Intersections Podcast

Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa
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Intersections podcast advocates the idea of activating our best self by dissolving boundaries – between profit and purpose, theory and practice, east and west, science and spirituality, inner and outer, and more. I'm Hitendra Wadhwa, Adjunct Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and Founder of Mentora Institute and Mentora Foundation. I strive to bring a mathematician’s rigor and a truth-seeker’s spirit to some of today’s most vexing questions about authenticity, success, leadership and human potential. Welcome!

  1. Profit, Purpose and the Divine - Jay Coen Gilbert (B Corp)

    11/20/2025

    Profit, Purpose and the Divine - Jay Coen Gilbert (B Corp)

    What is the most powerful way a business can show up for society? What legacy can today’s institutions build if every action and interaction was grounded in spiritual attunement and sacred duty? How can today’s leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers build enduring positive movements and become a lighthouse for others? And what four-letter word can orient us, our businesses, and our economy toward a future that makes our people and our planet thrive? Find out from Jay Coen Gilbert, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Jay Coen Gilbert is the Co-founder of B Lab, the acclaimed nonprofit that created the global B Corp certification. Today, this movement includes over 9,500 certified organizations in more than 100 countries, all committed to balancing profit with purpose. He is also the Executive Chair of Imperative 21, a business-led network shifting the narrative toward a just, regenerative economy; and is now actively engaged in racial justice, co-founding White Men for Racial Justice and leading peer learning groups on anti-racism. Along with his B Lab co-founders, Jay has received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the McNulty Prize at the Aspen Institute, where he is a Henry Crown Fellow. Prior to co-founding B Lab, Jay co-founded and sold AND1, a $250M basketball footwear, apparel, and entertainment company. He has also worked for McKinsey & Co, as well as organizations in the public and nonprofit sectors. In this episode, Jay reveals: - The most powerful way a business can show up for society - What can happen if our every action and interaction was grounded in spiritual attunement - A four-letter word today’s businesses must build their future on

    1h 32m
  2. The Right to Be Responsible - Vincent Stanley (Patagonia)

    10/25/2025

    The Right to Be Responsible - Vincent Stanley (Patagonia)

    What changes when people are able to bring their deepest values to work? What are the critical responsibilities businesses must uphold for society in today’s times? How can organizations gain the cultural confidence to do what’s right, even when the odds are against them? And what does it take for ordinary individuals to build a business that puts purpose before profit and become a role model for the entire business community? Find out from Vincent Stanley, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Vincent Stanley has been with Patagonia on and off since its beginning in 1973, and has served in key executive roles as head of sales or marketing. At present, he serves as Director of Patagonia Philosophy, teaching company history and values to employees. More informally, he is Patagonia’s long-time chief storyteller. Vincent helped develop The Footprint Chronicles, the company’s interactive website that outlines the social and environmental impact of its products, The Common Threads Partnership, an initiative launched by Patagonia in collaboration with eBay, aiming to reduce environmental impact by promoting sustainable consumption habits; and Patagonia Books, the publishing branch of Patagonia, that produces high‑quality books aligned with the brand’s mission of environmental stewardship, adventure, and activism. He has co-authored two books with Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia: The Responsible Company (2012) and The Future of the Responsible Company (2023). Vincent is also a visiting fellow at the Yale School of Management, and also a poet whose work has appeared in Best American Poetry, a prominent annual anthology that showcases a curated selection of contemporary American poems. In this episode, Vincent reveals: - What changes when people are able to bring their deepest values to work - The minimum responsibility businesses must uphold in today’s times - What shifts when we see responsibility as a right, not a burden

    1h 29m
  3. Activating Group Genius - Nicole Schwab

    09/19/2025

    Activating Group Genius - Nicole Schwab

    Why are we out of balance, not just within our own selves, but collectively as society? What fundamental qualities do we need to cultivate that can lead to breakthrough solutions to humanity’s core problems today? What lessons can we draw from nature’s cycles to inform and advance our own work and life pursuits? What new avenues can we explore to shift us and others to a higher state of consciousness? What is the ROI of inner work? Does extraordinary change only begin through the force of a singular heroic individual or is that a myth? And what does it take to activate group genius? Find out from Nicole Schwab, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Nicole Schwab is a policy leader, systems change expert and author, with more than 20 years experience in building communities and facilitating processes for collective action. She is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Ostara Collective, an environmental services organization, on a mission to restore relationships to ourselves, each other, and the Earth, building engaged communities of changemakers to reimagine and catalyse the emergence of an economy in service of life. In the past, Nicole has co-headed the Nature Pillar and chaired the Forum of Young Global Leaders at the World Economic Forum; advised forest and ocean conservation non-profits including National Geographic Society’s Campaign for Nature; and co-founded the EDGE Certified Foundation, a business certification standard for gender equality in the workplace. Nicole has also authored the book, The Heart of the Labyrinth, a spiritual parable offering earth centered wisdom. In this episode, Nicole reveals: - Why we are out of balance, not just within ourselves but as society - The ROI of inner work and fundamental qualities we need to cultivate to achieve breakthrough solutions at the personal and collective level

    1h 22m
  4. Entering Flow State - Robbie Anderson

    09/07/2025

    Entering Flow State - Robbie Anderson

    Who are we when we are at our best? Is there a method to enter flow state at will? What wisdom can we draw from the high-stakes world of Formula 1 racing and apply to our own lives and work? What model can help us examine the inner workings of our mind—and begin to master it? And what is the most overlooked, yet essential, ingredient in elite performance Find out from Robbie Anderson, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Robbie Anderson is a highly experienced performance psychologist and renowned ‘attention expert,’ specialising in high performing people, teams, and cultures, and serving individuals in professional, international and Olympic sport; businesses and hedge funds in the UK and US; and the emergency services and armed forces. An expert in applied neuroscience and high-stakes environments, Robbie personally collaborated with Chimp Model creator Professor Steve Peters for over a decade, co-founding and running a successful consultancy together, Chimp Management. Robbie is now Director at Performing Minds, supporting elite performers in sport and business, and is the Head of Psychology at Hintsa Performance, consulting to drivers and teams in Formula 1. In this episode, Robbie reveals: - A powerful model to gain deeper access to the mind and activate elite performance - A four-step method used by Formula 1 champions to enter flow state at will - The most overlooked aspect of elite performance

    1h 13m
  5. How to Forgive Others - Fred Luskin

    08/21/2025

    How to Forgive Others - Fred Luskin

    How can we learn to forgive those who have deeply hurt us? What does forgiveness truly mean—and what does it not? How can we become free from the bitterness we carry, and what unfolds when we hold on to our grievances for too long? Can we find peace even when there’s no apology, no justice, no closure? And where does true healing come from? Find out from Dr. Fred Luskin, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. A pioneer in forgiveness research, Fred Luskin is a Stanford Professor, and Director and Co-founder of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects, the largest interpersonal forgiveness training research project ever conducted. Fred has also been a practicing psychologist and therapist for over 30 years, helping others live happier and more fulfilled lives through the practice of forgiveness, gratitude, and meditation. An acclaimed speaker, Fred speaks to a variety of audiences including investors, corporate leaders, medical and mental health professionals, and has conducted stress management and emotional intelligence programs at leading organizations including Boston Consulting Group, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Apple and Facebook. He is also the co-founder and curriculum creator for the executive consulting firm, Maximize Your Talent. Fred has authored several best-selling books, including Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness, Forgive for Love: The Missing Ingredient for a Healthy and Lasting Relationship, and Stress Free for Good: Ten Scientifically Proven Life Skills for Health and Happiness. In this episode, Fred reveals: - What we often get wrong about forgiveness—and what it truly asks of us - What happens when we hold on to our grievances - How to find peace when apology, justice, or closure don’t arrive

