ADCLOD Podcast with Social Impact Leaders

Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organisational Development | IIMA

In this podcast series by Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organisational Development (ADCLOD), IIM Ahmedabad, we engage in conversations with leaders, changemakers, and founders from the social sector who have created meaningful and lasting impact in the lives of communities through their work. Through these conversations, we capture insights, experiences, and lessons from decades of leadership. The series explores the diverse insights on leadership approaches in the social sector, offering listeners a deeper understanding of what it takes to drive sustainable social change.

  1. Aug 26

    Rajendra Joshi on Building Saath & Social Change | EP.13 ADCLOD Podcast with Social Sector Leaders

    Welcome to Episode 13 of the ADCLOD Podcast with Social Sector Leaders, a podcast series by the Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organisational Development (ADCLOD), IIM Ahmedabad, highlighting the journeys, leadership philosophies, and impact of individuals driving social change across India. In this episode, Prof. Neharika Vohra, Chairperson of ADCLOD, speaks with Rajendra Joshi, founder and managing trustee of Saath Charitable Trust, Ahmedabad, an organization working with low-income and informal communities across India. Rajendra has spent over three decades building community-led approaches to livelihoods, healthcare, education, financial inclusion, housing, and urban development. Rajendra reflects on the origins and evolution of Saath, from its early work with communities in Ahmedabad to building partnerships across communities, government, civil society, and the private sector. He shares insights on participatory leadership, community ownership, trust-building, and why involving people in decision-making and implementation is central to creating sustainable change. The conversation also explores Saath’s approach to inclusive development and its shift from simply providing services to building institutional and market capabilities. Rajendra discusses why he believes communities should be seen as participants and market actors rather than beneficiaries, drawing on Saath’s work with artisans, informal workers, nano entrepreneurs, and underserved communities. Rajendra also reflects on governance, talent development, peace-building, partnerships, and the lessons he has learned over more than three decades of institution-building. He shares his advice for young people who want to work in the social sector and create visible, sustainable change. Join us for an inspiring conversation on grassroots leadership, inclusive development, social entrepreneurship, community ownership, and the power of institutions to create lasting social impact. #ADCLOD #IIMAhmedabad #SocialImpact #RajendraJoshi #Saath #SocialEntrepreneurship #GrassrootsLeadership #InclusiveDevelopment #UrbanDevelopment #CommunityLeadership #SocialInnovation #Leadership #InclusiveCities #SocialSector

  2. Jul 22

    Sunitha Krishnan on Rescuing Lives & Building Hope | EP.8 ADCLOD Podcast with Social Sector Leaders

    Welcome to Episode 8 of the Social Impact Leadership Series, a podcast initiative by the Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organisational Development (ADCLOD), IIM Ahmedabad, exploring the journeys, insights, and leadership philosophies of individuals driving transformative social change. In this episode, Prof. Neharika Vohra, Chairperson of ADCLOD, speaks with Dr. Sunitha Krishnan, co-founder of Prajwala, one of India's leading anti-human trafficking organisations. For nearly three decades, Sunitha has dedicated her life to combating sex trafficking, rescuing survivors, and building systems that enable long-term rehabilitation, reintegration, and justice. Under her leadership, Prajwala has rescued over 32,000 women, girls, and children while pioneering innovative approaches to prevention, survivor rehabilitation, and policy advocacy. Sunitha shares Prajwala's journey from a grassroots initiative to one of the world's most respected anti-trafficking organisations. She reflects on building institutions that outlast their founders, empowering survivors as leaders, creating resilient teams, navigating leadership succession, and sustaining hope while working on one of society's most challenging issues. She also discusses the growing threat of technology-enabled exploitation, the importance of ethical leadership, and why lasting social change requires courage, compassion, and collective action. The conversation explores human trafficking, survivor rehabilitation, institution building, leadership succession, team culture, trauma-informed care, ethical leadership, online safety, policy advocacy, nonprofit management, philanthropy, and the role of young professionals in driving meaningful social change. Join us for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, resilience, institution building, and creating lasting impact through service and hope. #ADCLOD #IIMAhmedabad #SunithaKrishnan #Prajwala #HumanTrafficking #AntiTrafficking #Leadership #SocialEntrepreneurship #InstitutionBuilding #SurvivorLeadership #WomenEmpowerment #OnlineSafety #EthicalLeadership #SocialImpact #NGOLeadership #Podcast #IndiaDevelopment

  3. Jul 15

    Saroj Mahapatra: Community-Led Rural Transformation | EP.7 ADCLOD Podcast with Social Sector Leaders

    Welcome to Episode 7 of the Social Impact Leadership Series, a podcast initiative by the Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organisational Development (ADCLOD), IIM Ahmedabad, exploring the journeys, insights, and leadership philosophies of individuals driving transformative social change. In this episode, Prof. Neharika Vohra, Chairperson of ADCLOD, speaks with Saroj Mahapatra, Executive Director of PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action), one of India's pioneering rural development organisations. Over nearly three decades, Saroj has worked alongside some of India's most marginalized communities, leading initiatives that strengthen rural livelihoods, women's collectives, climate resilience, and community institutions across the country. Saroj shares PRADAN's remarkable journey from pioneering India's Self-Help Group movement to becoming one of the country's most influential rural development organisations. He reflects on why lasting transformation begins with communities taking charge of their own development, how institutions can be built to outlast their founders, and why empathy, learning, and decentralized leadership remain at the heart of sustainable social change. The conversation explores community-led development, rural livelihoods, women's empowerment, Self-Help Groups, institution building, leadership succession, climate resilience, philanthropy, government partnerships, organisational learning, talent development, and the role of young professionals in transforming rural India. Saroj also offers powerful insights into building learning organisations, nurturing leadership at every level, and creating institutions that empower people rather than foster dependence. Join us for an insightful conversation on grassroots leadership, institution building, rural transformation, social entrepreneurship, and the future of inclusive development in India. #ADCLOD #IIMAhmedabad #SarojMahapatra #PRADAN #RuralDevelopment #GrassrootsLeadership #CommunityDevelopment #SocialEntrepreneurship #InstitutionBuilding #WomenEmpowerment #SelfHelpGroups #ClimateResilience #Leadership #InclusiveDevelopment #SocialImpact #NGOLeadership #CommunityLeadership #Podcast #IndiaDevelopment

About

In this podcast series by Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organisational Development (ADCLOD), IIM Ahmedabad, we engage in conversations with leaders, changemakers, and founders from the social sector who have created meaningful and lasting impact in the lives of communities through their work. Through these conversations, we capture insights, experiences, and lessons from decades of leadership. The series explores the diverse insights on leadership approaches in the social sector, offering listeners a deeper understanding of what it takes to drive sustainable social change.