Give it a Go

We’re in the business of enabling lives | Shaifalika & Shubhrakant Panda | Give it a Go | EP 7

What does it really mean to give back? And how much is actually enough In this episode of Give It A Go, Naghma Mulla sits down with Shaifalika Panda and Shubhrakant Panda to unpack what thoughtful giving actually looks like, beyond charity, beyond optics. From building businesses to working closely with communities across Odisha, they share what it takes to create real, lasting impact. This isn’t about quick fixes or feel-good philanthropy. It’s about patience, responsibility, and doing the work the right way. We talk about: • The difference between giving and enabling • Why most people get impact wrong • How much wealth is truly “enough” • The role of power, privilege, and responsibility • Why failure and patience are part of the journey • What real empowerment actually looks like This conversation is honest, grounded, and quietly powerful,  especially if you’ve ever thought about success, purpose, or what comes after “making it”. Chapters: 00:00 Highlights of the Episode 01:09 Introducing the Guests 02:35 A Legacy Built on Community, Not Just Business 05:40 Power, Privilege & Responsibility 07:30 Shift to Community-Led Change 09:47 Why Working in Silos Fails 13:34 How Much Wealth Is Actually Enough? 15:06 Non-Negotiables in Business & Life 17:10 Charity vs Real Impact 21:28 What Empowerment Really Looks Like 23:39 The Truth About Power & Problems 26:02 Why Failure Needs to Be Normalised 30:54 The Hard Truth About Collaboration 32:52 Passing Values to the Next Generation 37:21 Giving Isn’t Just About Money 39:05 Writing a Check vs Doing the Work 42:09 What Giving Has Done for Them

How do we get 70 million people out of poverty? | ft. Dr. Swati and Mr. Ajay Piramal | Give it a Go | EP 6

In this episode of Give It A Go, host Naghma Mulla sits down with Dr. Swati Piramal and Mr. Ajay Piramal to explore how they’ve built successful businesses while driving meaningful social impact. Grounded in the principles of seva, spirituality, and equanimity inspired by the Gita, they reflect on their family’s legacy of giving - from pioneering girls’ education in Rajasthan to leading large-scale public health interventions. The conversation explores critical gaps that still exist - healthcare research skewed toward men, widespread anaemia and mental health challenges among women, and persistent pay inequality. Mr. Ajay highlights why sustainable change in India requires working with the government, not outside it - focusing on improving the efficiency of large-scale public spending. He discusses initiatives like the Piramal School of Leadership, which invests in strengthening mid-level leadership within public systems, and their work addressing multidimensional poverty, water access, nutrition, and deep-rooted tribal health inequities. Together, they emphasize starting early with giving, staying hands-on, and finding genuine joy in service. Chapters: 00:00 Highlights of the Episode 01:19 Meet the Guests 02:40 Legacy of Giving 08:33 Gita and Giving 11:23 Women in Leadership 14:38 Equanimity in Success 19:04 Passing Values Forward 21:13 Working With Government 24:02 Training Mid-Level Leaders 25:06 Turning 70 and Going All In 27:26 Tech for Health Inequities 28:55 Tribal Gap and Inequality 31:30 Advice for Women Leaders 33:47 Equal Pay and Fellowships 37:19 Owning Philanthropy Together 39:26 Start Giving Earlier 44:47 Final thoughts

Don’t wait till you’re 50 to be a Philanthropist | Govind Iyer & Amita Chauhan | Give it a Go | EP 05

