Leadership Lessons

Behind every Silk Mark label is a trusted network of weavers, cooperatives and sellers. They are called authorised users, and they are the heart of the Silk Mark story. In this episode of Woven True, host Nelson John returns to Dr. Naresh Babu N., IFS, Joint Secretary (Technical), Central Silk Board (CSB), and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI), to go behind the label. Together they explore what an authorised user really is, and why the system rests on trust and responsibility. Who can join, from a single village weaver to the largest silk house. The real benefits that open up, from authentication and national and international expos to training and lasting credibility. The simple online journey to becoming a member, and the pre-inspection that keeps it genuine. And how the promise of purity is protected, through surprise visits, vigilance checks, lab testing across 17 authorised labs, and blacklisting for anyone who misuses the label. We also understand the community behind the mark, including the many women artisans who carry this heritage forward, and hear a warm, open invitation for every silk business to become a part of it. If you make or sell pure silk, this one is for you. Come and be part of the journey. Woven True is a Silk Mark Organisation of India series, presented on HT Smartcast in association with Fever Bengaluru. To learn how to become an authorised user, visit the Silk Mark Organisation of India website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saugata Gupta, Managing Director and CEO of Marico Limited, on what it really takes to build brands in India and take them global. In this conversation he unpacks why succeeding in India gives you a head start anywhere in the world, how Marico grew beyond its legacy brands into premium personal care, foods and digital first categories, and how to tell a short lived fad from a habit worth investing in. He also talks about the owner's mindset that keeps a large company moving fast, why structure and process should work like brakes that let you drive faster, the optimistic case for AI as a decision making tool rather than a cost cutting one, and what Marico looks for in young talent beyond the CV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this first episode of Woven True, host Nelson John sits down with Dr. Naresh Babu N., IFS Joint Secretary (Technical), Central Silk Board (CSB) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) for a warm and simple conversation about the Silk Mark. What the tag is, how the hologram and QR code work, and the confidence it gives every silk buyer.We explore the beautiful varieties of Indian silk, from mulberry to the wild Vanya silks, meet the weavers and artisans behind the loom, and learn exactly what to look for the next time you shop.Look for the label. Scan the QR code. Buy with peace of mind.Woven True is presented by Fever Bengaluru and HT Smartcast, in association with the Silk Mark Organisation of India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is our education system preparing students for an AI-powered future? In this episode of Leadership Lessons, host Hrishi K sits down with Vivek Varshney — IIT-IIM alumnus and Founder & CEO of Speed Labs and STEMLearn.ai- to discuss why. AI fluency is no longer optional, and how India can become the global talent hub for the AI workforce. From bringing AI education to classrooms across tier 2 and tier 3 cities to reimagining the role of teachers as co-educators alongside AI tutors, this conversation explores what effective AI learning actually looks like and why curiosity will be the defining skill of the next decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India is rapidly emerging as a global MedTech manufacturing powerhouse, and this transformation is being driven by innovation, localisation, policy momentum, and advanced healthcare technologies. In this episode, host Anil Machado speaks with Shuba Nagesh, Director, Supply Chain, GE HealthCare India South Asia and Managing Director, GE-BEL, about India’s growing role in global healthcare manufacturing. From Make in India and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to AI-enabled manufacturing, advanced diagnostics, and the future of affordable healthcare, this conversation explores how India is moving from being a MedTech market to becoming an innovation and export hub. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices