The ContraMinds Podcast

Take the Next Step in Your Professional Journey Discover if your purpose, mindset, and practice are aligned. Visit https://contraminds.com/tools/mytrue-compass/ [ https://contraminds.com/tools/mytrue-compass/ ] now to take the My TRUE Compass exploration. This exploration will provide you with valuable insights into your professional priorities, strengths, and areas for development. The personalized report will help you chart your path from average to extraordinary by identifying gaps between your purpose and current practices. Don't leave your career success to chance—take the My TRUE Compass test today and begin your journey toward extraordinary achievement! Take The Leap from being Average to Extraordinary Becoming Extraordinary: Aligning Purpose, Mindset, and Practice The Be Extraordinary pilot episode explores what separates average professionals from extraordinary ones. Swami and Aswin Rao discuss how extraordinary professionals align three key elements: purpose (finding meaning in what you do), mindset (preparing mentally for challenges ahead), and practice (consistent daily efforts). The discussion uses examples like Rahul Dravid, Sridhar Vembu, and Nandan Nilekani to illustrate how this alignment works across different career stages and industries.Swami lays emphasis on the idea that becoming extraordinary is a journey of self-discovery where professionals must identify what energizes them, develop self-awareness about their strengths and weaknesses, and consistently practice habits that align with their purpose. The newly launched ContraMinds My TRUE Compass tool is a way for professionals to assess their current alignment and identify areas for growth. Timestamps: 00:11 - 03:34 What Separates the Average from the Extraordinary 03:35 - 20:40 What is Purpose? 20:40 - 30:20 How Does one Align Purpose, Mindset and Practice? 5 Key Takeaways: 1. Extraordinary professionals align their purpose (meaningful goals), mindset (mental preparation), and practice (daily habits) to achieve sustained excellence. 2. Purpose is about finding meaning in your work and having clear goals for what you want to achieve in your career. 3. Being extraordinary requires self-awareness about your strengths and weaknesses, and a willingness to work on improvement consistently. 4. Career priorities may shift over time like an "audio equalizer," requiring regular reassessment of your purpose and practices. 5. Learning from role models in your field can help you understand what skills and mindsets are needed to achieve similar success. Subscribe to ContraMinds Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xceASphmwAjJONTlsvo2Y?si=ba40bdbe2c644d78&utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=ContraMindsyoutube&utm_campaign=Contramindsspotify Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-contramindspodcast/id1485202972utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=ContraMindsyoutube&utm_campaign=Contramindsapplepodcast Newsletter: https://blog.contraminds.com?tm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=ContraMindsyoutube&utm_campaign=Contramindsnewsletter Follow Us Twitter: https://twitter.com/contramindsutm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=ContraMindsyoutube&utm_campaign=Contramindstwitter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contraminds/utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=ContraMindsyoutube&utm_campaign=Contramindsinstagram LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/contraminds/utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=ContraMindsChannel&utm_campaign=Contramindslinkedin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/contraminds/utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=ContraMindsyoutube&utm_campaign=Contramindsfacebook #personalgrowth, #professionalexcellence, #professionalgoals, #selfdiscovery, #leadershipskills, #careersuccess, #professionalgrowth, #authenticleadership, #personalexcellence, #professionalfulfilment #contramindsmytrucompass #mytruecompass #careertools

Marketing Must Make People Believe, Not Just Buy The Journey from Content to Conversion Akhil Almeida shares his remarkable journey from Virgin Records to becoming Head of Marketing at Bandhan Life Insurance. With over two decades of experience across music, market research, and financial services, Akhil reveals his core marketing philosophy: "Marketing isn't about selling. It's about making people believe." Tracing his pioneering work in predictive content intelligence at Kantar and E-commerce research panels tracking 60,000 online shoppers, Akhil demonstrates how understanding consumer behavior at a deep level is the foundation for building brands people genuinely care about. Beyond Data: Creating Meaningful Marketing Strategies Akhil identifies three critical skills modern marketers must master:  1. Pattern recognition to spot cultural