In The Room podcast In The Room

Meet The Room member who has made it her mission to peel back the layers of power. Aarti Shahani, an award-winning NPR journalist, bestselling author, activist and host of the new show, ‘Art of Power’, explores what happens on the road to finding power and how it transforms those who wield it. She interviews innovators, leaders and culture shapers who dared to live out their ambitions to change the world. 

In our Season 2 finale, Aarti and ‘In the Room’ host Veda Sunassee have a candid conversation that feels like a homecoming. Sharing gems from her groundbreaking interviews with newsmakers like Barack Obama and Sal Khan, she opens up about her personal power and the journey that led to her finding an unshakable sense of purpose.

The ability to create strong connections with others is crucial to living a full life and becoming more effective at work. Yet many of us struggle to do so - particularly when it comes to developing the kind of relationships in which we feel fully understood and supported for who we are. 

Renowned for teaching interpersonal skills to Stanford MBA candidates in the iconic course affectionately known as “Touchy Feely”, David Bradford joins host Veda Sunassee for an intimate conversation on how we can build more meaningful relationships with colleagues, friends, partners and family. Drawing from his new book, Connect, David shares lessons and insights on resolving differences, being vulnerable, setting healthy boundaries and having the courage to be seen.

Ambition. Where would we be without it? It is a powerful force that can drive us to reach unimaginable heights of success. But it can also be our greatest downfall, leading to burnout and an unfulfilled personal life. Tackling this dilemma is Nicolai Chen Nielsen, co-author of Return on Ambition and a Partner at the Supertrends Institute. He shares key insights on what he’s learned about ambition and how we can achieve our aspirations without compromising on our personal growth and well-being

Joining us for a powerful discussion in honour of Women’s History Month, the formidable Oulimata Sarr shares her thoughts on what it will take to bring about transformational change in the world. Hailing from Dakar, Senegal, Oulimata is the Regional Director for UN Women, covering 24 countries in West and Central Africa. 

A fierce champion of women’s empowerment, she opens up about her beliefs on the limitations of micro finance and why unlocking the potential of women and girls is key for African countries to leapfrog out of poverty.

How can we build truly inclusive workplaces where everyone is counted? What does it take to move from performative allyship to active anti-racism? How will we ever level the playing field in an unfair system?

Tackling these critical questions and so much more, internationally renowned broadcaster, writer and campaigner, June Sarpong, is our latest podcast guest on In the Room. As BBC’s first Director of Creative Diversity, June is a passionate advocate for change in the workplace and greater representation in the media. A valued member of The Room and one of the most recognisable faces of British television, she brings her wealth of experience to this powerful conversation.

“When someone is ‘the other’, it’s easier to ‘otherise’ that person. The minute you get to know their humanity, they are no longer ‘the other’.”

“You have to be an optimist in the future space, because even the idea that there is a future is a hopeful thing, and that you can shape that future.”
Marina Gorbis, Executive Director of the Institute for the Future, shares her uplifting and insightful take on the nature of our collaborative future and the necessity of including the many, not the few, in creating it.
In this inspiring conversation, she challenges us to approach the future with curiosity and openness, embracing the radical changes to come.