Living with Purpose

Dr. Akhtar Badshah

Living with Purpose is a podcast dedicated to exploring the journey of finding meaning and fulfillment in life. Hosted by Dr. Akhtar Badshah, a visionary leader and author, the podcast features insightful conversations with thought leaders, changemakers, and everyday heroes. Each episode delves into the stories, experiences, and philosophies that inspire individuals to live with intention and purpose. Whether you’re seeking personal growth, community impact, or just a deeper understanding of what it means to lead a purposeful life, “Living with Purpose” offers valuable perspectives and actionable advice to guide you on your own path.

  1. Genevieve Gaiser Tremblay - Creative Catalyst

    1D AGO

    Genevieve Gaiser Tremblay - Creative Catalyst

    Genevieve Gaiser Tremblay is a new media artist, creative technologist, and researcher working at the intersection of art, science, and environmental storytelling. Genevieve is an Adjunct Researcher at Instituto Milenio SECOS in Chile, where she collaborates with coastal communities to explore how art, data, and immersive technologies like AR and VR can support more inclusive ocean governance and what is known as “blue justice.” She is also the co-founder of ASKXXI, an initiative connecting ecological science, emerging technologies, and the arts across the United States and Chile, and a founding member of the Climate Knowledge Collective, working with researchers at Stony Brook University to amplify the voices of women and Indigenous climate leaders through oral histories and story-mapping projects. Her work focuses on how storytelling, creativity, and collaboration can help communities preserve knowledge, respond to environmental challenges, and imagine new ways of living with purpose in a rapidly changing world.

    21 min
  2. #Episode 100 - Jocelyn Mangan - CEO of illumyn

    MAR 3

    #Episode 100 - Jocelyn Mangan - CEO of illumyn

    Welcome to our 100th episode of Living With Purpose! One hundred conversations exploring leadership, resilience, impact, and what it truly means to live and lead with purpose. And it feels fitting that this milestone episode features a leader who is quite literally reshaping who gets a seat at the table. Our guest today is Jocelyn Mangan. Jocelyn is the founder and CEO of illumyn and illumyn Impact, two mission driven ventures dedicated to bringing new voices into the board ecosystem and transforming the future of governance. Since 2018, illumyn Impact has partnered with more than 100 global venture capital and private equity firms, making thousands of highly curated introductions that have placed fresh, experienced leaders into boardrooms around the world. She serves as an independent director on the board of Papa John’s International, sits on both the Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees, and is Compensation Chair at ChowNow. She also advises innovative technology companies including Ohai.ai and Homebase. Before founding illumyn, Jocelyn spent over 20 years as a product and technology executive, helping build globally recognised platforms at CitySearch, Ticketmaster, OpenTable, and Snagajob. Her leadership blends design thinking, strategic alignment, and accountability, creating organisations that pair collaboration with real growth. She is a TEDx speaker, a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, and a leader who believes that work and family can thrive together.

    25 min
  3. #Episode 99 - Bill Karidias - President - Spartan Equipment

    FEB 26

    #Episode 99 - Bill Karidias - President - Spartan Equipment

    Bill Karidias is a business leader operating at the intersection of innovation, industry expertise, and customer driven growth. As part of Spartan Equipment, Bill represents a company that has built its reputation by delivering high quality equipment attachments designed to help people work smarter, operate more efficiently, and achieve better results in demanding environments. Spartan Equipment has become known for combining product innovation with deep industry knowledge, serving professionals across construction, agriculture, and heavy equipment sectors nationwide. With products manufactured in the United States and a strong commitment to customer service, the company continues to evolve while staying grounded in a clear mission: delivering practical solutions that genuinely support the people who use them every day. In this conversation, we explore Bill’s perspective on leadership, building trust through quality and expertise, navigating growth in a competitive industry, and what purpose means when you are responsible for creating real world impact through the products and services you deliver.

    29 min
  4. #Episode 98 - Dr. Kohinoor Darda - Founder of ARISA Foundation

    FEB 24

    #Episode 98 - Dr. Kohinoor Darda - Founder of ARISA Foundation

    Dr. Kohinoor Darda is a neuroscientist, researcher, artist, and founder who is building bridges between disciplines that are too often kept apart. With a PhD in Social Cognitive Neuroscience and postdoctoral research spanning the UK, Australia, and the United States, her work explores how the human brain engages with art and how we navigate our social worlds. But Kohinoor didn’t stop at academia. She founded the ARISA Foundation in Pune, India — a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to integrating the arts and sciences in ways that are accessible, equitable, and socially transformative. Her belief is simple but powerful: knowledge should be open, collaborative, and empowering for all. Beyond the lab and the lecture hall, she is also a classical dancer trained in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, a triathlete who finds resilience in endurance sport, and someone deeply committed to the idea that the most meaningful change happens when diverse disciplines and perspectives intersect.

