Nisha Munavar Podcast

Nisha Munavar
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Conversations with exceptional people about the journeys, mindsets and moments that shape how they think, perform and live. From CEOs and founders to champions and high achievers, we explore the inner game behind extraordinary outcomes.

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    AI, Human Intelligence, Curiosity & Peak Performance| Jordan Morrow, CEO|Godfather of Data Literacy

    Is AI making us smarter, or are we losing our ability to think for ourselves? In this episode of the Peak Performance Podcast, host Nisha speaks with Jordan Morrow, internationally recognised data literacy thought leader, five-time author and Founder and CEO of Bodhi Data, about artificial intelligence, human intelligence, critical thinking, curiosity and peak performance. Jordan explains why investing millions in AI and data doesn't automatically lead to better business decisions. Discover his formula for engineered intelligence: Data + AI + IQ + EQ, and why the future isn't humans versus AI, but humans working alongside technology. In This Episode AI and Human Intelligence: Is AI strengthening or weakening our critical thinking?Data Literacy: Why everyone needs to understand and communicate data.The Four Cs: Curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and collaboration.AI Leadership: Why technology alone cannot transform organisations.Trusting AI: How healthy scepticism and human judgement improve decisions.Psychological Safety: Why people, culture and change management matter for AI adoption.Curiosity and Creativity: Why adults lose their natural curiosity and how to rediscover it.Burnout and Peak Performance: Jordan's personal experience and lessons in sustainable ambition.Flow State: How deep focus helped Jordan write several chapters of his first book in five days.Future Skills: Why emotional intelligence and asking better questions matter more than ever.Episode Chapters 00:00 – Is AI Making Us Better Thinkers? 01:52 – Jordan Morrow's Journey into Data Literacy 04:17 – Why More Data Doesn't Mean Better Decisions 06:28 – Can We Trust AI-Generated Answers? 09:17 – Human Intelligence and AI: Engineered Intelligence 11:41 – Applying Data, AI, IQ and EQ 14:03 – Is AI Weakening Our Thinking Skills? 16:39 – Live Challenge: Fixing an AI Investment That Isn't Delivering 19:31 – AI, Burnout and Psychological Safety 21:07 – How Data Literacy Bridges the Gap 23:03 – The Four Cs of Data Literacy 24:18 – Why Adults Lose Their Natural Curiosity 26:46 – How We Accidentally Discourage Children's Creativity 29:08 – Parenting, Curiosity and Creativity 33:00 – Ambition, Ultramarathons and Overcoming Burnout 35:44 – Why Consistency Beats Occasional Greatness 38:20 – How to Enter a Flow State 39:19 – The Five-Day Writing Sprint 41:35 – Rapid-Fire Round: AI, Curiosity and Peak Performance 44:17 – The One Skill Every Child Needs in the AI Era About Jordan Morrow Jordan Morrow is a data literacy thought leader, five-time author, keynote speaker and Founder and CEO of Bodhi Data. Formerly Global Head of Data Literacy at Qlik, he champions empowering people to use data confidently and make better decisions. About the Peak Performance Podcast Hosted by Nisha, the Peak Performance Podcast explores the mindset, habits and strategies behind exceptional performance through conversations with world champions, business leaders, authors and thought leaders. Join the Conversation What human skill will become most valuable as AI advances: curiosity, creativity, critical thinking or emotional intelligence? Share your thoughts in the comments. Subscribe to the Peak Performance Podcast for more conversations about AI, leadership, personal growth and unlocking human potential. #ArtificialIntelligence #DataLiteracy #PeakPerformance #HumanIntelligence #CriticalThinking

    AI, Human Intelligence, Curiosity & Peak Performance| Jordan Morrow, CEO|Godfather of Data Literacy

  2. Oct 11

    How to Reach Your First $1M Faster: 3 Bets Every Startup Should Make | Baishakhi Connor

