SOS | Secrets of Storytellers: Recent Episodes
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A Podcast that interviews authors and writers from the world of business, literature & more. Let's hear Secrets from the Storytellers themselves, One Podcast at a time! Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secrets-of-storytellers/support
🔉 Giveaway announcement inside 📢
In this special follow-up episode, we delve deeper into the compelling topic: "How Will You Measure Your Life?" Our previous episode sparked an incredible amount of feedback, reviews, and lively discussions, prompting us to dedicate an entire episode to further explore the what, how, and why of measuring your life.In this episode, we address key insights and answer listener questions about the futility of comparing our lives with others and the profound benefits of self-comparison. Discover how focusing on personal growth, setting individual benchmarks, and reflecting on your own progress can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.What I discuss:- The Importance of Self-Comparison: Why measuring your life against your past self is more beneficial than comparing it to others.- Practical Strategies: How to effectively set personal goals and track your progress to ensure continuous growth.- Psychological Insights: Understanding the negative impacts of social comparison and how to shift your mindset towards self-improvement.- Listener Questions Answered: We respond to your insightful comments and questions, providing a deeper understanding of the topic.Join us for an enriching discussion that promises to inspire and guide you on your journey to measuring your life in the most meaningful way.
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In our thought-provoking episode, "How will you measure your life?", we delve into the meaningful question of how one should truly measure their life. Shifting away from the common trap of comparing our achievements with others, we explore the more introspective approach of measuring our progress against our past selves. This episode illuminates the pitfalls of external comparison and celebrates the personal growth and fulfillment found through self-reflection and setting personal benchmarks.Join us and do write back to us if you felt the episode was worth it, if you felt there were nuances that were missing, please do share your honest feedback/suggestions and we shall try to improve our content in the upcoming episodes.
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Welcome to a special episode that promises to elevate your understanding of the mind's incredible power, both in the wilderness and the world of business. Today, we have the privilege of unlocking transformational secrets with none other than Arjun Majumdar, the visionary founder of Indiahikes, a pioneer in shaping the trekking landscape in India.Arjun's story isn't just about conquering physical mountains; it's also about the mental resilience and the entrepreneurial spirit required to chart unexplored paths. Through our conversation, we'll uncover the secrets behind building mental strength, the transformative impact of trekking on personal growth, and how these experiences shape business success.Hum jaanenge ki kaise Arjun ne apne sapno ko Indiahikes ke roop mein saakar kiya aur kaise trekking humein zindagi aur business dono mein aage badhne ke liye majboot banati hai.So, whether you're a trekking enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone looking to tap into your inner strength, this episode is your gateway to inspiration. Join us as we explore these paths with Arjun Majumdar, and get ready to unlock the power of your mind. Let's start this journey together.
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Pays our bills
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Gives a lifestyle and a chance to improve it
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Can afford small/big luxuries
A job is what allows for all of this and more which is why our jobs are so important for us. And for the same reason we dread of losing it, more so when it is not by choice, a layoff.
For the past couple of quarters, the macroeconomic conditions worldwide haven't been so great and we have heard multiple companies laying off people in big numbers, you might have had a few friends or maybe yourself being on the receiving end. It hurts and it is difficult to hear about it. Though we in India have been largely guarded by the layoff winds but not completely. The most important thing to know at such times is that it is 'NOT ABOUT YOU' and that it is in no way a result of your capabilities or the lack of it.
We explore why these big layoff sprees happen and how can you look ahead in life if you have been laid off. Check out the discussion with Arjun Prakash, Founder, PIVOT.
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Join us in this exciting episode of SoS|Secrets of Storytellers, as we sit down with a Shark Tank India Season 2 contestant who received funding of 90 lakhs for 7.5% from Peyush Bansal and Aman Gupta.
Founder, Abid Rashid shares their journey of building a supply chain startup from Kashmir, including the challenges they faced, their experience on Shark Tank, and their plans for the future.Don't miss out on this inspiring story of entrepreneurship and innovation!
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I have always tried to meet and learn from the guests whom I host on my podcast SoS. But I was more than humbled when I had the pleasure of meeting Anand Deshpande, Persistent Systems. I had many questions which were on my mind since long, both about life and career. He was kind to hear some of my ideas and share his valuable inputs. Some of the lessons and wisdom were more than I could have hoped for.
He shares some of it in this interview discussion where we talk everything from how he started his journey to what he does after joining the billionaires club, how the startup and entrepreneur culture in India is maturing and where we are headed as a country.
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Jab ek youngster start-up kare to samajh aata hai, but baat aur bhi interesting ho jaati hai jab ek fairly old ya senior ek fresh start-up kare.
Kyunki tab zarurat nahin, kuch story ya gehra purpose hota hai.
Come, let's hear why and how was JhaJi Pickle started.
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JhaJi Pickle ne Season 1 mein entry kari thi as Bhabhi-Nanad duo and apne comment 'humari average order cost hai' se sabka dil jeet liya ta lekin somehow unko funding nahin mili ti.
Lekin kamaal hua Season 2 mein, jab Vineeta Singh aur Namita Thapar ne maari surprise entry aur maafi maangi ki pehle seasoon mein funding na dene ke liye Sorry, and then funding di.
We wanted to know ki kaisa raha unka pura experience, unki journey with JhaJi Store and shuruwaat kaise hui.