Join Naghma Mulla on 'Give It a Go' for an illuminating conversation with Govind Iyer and Amita Chauhan, two transformative leaders reshaping the landscape of philanthropy in India. In this episode, discover how understanding your purpose can unlock meaningful impact, why starting philanthropic work early accelerates personal growth, and how engaged giving differs from traditional charity. Govind and Amita share candid insights from their journeys with Social Venture Partners (SVP) India, revealing the challenges they've faced, the lessons they've learned, and the systemic changes needed to make philanthropy more effective and inclusive. From exploring gender dynamics in giving to bridging generational gaps in wealth conversations, this discussion offers a fresh perspective on how individuals can create lasting change while developing themselves in the process. Whether you're beginning your philanthropic journey or looking to deepen your impact, their stories will inspire you to rethink what meaningful contribution looks like. 00:00 Highlights of the Podcast Episode 02:05 Personal Journeys  04:47 Early Philanthropy Experiences 07:28 The Value of Starting Philanthropy Early 10:18 Rural Handloom and Grounding Experiences 12:03 Challenges and Realizations in Philanthropy 13:58 Balancing Wealth and Philanthropy 17:40 Gender Differences in Philanthropic Approaches 20:16 The Story of SVP and Its Impact 28:37 Expanding the Network 29:07 Setting Expectations in the NGO World 29:42 Building Sustainable Systems for Growth 30:53 Bridging the Philanthropy Gap 32:22 Trust and Understanding in Collaborative Networks 34:38 Authenticity in Storytelling and Impact 38:21 Navigating Conversations About Wealth and Values 44:44 Counterintuitive Lessons in Giving 48:05 The Case for Risk-Taking in Philanthropy 51:34 Younger Generations and Systemic Change 54:06 Final Thoughts

Why Meaningful Giving Matters | Vidya & Rashesh Shah | Give It A Go | EP 04

In this insightful episode of Give It A Go, host Naghma Mulla speaks with Vidya and Rashesh Shah about building a successful legacy while staying deeply grounded in values. The conversation explores the idea of personal social responsibility, the role of gratitude in wealth creation, and why philanthropy works best when it is intentional and structured. Drawing from their own experiences, Vidya and Rashesh reflect on balancing ambition with empathy, the influence of family values on decision-making, and the shift from individual acts of giving to institutionalized philanthropy. They also discuss leadership, empowerment in the workplace, and how perspectives on wealth and responsibility evolve over time. This episode offers practical insights on growing with purpose, giving thoughtfully, and creating long-term impact beyond financial success. Timestamps: 00:00 Highlights of the Episode 01:17 Meet Vidya and Rashesh Shah 02:21 Early Life & Career Choices 05:30 Building a Financial Empire 08:26 Navigating Economic Liberalization 17:49 The Power of Compounding & Wealth Management 24:34 Philanthropy & Giving Back 29:27 Understanding Personal Social Responsibility (PSR) 30:09 From Individual Empathy to Institutional Action 31:16 Why Institutionalization Matters 33:16 Empowerment & Agency in the Workplace 37:19 Parenting, Wealth & Gratitude 42:22 Challenges and Key Realizations in Philanthropy 50:40 The Joy and Impact of Giving

What Rural India Taught the Screwvalas | Ronnie and Zarina Screwvala | EP 03

In this episode of Give It a Go, Naghma Mulla sits down with Ronnie and Zarina Screwvala, co-founders of the Swades Foundation. Together, they unpack what it really means to give with intention - why vision matters, why agility is key, and why starting early changes everything. From shaping India’s media landscape to driving rural transformation, the Screwvalas share their journey of redefining philanthropy. They speak about community participation, holistic development, and tackling mental poverty head-on. The conversation also explores how personal wealth can align with meaningful impact and offers grounded advice for anyone looking to begin their own giving journey. 00:00 Highlights of the Episode 01:10 Meet the Guests: Ronnie and Zarina 02:06 Early Ventures and Media Industry Insights 07:06 From Media to Philanthropy 22:04 Building and Scaling the Swades Foundation 29:27 Moving Beyond Charity to Empowerment 30:04 Why Patience Matters in Development Work 30:40 Advocating for a Holistic Model 31:18 The Role of Community in Sustainable Change 31:34 Challenges and Convictions in Philanthropy 31:56 Corporate Lens vs. Community-Centric Reality 33:03 The Dream Village Vision 33:29 Empowering Communities Through Participation 38:41 Village Development Committees 39:05 The Joy and Challenges of Volunteering 43:04 Success Stories and Inspirational Leaders 44:42 Learning Through the Process 45:31 Inspiring the Next Generation to Give Back 48:03 The Fear of Getting It Wrong 51:12 How to Start Your Own Philanthropic Journey 53:17 The Power of Community-Led Initiatives