    What does it take to find hundreds of millions of dollars of value that others simply walk past? In this episode of the Peak Performance Series, Nisha Munavar speaks with Baishakhi Connor, a business strategist and advisor with 25+ years of experience in strategy, finance, acquisitions, transformation and business growth. Baishakhi worked on SABMiller’s $12 billion acquisition of Foster’s, helped deliver $250M+ in year-one synergies following the AB InBev–SABMiller acquisition, managed a $600M P&L, delivered over $200M in recurring annual savings, and led the strategy that ended a decade of declining volume by backing a small regional beer called Great Northern, which went on to become Australia's first billion-dollar alcohol brand by sales.Her biggest lesson? Learn to see value where others don't. CHAPTERS 00:00 Finding Hidden Value Others Miss 01:43 What Does It Mean to Find Hidden Value? 06:01 Data vs Intuition 07:13 The LIFT Framework 08:49 Why Listening Comes Before Strategy 09:44 Finding “Bad Revenue” 12:14 Finding $250M+ in Synergies 15:08 The Small Brand That Challenged the Biggest Brands 18:33 Betting on Great Northern 21:08 Makeup, Haircut or Tattoo Decisions 22:14 How to Win a Negotiation 24:34 The Biggest Negotiation Mistake 25:56 Numbers, Leverage or People? 27:30 The $1M Challenge for Startups 28:58 Find One Customer With Urgent Pain 30:40 Sell Before You Build 32:13 Bet on Yourself: You Are the Distribution 34:34 Reaching the Next Million 36:57 Cost, Revenue or New Customers? 38:30 The 90-Day Plan to Reach $1M 42:25 What Drives an Exceptional Performer? 44:39 What Does Peak Performance Feel Like? 46:20 Rapid Fire 48:41 The Hidden Value in Herself 50:30 Becoming Her Own Biggest Believer 51:47 “It’s Now Time to Back Mine” 52:14 Final Reflections KEY TAKEAWAYS • How to find hidden business value • The LIFT framework for business transformation • How data, experience and intuition work together • How to identify opportunities others dismiss • How Great Northern became a billion-dollar brand • How to make high-stakes strategic decisions • How to negotiate by solving problems, not trying to win • Why great negotiators listen more than they talk • How startups can reach their first $1M faster • Why founders should sell before they build • How to identify an ideal customer with urgent pain • Why founders need to become their own distribution channel • How established businesses can improve profitability • A practical 90-day startup strategy • How to create the conditions for peak performance • Why professionals should build assets, not just income A powerful theme is the difference between being successful and reaching your full potential. After 25 years of helping businesses and leaders discover hidden potential, Baishakhi realised she needed to apply the same standard to herself. Don’t mistake your current success for your ceiling. If you're a founder, entrepreneur, business leader, strategist or ambitious professional, this episode explores business strategy, negotiation, leadership, entrepreneurship, business growth and peak performance. Subscribe to the Peak Performance Series for conversations with exceptional leaders, entrepreneurs, world champions and high performers exploring the mindset, strategies and experiences behind extraordinary achievement. Business Strategy | Hidden Value | Business Growth | Leadership | Negotiation | Entrepreneurship | Startup Strategy | First Million | Profitability | M&A | Peak Performance #PeakPerformance #BusinessStrategy #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Negotiation #StartupStrategy #BusinessGrowth #PeakPerformanceSeries

    How to Reach Your First $1M Faster: 3 Bets Every Startup Should Make | Baishakhi Connor

  3. Oct 3

    From AI Ideas to Real-World Impact: Sashiko Dayani, CEO of Innova8s, on AgriTech & Peak Performance

    What does it really take to turn an AI idea into a solution that creates measurable real world impact? In this episode of the Peak Performance Series, I sit down with Sashiko Dayani, CEO of Innovates, an AgriTech company using AI, data and computer vision to help farmers detect animal health issues earlier. Sashiko takes us behind her remarkable journey from a senior career in banking and technology to becoming an entrepreneur working directly with farmers. She shares what she has learned about AI, innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience and peak performance. We explore: • How AI is being used to detect livestock health issues before they become visible • How technology can help farmers make earlier, better decisions • Why you should start with the customer's problem, not the technology • Why not every business problem needs AI • How to turn an AI concept into a deployable and scalable solution • The reality of AI hallucinations and why human expertise still matters • How Sashiko handles uncertainty as a startup CEO • The importance of focus and resilience when building a company • How she prioritises when everything seems urgent • What it feels like to get into the “zone” while building and leading • How she prepares for high stakes presentations and customer conversations • The mindset that keeps her moving forward through setbacks Sashiko also shares a powerful personal lesson from her entrepreneurial journey: when you don't know whether you're on the right path, focus on whether the next step will give you learning or move you closer to your vision. Her philosophy is simple: understand the problem, create tangible value, stay resilient and keep moving. If you're interested in Artificial Intelligence, AgriTech, AI entrepreneurship, startup leadership, innovation, peak performance, customer centric product development or the future of AI, this conversation is for you. Guest: Sashiko Dayani Role: CEO, Innovates Focus: AgriTech | AI | Agriculture | Innovation | Entrepreneurship Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:19 Building AI solutions for agriculture 00:58 From a farming background to technology 02:15 How AI helps detect livestock health issues 03:29 From corporate boardrooms to working with farmers 05:12 The journey from senior leader to entrepreneur 07:27 How AI is transforming agriculture 10:14 How to turn an AI idea into a real solution 12:42 AI hallucinations and the importance of human judgement 14:39 The mindset of exceptional performers 16:29 Resilience through adversity 18:41 How to keep going when you want to quit 19:18 Dealing with uncertainty as a CEO 21:08 Experiencing flow and getting “in the zone” 23:29 How to prioritise when everything demands attention 25:00 Preparing for high stakes moments 26:12 Rapid Fire 27:21 Sashiko's message to her 20 year old self Subscribe to the Peak Performance Series for conversations with exceptional leaders, entrepreneurs, world champions and high performers exploring the mindset, strategies and experiences behind extraordinary achievement. #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AgriTech #Agriculture #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #StartupLeadership #Leadership #PeakPerformance #Resilience #AIinAgriculture #FutureOfAI

