The Indianness Podcast | Insights from Indian Business Leaders, Indian Founders & High-Performing Indian Americans

Sanjay Puri

The Indianness podcast enables leaders of Indian origin to tell their stories to inspire the next generation. Guests include leaders in business, health care, education, NGO’s, politics and various other fields.

  1. Indianness Podcast: Harini Gopalakrishnan on Learning, Integrity, and Career Growth – Lessons from the CTO for Life Sciences at Snowflake

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    Indianness Podcast: Harini Gopalakrishnan on Learning, Integrity, and Career Growth – Lessons from the CTO for Life Sciences at Snowflake

    Indianness Podcast: Harini Gopalakrishnan on Learning, Integrity, and Career Growth  🎧 How does integrity and a strong foundation shape career success? In this engaging episode of the Indianness Podcast, Sanjay Puri interviews Harini Gopalakrishnan, CTO for Life Sciences at Snowflake. Harini reflects on her career journey, from her early days in Chennai to becoming a leader in healthcare technology.  📌 Topics Covered:  The impact of growing up in a joint family How her grandmother’s lessons on integrity shaped her career The value of foundational knowledge in professional success Why saying "no" can build more trust than saying "yes" How continuous learning and adaptability are key to career longevity 🚀 Watch now to learn how Harini’s approach to integrity and learning drives her success!    Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/harinigopalakrishnan/    ⏱️ Timestamps:  0:00 - Podcast Episode Highlights    1:05 - Harini’s early life: Born in Kerala, raised in Chennai, bilingual roots, and joint family upbringing.    2:05 - Emphasis on education and gender equality in her family.    3:03 - Memories of grandparents and their influence (moral values, music lessons).    4:03 - Learning veena and lifelong lessons from foundational skills.    5:15 - Career advice: Importance of foundational knowledge and adaptability.    7:34 - Balancing passion vs. practicality in career choices.    10:14 - Transition to college: Networking, curiosity, and cultural adaptability.    13:05 - Discussing integrity and saying "no" in professional settings.    17:38 - Choosing computer science: Pragmatism and societal expectations.    20:07 - Undergrad experience: Fun vs. academic rigor, soft skills.    24:27 - First job at Cognizant: Corporate challenges and self-discovery.    30:01 - Pursuing a master’s in bioinformatics: Risk-taking and career pivots.    34:06 - Career inflection points: Moving to tech, international exposure.    39:56 - Working in Europe and cultural adaptability lessons.    46:04 - Leadership style influenced by Indian values (integrity, customer focus).    50:10 - Failures and resilience: Returning to India post-master’s.    53:44 - Role of mentors: Grandmother, professors, and customer guidance.    55:34 - Lightning round: Coffee lover, remote work preference, intuition over data.

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  2. Breaking Barriers & Driving Digital Transformation | Indianness Podcast ft. Anjana Harve, EVP & CIO, BJ’s Wholesale Club

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    Breaking Barriers & Driving Digital Transformation | Indianness Podcast ft. Anjana Harve, EVP & CIO, BJ’s Wholesale Club

    In this episode of the Indianness Podcast, we sit down with Anjana Harve, EVP & CIO at BJ’s Wholesale Club, to explore the intersection of leadership, innovation, and digital transformation. With a career spanning multiple industries, she shares insights on navigating AI advancements, leading global teams, and fostering an inclusive tech culture.  💡 Key Takeaways:  ✔ How to drive large-scale digital transformation across diverse industries.  ✔ The future of AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making.  ✔ Lessons from leading Fortune 500 companies through technological shifts.  ✔ The importance of mentorship and diverse leadership in tech.  🚀 This episode is a must-watch for aspiring leaders, tech professionals, and innovators!    Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjanaharve/    ⏱️ Timestamps:  00:00 - Episode Highlights  01:05 - Early Life & Roots in India  03:46 - Father’s Influence: Integrity & Perception  08:11 - Leadership Lessons from a Judge  13:23 - Mother’s Role: Curiosity & Self-Improvement  17:00 - Adapting to Change & Building Connections  20:14 - Work-Life Balance & Family Feedback  25:39 - Career Journey: From India to the U.S.  30:27 - Defining Indianness in Leadership  36:09 - Mentorship & Inflection Points  44:47 - Lightning Round Q&A  52:55 - Final Takeaways

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  3. Transforming Education and Leadership with Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha, ​​Founder & Trustee of Ashoka University, Founding Dean of ISB, Founder of Harappa Education and President at upGrad

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    Transforming Education and Leadership with Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha, ​​Founder & Trustee of Ashoka University, Founding Dean of ISB, Founder of Harappa Education and President at upGrad

    On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha, Founder and Trustee at Ashoka University, Founding Dean of ISB, Founder of Harappa Education and President at upGrad. Dr. Sinha is a visionary leader in education and entrepreneurship. He has reshaped higher education in India and is now setting his sights on the entire world. Dr. Sinha shares how his upbringing, his father and his sisters’ resilience inspired and motivated him. He discusses his views on India’s educational system, the skills educational leaders should possess and how even introverts can learn them. Key Takeaways: (02:18) Dr. Sinha’s upbringing in Patna and his father’s influence. (03:54) Leadership lessons that shaped Dr. Sinha’s career. (10:22) How mentorship impacted his career and life.  (20:16) Dr. Sinha’s sister’s challenges and resilience.  (39:02) On the straitjacketed Indian education system. (54:17) On creating a plan for Malaysia’s economic growth. (57:28) Learning from the best universities and applying it to the Indian context.  (58:06) The importance of giving students a choice. (01:00:29) Developing tribe and leadership skills online. (1:03:06) The importance of solving the right problems in entrepreneurship. (1:07:19) Introverts can develop people skills and be effective leaders. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pramathsinha/ Ashoka University | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/ashoka-university/ Ashoka University | Website - https://www.ashoka.edu.in upGrad LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ueducation/ upGrad | Website - https://www.upgrad.com Indian School of Business (ISB) - https://www.isb.edu Harappa Education - https://harappa.education Thanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show. #Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness

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The Indianness podcast enables leaders of Indian origin to tell their stories to inspire the next generation. Guests include leaders in business, health care, education, NGO’s, politics and various other fields.