THE SHE.E.O EFFECT

Santhosh Vishnu

The SHE.E.O Effect uncovers the vision, influence, and legacy of India’s most impactful women leaders. We dive into the philosophies behind their success - resilience, culture-building, tough decisions, and real-world impact. No fluff. No filters. Just the wisdom that shapes leaders.

  1. 4D AGO

    The Power of Grit | Gomathi Shanmugasundaram | Episode 13 | THE SHE.E.O EFFECT

    "I was told I didn't have the capabilities to take the company to the next level. Within two years, I easily surpassed the numbers he said I couldn't reach."Imagine growing up as a carpenter's daughter where you were not taught to dream big, and your ultimate career goal was simply to become a secretary so you could work in an air-conditioned room.In Episode 13 of THE SHE.E.O EFFECT, Vijayashree Parameswaran sits down with Gomathi "Goms" Sridhar, the CEO of AhaGuru. Gomathi’s journey is defined by a single word: GRIT. From leading a massive college strike to save her historic campus from demolition, to turning down a high-paying corporate job to teach science for ₹2,000, Gomathi has always let purpose drive her path.In this unfiltered conversation, Gomathi breaks down the realities of scaling one of India's powerhouse EdTech firms without burning through investor cash. She holds nothing back, discussing the dark side of leadership that most founders hide:🔥 Mother's Guilt: The crushing societal pressure that makes you feel like you have to be a "bad mother" to be a "good leader."🔥 The Boys' Club: Why she refuses to compromise her comfort and safety just to fit in at male-dominated networking events.🔥 Underestimation: How she uses the sexism and judgment of male peers—who ignore her in meetings because she lacks "fancy degrees"—as fuel to build her empire.If you have ever felt underestimated or struggled with the myth of "work-life balance," this episode is your ultimate permission slip to tune out the noise and focus on your goals."The outfit doesn't matter, the attitude does."#thesheeoeffect #ahaguru #femalefounders #womeninleadership #womeninbusiness #edtech #workingmom #entrepreneurship #grit #leadership

    52 min
  2. MAR 6

    Aditi Shrivastava - Be Unreasonable! | Episode 8 | THE SHE.E.O EFFECT

    "If that's what they think, let them think. I come with my drama."The wait is finally over! Episode 8 of  THE SHE.E.O EFFECT is officially LIVE, featuring Aditi Shrivastava, Co-Founder & CEO of Pocket Aces. This is a deeply special episode, as Aditi is the one who originally "sowed the seed" for this podcast.In this unfiltered conversation, Aditi shares her journey from working at a quant hedge fund at Goldman Sachs in New York to leading a digital media company where the average employee age is 24.In this episode, we dive into:🏓 The Boardroom "Kitchen": Comparing pickleball to investor meetings, Aditi explains why you must be patient, provide detailed answers, and get the ball in their court without being aggressive.🤖 Gen Z vs. AI: Why her young audience and creators often regard AI-generated content as "fake", and why the company is pivoting to raw, authentic content like videos on unemployment.⚖️ Work-Life Fusion: How she and her husband intentionally chose "work-life fusion" over traditional balance, which has allowed them to take work calls from a cruise ship in Antarctica or read scripts in the Maldives.🛑 Owning Your Choices: The realization that having children is simply a "yes or no question," and the power of unapologetically owning the choice to be childfree despite societal expectations.🧠 The Reality of Vulnerability: Why society's expectations make vulnerability—and escaping from it—much harder for men because they are expected to be "strong and chill".🔥 Rapid Fire Revelations: From her most "Bollywood" moment walking the red carpet at Cannes to celebrating big wins with a MacD burger.If you are building a business, leading a young team, or trying to navigate the high-stakes world of modern media, this episode is your masterclass.🎧 Watch, listen, and subscribe for more conversations with India's boldest women leaders!

    45 min
  3. FEB 18

    Dr. Srimathy Kesan - From Kitchen To Cosmos | Episode 7 | THE SHE.E.O EFFECT

    16 years a homemaker. A former paratrooper. Now, the woman launching the world's lightest satellites with NASA and ISRO. 🚀In this episode of THE SHE.E.O EFFECT , host Vijayashree Parameswaran sits down with Dr. Srimathy Kesan, the founder of Space Kidz India . Known affectionately as "Space Mom," Dr. Kesan shares her incredible transition from a conservative South Indian household to leading 12,000+ students from 108 countries in space missions.Dr. Kesan opens up about the "Sword to Spatula to Space" journey - how she went from commanding parades with a sword to managing a home, and eventually building satellites in her kitchen. We discuss her controversial yet heartwarming take on asking for "permission" in marriage, why she believes Gen Z and Gen Alpha are the best generations yet, and her bold stance on why India should focus on human intelligence over AI.In this episode, we cover:- Reframing "Permission" in marriage: Why it’s about respect, not slavery.- The 64g Satellite: How she cracked a NASA competition from her kitchen.- Failure & Resilience: The emotional story behind the SSLV/AzadiSAT launch.- Why Dr. Kesan believes AI shouldn't replace human jobs in India.- "Sword to Spatula to Satellite": Overcoming imposter syndrome after a 16-year career gap.- Mission ShaktiSat: Rallying 12,000 girls from around the globe.If you think it's too late to start your dream career, or if you are navigating the balance between tradition and ambition, this episode is for you.🔔 Subscribe for more inspiring stories from women changing the world!

    50 min

About

The SHE.E.O Effect uncovers the vision, influence, and legacy of India’s most impactful women leaders. We dive into the philosophies behind their success - resilience, culture-building, tough decisions, and real-world impact. No fluff. No filters. Just the wisdom that shapes leaders.