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

Prof. Priyamvada Natarajan joins the Indianness Podcast for a cosmic conversation on science, curiosity, and the invisible universe.  In this powerful episode:  * Learn how Priyamvada mapped the first dark matter models and studied black hole formation  * Discover her journey from a curious child in Coimbatore to Chair of Astronomy at Yale  * Understand the deeper meaning behind scientific mastery and personal growth  * Explore her powerful reflections on humility, cultural context, and mentorship  * Named to TIME100 in 2024, hear why she believes luck + preparation = magic  🛰️ A must-watch for science lovers, aspiring change-makers, and anyone fascinated by the universe.  👉 Subscribe and hit the bell icon for more stories of global Indian excellence.  📺 Watch Now and get inspired.  Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-natarajan-66b0215/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-natarajan-66b0215/]

Join us on the Indianness Podcast with Alok Sama as he revisits:  * A life of 17-hour workdays, massive mergers, and global finance  * Deep personal reflections on mortality, regret, and missed phone calls  * How a cadaver at age 10 turned him away from medicine forever  * Lessons in failure—from cricket to startups—and how they shaped his resilience  * The moment he realized his son thought he was cool again  📘 This is not just a career story—it's an emotional reckoning.  Resources Mentioned:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/aloksama? [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aloksama?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app]    ⏱️ Timestamps:  00:00 - Introduction and Setup  04:30 - Welcome to the Podcast  06:30 - Childhood and Family Background  11:50 - The Influence of His Father  15:00 - The Cadaver Incident  18:30 - Luck, Serendipity & Career  21:00 - Schooling and Rejection  24:50 - Cricket, Sports and Resilience  29:00 - Friendships and Long-term Bonds  31:30 - Decision to Study Abroad  36:50 - Cultural Shock in America  40:00 - Wharton and Academics  42:40 - Career at Morgan Stanley  45:00 - Mentorship and Role Models  48:00 - Joining SoftBank  51:00 - Staying After Nikesh Left  52:30 - Pivot to Writing  56:20 - The Money Trap Book  58:00 - New Writing Focus  1:02:00 - Life After Loss  1:05:40 - Redefining Success  1:10:20 - Most Influential Person

Join us in this episode of the Indianness Podcast as we explore Sonia Vora's inspiring journey—from her immigrant upbringing in Detroit to becoming the Chief Strategy Officer of a mental wellness company and CHRO of the Gates Foundation.  💡 What you’ll learn:  * How Sonia’s parents shaped her values through resilience and empathy  * Her pivot from finance to HR, integrating AI and human-centric leadership  * The power of intrinsic motivation and how to unlock it in yourself and others  * Stories of cultural duality, name changes, and identity  🔔 Subscribe for more stories of Indian origin change makers 📺 Watch now and be inspired.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniavora/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniavora/]

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