2nd Innings

Atul S Nath + Suman Ghose

Seeking passion, purpose, joy are becoming more important in our journeys. Especially in our Work. Many of us are doing this through rediscovering ourselves by changing tracks in our lives to a 2nd Innings. The 2nd Innings podcast is where we explore through conversations how some people have done this - we uncover their stories, experiences & learnings. Transitioning to a 2nd innings may require taking risks and stepping outside of societal norms. Telling & listening to such stories helps all of us.

  1. E21: Living the 100-Year-Life

    04/21/2025

    E21: Living the 100-Year-Life

    In this episode, hosts Atul Nath and Suman Ghose engage in a deep conversation with Lloyd Mathias, a seasoned business strategist and investor. They explore Lloyd's journey from his early years in Mumbai to his extensive career in marketing and business. The discussion delves into the importance of resilience and empathy in today's fast-changing world, the impact of liberalization on career trajectories, and the significance of personal branding. The episode concludes with valuable advice for listeners at various stages of their careers, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and self-reflection. Lloyd is a Business Strategist and Investor. And one of the leading voices in the world of business in India. He invests, partners and collaborates with founders of early-stage companies in the areas of AI, Social Commerce, data analytics and digital technology.   He is on the Boards of many listed companies as an Independent Director. These include Quantum Asset Management Company; Protean eGov Technologies; HT’s Digi Content Ltd., Fever Radio, & NextMedia Works Ltd. Before all of this – Lloyd was the marketing head of the Asia business of HP Incorporated - As also the President & CMO of Tata Teleservices, Country Sales Director for Motorola, Executive VP Marketing & Category Director for PepsiCo India and South Asia. Chapters  00:00:00 Introduction to the Second Innings Podcast 00:02:30 Lloyd Mathias: A Journey Through Early Life 00:08:04 The Shift to Marketing and Business 00:13:18 Reflections on Entrepreneurship and Career Growth 00:15:46 Transitioning from Corporate Life to New Ventures 00:23:26 The Importance of Lifelong Learning and Reinvention 00:31:52 Adapting to New Business Models 00:32:15 The Motivation Behind Continuous Growth 00:33:40 The Importance of Engagement in Life 00:35:23 Navigating the Startup Ecosystem 00:37:27 The Value of Experience in Modern Business 00:40:05 Recognizing the Need for Change 00:42:41 The Impact of Digital Transformation 00:44:20 The Power of Pivoting and Reinvention 00:44:20 Mindset Shifts in Career Transitions 00:46:36 Building a Personal Brand Post-Corporate Life 00:47:55 The Role of Networking in Career Success 00:52:07 Navigating Social Media and Professional Image 00:52:08 The Evolution of Leadership Mindsets 00:53:15 Purpose vs. Passion in Career Choices 00:53:15 Reflecting on Career Transitions 00:57:54 Lessons from the Startup Ecosystem 01:00:01 Building Resilience and Empathy in Leadership