    49 min
  6. The Most Important Sound in Our Lives - Julian Treasure

    08/07/2025

    The Most Important Sound in Our Lives - Julian Treasure

    What role does sound play in human transformation? How can we tune into the full range and capacities of our sound-listening to heal and grow as individuals and bring harmony in our societies? What kind of a world would we live in today if we were taught how to listen, especially with those we disagree with? What does true listening really require of us? And what is the most important and often overlooked sound in our lives? Find out from Julian Treasure, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Julian is a sound and communication expert and is on a mission to help people and organizations to listen better and create healthier and more effective sound. He has founded The Sound Agency, an audio branding company, and created and helped launch Moodsonic®, a range of biophilic soundscapes to enhance wellbeing and productivity in workspaces. An acclaimed keynote speaker, Julian’s five TED talks have been watched more than 150 million times, and he is featured regularly in leading media including BBC TV and NBC's Today Show. Julian has authored several books, including Sound Business, How to be Heard and his most recent, Sound Affects: How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing and Our Planet. In this episode, Julian reveals: - The role of sound in human transformation - What true listening really requires of us - The most important sound in our lives

    1h 15m
  7. Anne-Marie Slaughter on Listening to Your Inner Call

    07/23/2025

    Anne-Marie Slaughter on Listening to Your Inner Call

    What if the things we sideline in the pursuit of success—care, connection, and personal struggles—are what could actually lead us to clarity and purpose? In a culture that celebrates achievement and autonomy, have we overlooked the connective tissue that quietly holds our lives and systems together? Could personal transformation also be the key to transforming how we lead, live, and rebuild the world around us? Find out from Anne-Marie Slaughter, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Anne-Marie Slaughter is a global leader, educator, foreign policy expert, public intellectual and the CEO of New America, a “think and action tank” dedicated to realizing the promise of America in an era of rapid technological and social change. In 2009, Hillary Clinton appointed her as the first woman Director of Policy Planning in the U.S. State Department. She has been a professor at University of Chicago Law School, Harvard Law School and Princeton University, and has written and lectured widely on very relevant topics, including global network design and leadership, gender equality and elevating the value of care for both men and women, and on American renewal. Anne-Marie is a regular columnist for Project Syndicate, a contributing editor to the Financial Times, appears regularly on CNN, BBC, NPR, and PBS, and author of several books including The Idea that Is America, Unfinished Business, and Renewal: From Crisis to Transformation in Our Lives, Work, and Politics. In this episode, Anne-Marie reveals: - How stepping away from power may bring unexpected clarity about who we are and our purpose in the world - Why caregiving—long dismissed as peripheral—may hold more influence than we’ve been taught to believe - A deeper path of renewal that can reshape not only individuals but also the systems within which we live and lead

    1h 43m
  8. Ai-jen Poo on the Most Powerful Force for Changemaking

    06/24/2025

    Ai-jen Poo on the Most Powerful Force for Changemaking

    Why does a society that depends so much on nannies, caregivers, and home-care workers offer them so little in return? What does this reflect about modern culture and the values it espouses? How can we elevate caregiving into a much-valued pursuit in society? And what drives certain individuals to become changemakers and dedicate their whole lives to serving others? Find out from Ai-jen Poo, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Ai-jen Poo is a next-generation labor leader, an award-winning organizer, and a leading voice in the women’s movement. She is the President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, a non-profit organization that works to win respect, recognition, and labor rights and protections for the nearly 2.5 million nannies, house cleaners, and homecare workers across America; Executive Director of Caring Across Generations, a national organization of family caregivers, care workers, disabled people, and aging adults working to transform the way we care in this country, and a trustee of the Ford Foundation. Recently, she served as a commissioner on President Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Ai-jen has been recognized among Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders and Time’s 100 Most Influential People, and received a MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as a “Genius Grant.” A nationally recognized expert on the care economy, Ai-jen has authored the celebrated book The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America. In this episode, Ai-jen reveals: - Why some people devote their lives to serving others, and what they gain in return - What changes when we organize not from rage, but from love - Elevating caregiving to a central pillar in our society’s values

    57 min
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About

Intersections podcast advocates the idea of activating our best self by dissolving boundaries – between profit and purpose, theory and practice, east and west, science and spirituality, inner and outer, and more. I'm Hitendra Wadhwa, Adjunct Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and Founder of Mentora Institute and Mentora Foundation. I strive to bring a mathematician’s rigor and a truth-seeker’s spirit to some of today’s most vexing questions about authenticity, success, leadership and human potential. Welcome!

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hitendra Wadhwa 2025
  • Show Website
    Intersections Podcast