    From AI Ideas to Real-World Impact: Sashiko Dayani, CEO of Innova8s, on AgriTech & Peak Performance

  4. Sep 25

    From Mediocrity to Extraordinary: How to 10X Your Career, Mindset & Life | Shilpa Kulshrestha

    What happens when a successful career, comfortable life and family still leave you feeling unfulfilled? In this powerful episode of the Peak Performance Podcast, I sit down with Shilpa Kulshrestha, a 3-time TEDx speaker, bestselling author, career coach and entrepreneur, to explore how to break out of mediocrity, transform your mindset and create an extraordinary life with intention. Shilpa openly shares her personal journey — from putting her career on the backseat while prioritising family, to losing her job and confronting the uncomfortable realisation that she had been settling for “good enough.” That moment became the beginning of her transformation. She went from being an introvert who struggled to find her voice to becoming a TEDx speaker, bestselling author and coach who works with senior professionals to accelerate their careers and step into their next level. In this episode, we explore:• Why highly capable mid-career professionals often play small • How to identify the invisible “chains” holding your career back • Why self-belief must come before external recognition • How to overcome the fear of becoming irrelevant in the age of AI • Why career growth isn't simply about getting a higher salary • The mindset shift that can help you move towards leadership and CXO roles • Why you don't need to be an extrovert to have influence • How introverts can create massive value in the room • Why “work-life balance” may not be the answer • Shilpa's concept of creating intentional “pockets of imbalance” • How to find your “Big Yes” and focus your energy • Why allowing yourself the freedom to fail is essential for growth • How to navigate the fear of taking a career risk • Why your career is created beyond the 9-to-5 • How to become the person capable of attracting the opportunities you want • The connection between mindset, career success, relationships and fulfilment • How Shilpa prepares herself to enter a flow state before speaking on stage • Why intentional days create intentional weeks, months and years One of the biggest lessons from our conversation? You don't have to know exactly where you're going. You first need to decide that where you are is no longer enough. Then identify the chains. Break them. Find your direction. And start building the next version of yourself. As Shilpa says: “An outstanding life begins when you start living a life of intention.” 🎙️ About Shilpa Kulshrestha Shilpa Kulshrestha is a 3-time TEDx speaker, bestselling author, career coach and entrepreneur who works with professionals to transform their careers, mindset and lives. Her work focuses on helping people break through limiting beliefs, build confidence, increase visibility and create meaningful professional and personal transformation. 🎧 Listen to the Peak Performance Podcast If you're a mid-career professional, aspiring leader, entrepreneur, executive or someone who knows you're capable of more, this episode is for you. Subscribe to the Peak Performance Podcast for conversations with exceptional people, leaders, entrepreneurs, world champions and high achievers about the mindset, habits and decisions behind extraordinary performance. What is one area of your life where you've been settling for “good enough”? Let me know in the comments. #PeakPerformance #ShilpaKulshrestha #CareerGrowth #Mindset #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #HighPerformance #CareerTransformation #MidCareer #WomenInLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #CXO #SuccessMindset #SelfBelief #IntentionalLiving

    From Mediocrity to Extraordinary: How to 10X Your Career, Mindset & Life | Shilpa Kulshrestha

  5. Sep 18

    What does it take to become a world champion? Ramona J Smith | 2018 World Champion Public Speaker

