Leaders Creating Rukus

Aashi Arora

Welcome to "Leaders Creating Rukus" hosted by Aashi Arora. Here we dive into the minds of innovators, disruptors, and change makers who aren't afraid to shake things up. Tune in as we converse with leaders who are challenging the status quo and making waves in their industry. Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and even a little uncomfortable as we explore what it takes to create a positive "rukus" in today’s world.

  1. MAY 17

    Michael Trust

    Michael Trust spent more than 35 years navigating the realities of workplace leadership before becoming a California employment attorney. Today, he brings both worlds together, helping businesses and employees solve complex workplace challenges with a rare blend of legal expertise and real world HR insight. In this episode of Leaders Creating Rukus Aashi sits down with Michael Trust, Esq., employment attorney, former HR executive, and trusted advisor on workplace culture, leadership, and conflict resolution.Before law school, Michael built a decades long career leading Human Resources and business operations across industries including healthcare, higher education, and real estate. After seeing firsthand how workplace issues escalate when people and culture are overlooked, he made the bold decision later in life to attend law school and become an employment attorney, combining practical business experience with legal strategy to help organizations build healthier, stronger workplaces.In this episode,  Michael opens up about: 🔸 Why most companies wait too long to prioritize HR and culture 🔸 The hidden cost of poor leadership and unresolved workplace conflict 🔸 What business owners misunderstand most about employment law 🔸 Why emotional intelligence matters in leadership and HR 🔸 The growing ethical risks of using AI in hiring, performance, and workplace decisions 🔸 How proactive leadership can prevent costly legal and cultural breakdownsFrom navigating conflict to redefining what strong workplace culture actually looks like, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for leaders, founders, HR professionals, and anyone building teams in today’s rapidly changing world. If you lead people, manage teams, or want to create a healthier workplace culture, this episode is for you.

    46 min
  2. MAY 11

    Arun Chervu

    He trained at Princeton University, earned his M.D. from Weill Cornell Medical College, and built a decades-long career as a leading vascular surgeon. But behind the titles, accolades, and leadership roles is a story shaped by loss, reinvention, and an evolving definition of purpose. In this episode of Leaders Creating Rukus Aashi sits down with Dr. Arun Chervu, surgeon, systems thinker, and now a voice on what it really means to “retire” without stepping away from impact.After 30+ years in practice, scaling a vascular surgery group from 4 to 13 physicians and leading service-line development across major health systems, Arun made a bold shift, not because he had to, but because something no longer felt aligned. In this episode, Arun opens up about: 🔸 Why losing passion can be a signal, not a failure, to evolve 🔸 The hidden cost of “shift mentality” in modern leadership and care 🔸 How expectations, of yourself and others, can both drive excellence and create friction 🔸 Redefining retirement as reinvention, not withdrawal 🔸 What it means to lead with discipline, clarity, and humanity across decades From personal tragedy early in life to raising a family, building a respected medical career, and now stepping into advisory, consulting, and teaching roles, Arun’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, responsibility, and recalibration. If you’ve ever questioned what’s next, even when things look successful on paper, this conversation will stay with you.

    48 min
  3. APR 13

    Priya Bathija

    She grew up the daughter of immigrant physicians in Ohio, expected to follow a traditional path. She didn’t.She tried finance. Pivoted to law. Fell in love with healthcare policy. And along the way, she kept asking one question: How do we actually make healthcare work better for women?This Sunday at 4 PM PST, Leaders Creating Rukus sits down with Priya Bathija, founder and CEO of Nyoo Health, healthcare strategist, and a leading voice in women’s health transformation.From healthcare attorney to policy leader at the American Hospital Association, Priya has spent her career at the intersection of law, strategy, and impact, leading national efforts on value-based care, health equity, and maternal health before stepping out to build her own company.She has advised top institutions, serves as an Expert on Call for the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and is a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She also supports national advocacy through board roles with Planned Parenthood of Metro Washington and the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. But this conversation goes beyond titles.In this episode, Priya opens up about: 🔸 What it really takes to bet on yourself and build something from scratch 🔸 Why women’s health is still fragmented and how to fix it 🔸 The invisible gaps in healthcare that impact women across their entire lives 🔸 Redefining success, happiness, and presence in high-achieving careersShe also shares how her journey, from law school pressure to leadership roles to entrepreneurship, shaped her belief that impact does not follow a straight path. If you care about leadership, healthcare, or creating meaningful change, this one is for you.

    51 min

About

Welcome to "Leaders Creating Rukus" hosted by Aashi Arora. Here we dive into the minds of innovators, disruptors, and change makers who aren't afraid to shake things up. Tune in as we converse with leaders who are challenging the status quo and making waves in their industry. Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and even a little uncomfortable as we explore what it takes to create a positive "rukus" in today’s world.