    1h 3m
  2. E20: The Truth will set you Free

    04/07/2025

    E20: The Truth will set you Free

    In this episode of the Second Innings podcast, hosts Atul & Suman talk to Anil Nair to explore his journey from a successful career in advertising to founding Goodwind Moto Tours, a premium motorcycle touring company. Anil shares his early influences, the challenges he faced in his career, and the importance of self-awareness and purpose in making significant life transitions. He emphasizes the need to embrace the unknown and the value of personal growth through experiences, ultimately leading to his passion for motorcycling and helping others.Anil Sadasivan Nair is the co-founder of Goodwind Moto Tours, a premium motorcycle touring company from India. GMT is the pioneer in premium motorcycle tours taking Indian riders to exotic routes in Europe, Africa and Asia. He also serves as the co-founder and executive director of Hyper-ready Technologies, an AI technology firm. Apart from these two he holds board positions in various companies, including Kalyan Jewelers and Candere.With 27 years of experience in advertising, Anil's last role in advertising was CEO and managing partner at L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, a leading global advertising agency from where he retired in 2020. He was also a member of the global leadership board for Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide.In addition to his professional achievements, Anil authored "License to Fall," which shares insights from motorcycling about living life on one's own terms. The book is available on Amazon and in select bookstores. Anil is married to Arati Nair, an avid trekker who teaches social skills and English to children from less privileged backgrounds for the NGO Angel Express in Mumbai. He is a father to a young lady pursuing her master's degree in digital marketing and social media at the University of Dublin, Ireland. Chapters  00:00:00 Introduction to Second Innings Podcast 00:02:12 Anil Nair's Early Life and Background 00:03:14 Transition to Mumbai and Early Career 00:04:10 Passion for Cricket and Its Impact 00:05:10 Injury and Career Shift 00:05:30 Discovering Advertising and Marketing 00:06:31 Family Influence and Motorcycling Passion 00:07:44 The Journey to Mumbai and Dreams of Motorcycles 00:15:49 The Challenge of Acquiring a Bike 00:18:06 Balancing Passion and Career in Advertising 00:20:07 The Near-Fatal Crash and Its Impact 00:21:48 The Decision to Buy Another Bike 00:23:22 Transitioning from Bikes to Cars 00:24:19 The Influence of Advertising on Passion 00:26:24 The Birth of an Agency 00:28:18 Navigating Success and Challenges in Advertising 00:30:49 The Desire for Independence 00:33:22 The Journey to Founding a New Agency 00:36:32 The Leap of Faith: Starting A New Agency 00:38:40 Navigating Risks and Rewards in Entrepreneurship 00:41:46 Financial Preparedness: The Reality of Starting Up 00:46:43 Building a Legacy: From Agency to Impact 00:48:27 Passion Meets Purpose: The Birth of Goodwind Riding 00:55:10 Self-Justification and Truth 00:58:47 The Race of Life: Running Your Own Race 00:58:57 The Journey of Writing a Book 01:01:51 Lessons from Motorcycling: Metaphors for Life 01:08:38 Reflections on the Journey: What Would You Change? 01:08:57 Advice for Transitioning: Start with Why

    1h 13m
  3. E19: Are You Collisionable?

    03/24/2025

    E19: Are You Collisionable?

    In this episode, hosts Atul S Nath and Suman Ghose engage in a conversation with Navyug Mohnot, a seasoned entrepreneur and life design coach. They explore Navyug's journey from his early life experiences, shaped by his father's career with the United Nations, to his education at IIT and his eventual transition into entrepreneurship. The discussion delves into the concept of 'Designing Your Life', emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, vulnerability, and intrinsic motivation in navigating life's challenges and opportunities. The conversation concludes with reflections on identity, the importance of chipping away at life's complexities, and the value of embracing both success and failure as part of the journey. Navyug is the CEO of QAI, a transnational Process Improvement consulting organisation, and the Founder and CEO of QGLUE, a consulting, coaching, and training company that helps enterprises and individuals adopt and embrace the ‘design-led way’ to foster innovation and success. Navyug’s passion for all things “design” led him serendipitously to the celebrated Stanford book and offering “Designing Your Life”. Navyug is a Stanford- trained “Designing Your Life” (DYL) Coach, Facilitator, and Educator for Universities, and brought the renowned program to India for the first time as Visiting Faculty at Ashoka University and at the Indian School of Business. Navyug did his B.Tech from IIT Delhi and received the “Outstanding Contribution to National Development” award from the IIT Delhi Alumni Association. He pursued a Fellowship for a PhD program in the USA. He dropped out to pursue his dream of returning to contribute to the globalisation of the then-nascent Indian IT Industry.  Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Second Innings Podcast 00:03:16 Navyug Mohnot's Early Life and Influences 00:11:55 Navigating Education and Career Choices 00:17:20 The Concept of Accidents in Life 00:24:17 Finding Balance Between Decisiveness and Fluidity 00:29:52 Understanding Personal Values and Decision Making 00:31:42 Aligning Values and Purpose in Organizations 00:34:21 The Importance of Self-Reflection and Core Values 00:36:20 Embracing Failure and Learning from Mistakes 00:40:00 Transitioning from QAI to Life Design 00:45:52 The Power of Aha Moments and Self-Awareness 00:49:57 Navigating the Dichotomy of Life 00:54:57 Navigating Emotional Challenges in New Ventures 00:58:23 The Value of Effort Over Outcome 00:59:30 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation 01:03:45 Life by Design vs. Default 01:04:12 Building a Portfolio of Identities 01:07:32 Reflections on Past Choices 01:10:11 Advice for Different Life Stages