Please watch, like, comment and subscribe.
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Featuring on Shark Tank India creates such huge success immediately, even if you get funding or not.
Something similar happened with #jhaji #pickle #store.
SharkTankIndia #entrepreneur #sharktankindia
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sharktankindia (Shark Tank India Season 2) ki shuruwat hui ti #jhaji store ki funding ke saath jinko Season 1 mein khaali haath vaapas jaana pada ta.
Lekin jab business itna badia aur product A1 ho to Shark Tank ke diggaj sharks ko bhi #Darbangha tak kheechke laa sakta hai.
Suniye kya hua jab #vineetasingh aur #namitathapar ne kiya Jhaji Pickle ke ghar surprise visit aur di funding.
Darbangha #Bihar #SharkTankIndia #SharkTank #WomenEntrepreneur #JhaJiPickle
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Everyone has ideas to make it big, but what really matters is how best you implement them. Gunjan Taneja, co-founder, UClean tells us about the journey she and her husband (Arunabh Sinha) charted to make laundry business a success in India.
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We had been covering the talented entrepreneurs who participated and stole the limelight in the much talked about show ‘Shark Tank India’.
This show unravelled the nitty-grittys of a business, and more importantly the startups in India, for the aam aadmi, and today a parent no more aspires his kid to be just a doctor or engineer but rather be job creator, an entrepreneur!
Thanks to the man who made this all possible, Bimal Unnikrishnan.
As the second season is just round the corner, what better way to move forward than listening to creator himself.
Let’s hear from him on what all went behind creating this wonderful show.
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Brainwired (Drakon Innovations Pvt ltd)’s Sreeshankar Nair and co-founder, Romeo P Jerard bagged an investment from four sharks in the first season of Shark Tank India. But, his journey of building 'Brainwired' and bringing it to the current level wasn't easy at all. Sree told us how their entrepreneurial journey came to a do-or-die situation and how they won over it.
He also tells us his personal formula for successfully running a startup and many more stories from his experience at Shark Tank India.
You can also check out the video interview at https://youtu.be/oNXw0KHmNq0
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Every journey is a blend of success and failure. But no journey is complete without a little bit of fun and happy times. This podcast is based on a book which is full of such real-life incidents from the authors journey through life. Hari Hara Subramanian shares fun moments from his school and MBA journey that are bound to bring a laugh on your face.
This is also the official launch of his book 'Hilarious M.B.A Memoirs'. It was fun talking to Hari Hara, also my alum from XLRI Jamshedpur and listening to some stories from the book. Tune in!
You can pick up the book at: https://www.amazon.in/Hilarious-M-B-Memoirs-Hari-Subramanian/dp/9391228399
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Nuutjob, a male intimate hygiene product company was featured in Shark Tank India and while they picked up funding, they also received great love and support from the Sharks and the audience alike.
We spoke to Ananya and Anusree, the Maloo sisters about their experience in the tank and also on their journey of building Nuutjob. They share some superb incidents and stories from the Shark Tank India pitch.
Check it out!
00:00 - Journey of building Nuutjob
20:48 - Shark Tank India Experience
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This discussion with Jerry Rao can be tagged as an intellectual, economist and philosophical. Probably these words also do not do complete justice to the depth and extent of the discussion.
It is the first episode where I have just asked one or two questions in all because he went on answering and explaining in such detail the complete philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi's views on the economy of India.
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For years, people have been wearing the same coloured, torn UGs with holes and whatnot. How does it matter? Who gets to look at it?
Maybe it does. The better you feel on the inside, the better you feel on the outside. Bummer is changing the UG paradigm and revolutionizing the whole game.
We spoke to Sulay Lavsi, Founder and CEO, Bummer on his entrepreneurial journey and his experience at Shark Tank India.
We asked him:
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about his background
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why underwears
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about his years of building the right product
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what was he thinking during the pitch
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incident with Ashneer in the tank
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why did he fight so much for the equity
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how much did Shark Tank increase his sales
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what was the process before the actual pitch
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has he received the money in his bank? 😬
Do share your thoughts and please help us share it ahead if you think it was useful and fun. Tune in!
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This is the first episode of a new series dedicated to Shark Tank India, that we are starting on Secrets of Storytellers. This is also the first episode with which we are starting video too, so you can catch us at https://youtu.be/jHBpPqSYXmY now.
We talk with Pratik Gadia, Founder and CEO, The Yarn Bazaar who bagged a funding of 1cr rupees from four sharks, Aman Gupta, Ashneer Grover, Peyush Bansal and Anupam Mittal. We talk on a multitude of topics like:
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His background and reasons for starting the business
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How did this idea strike him?
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How did he sustain in the starting years?
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How did he tackle people's opinions and judgement from family and friends initially?
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Experience with Shark Tank India
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Process of applying, screening, pitching and receiving the funding amount in Shark Tank
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Yarn Bazaar Business Model
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Is an idea more important or implementation?
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What should an entrepreneur never do?
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One secret from Yarn Bazaar's journey
Tune in!
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Have you ever wondered when you write a story on your social media handle, it attracts much less traction or engagement as compared to someone else, while the stories are almost the same? Well then, you are no different.
Almost everyone goes through that feeling, I have too and I still continue to feel that way often.
But, our guest for today, Anjana Menon, tells us where are we going wrong. She points out a super important thing that can actually make all the difference.
This episode is dedicated to learning some worthy lessons for good storytelling, a skill each and every human being possess and yet can always become better at. She not just tells us what to do, but more importantly things which we should totally not do.
Tune in!
The discussion is based on her two books: What's Your Story, published by Penguin Random House and Onam in a Nightie, published by Harper Collins.The discussion is based on her two books: What's Your Story (https://www.amazon.in/Whats-Your-Story-Essential-Storytelling/dp/0670094870/ref=sr_1_2?crid=307W8PNXZM81N&keywords=business+storytelling+anjana&qid=1644128129&sprefix=business+storytelling+anjana%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-2), published by Penguin Random House and Onam in a Nightie (https://www.amazon.in/Onam-Nightie-Stories-Kerala-Quarantine/dp/935489304X/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=onam+in+a+nightie&qid=1644128194&sprefix=onam+in+a+%2Caps%2C275&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNUE3Q0QxNTZIUFBGJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzYwNTk4V1hDTkNRMkdVSVJQJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3NjY2OTkxQkFYTjgzQkZNVkZIJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==) published by Harper Collins.
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This episode is special. A one of a kind storyteller we ever hosted on SOS. Welcoming India’s premier film critic whose reviews are our one stop go to for any movie. Today we have Anupama Chopra with us.
Some movies, actors, …. have a place in the heart of every Indian.
And that’s why Anupama Chopra’s latest book published by the Penguin Random House is rightly titled ‘A Place in my Heart’.
But each one of us have strong preferences when it comes to the movies or the actors since they evoke such emotions in us, and hence a movie critic’s job becomes so much more difficult to review a movie honestly from every angle without bringing personal likings and dislikings.
This discussion is on one hand a personal journey in the industry and on the other about her professional career over the years with the film industry.
Tune in!
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An MBA in India is one of the most sought after degrees in the country. As usual tons of people compete for getting admissions into the top B-schools and the competition is no less than a dog-eat-dog situation. The competition is ruthless, why? Because the gap between the demand (disclaimer: the demand for quality institutes) and supply is humungous.
Tarun Anand, understood this gap and set out on a journey to fill some of it, leaving behind an illustrious career. We do hear a lot about startups and new age businesses, but what does starting a business school entail and how does one compete with the top B-schools to create a space for themselves? Let us hear from him a little about his journey, the process of setting up a B-school and more importantly the challenges he faces in the current uncertain times.
Tune in!
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The most important decisions about your career and growth in an organisation are taken in your absence! Do you agree?
Hence, its super important that you have the correct perceptions about yourself at the workplace among your peers and your seniors. We generally tend to shy away from office politics thinking it is probably unethical and wrong to indulge in it. I ran a short poll on how people think about workplace politics and a whopping 54% said they stay away and that's exactly what you shouldn't be doing.
Why? Because 'if you don't do politics, politics will do you', which is also the title of Niven's book. A perfect title I think.
Niven goes onto claim in the book, 'there is strong evidence that our work ratings, bonuses, and promotions are weakly correlated to actual performance – in fact, performance may even matter less to our success than our political skills and how we are perceived by those who make the decisions', harsh and scary but true.
I discuss at length with Niven trying to first clear the clouds around politics and make a strong case for why you should take the 'politics bull' by the horns. By the way, there is a thing called positive politics. Tune in!
The discussion is based on the book: https://www.amazon.in/YOU-DONT-POLITICS-WILL-effectively-ebook/dp/B08G8SMFSC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2EEOLNOIFQPW5&keywords=if+you+dont+do+politics&qid=1641676378&sprefix=if+you+dont+do+politics%2Caps%2C320&sr=8-1
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Mahabharata is one of the oldest scriptures and its relevance transcends any era and situation. The beauty of the story is that the lessons we draw from every situation and character is subjective and could be totally different from the next person.
However, over the years the way the story has been depicted and narrated, it has always left us with deep perceptions which are difficult to shake. For eg., Do you think Shakuni was a great leader, regardless of the end result? We seem to have labelled him with everything negative and everything we shouldn't do. But maybe that's not true.
This discussion with Prof. Asha Kaul and Prof. Vishal Gupta at IIM A, is an objective discussion analysing some of these important characters, what they stand for and what we can learn from them.
The discussion is based on their book published by Bloomsbury, Demystifying Leadership: Unveiling the Mahabharata Code. You can pick up the book here: https://www.amazon.in/Demystifying-Leadership-Unveiling-Mahabharata-Code/dp/9354350933/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8XA9EOSV29W7&keywords=demystifying+leadership&qid=1638419033&sprefix=demys%2Caps%2C291&sr=8-1
Tune in!
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How cool would it be if we knew how our future boss is going to be before we were to join a new organization. Isn’t it? Here’s a suggestion, ask the to-be-future-boss at the interview, ‘Could you tell me a little about the people who have worked for you in the past?’
Because bosses can make a lot of difference to your careers, remember the famous quote, "People leave managers, not companies". 100% true it is. There are both good and bad bosses but there are also these 'Superbosses' who can accelerate your careers by leaps and bounds.
Have you worked for a Superboss? Or are you a Superboss yourself?
But who is a Superboss? What is this concept?