    27 min
  5. #Episode 97 - Jane Meseck - Global Washington

    FEB 20

    #Episode 97 - Jane Meseck - Global Washington

    Jane Meseck is a humanitarian leader and long standing force behind global nonprofit innovation and technology for good. Jane has spent more than two decades at Microsoft helping transform the way technology supports nonprofits and humanitarian organisations worldwide. From the early days of delivering software to charities, to now helping lead initiatives that provide over a billion dollars each year in grants, cloud services, and employee giving across more than 230 markets, her work has been focused on empowering communities and enabling large scale change. Her career sits at the intersection of philanthropy, digital transformation, and global humanitarian action. She has helped shape the nonprofit technology ecosystem, contributed to the growth of organisations like NTEN and TechSoup, and led partnership development across UN agencies working to respond to crisis and rebuild communities. Along the way she has built long standing relationships grounded in trust, collaboration, and a deep belief that technology, when guided by purpose, can transform lives.

    24 min
  6. #Episode 96 - Jon Browning - CEO - Global Mentorship Initiative

    FEB 18

    #Episode 96 - Jon Browning - CEO - Global Mentorship Initiative

    Jon Browning is the CEO of the Global Mentorship Initiative, an organisation built on a powerful belief that mentorship has the ability to transform lives and unlock human potential at scale. Jon’s work focuses on creating meaningful opportunities for individuals who may not otherwise have access to guidance, networks, or career pathways. Through Global Mentorship Initiative, born out of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Digital Jobs Initiative, he and his team have developed a structured, accessible approach to mentorship that connects experienced professionals with college students and refugees around the world. The mission is simple yet profound. Make it easy to be a great mentor and create an experience that enriches both mentor and mentee.

    25 min
  7. #Episode 95 - Shelly Kurtz - Co-founder (Re) Purpose

    FEB 11

    #Episode 95 - Shelly Kurtz - Co-founder (Re) Purpose

    Shelly Kurtz is an award winning communications executive, strategist, and facilitator who believes deeply in the power of intention, connection, and using our voice to create positive change. With more than twenty five years of experience working across diverse markets and industries, Shelly has built a reputation as a leader who helps individuals and organisations communicate with clarity, purpose, and vision. As a creator of companies, a driver of ideas, and a mentor to many, Shelly brings a unique perspective on self advocacy, authentic leadership, and how meaningful relationships can shape both personal growth and wider social impact.

    27 min
  8. #Episode 94 - Lalita Uppala - Executive Director

    FEB 4

    #Episode 94 - Lalita Uppala - Executive Director

    Lalita is a leader who sits at the intersection of purpose and action. Her work is rooted in a deep commitment to inclusion, social equity, and building communities that don’t just survive, but truly thrive. With a background that blends scientific and analytical thinking with human-centred leadership, Lalita has helped scale programs that support women, seniors, young people, and individuals rebuilding their lives after incarceration. From digital literacy and legal advocacy to mental health, arts-based wellness, and intergenerational leadership, her focus is always the same: creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered. Under her leadership, IACS has grown its impact significantly, mobilising resources, strengthening partnerships, and turning intention into measurable change. Whether it’s wellness rooms, community horticulture projects, or pathways to meaningful work, Lalita’s approach is practical, compassionate, and deeply values-led.

    23 min
See All (101)

About

Living with Purpose is a podcast dedicated to exploring the journey of finding meaning and fulfillment in life. Hosted by Dr. Akhtar Badshah, a visionary leader and author, the podcast features insightful conversations with thought leaders, changemakers, and everyday heroes. Each episode delves into the stories, experiences, and philosophies that inspire individuals to live with intention and purpose. Whether you’re seeking personal growth, community impact, or just a deeper understanding of what it means to lead a purposeful life, “Living with Purpose” offers valuable perspectives and actionable advice to guide you on your own path.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Akhtar Badshah
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Living with Purpose
  • Show Website
    Living with Purpose

You Might Also Like