    1h 17m
  4. E17: The Journey starts with Self-Awareness

    02/01/2025

    E17: The Journey starts with Self-Awareness

    In this episode, hosts Atul and Suman engage in a deep conversation with guests Vikas Tandon and Siddarth Menon about their career transitions and the importance of self-awareness. Vikas is an IIMA graduate, tried his hand at corporate jobs for the first 6-7 years, subsequently started a digital agency -Indigo Consulting. Indigo was acquired by the Publicis Groupe in 2012 after which he had the choice to continue as an Internet Entrepreneur/Leader, or pursue his first passion, Music. He chose the latter, and currently is a semi-professional musician learning music, writing original songs, and playing live. Siddarth is a sales, marketing and strategy expert with over 20 years of experience. Having worked with Coca Cola & Colgate, he joined  Epigamia as a founding member and helped scale it to a recognisable and well distributed brand. He is now an advisor and Consultant to Startups and works with them to build a playbook for growth. Vikas shares his journey from a successful corporate career & entrepreneurship to pursuing his passion for music, while Siddarth discusses his shift from a corporate leader to advising startups. The conversation explores themes of risk-taking, the power of awareness, and the relationship between passion and skill, ultimately emphasizing the significance of financial preparedness in navigating career changes. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of financial planning, the importance of setting goals, and the role of perseverance in entrepreneurship. They discuss the significance of partnerships in business, reflect on their past decisions, and emphasize the need for self-awareness and overcoming self-doubt. The dialogue highlights that while financial safety is essential, the journey of entrepreneurship requires adaptability, resilience, and a supportive network. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Second Innings Podcast 00:05:10 Vikas Tandon's Journey: From Corporate to Music 00:16:11 Siddarth Menon's Path: From Corporate Success to Startups 00:24:27 The Power of Self-Awareness in Career Transitions 00:35:42 Navigating Major Life Transitions: Vikas & Siddarth's Insights 00:39:22 The Value of Education and Risk Taking 00:42:30 Living Life on Your Own Terms 00:45:59 Understanding Personal Risk and Desperation 00:48:42 The Importance of Harmony in Life 00:52:51 Passion vs. Skill: A Misconception 00:56:13 Financial Preparation for Transitions 01:05:44 Timing and Self-Awareness in Career Changes 01:08:59 Learnings and Unlearnings from Transitions 01:15:52 The Importance of Connection and Community 01:18:15 The Value of Partnerships in Business 01:21:01 Navigating the Challenges of Finding Co-Founders 01:26:30 Reflecting on Past Decisions: What Would You Change? 01:37:08 Advice for Those Hesitant to Take the Leap

    1h 43m

About

Seeking passion, purpose, joy are becoming more important in our journeys. Especially in our Work. Many of us are doing this through rediscovering ourselves by changing tracks in our lives to a 2nd Innings. The 2nd Innings podcast is where we explore through conversations how some people have done this - we uncover their stories, experiences & learnings. Transitioning to a 2nd innings may require taking risks and stepping outside of societal norms. Telling & listening to such stories helps all of us.