Listen to the episode with Sydney Finkelstein, Professor at Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business, where we dissect this breed of superbosses and explain in depth on:
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How do they work?
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What sets them apart?
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How do they propel careers?
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How can one find a superboss to work for?
Tune in!
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Have you ever had a life-changing idea that you think could be the next big thing or transform people's lives or if nothing else, could change the course of your own career? But haven't implemented it yet for the fear of the unknown or for the lack of direction?
If it is so, this episode is for you. We have Kara Goldin, Founder & CEO, Hint Inc., speak to us about how she built the company with practically zero experience in making fruit-infused flavored water, in fact she wasn't anywhere closer at all. What's special about her journey is how it connects in many ways with each one of us. She isn't a dropout from a big college or the founder of a highly funded start-up, she has come through the ranks with her consistent efforts, hard work, and most importantly 'showing up'. Intrigued with the last part?
Tune in to listen to her story and find the much needed push and advice to propel your career and future into a wonderful tomorrow.
The discussion is based on her best-selling book 'Undaunted', you may want to check out the book at: https://www.amazon.in/Undaunted-Overcoming-Doubters-Kara-Goldin-ebook/dp/B085XNDWYT/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=undaunted&qid=1629349430&sr=8-4
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What is the difference between ‘mentoring’ and ‘coaching’?
“While mentoring is watching you from the balcony, and giving you lots of career advice over a long period of time. Coaching is being on the dance floor with a person, you roll up the sleeves, and you sort of get your hands dirty”
Isn’t that a beautiful way of explaining the difference? I totally think so.
This episode with Ruchira, is all about:
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How ‘Coaching’ is the bedrock for an organisation to build great future leaders and grow them
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How should companies build future leaders as against the current methods of quarterly and yearly reviews
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What traits to look for in people to assign them leadership roles, and
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What are the 4Cs of Coaching and what do these rest upon
Ah, and the secret at the end. It’s what we live for. Tune in!
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Here we are with our second SOS Shot. We received great response from the first one and so we thought of resurrecting some of oldest conversations and present a capsule version.
Here is one with Dr. Shalini Lal who talks about how did she find her own calling, what decides if you would be successful at work and how can you assess an organization before joining a new one if it's worth it or not.
All of it in just about 10 minutes.
You can also listen to the full conversation at:
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3djXTRk
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2V1Y2Te
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Every individual has a journey of their own, unique in almost every aspect possible.
But there is definitely a thing or two we can learn from greats or legends. This episode on Secrets of Storytellers is about one such person - Virat Kohli.
He has not only been an inspiration to people associated with the game of cricket but his dedication, hard work, grit, and passion are so infectious and teach many lessons on how to become a better version of ourselves.
It is the actions and incidents in one's life that show their real character, their real strength. We discuss with Vijay Lokapally, India's most famous cricket journalist, about:
What makes Virat Kohli such a great player?
What sets him apart from the others in the game?
What were those few incidents which became the tipping point in Virat's career?
And how has he led the team so wonderfully while ensuring he gives his best to the game as an individual.
The discussion is based on Vijay Lokapally's book 'Driven', published by Bloomsbury.
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Here is a first of this kind, SOS Shots is an attempt to deliver the crux of the full conversation in under 10 minutes. No bullshit.
This first is a short version of the last episode with Hasan Kubba, who talks about a very interesting concept 'Unfair Advantages' which defies the concepts of meritocracy and equal starting line. Everyone has one or rather many Unfair Advantages in life which makes the playing field 'unlevelled'. Listen to the episode and find out your Unfair Advantage with the framework shared by Hasan during the discussion.
Do share your feedback with us on how you liked the idea of creating these short episodes and how did you like the content of this particular episode.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
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Life isn’t fair, it’s a thought unsettling but true. On the 51st episode of Secrets of Storytellers, we challenge things like meritocracy with Hasan Kubba, a serial entrepreneur and a coach.
We talk about how luck needs to be respected and how you can increase your chances of getting lucky.
Hasan goes on to claim and make a strong case for the fact that we all have lots of unfair advantages in life and we need to leverage them to the full.
But how do we know our Unfair Advantages?
Hasan gives us a solid framkework - ‘MILES’ to identify them and use them well.
You can pick up the book at: https://www.amazon.in/Unfair-Advantage-Startup-Success-Starts/dp/1788163311/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37RC46EAXE5U4&dchild=1&keywords=unfair+advantage&qid=1630374920&sprefix=unfair+advan%2Caps%2C293&sr=8-1
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Bartending in India from the Lady Behind the Bar.
Well bartending is a very very controversial statement in itself. Especially when you say that you want to be on the other side of the table and all the more when a woman decides that.
But it’s not the gender, and neither the profession but rather the passion in today’s day and age!
Today, in our 50th episode at SOS|Secrets of Storytellers, we have Shatbhi Basu with us, India’s best, and most favorite bartender. She is also an author and has recently authored the book ‘The Can’t Go Wrong book of Mocktails’, which is by far the most comprehensive collection of non-alcoholic drinks ever, and even includes a brilliant ‘hot’ section. It is a must have this summer.
She tells how she got into the profession, what is it that she likes about it and how it has eerie similarities to what a doctor does or what a banker does or even what an academician does to their own professions.
Let’s here the story of passion, fun and love for making people's drinks on point, right here, right now! Cheers!!
