Decoding Impact with Rathish Balakrishnan

From companies to communities: How CSR can be a force of good

Season 4 | Episode 9 Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting Guest: Sourav Roy, CEO, Tata Steel Foundation As India’s CSR capital scales to an estimated ₹34,000 Crore, the sector stands at a historic crossroads. The conversation has turned to encompass the professionalisation of philanthropy and the technical rigour required to solve structural challenges. In this episode, we are joined by Sourav Roy, CEO of Tata Steel Foundation. Sourav shares a masterclass in shifting the development narrative from "needs-based" distribution to systemic transformation. Gear up for a host of insights: - Creating impact is a technical skill, a truth that CSR Managers embody as they balance multi-thematic expertise, programme management, community engagement, finance tracking and more. - The need for a "bridge vocabulary" – developing a shared language is crucial to translate complex community realities into evidence-based corporate strategy. - Unlocking the potential of the East through CSR. The time has come to address capital gaps by recognising the unique ecological value and untapped potential of Eastern India. Tune in to explore the intellectual rigour required to turn CSR into a true force for national development. Key topics 1. Evolution of CSR thinking and the biggest impacts of this law 2. Why social sector skills are a technical skill 3. Creating impact is more like creating levers, rather than a pipe of resources 4. Unurum, and learning from the alternate intelligence frameworks of communities 5. What factors can shift the needle the most? & The importance of a shared vocabulary 6. Skills and capabilities needed in CSR teams & managers 7. The role of implementation partners & what companies are best suited to do as impact-partners 8. Unlocking the potential of Eastern India through philanthropy 9. Sourav’s future roadmap for CSR leader aspirants

The climate crisis has become a health crisis. What can we do about it? | Ft. Dr Soumya Swaminathan

Episode 8, Season 4 Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting Guest: Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Paediatrician & Global HIV/TB Expert, Former Chief Scientist at WHO, Former Director General of ICMR, Chair, MSSRF Rising cases of dengue. Surging respiratory conditions. Harsher working environments. The climate crisis has become a public health crisis. The question remains: what can be done? Rathish Balakrishnan is joined by the veteran Dr Soumya Swaminathan, who has served as the Former Chief Scientist at the WHO, to discuss the varying intersections of climate change and health. Together, they explore - The multiple ways in which climate change impacts health, from animal-human conflicts to climate anxiety - How to build climate-resilient health systems - The role of governments at all levels in shaping policy, leading research, and prioritising climate-informed health practices - What solutions could look like, spanning from farmer-friendly apps to municipal-level climate action plans The climate challenge looms large, but the drive to adapt, safeguard, and thrive does too. Tune in for an engaging conversation with one of the most accomplished doctors of our time.

How do beneficiaries in India actually use cash transfers? | Myths busted!

Episode 7, Season 4 Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting Guest: Pankhuri Shah & Muzamil Baig, Co-founders, Project DEEP Do you believe we could lift India out of poverty with the help of cash transfers?Because the evidence says yes: direct and unconditional cash transfers improve recipients’ incomes, asset ownership, and mental well-being. Instead of “being wasted on alcohol” and “making people lazy,” the cash is directed into building houses, buying livestock, paying off debt, and making investments.  In this episode, Co-founders of Project DEEP (Devising an End to Extreme Poverty), Pankhuri Shah and Muzamil Baig join Rathish Balakrishnan for an opinion-shifting conversation as they uncover: - Myths we have about the poor (and the rich) - How communities actually use cash transfers to grow income and build assets - The role of the government in enabling these schemes - Types of transfers, their benefits and limitations, and what is needed to make them most effective - The what and why of Universal Basic Income This is an episode you don’t want to miss out on. Tune in here!

A social sector leader’s BEST advice for NGOs in India | Govind Iyer

Episode 6 | Decoding Impact - Season 4 Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting Guest: Govind Iyer, a Member on the Board of Trustees of The Rockefeller Foundation, Chairperson, SVP India, and Independent Director of Infosys & Karmayogi Bharat Social sector spending in India is gaining momentum. Domestic philanthropy grew 7% y-o-y to ₹1.31 lakh crore (FY24), while CSR investments reached ₹34,000 crore in FY23–24 (Bain–Dasra India Philanthropy Report 2025; Sattva Consulting, CSR’s Next Act 2025). As funding becomes more strategic and systems-focused, how can nonprofits position themselves to truly leverage this shift? Govind Iyer, drawing on his experience across philanthropy, NGOs, and leadership, shares grounded, actionable insights with Rathish on what it takes to create long-term impact. Together, they unpack: * Why leadership skills are essentials—not overheads—for nonprofits * How NGOs can build and sustain donor trust * What growing CSR and domestic philanthropy mean for the sector * What real systems change looks like—and where India’s most urgent challenges lie Topics covered: 1. Intro to the current social sector spending landscape 2. Lessons for nonprofit leaders 3. How can we encourage Indians to give more & how nonprofits can build trust among (potential) donors 4. Rethinking what a “return” looks like in impact 5. How to unlock giving at scale 6. How CSR strategies are evolving 7. The importance of CSR forums & platforms for collaborations 8. How philanthropy can leverage government social spending + systems change 9. How to strengthen nonprofit delivery capabilities & why donors should care

Every Indian deserves good health (not just healthcare) ft. Dr Srinath Reddy

Episode 5 | Decoding Impact - Season 4 Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting Guest: Dr K. Srinath Reddy, Cardiologist & Founder, Public Health Foundation of India, Recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2005 We’re consulting doctors over video calls. Tracking our sleep on smartwatches. Decoding health reports in seconds on ChatGPT. Technology is reshaping how we learn about and engage with healthcare. With information at our fingertips, it’s tempting to assume that tech is automatically advancing health equity, the right of every individual to live as healthily as possible. But health equity isn’t just about access to healthcare services. In its truest sense, it’s about circumstances, recognising how social determinants like class, caste, gender, and environmental exposure shape health outcomes long before someone enters a clinic. India’s urban mobile phone penetration stands at 125%; however rural penetration is only 58.8% (Mapping India’s Digital Landscape - Mobile Connectivity and Its Impact on Rural India, Affandy Johan, Ookla, 2025). The digital divide is stark, spanning device ownership, internet access, and digital literacy. This raises a critical question: will technology bridge healthcare gaps, or risk widening them further? To unpack this complexity, we’re joined by Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, Founder and former President of the Public Health Foundation of India, to explore the nuanced intersection of health equity and technology. Topics of discussion 1. Introducing health equity in India, the role of technology, and Dr Srinath 2. Why health equity doesn’t end with healthcare access 3. New challenges to our healthcare system + the impact of climate change on health 4. How do we build state capacity to deliver quality, accessible healthcare? 5. What's coming up in health-tech & what impact can these innovations have? 6. Why contextual health data matters for accurate diagnoses 7. What risks does tech carry? Which gaps can it widen in healthcare? 8. How do we design an equitable health system using technology? 9. The role of digital public infrastructure & building state capacity 10. AI in healthcare (pros & cons) 11. Financing an equitable health system 12. The power of Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts