The Silicon Dreams

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Prith Banerjee, Senior Vice President of Innovation, and member of the ELT, Synopsys, for a thought-provoking conversation inspired by Innovation Factory: Creating and Sustaining High-Performance Innovation.Innovation Factory explores what it truly takes to build and sustain a high-performance innovation ecosystem within an organization. Drawing from his experience as former CTO of HP and his extensive leadership journey across academia and industry, Prith shares a practical roadmap for leaders who want to move beyond ideas and create lasting impact.Prith reflects on the key pillars that drive innovation — a clear strategy, a supportive culture, strong talent management, and meaningful collaboration with external partners. He also discusses the critical role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in shaping the future of innovation. With experience as a serial entrepreneur, senior executive, and current CTO at ANSYS, he connects these insights to real-world leadership lessons.

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Mita Gupta, Executive VP and Group Head, WNS Procurement, for a thoughtful conversation inspired by Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein.Range challenges the widely accepted belief that early specialization is the only path to success. Instead, David Epstein makes a compelling case for generalists—those who explore broadly, experiment across roles, and draw insights from diverse experiences—especially in complex and unpredictable industries.Mita reflects on what resonated most with her from the book and connects its ideas to her own professional journey. Having taken on dynamic roles as a Co-founder, VP, and Board Advisor, she shares how embracing multiple interests and challenges enabled her to successfully build and scale B2B businesses. Through personal examples, she explains why adaptability, curiosity, and cross-functional thinking can become powerful career assets.

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Syamla Bandla, Senior Director of Production Engineering at Meta, for a thoughtful conversation inspired by Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown.Atlas of the Heart is a powerful exploration of human emotions—why we feel what we feel, how those emotions shape our behaviors, and how emotional awareness can deepen our relationships. Syamla shares what she loved most about the book, the key insights that stayed with her, and how she’s applied them in her own life and leadership journey.Together, Preethy and Syamla dive deep into the importance of naming our emotions, building emotional resilience, and developing tools to cope, heal, and connect more meaningfully—with ourselves and with others.

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Jeremy Ryan Slate—Founder & Host of the Top 100 podcast Create Your Own Life, and bestselling author.Jeremy has interviewed some of the world’s highest performers—from Indy 500 winners and NYT bestselling authors to platinum recording artists, billionaires, and even a former CIA Director. In his book Unremarkable to Extraordinary, he breaks down the principles these remarkable individuals applied to create lasting impact and define success on their own terms.In this conversation, Preethy and Jeremy dive deep into his personal journey—how he overcame adversity, built resilience, and shaped his own definition of success. It’s an honest, insightful, and energizing discussion you won’t want to miss.

n this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Kison Patel—CEO- M&A Science | Exec Chairman- DealRoom—to unpack his practical and timely book, Agile M&A.Drawing from years of hands-on experience leading complex mergers and acquisitions, Kison breaks down how the M&A landscape is rapidly evolving—and why many companies still get it wrong. He shares how agility, alignment, and execution discipline are redefining successful dealmaking in today’s market.This conversation explores what it truly takes to execute M&A with clarity, speed, and confidence—from avoiding common pitfalls to building repeatable, scalable M&A strategies that actually work.

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Ron Carucci—owner and managing partner at Navalent, best-selling author and contributor to Harvard Business Review and #Forbes—to unpack his powerful new book, To Be Honest.Based on 15 years of research and 3,200+ interviews with leaders worldwide, Ron reveals how clear identity, accountability, governance, and cross-functional relationships shape honesty, justice, and purpose inside organizations—and why getting them right makes companies 16x more likely to tell the truth and serve the greater good.Featuring real stories from leaders at #Patagonia, #Microsoft, and #Best Buy, this conversation explores what it truly takes to build purpose-driven, high-integrity companies—even when it’s hard.

In this episode, we bring you a powerful conversation with Shawn Flynn— Investment Banker and Managing director, SVH capital . Hosted by Preety Padmanabhan, this conversation challenges the hustle-first narrative and reframes what it really means to create results. Shawn shares insights on how shifting how you pursue outcomes can help you achieve more — faster, with less stress, and greater clarity.Together, they unpack the key factors that influence your ability to create results, the internal obstacles that quietly hold you back, and how to overcome them. The discussion also dives into increasing impact, empowering others to succeed, and building a results-driven approach that feels healthy, natural, and sustainable.

In this episode, we bring you an inspiring conversation with Jean-Loïck Michaux — Founder & CEO of Serendipia Hotels — as we explore the transformative impact of the book Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins. ⚡📘Jean-Loïck shares how reading the book at 19 helped him dismantle limiting beliefs, overcome fear, and build the mindset needed to pursue extraordinary goals. Over the past decade, he has launched multiple companies, started schools in Africa, and cultivated the habits, discipline, and belief systems that shape high achievers.He breaks down the 7 traits of success, the role of empowering beliefs, and how you can train your mind to produce the outcomes you want — consistently and confidently.

In this episode, we bring you a powerful conversation with Connie Kwan — CEO of Spark AI and a Master Storyteller at 4Storyteller — as we dive into The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo. 📊✨Connie breaks down the storytelling principles that made Steve Jobs unforgettable — clarity, simplicity, emotion, and theatrical presence. She shares how she applies these lessons in her own craft, along with practical tips to help you transform your presentations from “just slides” into compelling narratives that captivate any room.

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Shikha Mittal — Senior Director, Product Management at ServiceNow — to unpack the timeless lessons of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. ✨Shikha shares why this book has been a guiding force in her life — from pursuing her “personal legend” to trusting the journey even when the path isn’t clear. She highlights themes of resilience, intuition, and following your dreams despite setbacks, offering a glimpse into how these ideas shape her approach to both life and work.Through Shikha’s lens, we explore how aligning purpose with action, learning from failures, and staying open to life’s signs can fuel personal and professional growth. 

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Linda Tong — CEO at Webflow — to explore the profound leadership lessons from Sacred Hoops by Phil Jackson. 💫 Linda reflects on Jackson’s transformative journey with the Bulls — from introducing the zen approach to building ego-less, high-performing teams through mindfulness, presence, and “invisible coaching.” She breaks down the principles that shaped her own leadership style — putting WE before ME, visualizing like a champion, staying calm under pressure, and preparing mentally for tough seasons.Through Linda’s lens, we dive into what it means to build teams rooted in trust, cultivate a culture that embraces vulnerability and focus, and lead from a place of clarity rather than control. Her insights offer a powerful look at how mindfulness can unlock 10X growth for modern organizations.

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Madhu Shalini Iyer — entrepreneur, Managing Partner at Rocketship.vc, and former data scientist — to unpack her contrarian perspective on Good to Great by Jim Collins. 💫Madhu dives deep into why some companies make the leap while others stall, reflecting on themes like Level 5 leadership, confronting brutal facts, and balancing the three essential levers: doing what you're best at, solving problems you’re deeply passionate about, and building a sustainable economic engine.Through her lens, we explore how founders can create equilibrium between a culture of discipline and the risk-taking spirit that defines entrepreneurship. Her insights reveal what it truly takes to scale with clarity, lead with conviction, and unlock 10X growth in today’s startup landscape.

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Swati Bhatia, CEO Openbank US & Head of Retail Bank, Santander US, to explore the leadership wisdom inspired by Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt, Alan Eagle, and Jonathan Rosenberg. 💫 Swati reflects on the timeless principles shaped by legendary Silicon Valley coach Bill Campbell — from building deep trust to fostering team-first cultures — and how these strategies powered the rise of Apple, Google, LinkedIn, and countless startups. Through her perspective, we uncover what it truly takes to lead with heart, scale with integrity, and enable others to thrive. 

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Gayathri Devi Kalyanaraman, Co-Founder & Rallyist at Sangatna Angels, to unpack the powerful principles from Deep Work by Cal Newport. 💫 Gayathri shares how this book has shaped her approach to focus, productivity, and prioritization — especially while balancing multiple roles and responsibilities. Through her lens, we explore what it truly means to create space for distraction-free, high-impact work in a world overflowing with noise. 

Robin Merritt | Leading with Courage Lessons from Dare to LeadIn this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Robin Merritt, Chief People Officer at Gainsight, to explore the transformative insights from Dare to Lead by Dr. Brené Brown. 💫Robin shares why this book has been a guiding force in her leadership journey — helping her embrace vulnerability, define her non-negotiables, and lead with authenticity and courage. Through her lens, we uncover what it truly means to build a courage culture within an organization — one rooted in trust, empathy, and bold conversations.

Tatyana Mamut | Dharma and Leadership: Lessons from the MahabharataIn this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Tatyana Mamut, Co-founder & CEO of Wayfound, for an inspiring conversation on the Indian epic “Mahabharata” authored by Sage Vedavyasa. 🌿⚔️Together, they explore the timeless concept of Dharma (duty and moral law) and its powerful relevance to modern leadership. Tatyana shares insights from her incredible journey — from leading innovations at Amazon, Salesforce, IDEO, Nextdoor, and Pendo to guiding teams with empathy and purpose.With 15 patents and Generative AI breakthroughs, Tatyana bridges ancient wisdom with modern innovation — showing how self-awareness, resilience, and moral clarity define true leadership. 

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Diane Yu, Co-founder & CEO of TidalWave.ai, for a thought-provoking discussion on Fei-Fei Li’s book “The Worlds I See.” 🌍✨They explore how compassion and inclusion can shape the next wave of AI innovations — and how Diane’s own journey as a serial entrepreneur mirrors the book’s vision of purpose-driven technology.From co-founding FreeWheel to leading TidalWave.ai, Diane shares insights on building impactful companies and pioneering the first generative AI for mortgages.

Ever wondered how a classic management book from 1984 can transform a modern SaaS business? In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Andy MacMillan, CEO of Alteryx, to explore The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt.The Goal is a management novel that follows Alex Rogo, a struggling plant manager, as he learns to transform his factory and improve efficiency. Discover how to spot bottlenecks, streamline processes, and achieve your business objectives—time-tested strategies brought to life for today’s world.

Ever wondered how corporate venture capital really works? In this episode, host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Andrew Romans, author of Masters of Corporate Venture Capital, to uncover the strategies, challenges, and opportunities that shape the future of innovation funding. 🚀Masters of Corporate Venture Capital demystifies the world of CVCs, blending real-world stories with practical insights to help both startups and corporations thrive in the venture ecosystem.

Falling hurts, but Rising Strong reminds us that true courage comes from getting back up. In this episode, host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Amritha Prasad, Design Director at Netflix (Early Uber, Ex-Calm), to unpack Brené Brown’s powerful book Rising Strong. The book explores how owning our stories of failure—and moving through the discomfort—gives us the power to write brave, new endings.💡 From failure to resilience, vulnerability to wholehearted leadership—this conversation is filled with insights on courage, compassion, and connection.