Spotlight with Sandhya

Sandhya Mendonca | Raintree Media

Each episode os Spotlight with Sandhya brings you the people behind the big ideas shaping our world. Journalist, author, biographer and entrepreneur Sandhya Mendonca has spent a career hunting for one thing: the story underneath the story. Spotlight with Sandhya carries that same instinct into candid conversations with creative minds, changemakers, and leaders about their journeys. A Raintree Media Original. To be featured on this show, write to us at mail@raintreemedia.com or Instagram @raintreemedia.

  1. Aug 14

    Behind the Lens: For My Ela at Cannes Shorts 2026 | Mallika Prasad & Sandhya Mendonca

    How does a filmmaker turn a natural disaster into a creative breakthrough? In this episode of Spotlight with Sandhya, filmmaker Mallika Prasad discusses her award-winning short film, For My Ela, with podcast host Sandhya Mendonca. They trace the journey from a total script rewrite in just three days following devastating Himalayan landslides to shooting in the challenging -10°C weather of Spiti. This conversation explores the resilience required to bring an independent vision to the global festival circuit, and we dive deep into: ️ Creative Adaptability: Rewriting a film on the fly when the landscape changes. ️ Landscape as Character: Using the raw beauty of Spiti to mirror themes of grief and loss. The Independent Journey: Navigating funding, open auditions, and distribution. Artistic Identity: Mallika’s multi-faceted career, from theatre director to playing a villain in Mardaani 3. Watch now for an essential look at filmmaking born from adversity and the courage to find a story amidst the shifting mountains.  @QubixHiFi  Museum Road - Venue Partner  Edited by  @raintreemediaoriginals   To be featured on this show, write to us at mail@raintreemedia.com  Instagram: @raintreemedia Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/hPt90-ZNhSs?si=OfV5SNH_sU8MGkPu #Spotlightwithsandhya #ForMyEla #IndependentFilmmaking #CannesShorts #SpitiValley #BehindTheLens #NewEpisode #FilmmakingJourney ----

  2. Mar 11

    The Leadership Skill No One Talks About | Leadership Decoded | Geetha Panda in Spotlight with Sandhya

    We sat down with Geetha Panda — a global business leader with 30 years of experience transforming organizations across IT, shipping, biotech, banking, pharma, and now the startup world.  In this episode of Leadership Decoded on Spotlight with Sandhya, Geetha shares: → The leadership skill no one talks about  → What it's like to be the first—and often only—woman in the room  → How to negotiate salaries and power without apology  → Why so many digital transformation efforts fail  → How to fix a struggling organization in 30 days  → What she'd tell every woman returning to work after a career break  This is part of Raintree Media's C-Suite Publishing series, where we work with founders and leaders to capture their life stories and leadership lessons. ️ Raintree Media Originals Leadership Decoded Series #LeadershipDecoded #SpotlightWithSandhya #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInLeadership #GCCIndia #GeethaPanda #RaintreeMedia #WomenWhoLead #LeadershipLessons Watch the video on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@raintreemediaoriginals

    The Leadership Skill No One Talks About | Leadership Decoded | Geetha Panda in Spotlight with Sandhya

  3. Feb 28

    The Transformational Leader's Playbook| Leadership Decoded | Spotlight with Sandhya ft Paddy Rao

    Kicking off a series on leadership with Sandhya Mendonca, transformation strategist Paddy Rao shares his leadership journey, the essence of transformation without a fixed playbook, and how self-awareness and courage drive success. In this insightful interview, discover counterintuitive principles, managing failure, and the deep connection between ancient wisdom and modern leadership. Watch the video on https://youtu.be/85zSf2k4P20?si=YLFNzReZ4qtv812J

    The Transformational Leader's Playbook| Leadership Decoded | Spotlight with Sandhya ft Paddy Rao

  4. 12/09/2025

    Women in Newsrooms & Networks - Beyond the Byline - Kathy Mcleish & Sandhya Mendonca

    #SpotlightWithSandhya #kathymcleish #sandhyamendonca What happens when a media entrepreneur, former crime reporter meets a war correspondent? This Raintree Media Original goes beyond the byline into the realities of women in media. Sandhya Mendonca (Founder, Raintree Media, Bangalore) hosts Kathy McLeish (Women in Media Australia, Brisbane) for an India–Australia dialogue unpacking: Newsroom harassment: Moments when "we didn't realize it was gendered"Mid-career washout: Why women exit at peak potential"Mates over merit": Unconscious bias in actionReclaiming public spaces post-assaultsWomen-led media rise and networks as lifelinesMentorship that builds independent leadersKey quotes: "The guys who did it are wrong. We reclaim our spaces." – Sandhya"Workplaces designed for men with wives." – Kathy"Post-MeToo, women challenge and speak up." – Sandhya“Changing industries through networks and courage.” - Kathy Your male-dominated space story? Comment: RaintreeMedia.com. When did you spot gendered bias? Share below. ▶ RaintreeMedia YouTube​: https://youtu.be/zjuoIs0Qfv0 #SpotlightWithSandhya #BeyondTheByline #WomenInJournalism #RaintreeMedia #WomenInMedia #NewsroomCulture​