shifts before they go mainstream2. Agility to pivot quickly when playbooks become outdated 3. Commercial acumen to articulate ROI to leadershipUsing his experience transforming Bandhan Life Insurance, he illustrates how focusing on underserved segments like self-employed individuals (60% of India's workforce) created strategic advantage in a crowded market. Perhaps most valuably, Akhil emphasizes the crucial distinction between data and insight: "Data tells you what people do, insight tells you why they're doing it. Data without interpretation is just noise." Through practical examples of landing page optimization and brand-agency partnerships, he demonstrates how cultivating insight as a daily ritual ultimately drives marketing that shapes behavior, builds habits, and creates long-term brand value. ⁠For Show Notes, Selected Links and Resources [https://www.contraminds.com] Subscribe to our weekly newsletter [https://blog.contraminds.com] About Akhil Almeida Akhil Almeida, now the Head of Marketing of Bandhan Life, is a dynamic leader with over two decades of experience in marketing, specializing in brand building, digital strategies, and consumer insights. Timestamps 00:01:45:13 - 00:05:57:08 From Virgin Records to Marketing Pro: Akhil's Journey [https://youtu.be/rJKP4lQtvRw?si=jyUh5r8U1OUo6pbZ] 00:05:57:09 - 00:13:32:13 Predictive Content: The Next Big Thing in Marketing? [https://youtu.be/DnkGPuT9094?si=IROA6fxzhUf0iLNU] 00:13:32:14 - 00:16:45:04 Data to Strategy: How Insights Shape a CMO's Success [https://youtu.be/0DH1pBTrMOg?si=4raCyDR2KOU7Giep] 00:16:45:05 - 00:28:43:09 Decoding E-commerce: Secrets from an Early Pioneer [https://youtu.be/gS_FifmlzZs?si=vgmoDvQVcwaOCRJs] 00:28:43:10 - 00:38:39:16 Must-Have Skills for Today's Marketers [https://youtu.be/sVi4VPzUgNw?si=puLtnovu8qUD7U1D] 00:38:39:17 - 00:44:57:18 Rebranding 101: Transforming a Brand with Trust [https://youtu.be/bWV5QRgSZZ4?si=URXQb8GSvSaS3EHc] 00:44:57:19 - 00:48:26:17 Financial Services Marketing: What Sets It Apart? [https://youtu.be/ON_XPKXAank?si=kVrwytMx03fEYHdH] 00:48:26:18 - 00:55:49:21 Rethinking Insurance: Innovation for the Self-Employed [https://youtu.be/n5nvz5NVEok?si=-poF7OSZFvMQ01eU] 00:55:49:22 - 01:07:15:12 Are Agencies Ready for Marketing's Evolution? [https://youtu.be/0dnCCtKcy60?si=bgpJ_J-O-EtUQyxM] 01:07:15:13 - 01:08:30:10 Top Campaigns Revealed: A Marketer's Favorites [https://youtu.be/APyPrIfj-HY?si=GrhEMK2SEasuWZml] 01:08:30:11 - 01:10:51:16 Advice for New Marketers: Stand Out Early [https://youtu.be/PCBI-DL7kzQ?si=kcxeB39qLXjXYuds] 01:10:51:17 - 01:12:58:17 Must-Read Books for Marketers: Expert Picks [https://youtu.be/S04gTuf5Hfw?si=0Q6fu9g-U9e6FNuM] 01:12:58:18 - 01:14:09:15 Stay Curious: The Advice That Drives Success [https://youtu.be/7as28LzYLmU?si=cyyMsTEpQAtqluLY] 01:14:09:16 - 01:21:00:03 Data Vs Insight [https://youtu.be/4tKs_zYCTLY?si=-r0DWOHQ3qqj54fk] This episode was made possible by the great folks at ⁠MovingWalls⁠ [https://www.movingwalls.com]. Moving Walls provides a global Adtech platform built by Out-of-home advertising experts, automating the process of planning, buying, executing and measuring OOH campaigns, with a presence across four continents and seven markets. #MarketingStrategy, #BrandEvolution, #ConsumerInsights, #ContentMarketing, #DigitalTransformation, #MarketingLeadership, #CustomerBehavior, #MarketingInnovation, #DataDrivenMarketing, #FinancialMarketing, #MarketingMindset, #ContentIntelligence, #BrandTransformation, #ConsumerBehavior, #DigitalFirst, #MarketingInsights, #CMOAdvice, #DataToInsight, #BrandBuilding

Professor Rohit Srivastava shares his vision of transforming India through a 10X innovation mindset, prioritizing patents over papers, and building product-focused ecosystems that turn academic research into market solutions. 5-point Episode Summary 1. The 10X Impact Framework: Prof. Srivastava's approach to creating 10 times more value through patents, startups, and reaching more patients than conventional academic labs. 2. Patents Over Papers: How filing 250+ patents and co-founding 15 startups is transforming academic research into market solutions for India. 3. Building Innovation Ecosystems: Creating bio-clusters across India to connect universities and accelerate product development through interdisciplinary collaboration. 