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“Money is an echo of value”
Bob Burg, in this podcast, shares how a shift in our focus from taking and collecting things for ourselves to creating more value for others can not just be more fulfilling and satisfying but extremely financially profitable and sustainable.
Go-Giver, a WallStreet Journal and BusinessWeek Bestseller, is one of the most impactful reads that I have ever gone through and recommend highly to each and every one.
Bob shares all the learnings from the book and why Go-Giver as a philosophy works in this discussion.
Tune in!
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"Intangibles drive the tangibles"
"You can buy competence on the shelf, you can’t buy passion"
"micro-manage excellence"....
We have often heard of transformations in the private sector, but a transformation in the public sector and that too of a bank of the size of Bank of Baroda is simply unheard of. The reasons are simple, bureaucracy, government accountability, slow systems among other things that have for ages marred our public sector undertakings.
Meet Dr Anil K Khandelwal, a stalwart leader who turned around Bank of Baroda in just three years as the Chairman Managing Director of the bank. What’s even more interesting is that he was never a banking expert or someone who was from the operations side.
He’s also the one who turned the bank’s image by revamping its brand, releasing a new logo (a controversial move, shh…you’ll know more in the episode) and for the first time public sector organisation signed up a brand ambassador as Rahul Dravid.
This episode is a delight to listen. Don’t miss out to hear about out his leadership code towards the end.
The discussion is based on his book 'Dare To Lead': https://www.amazon.in/Dare-Lead-Transformation-Baroda-Response/dp/813211101X/ref=sr_1_15?crid=1PQXQWRYU5XOC&dchild=1&keywords=dare+to+lead&qid=1627136736&sprefix=dare+%2Caps%2C318&sr=8-15
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We, as Indians, for so long have wanted to become a prosperous nation. We desire the stature we have wanted for 75 years now, but, have failed at it miserably. And a lot of it can be attributed to how the PSUs haven’t been able to come through, on achieving the intended economic growth.
But then there is Maruti Suzuki, a perfect example of a PSU turned private firm which has shown tremendous results despite the same conditions and socio-economic environment.
RC Bhargava, an IAS for 25 years before joining and heading Maruti, tells us why we are where we are and what is it about the Maruti Suzuki model that the entire country can learn and carry the path towards long lost glory.
The discussion is based on his marvellous book, 'Getting Competitive'. Highly recommended.
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We touch leadership and entrepreneurship with a very important link in this episode. We touch topics like 'FEAR' or differences between 'leading' and 'managing'. He also shares simple, rudimentary frameworks which could help you check, if the steps that you are taking are going in the right direction or not? There is much more to discussion ending with how his book 'Why Do Entrepreneurs Miss the Bus' failed to get printed thrice.
Tune in!
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Ravana is one of the most well-known characters from Indian mythology, but also deeply hated. He is known for all the wrong things, especially the abduction of Sita. But, we easily forget the intelligence, his knowledge on almost every subject in the world, his leadership skills and what not. The episode, with Gaurav Kataria, a mythology enthusiast and the author of the book 'Ravana', is focussed to bring out what we can learn from and what should we not from the ultimate business leader.
Tune in!
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Here's the episode with Wayne Brockbank, professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. He talks about HR at length and depth, and explains the role of the leadership in strengthening the HR.
"HRs are in the people business but they take care of only half of it", he goes on to explain the other half.
What is the HRs core business?
Wayne shares Dave's famous quote, "if you put 5 best basketball players on a team, you still do not get the best team", Wayne goes on to tell why and what is missing in the equation.
He answers questions like: What role does the HR play in handling talent, and what can you do different, from your competitor, to manage talent?
All this and some more wisdom at the end as his secret of life, tune in to the episode.
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Sandeep Krishnan is the COO & Senior Partner, People Business and Visiting faculty at IIM A.
We discuss about how we can Leverage a Consulting Mindset for Professional Success. Key takeaways from the discussion:
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It is important to know how and when to switch between an individual contributor and a team player (06:41)
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To be a good leader, apply the Pygmalion Effect (Sandeep explains it in the episode at 10:19) and Cultivated Learning
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Empathy and Power of Inquiry (13:52) are the two most important tools for any professional to be successful
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Johari Window (explained at 24:23) is a super tool to find hidden talents, strengths and areas of improvement
Tune in to the episode to find out more.
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Hacking? The term sounds so much like ‘cheat’, right?
So why is our guest for today, Apurva Chamaria, SVP and Chief of Staff to CEO & MD at Tech Mahindra, propagating ‘Growth Hacking’?
Growth Hacking is definitely the way to exponentially grow your business and customer base multiple folds within no time. Companies like Shopclues, Zomato, Urbanclap, UpGrad, among others have all cracked this code and Apurva helps us how each of them did and how can everyone else too.
How to get the right unit economics and optimum growth curves? How growth is more than the responsibility of just the growth team. What are the most important elements of a successful growth campaign? What are the most important traits of a growth hacking team?
These are some of the questions covered in this episode.
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The fight between the new and old is actually not new at all. But no amount of any rule can bend the lines for a good product.
Here we have Rajesh Srivastava with us today who recently authored the book, ‘The New Rules of Business’.
We sat down with him to have a heart to heart conversation about all things business and trying to understand the ‘new’ behind it!
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When people you know, walk in the room. You can almost every time, define a person as an adjective. ‘Punctual’, ‘overconfident’, ‘helpful’, and the list goes on. Don’t you think this adjective is your ‘Brand’! Today, we have Mainak Dhar,
who tells us how no one but You, define your brand!
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From almost shutting shop to becoming one of the most iconic Indian brands, Royal Enfield is a cult with a very cool follower-ship. But how it went from 0 to what it is today and how it came around as the ultimate champion that it is, is definitely an interesting journey.
Let's hear it from Amrit Raj, who has been following the brand since long and has authored the book titled Indian Icon: a cult called Royal Enfield.
Here's to the dug-dug-dug-dug-dug-dug sound..
Link to the book : https://www.amazon.in/Indian-Icon-Called-Royal-Enfield/dp/9389648556
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We have had prior episodes on Millennials. But this one is a bit different. It talks about the emotional side of the millennials.
Dr. Mona Shah a renowned academician is here to talk all about them, for them.
The discussion spans across books, use of social media, relationships and new terms like, The Perfect Problem, that is precisely coined by her in the context of millennials.
This episode can’t come at a better time, when even the fast-paced millennials were forced to slow down and breathe.
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What made the tatas they are today? They stand tall to be a great inspiration for many. Let's look into the basics of what made Tata the mighty company. Who better to explain the roots than the man who worked with the Tatas for 25 years and has served as a part of the Planning Commission of India.
Arun Maira is here to explain that there is nothing in life you can compare yourself with but it falls on you to grow bigger by ranking you against yourself.
He explains how important it is to focus on the core values and build up with potential management skills.
Arun Maira is the chairman of Help Agent international. He was the chairman at BCG India before this. He is here to help us understand the need to change systems that bring in benefits for you and for everyone around us.
He claims listening intently helps you with the strength to do anything in the world.
So why not listen to him and dig into the fundas for great success!
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Yes, it is that time of the year! Where you believe in Santa, Plum Cakes, Carols & everything good.
Well, we have someone very good too.
Today’s episode features Puneet Kulraj, director at the Vector Consulting Group - Asia's largest TOC Consulting firm (Theory of Constraints). TOC is a philosophy to identify the most limiting factor, i.e. a constraint, which is the real reason for limiting growth. It is an in-depth discussion to understand the basics of TOC and the beliefs on which the theory stands. By the way don't miss out the section where Puneet tells us 'How running an organization is easier than running a kitchen?'.
Tune in!
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With growing competition everywhere, Millennials are always under the scanners to make a difference and an identity. No one is better than to meet the person who can guide and pave the path with the real hacks of life and career. To make it easy, we have Sandeep Das enlightening us on the essential tricks to step up the ladder of success.
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Nirav Modi is one of the smartest criminal minds that turned the tables upside and down with his witty tactics. But how did he manage to do everything without any chaos and hinderance? Did he have unseen forces that helped him pave his path to his goal? To help us understand the shocking crime, we have the man who penned an entire book on the mastermind game of fraud by Nirav Modi. Pavan Lall's "Flawed" gives us an entire outlook of the case and lets us dive into it's important aspects. He being the senior business analyst who has been persistent writer on the leading business magazines is here to decode the game. Tune in to learn the secret!
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Since the olden days, Storytelling has always been the medium to make an impact on the importance of stories and their morals. And today, "Business Storytelling" has become a trend in the corporate world and to describe the need of a business storytelling, we have a veteran who can weave impactful stories to the top management of any organization. Indranil Chakraborty says that it is with skill that great leaders and businessmen have stirred entire workforces to build great organizations. Tune in to this episode to hear the seasoned professional who is a founder of StoryWorks that helps organizations to harness the power of effective storytelling.
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What does it take to become a Brand Custodian at the Tatas and who is better to answer this than the Brand Custodian himself? Harish Bhat is here with us to explain his 31 years journey with Tatas and what it takes to be a marketer or rather anyone to grow in life and succeed. He also shares his love about his fiction novel about the love of coffee and the impact the beverage has on him. This episode is so deep yet so fun as we get to learn so much from the veteran. Join us to know more about Harish Bhat who had the privilege of working on multiple portfolios for the Tatas for 31 years. Also learn how to brew coffee with a hint of citrus!
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Most of us have hard time planning our personal finances even though we know how important and essential it is in life. We are so lost because we have no idea where to start it and how to start it. And the internet has so much to offer that we often get back to where we started. To help us learn the best way to make our money twofold, we have Suresh Sadagopan in this episode. He is a SEBI certified Investment Advisor, who can help us from the very first step and pave a pth to make more money with what we earn. Don't let go of this opportunity because you will never have enough money in life! Tune in to become rich!
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We often grapple with the question "Is my hard-work paying off?" on an almost continuous basis. No doubt about the fact that everyone tries to do their best and hence put in the required hard work to get the desired results. But where do we go wrong? What diverges us? How do we course correct these actions and how do we deal with it? The episode contains answers to all of these and much more in this discussion.
Being the founder of one of the best world's largest peer to peer career advice platforms, The Network Capital, Utkarsh Amitabh is the person who grab your attention in snap. He is someone who you cannot stop listening to as his stories range from his contribution in World Economic Forum, his hand in Microsoft's Business development and Government Affairs where he helped to make Indian's first smart village! Guess that's why you cannot miss this chance to reach out to him!