    Women in Newsrooms & Networks - Beyond the Byline - Kathy Mcleish & Sandhya Mendonca

  5. 09/23/2025

    Arundhati Raja on Theatre & Freedom | Jagriti Theatre | Sandhya Mendonca #spotlightwithsandhya

    In this episode, Sandhya Mendonca, Founder & Chief Editor of Raintree Media talks to Arundhati Raja, co-founder of Jagriti Theatre, about theatre, freedom & relevance in today’s world. Tell us in the comments or at mail@raintreemedia.com - what’s the most powerful play you’ve ever seen — and why did it stay with you? Don’t forget to Subscribe, Like & Share to support more conversations on art, culture & creativity. Read more: The Female Gaze – The Sunday Guardian https://sundayguardianlive.com/feature/a-1930s-spanish-story-tracks-womens-timeless-quest-for-freedom-137936/ This episode is part of Raintree Media Originals, bringing you conversations that spotlight leaders, artists, and changemakers who are shaping culture and ideas today. #spotlightwithsandhya #RaintreeMedia #RaintreeMediaOriginals #ArundhatiRaja #JagritiTheatre #IndianTheatre #WomenInArts #PerformingArts #TheatreDirector #BengaluruCulture #ArtAndFreedom #StageStories

    Arundhati Raja on Theatre & Freedom | Jagriti Theatre | Sandhya Mendonca #spotlightwithsandhya

  6. 04/19/2024

    "Salvation is in a clean, good note of music" – Pandit Rajeev Taranath in Spotlight with Sandhya

    World-famous musician and sarod maestro Pandit Rajeev Taranath, in this multilingual interview with Sandhya Mendonca, reflects on music, the greatness of Chandrashekhara Kambara’s writing and Rahman’s music, and other experiences of a rich and varied life. He captivates both as a musician and a person, with a blend of audacity and humility. Deeply influenced by his guru Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Ravishankar, Pandit Taranath has greatly impacted music, literature, theatre, and cinema. He is a ‘Renaissance’ person who excels in everything he does - as a performing artist, a guru, a music composer, a professor, a writer, a literary critic, and a translator. At 92 years of age, he continues to practice music daily and to teach students at his home in Mysuru and online. Watch the video of this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf5EOb4OpGA This episode is supported by The Windflower Resorts & Spa   Filmed & Edited by Vishwas Krishna   To be featured on this show write to us at mail@raintreemedia.com or https://www.facebook.com/raintreemedia or https://www.instagram.com/raintreemedia/

    "Salvation is in a clean, good note of music" – Pandit Rajeev Taranath in Spotlight with Sandhya

  7. 11/20/2023

    "We yearn for simpler times" -Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy in Spotlight with Sandhya | Episode 71

    Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy is the lead actor and debutant director of the delightful coming-of-age film ‘Aachar and Company’. Set in the 60s back when Bangalore was still a small town, it's about siblings growing up in Bangalore, tackling patriarchy and gender roles. This little Kannada film has taken everybody by surprise with the kind of impact that it had when it was released this July. It had a good run in theatres before streaming on Amazon Prime. Sindhu talks to Sandhya Mendonca about the gentle humour she uses to approach issues of women claiming their agency by going out to work, the subtle nuances within families, and her fascination with nostalgia. Watch the Video of this interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaintreeMedia1/podcasts Recorded at The Hub Edited by Capital Studio To be featured on this show write to us at mail@raintreemedia.com or https://www.facebook.com/raintreemedia or https://www.instagram.com/raintreemedia/

    "We yearn for simpler times" -Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy in Spotlight with Sandhya | Episode 71

  8. 10/17/2023

    "Choose Ethics, Not Expediency" - Vinita Bali in Spotlight with Sandhya | Episode 70

    “Profits are important, but it's also important to be driven by morals and ethics”, Vinita Bali says.  Known for her skills in building brands and leading companies in five continents including Coca-Cola, Cadbury's and Britannia. In this episode of the podcast, she talks to Sandhya Mendonca about why and how to build healthy companies. She emphasises character and work ethics over expediency – traits that make her a sought-after Independent Board member by global companies. Bali is also deeply involved in efforts to increase nutrition levels in India and in promoting the arts. She also talks about the pervasive gender gap in the corporate world and why men need to actively work to bridge it. "We need more Dangal Dads", she says. Watch the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaintreeMedia1/podcasts Recorded at The Hub Edited by Capital Studio To be featured on this show write to us at mail@raintreemedia.com or https://www.facebook.com/raintreemedia or https://www.instagram.com/raintreemedia/

    "Choose Ethics, Not Expediency" - Vinita Bali in Spotlight with Sandhya | Episode 70
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About

Each episode os Spotlight with Sandhya brings you the people behind the big ideas shaping our world. Journalist, author, biographer and entrepreneur Sandhya Mendonca has spent a career hunting for one thing: the story underneath the story. Spotlight with Sandhya carries that same instinct into candid conversations with creative minds, changemakers, and leaders about their journeys. A Raintree Media Original. To be featured on this show, write to us at mail@raintreemedia.com or Instagram @raintreemedia.

Information

  • Creator
    Sandhya Mendonca | Raintree Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 Sandhya Mendonca | Raintree Media
  • Show Website
    Spotlight with Sandhya