4. Product-First Thinking: Training students to identify market needs and develop solutions that can reduce India's ₹90,000 crore medical device import bill. 5. From Innovation to Impact: The vision to create thousands of "innovation builders" who will transform India from a service economy to a product powerhouse by 2047. Timestamps 00:03:37 - 00:05:56 Mentors Who Shaped My Vision for India 00:05:56 - 00:08:55 India's Forward-Thinking Academic Leaders 00:08:55 - 00:11:47 Making Maximum Impact with Minimum Resources 00:11:47 - 00:15:00 Patents vs Papers: The Future of Innovation 00:15:00 - 00:18:03 Why Product-First Thinking Changes Everything 00:18:03 - 00:21:39 The Product-First Mindset Behind Innovation 00:21:39 - 00:25:25 The 10X Impact Framework for Success 00:25:25 - 00:28:47 Building NanoBIOS - an Innovation Ecosystem in Academia 00:28:47 - 00:35:02 Transforming Students into Innovators 00:35:02 - 00:38:52 Why Interdisciplinary Thinking Creates Better Products 00:38:52 - 00:42:04 Cross-Pollinating Innovation with Bioclusters Across Universities 00:42:04 - 00:45:02 How Patents Create a Virtuous Cycle of Innovation 00:45:02 - 00:49:08 Advice for Young Academics: Be Innovation Builders 00:49:08 - 00:49:43 Can India Create Its Own Philips or Siemens? 00:49:43 - 00:50:08 What is Success? 00:50:08 - 00:50:29 Advice for 18-Year-Olds in University Today 00:50:29 - 00:51:01 The Best Advice I've Ever Received 00:51:01 - 00:51:54 My Dream Dinner with Innovation Giants 00:51:54 - 00:52:27 The 10X Thinking That People Find Hard to Accept Selected Links and Show Notes [https://www.contraminds.com] Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter [https://blog.contraminds.com] About Prof. Rohit Srivastava [https://www.bio.iitb.ac.in/people/faculty/srivastava-r/] Professor Rohit Srivastava is a pioneering academic entrepreneur who holds the Himanshu Patel Chair at IIT Bombay [https://www.iitb.ac.in/]'s Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering. Known for his revolutionary "10X impact" philosophy and "patents over papers" approach, he has filed over 250 patents and co-founded more than 15 startups in just 19 years. His Nanobios Lab [https://www.nanobioslab.com/] has commercialized numerous affordable medical technologies including UChek [https://www.biosense.in/ucheck.php] (a mobile urine analysis system) and Suchek (an indigenous low-cost glucometer), helping reduce India's dependence on imported medical devices. Honored with the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanti_Swarup_Bhatnagar_Prize_for_Science_and_Technology](2021) and the inaugural Vigyan Shri Award [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtriya_Vigyan_Puraskar] (2024), Prof. Srivastava is transforming how academic research translates to market solutions. This episode was made possible by the great folks at Effortless. Effortless [https://www.goeffortless.ai] has been designed to be user-friendly, aiding you in your journey to streamline financial tasks. Experience the convenience of achieving e-Invoicing and E-way Bill Generation in just a couple of clicks, simplifying your business processes. #10xImpact, #InnovationIndia, #PatentsOverPapers, #ProductFirstThinking, #StartupEcosystem, #MedicalInnovation, #MakeInIndia, #FrugalInnovation, #IITBombay, #HealthTech, #BioTech, #AcademicEntrepreneurship, #IndianInnovation, #ViksitBharat, #TechForHealth

Marketing science pioneer and UC Davis [https://www.ucdavis.edu/]Professor Prasad Naik [https://gsm.ucdavis.edu/faculty/prasad-naik]reveals the power of cross-media orchestration, why mathematical models are transforming modern marketing, and why investing in your weakest media channels could be your smartest strategy. Cross Media Orchestration for Creative Excellence 🎯 Five Point ContraMinds Summary * Why math models are reshaping marketing: and how they amplify creative thinking rather than replace it * Media channels reinforce each other: the surprising reason you should invest more in your weakest media channels * Beyond awareness: Why sales and margins are the only metrics that truly matter to the C-suite * Breaking silos: How to structure marketing teams for both analytics and creativity * Future-ready marketing: Orchestrating media, math, and creative excellence in perfect harmony In conversation with Swami [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivaraman-swaminathan-9856501/], Professor Prasad Naik challenges conventional marketing wisdom by revealing how mathematical models are transforming brand building and media allocation. Drawing from his groundbreaking research, he demonstrates why brands should invest more in seemingly less effective channels to create powerful synergistic effects - comparing media interplay to chemical catalysts that amplify impact without direct attribution. Through compelling examples like MasterCard's [https://www.mastercard.co.in/en-in.html] "Priceless Possibilities" campaign and Apple's sophisticated media strategy, Naik presents a vision for future marketing departments that seamlessly blend analytical rigor with creative excellence. For Show Notes, Selected Links and Resources [https://www.contraminds.com] Key Timestamps 04:03 - 08:44 How Did a Chemical Engineer Master Marketing? 08:44 - 14:11 The Secret to Mix Marketing Right 14:11 - 19:29 More Marketing Money For Less Effective Channels 19:29 - 20:32 Making Sense of Your Marketing Budget 20:32 - 25:19 Marketing: Short Term Wins vs Long Term Game 25:19 - 31:05 What Makes Mastercard’s Marketing Click 31:05 - 34:19 Getting Marketing Stakeholders to See Eye to Eye 34:19 - 38:28 Building Your Dream Marketing Team 38:28 - 46:43 Who Should Watch Marketing Spends? 