Business of Building

Gauri Talathi-Lamb

I'm Gauri Talathi-Lamb and this is Business of Building - a personal note from the leaders of today to the leaders of tomorrow. I am an engineer, project manager, business owner, CEO, wife and mother. I'm also an ordinary girl from an ordinary suburb in Mumbai, and I have had the absolute pleasure of meeting the most extraordinary and inspiring people in my career and life who have made a huge difference to me, to their teams and their communities. If you are looking for the ways to celebrate and grow the extraordinary in you, then Business of Building is definitely the podcast for you. I believe you cannot be what you cannot see, and in this world of social media it's easy to get confused and have your expectations of reality set through the filtered lens of influencers. I wanted to celebrate the normal and the regular; the inspiring risk taker; the dreamer in all of us and hear from those who have walked the path before us and dared to dream. We will hear their journey, their stories, and what they learned along the way. You will hear about their wins, their sacrifices and their fears and how they manage them. So without further ado, please listen to business of building, share with your friends and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

  1. Apr 9

    She Left a Corporate Job in 1984 to Serve Millions And Never Looked Back || Smt. Geeta Gunde

    She Left a Corporate Job in 1984 to Serve Millions And Never Looked Back Guest Introduction: Smt. Geeta Gunde What does it take to walk away from a successful career at the height of it — not for another job, not for more money — but for a calling? Today's guest did exactly that. Smt. Geeta Gunde holds an M.Sc. in Chemistry and spent twelve years as a Production Officer at Glaxo — building expertise, earning respect, and doing everything right. And then, in 1984, she made a decision that would define the rest of her life. She left it all behind to pursue social work full-time. That bold step eventually led her to become a founding member of Bharatiya Stree Shakti — an organisation dedicated to empowering women across India through education, economic independence, health, and self-respect. Decades later, affectionately known as Geetatai, she remains one of the most respected voices in women's empowerment in the country. She is proof that the most powerful thing a woman can build isn't a career — it's a movement. (00:00) Teaser: A Life Built on Purpose (01:00) Welcome to Business of Building (01:25) Introducing Today's Guest (03:06) The Beginning: From Campus Activism to a Calling (05:00) Redefining "Career" — It's Not Just a Paycheck (06:22) Why She Couldn't Do Both: The Time Constraint (07:11) The Progressive Unfoldment — No Single Turning Point (08:09) Family, Marriage & The Road Less Taken (09:18) How to Know What You Truly Want (10:32) The People Who Shaped Her Journey (11:19) On Nationalism: What It Really Means (12:40) Are Humans Tribal by Nature? (13:09) The Human Need for Community & Support (15:27) Making the Bold Decision: Leaving Stability Behind (16:30) Women's Empowerment Is Not Separate from Society (17:04) A Philosophy of Interconnection & Gratitude (20:06) Complementary, Not Compromising (20:33) Why Women's Issues Are Society's Issues (22:40) Who Is Responsible? Changing the Mindset on Safety (25:15) Equity Over Equality (25:50) The Role of Motherhood & Nature's Design (29:10) The Systemic Support Women Need to Re-enter Work (31:00) Did She Ever Have Regrets or Difficult Times? (31:39) Leading People: Beyond Communication (32:18) Understanding People's Real Barriers (35:38) Paying It Forward: The Ripple Effect of Kindness (38:02) The Unsung Heroes: Stories That Touched Her Heart (39:25) A 15-Year-Old Girl Who Walked 5 Days Through Jungle (43:35) The Cancer Patient Who Never Forgot (44:10) The Biggest Risk She Ever Took (A First-of-its-Kind Answer) (44:42) Closing Thoughts & Thank You Business of Building celebrates the normal and the regular; the inspiring risk taker; the dreamer in all of us and hear from those who have walked the path before us and dared to dream. We will hear their journey, their stories, and what they learned along the way.  So please subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcasts, and remember to leave a review so others can find us. This podcast is produced by The Podcast Boutique.

