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

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/ [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.

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/ [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

In this episode, Dr. Pradeep Khosla reflects on his career, the role of mentorship, and the importance of embracing challenges. Learn how his Indian roots influenced his approach to leadership and innovation in the U.S. education system.  Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pradeepkhosla/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pradeepkhosla/]  https://chancellor.ucsd.edu/about/about-the-chancellor/index.html [https://chancellor.ucsd.edu/about/about-the-chancellor/index.html]  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pradeep_Khosla [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pradeep_Khosla]

On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pramathsinha/], Founder and Trustee at Ashoka University [https://www.linkedin.com/school/ashoka-university/], Founding Dean of ISB, Founder of Harappa Education and President at upGrad [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ueducation/]. 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/] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pramathsinha/ Ashoka University [https://www.linkedin.com/school/ashoka-university/] | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/ashoka-university/ Ashoka University [https://www.ashoka.edu.in] | Website - https://www.ashoka.edu.in upGrad [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ueducation/] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ueducation/ upGrad [https://www.upgrad.com/] | Website - https://www.upgrad.com Indian School of Business (ISB) [https://www.isb.edu] - https://www.isb.edu Harappa Education [https://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

On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ashish Jha [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashish-jha-b9aab41/], former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health [https://www.linkedin.com/school/brownpublichealth/]. Dr. Jha shares his inspiring journey from growing up in a small village in Bihar, India, to being asked by the President of the United States to join his administration. He also opens up about facing racism in high school and how support at Columbia University helped shape his dual identity and career. Key Takeaways:  (03:01) Dr. Jha’s childhood memories in Bihar. (08:51) The great unknown of moving to Canada. (17:11) The move to New Jersey and the harsh reality of facing racism. (19:25) Facing a high school teacher who told him to change his name. (25:47) Learning to embrace both his Indian and American identities. (38:59) The President’s invitation to join the White House as COVID-19 Response Coordinator. (40:00) The privilege of working in the West Wing as an Indian immigrant. (41:25) The value of building and maintaining meaningful relationships. (42:34) Why service is one of the most enriching experiences in life. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Ashish Jha [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashish-jha-b9aab41/] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashish-jha-b9aab41/ Columbia University [https://www.columbia.edu] - https://www.columbia.edu Brown University School of Public Health [https://graduateprograms.brown.edu/graduate-program/public-health-mph?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=MPH&utm_content=traffic&creative=613468509292&keyword=brown%20university%20masters%20in%20public%20health&matchtype=b&network=g&device=c&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwreW2BhBhEiwAavLwfLqUIDqHZqKhWapyYPIskdsJHEW872WYuwCVEI0U4PObifvPrFTEdxoCRUIQAvD_BwE] - https://graduateprograms.brown.edu/graduate-program/public-health-mph?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=MPH&utm_content=traffic&creative=613468509292&keyword=brown%20university%20masters%20in%20public%20health&matchtype=b&network=g&device=c&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwreW2BhBhEiwAavLwfLqUIDqHZqKhWapyYPIskdsJHEW872WYuwCVEI0U4PObifvPrFTEdxoCRUIQAvD_BwE Harvard Medical School [https://hms.harvard.edu] - https://hms.harvard.edu University of Toronto [https://www.utoronto.ca] - https://www.utoronto.ca World Health Organization (WHO) [https://www.who.int] - https://www.who.int 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