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Is Marketing enough for selling your product? Well, there is a more fundamental thing which is ' CREATING NEED' for your product or service. This episode is specifically targeting this aspect. Rajni Pathak takes us through stepwise process of creating the Need for your product or service. Tune in and look out for the Rapid-fire section.
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Millennials!
Well, there is a lot that has been said and discussed about this generation. The point is why do we even need to define generation? If yes, then why is the generation known as the disruptors? Instead of questions, people have notions about this breed of Homo Sapiens. So, here we have Subramanian Kalpathi who has authored the book ‘The Millennials: Exploring the World of the Largest Living Generation’ to shed light on the professional aspect of this group. Tune in and do share your thoughts on everything ‘millennial’!
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Here are some beautiful snippets from the episodes. Do check out!
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Swati Jena, an MBA graduate from XLRI Jamshedpur has taken the plunge at entrepreneurship twice, but it was only in the second innings that she could understand entrepreneurship but more importantly the Entrepreneur at great length and depth. The Entrepreneur has never really been discussed about in detail, however, there is so much to an Entrepreneur which we miss to look at and appreciate. We explore this aspect in great detail. We discuss a multitude of reasons which are the correct ones to take the plunge and tons of reasons which aren't really the right ones. Tune in!
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Aashish Chopra is an award winning viral video marketer, having made and marketed videos with millions of shares and gazillion views. Aashish shares the secrets behind creating such videos and the process through which you can keep on repeating this again and again and again. It is indeed one of the most thrilling episodes that we have had with so much value. Tune in!
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Steve Correa, previously the CHRO at Diageo India, an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur talks about the Indian Leadership in context of his recently released book 'The Indian Boss at Work'. We explore what sets the Indian boss apart and how does our age-old wisdom from our scriptures resonate in the Indian bosses' behaviour and working styles today. The discussion also questions how does the Indian boss fare at the global stage when compared to their foreign counterparts. Tune in!
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Are you ever intrigued with the entire project of Aadhaar, how did it pan out and how has it performed. Has it delivered its intended purpose? Has it served the country well? There are endless questions, concerns and doubts that are required to be cleared about the project. Let us hear out what two journalists, Charles Assisi and NS Ramnath who are the founders at the publication Founding Fuel and have been covering Aadhaar story since long, have to say with regards to their book 'The Aadhaar Effect'.
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Flipkart is indeed one of the biggest ecommerce giants that did not boom over night. This start up paved path to every entrepreneur, startups, and any budding young minds, and gave them the guarantee that they can make it big in business with bold moves. Lets go find out what happened behind the scenes that Flipkart reached the heights never imagined.
To break down the mighty mystery, Mihir Dalal, a revered start up wrieter and the chief of Bureau at Live mint, is here. Lets hear from him about the tricks and twists Flipkart had to make to beat and shake the ecommerce stream.
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We often come across the question "How are we as a person?", "What kind of first impressions do we leave on people?", "How do we become a better version of ourselves?" and many more such. There are different ways to go about the process, generally an external expert help can speed-up the process but what if we want to take on the journey of self-exploration and make it a constant process. The episode has answers to all such questions and tips on how can we take on this journey.
We have Ms.Vinita Vyas who is the best to answer all your queries in self exploration. She is super fun and adventurist who is pro certified life coach. She is the creative director at Darpan Theatre & Cine arts, founder director at Simply Improvise and co founded The Orange Sky which curates off beat adventure focussed travel experiences. Isnt it better to hear from this fun loving human who can quench our thirst for the deepest questions we all have!
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Ads, content, product campaigns and every other drive is all based on extensive consumer data that is available. But ever wondered how did the brands work out the magic a decade back? We still sing along the Nirma's "washing powder Nirma". How did the old brands establish such powerful impact on their customers in India. Were the Ads that out of the box that we still remember and connect to?.
Ambi Parameswaran is here to take us back and help us understand the significance of Ads from a decade ago and now. He is a brand strategist as well as the veteran who started Ulka, now FCB Ulka, which had a hand behind many legendary time transcending ads of India. Being the CEO for 27 years, he is the best when it comes to anything about advertisements! Tune in to understand why you love the brand you use! Is it because of the product or the magic of the ad!
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Suman Ghose, IIT Kharagpur and IIM Bangalore alum, has co-authored the book 'From Command to Empathy'. In this episode, we discuss the real meaning and importance of EQ, Emotional Intelligence and Empathy in the professional life. He also explains in detail how can we get on a journey of transforming ourselves from our current self to an empathetic being. Suman also clarifies many fears and doubts surrounding empathy. Tune in!
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Yoga is literally the only activity that is hated and loved equally. Millennials love to get all the positive effects of it but yet they do not like to do all the hard work. Neither are the youth aware of why we have tremendous advantages out of those exhausting breathing exercises, and asans. Don't you think we need to know the science behind it to motivate us to actually do the Yoga with all our heart. We need Yoga to get rid of all the stress our work lives and personal lives shoulders us with. But why yoga? Why breathing exercises?.
Anu Lall, a certified Yoga instructor and founder of YogaSmith is here to break down the knowledge. She is even a marketing professional at a big Pharma firm which makes her an empire of both sides of the court. I guess we cant ask for more perfect guest to grasp our attention on the topic!
