 1 - The Journey Behind Transforming Vision into Successful Ventures

    Kicking off our Circle roundtable series, Jaya Mehrotra, alongside Gayatri Rangachari Shah, Shilpa Bhagat, and Shivani Bhasin Sachdeva, explores the journey of turning ideas into impactful ventures.  In this episode, they share personal experiences on entrepreneurship, funding, and the challenges that come with breaking barriers in business.   INSTAGRAM :  / womenleadershipcircle   GMAIL : jaya@wlc.org.in (For business inquiries )

    1h 14m
  • 7 Episodes

About

Welcome to CIRCLE- a podcast where women lead the conversation. Hosted by two dynamic leaders, Gayatri Rangachari Shah and Jaya Mehrotra. This podcast brings together thought leaders to explore innovative approaches to leadership. Each episode dives deep into real stories and hard-earned lessons around business growth and inclusive leadership. A must-listen for aspiring leaders and seasoned executives alike!

Information

  • Creator
    Women Leadership Circle
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Women Leadership Circle
  • Show Website
    CIRCLE