    In this episode of the World Champion Series, I sit down with Ramona J. Smith, 2018 World Champion of Public Speaking, to explore the mindset, confidence and preparation behind extraordinary performance. Ramona shares her journey from losing at the district level in 2015 to becoming the World Champion of Public Speaking in 2018 and how one of her biggest breakthroughs came from changing her mindset. We talk about: • How to believe in yourself before you have evidence • Why confidence is different from arrogance • How failure can fuel your comeback • The importance of preparation, practice and feedback • How to perform under pressure and stay present on stage • The role of storytelling and connecting with your audience • How to enter a flow state during high-stakes moments • Why your "why" needs to go deeper than a trophy or title • How motherhood shaped Ramona's drive and ambition • Why external validation doesn't define a champion • How to keep going when life knocks you down Ramona also reveals what was happening in her mind when she stepped onto the World Championship stage, and how preparation allowed her to become completely present in the moment. One of her most powerful lessons? You can be a champion before anyone gives you the trophy. If you're interested in public speaking, confidence, leadership, mindset, peak performance, personal growth, storytelling or flow state, this conversation will give you practical insights from someone who has performed at the highest level. Guest: Ramona J. Smith 2018 World Champion of Public Speaking World Champion Series Subscribe/follow the podcast for more conversations with world champions, exceptional leaders and high performers exploring the mindset behind extraordinary achievement. #RamonaJSmith #WorldChampion #PublicSpeaking #Mindset #Confidence #PeakPerformance #Leadership #Storytelling #FlowState #SuccessMindset

    What does it take to become a world champion? Ramona J Smith | 2018 World Champion Public Speaker

  6. Sep 11

    2024 World Champion Luisa Montalvo: Prepare to Lose Before You Win

    What if the setback you’re fighting is actually an invitation to reset? After a devastating accident, the loss of her life partner, and the death of her mother just six weeks before the competition, Luisa Montalvo became the 2024 World Champion of Public Speaking. Her message is powerful: stop letting fear, failure, and other people’s opinions decide what you do next.Luisa’s winning speech, 37 Strangers, takes audiences from laughter to tears and back again. In this conversation with Nisha, she reveals how she transformed personal tragedy into a message of hope, why humor can make even the heaviest story easier to hear, and how she learned to compete 44 times without losing sight of what she truly wanted. You’ll discover: Why the audience’s first question is always, “What’s in it for me?”How to find the one clear message your speech must deliverWhy authenticity beats copying past championsHow to “sprinkle” humor into serious stories without weakening their emotional impactThe mindset shift behind her simple but liberating principle: “Who cares?”Why every speaker should prepare not only to win, but to loseHow Luisa uses connection and audience energy to get into a high-performance stateThe three things she tells anyone with an enormous dream: start, prepare for failure, and never hurt people on the way upLuisa also shares the childhood moment that made her fall in love with public speaking, the advice from her 95-year-old mentor that changed her performance forever, and the deeply moving message she received from someone who found the courage to keep living after watching 37 Strangers.Nisha brings thoughtful questions about flow, resilience, preparation, authenticity, and the inner critic, turning this into an essential conversation for speakers, leaders, performers, entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to stop settling for less. Press play for an honest, funny, and deeply human masterclass in public speaking, resilience, and choosing to hit the reset button.

    2024 World Champion Luisa Montalvo: Prepare to Lose Before You Win

  7. Sep 5

    How to Switch into a State of Peak Performance?

    In this episode, I explore how building pace and momentum can help us move beyond the conditioned mind and ego. As we build pace, we allow the subconscious mind to take over, creating the space to tune into flow and access our peak performance state.

  8. Sep 5

    How to Hit the Sweet Spot of Flow?

    n this episode, I explore the sweet spot between challenge and skill. the point where a task is challenging enough to stretch you, but not so difficult that it overwhelms you. Finding this balance can help you enter a state of flow, where focus becomes effortless and you perform at your best.

  9. Sep 5

    How to Get into a Heightened State of Awareness?

    In this episode, I explore how detaching from the stories that keep us stuck can create space for greater clarity and awareness. By practising full presence and bringing our attention completely into what we are creating, we can access a deeper level of focus, creativity and flow.

  10. Sep 5

    What stops you from being in the zone?

    In this episode, I talk about how we deal with unpleasant and negative experiences that can block us from tuning into a flow state, and how we can work through them without being dragged down by their emotional weight. Life will inevitably bring difficult experiences, but we don't have to carry them with us. Learning to process them, let go and move forward gracefully allows us to create the mental space to tune into flow, perform at our best and create our best work.

  11. Sep 4

    What is Flow State ?

    Flow state is the feeling of being completely immersed in what you’re doing. where focus becomes effortless, time seems to disappear, and you perform at your best. It’s often described as being “in the zone,” a state where challenge and ability come together to create peak performance.

  • 11 Episodes

About

Conversations with exceptional people about the journeys, mindsets and moments that shape how they think, perform and live. From CEOs and founders to champions and high achievers, we explore the inner game behind extraordinary outcomes.

Information

  • Creator
    Nisha Munavar
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Nisha Munavar
  • Show Website
    Nisha Munavar Podcast