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TN Hari, HR Head at BigBasket, is one of the highest regarded HR folks in the country. He talks about the journey of BigBasket as a start-up and what did they do right at each step. He also shares important matrices and structures which can become handy for not just HR people, but entrepreneurs, founders and employees at every leve of the organization.
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Mr Prakash Iyer was the former Managing Director at Kimberly Clark Lever and Executive Director at PepsiCo before that. He is a motivational speaker and a certified coach. He is an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus and has authored the book 'The Secret os Leadership'. He is of the view that Leadership is something that can be learnt from anything around us. Tune in to the episode to learn to lead effectively.
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Richard Rothman has served at the American Consulate, US Commercial Service for more than 22 years across various countries. He talks about how to look at opportunities in life because that is the crux of attracting success and failure. And he makes a strong case for it in this episode explaining in detail how should we look at opportunities in life. The episode is inspired from his book "The Power of Opportunity". You must listen to this episode if you don't want to miss lapping up at the golden opportunities in life anymore.
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What does it take to join the ranks of companies in India which have existed for 40, 50 or 90 years and continue to stay relevant? What do the leaders and visionaries at these organizations do different. In this riveting discussion with Sri R. Gopalakrishnan, an industry stalwart and Executive Director, Tata Sons, he touches upon a myriad topics from Business Institution Shapers to what keeps people happy in life. Tune in!
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There is a dearth of opportunities in the field of science and research in India. Being the third largest economy, we are still far behind on innovation. Our entrepreneurs and universities do not work in tandem and our policy structures do not support them. But, how do we solve for these challenges and what steps are required to be taken from the government? Varun Aggarwal, founder of Aspiring Minds, answers all these questions and more in this detailed discussion.
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How do companies like Tata, HUL or TCS continue to serve its customers with the best of the products and services while making sure the employees are taken care of and make profits every year and hence stay relevant in every time and age. How do they do it? What are some foundational steps that make the difference? Listen to this episode with Harvard scholar Dr. Shashank Shah who not just gives an in-depth analysis into these and many such successful organisations but also shares many interesting and lesser-known facts and secrets.
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What does it take for someone to become highly efficient at sales. How does someone learn the skills to be able to convince anyone with an idea that you want to sell personally or professionally? How does someone use it to make every conversation as impactful and powerful? Find the answers to all of these and more in this powerful episode with Amit Agarwal.
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What is unique about HDFC Bank? What differentiates HDFC banking from others? Tamal Bandopadhyay, the award winning journalist talks about his much acclaimed book ‘HDFC 2.0: From Dawn to Digital’ which chronicles the bank’s transformation from a life cycle bank to a life style bank.
He outlines his journey from being a literature to a business journalist and throws light on the current situation of the economy during this pandemic & how banking cannot be seen in isolation. He also deeply discusses on how safe are the Banking systems in the country.
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From the pressvala (the guy who irons clothes) in every lane, to the matrimonial ads, the holiday choices or simply living from one festival to another. Why do Indians make the choices that we make, the answers led to the birth of this beautiful book. To know the insider’s account of an Indian Middleclass and what it means for every marketer in the country, tune in to this special episode. Mr. Santosh Desai talks about his beautiful & witty journey of carving the portrait of changing urban Indian middle class, in his book Mother Pious Lady: subtitled Making Sense of Everyday India.
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Chanakya is one of the most celebrated strategists and rajguru, India and the world has seen. But as much as he is celebrated, he is questioned as well. This episode with Dr. Radhakrishnan, an expert at Chanakya Niti and author of 17 best-selling books not just clarifies all doubts attached to him but also shares sutras that can help you change your life.
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What are the most important elements in setting up a family business? What decides the success and failure of a family controlled organization? What decides the longevity and the success of any family-controlled business?
Get all these questions answered and more with this episode of Secrets of Storytellers.
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Finance has always been looked at as a boring and difficult subject, while it holds so much importance that each and everyone should tend to their personal and professional finances with utmost care. Dr. Anil Lamba in this episode talks about how important it is and makes evrything about finance so much fun that you will start romancing it. The episode is a must for anyone and everyone who wants to start taking care of their finances better in life.
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The world has been going through unprecedented times, but how do businesses, entrepreneurs and marketers change their strategies. This episode has all the answers you need to adapt and creatively tweak your marketing strategies. Listen to Mr. Pravin Shekar, an Outlier Marketer discussing how does he stand out in the market and advice on how can you do the same.
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What does it take for you to get successful at your workplace? How do you find the right organization for yourself? Find answers to these questions and more in this conversation with The Wharton Global Fellow and IIM A grad, Dr. Shalini Lal.
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How did an NYU dropout make it big in the startup world and founded one of the fastest growing startups in India. Listen to the episode to know many more interesting bits and advice from her!
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How did a shy self-taker went onto author 70 books and became an expert teaching principles of Body Language. Get to know more about her along with some tips on digital body language for the new normal.
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How did BookMyShow, Zomato, PaperBoat, Epigamia, First Cry and OYO Rooms become such celebrated brands in a short time? Get to know more about such brands in this episode with Harsh Pamnani, author of best-selling book Booming Brands!
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Hear from the Master Motivator, how and where to find motivation for yourself when the going gets tough.
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