46:43 - 51:29 The Power of Integrated Marketing Communication 51:29 - 55:28 Skills Future Marketers Must Possess 55:28 - 1:00:45 Accretive Effects of Cross Media Consumption 1:00:45 - 1:07:15 Co-founding the MSBA Course at UC Davis 1:07:15 - 1:12:57 What is Success? 1:12:57 - 1:13:45 Advice for Marketing Students 1:13:45 - 1:16:27 Best Advice Prof. Prasad Has Ever Received 1:16:27 - 1:21:04 Buddha, Chengis Khan, Shivaji, Dalai Lama & Schrodinger 1:21:04 - 1:26:04 What Prof. Prasad Believes That Other’s Seldom Do 1:26:04 - 1:28:31 Closing About Prof. Prasad Naik Professor Prasad Naik is a Chancellor's Fellow at UC Davis and co-founder of the Marketing Dynamics Conference who bridges marketing science and creative strategy through groundbreaking research. His work in integrated marketing communications and media optimization, published in prestigious journals like Marketing Science and Nature Reviews, has transformed how brands approach media allocation. This episode was made possible by the great folks at MovingWalls [https://www.movingwalls.com].Moving Walls provides a global Adtech platform built by Out-of-home advertising experts, automating the process of planning, buying, executing and measuring OOH campaigns, with a presence across four continents and seven markets. Moving Walls processes more than 10 billion data points and measures more than 100,000 media sites across the globe. In 2017, APAC CIO Outlook listed us as one of the “10 Most Promising Digital Technology Solutions Providers”. Moving Walls is also a Tie50 winner, a listing of 50 most enterprising startups globally. Visit to learn more.

Transforming the Indian Classroom In a groundbreaking conversation, neuroscientist and educator Sai Gaddam [https://saigaddam.medium.com/]discusses how traditional education systems are becoming increasingly disconnected from real-world demands. Through his micro-school initiative, Comini Learning [https://www.comini.in/], Gaddam demonstrates how personalized learning environments, supported by AI technology, can nurture individual growth paths. His approach challenges the conventional assessment-driven model, advocating instead for a system that values problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and creative thinking. About Sai Gaddam Sai Gaddam, Co-Founder of Comini Learning, brings a unique blend of neuroscience, technology, and education to his work in transforming early learning. After graduating from IIT Madras, inspired by V.S. Ramachandran's "Phantoms in the Brain," he pursued computational neuroscience at Boston University. His entrepreneurial journey includes founding Kernel Insights and developing MakkhiChoose, which grew to serve hundreds of thousands of users. Currently, through Comini Learning, he implements Finnish educational principles adapted for Indian children, focusing on experiential learning and whole-child development. He's also developing Giffie [https://heygiffie.com/], an AI-powered educational tool that combines his expertise in neuroscience and learning technologies. Gaddam on LinkedIN [https://www.linkedin.com/in/saigaddamc/] Swami on LinkedIN [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivaraman-swaminathan-9856501/] Selected Links & Show Notes [https://contraminds.com/] Chapters: Q1 From IIT to Neuroscience What Led to Your Journey Q2 How Did Phantoms in the Brain Transform Your Perspective Q3 Engineer to Teacher What Has Teaching Taught You Q4 Why Question the Old Education Template When It Worked for You Q5 What Can Current Education Do vs What Can't It Do Q6 How Do Kids Really Learn What's Your Mental Model Q7 How Does Comini Learning Approach Education Q8 What Does a Comini Classroom Look Like Q9 How Do You Teach Kids to Handle Failure & Ambiguity Q10 What is Holistic Assessment in Education Q11 How Do You Find & Train Teachers for Alternative Education Q12 How Are You Building a Platform to Scale This Q13 Is AI the Future of Personalized Learning Q14 Can Board Games Transform Education Q15 How Will These Kids Adapt to College & Beyond Q16 What's Your Vision for Scaling Micro Schools Q17 What Does Success Mean to You Q18 What's Your Advice for 18-Year-Olds Today Q19 What's the Best Advice You've Received Q20 Which Books Have Inspired Your Journey Q21 Who Would You Invite to Your Dream Dinner Q22 What's Your Contrarian Belief About Education This episode was made possible by the great folks at Effortless. Effortless has been designed to be user-friendly, aiding you in your journey to streamline financial tasks. Experience the convenience of achieving e-Invoicing and E-way Bill Generation in just a couple of clicks, simplifying your business processes. ⁠⁠Visit www.goeffortless.ai to learn more. [https://www.goeffortless.ai]