    45 min
  2. 03/06/2025

    Building Bonds: The Power of Workplace Relationships

    In this episode, we explore how meaningful workplace relationships shape careers, foster growth, and create a supportive environment for success. Su Sharma, a seasoned construction lawyer, and Gemma Prior, an expert in cost management and quantity surveying, share how mentorship, friendship, and professional networks have played a pivotal role in their journeys. What we cover: The impact of professional friendships – How Su and Gemma’s first meeting at a Circle Partnership event turned into a lasting and supportive connection.Navigating male-dominated industries – Finding strength in networks and the importance of women supporting women in construction and law.Mentorship and career progression – Gemma’s transition from mentee to mentor and how guidance from peers fuels confidence and growth.Challenging workplace narratives – Breaking down competition among women and creating safe spaces where collaboration thrives.Redefining career ambition at every stage – How leaders like Su continue to embrace new challenges, proving that career evolution doesn’t have an expiration date. Whether you're looking to build stronger workplace relationships, find your professional support system, or gain insights into navigating leadership with authenticity, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Listen now to hear how connections, mentorship, and genuine relationships can transform careers. Gauri Talathi- Lamb | LinkedIn (1) FHP Group: Overview | LinkedIn

    50 min
  3. 12/21/2022

    Building Partnerships to Benefit All with Rachel Bell

    On this episode of Business of Building I am joined by Rachel Bell, an Architect and Director of Partnerships at Stride Treglown. Her journey started with a BTEC in Construction and then she studied architecture at Bath university. Having joined Stride Treglown in 2000, Rachel has worked across many different sectors. Her role now at board level is leading the Winning Work team. Beyond her day job, Rachel supports numerous initiatives encouraging a more inclusive construction industry for the future. She has recently handed over her role on the SW Regional Board for LandAid (youth homelessness), she is currently a mentor with Mentoring Circle and is outgoing National Chair for Women in Property 2021/ 2022. As an industry role model, Rachel has won many awards and accolades for her contributions. In 2018-19, she was named a UK Construction Week Role Model, Property Week RESI Trailblazer, Insider SW Property Personality of the Year 2018, Insider SW Diversity champion of the year 2021, SW Mentor of the Year and was twice a finalist in the European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards. Rachel’s mantra is ‘Stand Tall’ something she supports and encourages everyone to do, to step up and out of their comfort zone. In this episode we talk about what is was like breaking into the male-dominated construction and engineering space as a woman, and how these gender biases has spurred her on, not just to be best in class during her studies, but a leader and highly-respected advocate for change in our industry.  Learn about the Orbis Expedition here.  You can also hear Rachel on her own podcast Stand Tall, available wherever you get your podcasts.    Here are the highlights:  (02:32) Getting hands on at an early age  (08:55) Succeeding in a man’s world  (12:49) Thriving on the pressure  (16:19) Widening my network  (20:28) The impact of Covid  (27:38) Enabling younger staff to network  (32:21) You can’t make enemies  (35:50) The feeling of having to prove myself  (39:54) The Orbis Expedition    Connect with Rachel:  LinkedIn  Twitter  Instagram  Listen to Stand Tall with Rachel Bell  Business of Building celebrates the normal and the regular; the inspiring risk taker; the dreamer in all of us and hear from those who have walked the path before us and dared to dream. We will hear their journey, their stories, and what they learned along the way.  So please subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcasts, and remember to leave a review so others can find us. This podcast is produced by The Podcast Boutique.

    49 min

About

I'm Gauri Talathi-Lamb and this is Business of Building - a personal note from the leaders of today to the leaders of tomorrow. I am an engineer, project manager, business owner, CEO, wife and mother. I'm also an ordinary girl from an ordinary suburb in Mumbai, and I have had the absolute pleasure of meeting the most extraordinary and inspiring people in my career and life who have made a huge difference to me, to their teams and their communities. If you are looking for the ways to celebrate and grow the extraordinary in you, then Business of Building is definitely the podcast for you. I believe you cannot be what you cannot see, and in this world of social media it's easy to get confused and have your expectations of reality set through the filtered lens of influencers. I wanted to celebrate the normal and the regular; the inspiring risk taker; the dreamer in all of us and hear from those who have walked the path before us and dared to dream. We will hear their journey, their stories, and what they learned along the way. You will hear about their wins, their sacrifices and their fears and how they manage them. So without further ado, please listen to business of building, share with your friends and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.