Network Capital

Voters often face a dilemma: should they vote based on ideology or pragmatism? This podcast delves into the tension between these two approaches, exploring questions like: What is ideology, and how does it shape our values and worldview? When do pragmatic considerations—those based on practical outcomes and interests—come into conflict with ideological commitments? William Clay once said, “This is quite a game, politics. There are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends, only permanent interests.” By examining real-world examples, historical contexts, and current events, we’ll uncover when ideology and pragmatism clash and when they might converge. Join us as we explore the balance between staying true to one’s principles and making decisions that reflect the realities of the moment. Whether you’re a seasoned political thinker or just starting to engage with these ideas, this podcast will provide insights into how ideology and pragmatism shape the way we vote—and ultimately, the world we live in.

TikTok has over 1 billion users globally. Instagram has 2 billion. If these apps were countries, they would be some of the most highly populated countries in the world. As concerns grow about misinformation, addiction and foreign control of these apps, how should governments respond? Are attempts to ban social media apps, like the Indian government’s TikTok ban in 2020, legitimate? These are questions that have political, economic and cultural implications that go much beyond your ability to watch and share cat videos. We dissect the arguments for and against such bans, and consider whether regulation is even possible.

In this episode, we explore the complex intersection of climate change, environmental conservation, and human rights with environmental lawyer and legal scholar Arpitha Kodiveri. While nations of the Global North focus on emissions trading and alternative energy sources, communities in the Global South—especially forest-dwelling communities in India—face life-and-death decisions about natural resource use. Kodiveri, who has worked closely with these communities, shares stories of how they endure the dual threats of aggressive mining and conservation pressures. Yet, amid these challenges, hope emerges through their innovative approaches to forest law, co-governance, and a deep commitment to care and repair. Tune in for a deep dive into how these traditional owners are driving change and reshaping the future of forest governance.

Should popular media always seek to have storylines and characters with different ethnicities, religious backgrounds, and sexualities? In this episode, Dhruva and Utkarsh debate whether the growing focus on diversity has gone too far. They explore how diversity of ideas, origin, conviction, and orientation make the world a more vibrant and interesting place, but question whether mandating it furthers the cause it aims to champion. Is the push for diversity diluting authenticity by prioritizing representation over accuracy? Tune in as they tackle the fine line between authentic representation and tokenism, offering insights into identity, intention, and the complex dynamics of inclusion in today's society. They also examine the tension between the need for inclusion and the potential for performative gestures, where representation becomes a symbol rather than a meaningful shift. Is there a way to balance these goals without sacrificing authenticity or depth? Join the conversation to explore these questions, as they navigate the fine line between promoting diversity and preserving genuine representation in an increasingly polarized world.

Ashoka University, India’s top liberal arts university, charges over a million rupees per year in tuition - three times the yearly income of the average Indian. Williams College, one of America’s best-known liberal arts colleges, charges 68,000 dollars per year - more than the average yearly income in the US.  Despite its cost, the popularity of the liberal arts system is growing. Many new universities across the world - such as Krea in India or Ashesi in Ghana- are using the liberal arts model of requiring students to take classes across STEM, social sciences and the humanities and giving them time to decide on their majors. Even universities that require students to pick a major before joining, are increasingly encouraging them to gain skills in other fields.  What role does liberal arts play in the future of education? Should students be required to take classes in a variety of disciplines, or be allowed to focus on the fields they like? And how practical is it to expand the liberal arts model to millions of students across the world? Utkarsh and Dhruva draw on their experiences at universities such as Harvard, Oxford, Ashoka and INSEAD to debate the value of the liberal arts. 

385,000 children are born every day, around the world. Should we be contributing to that? Welcome to a new episode of Arguable, where we dig into the heart of controversial debates and ask the questions others shy away from. Is it ethical to have a child in today's world? Do they truly consent to being born? And when it comes down to it, is life filled with more joy or pain? As we ponder these questions, we explore what it really means to bring a new human into existence and how that decision transforms your life. We'll discuss the differences in how parenthood affects women and men and what we can do to change those dynamics. We'll also consider the environmental and economic footprint of having children and debate the morality of having your own child versus adopting. And, of course, we can't forget about politics and billionaires! We'll dig into US vice presidential candidate JD Vance's controversial comments on "childless cat ladies" and the audacious claim of Telegram's billionaire founder of having fathered 100 children. Join us as we wade through the ethical quagmire of parenthood, gender roles, and societal expectations, and try to find a bit of clarity in the chaos.

Unicorns! Edtech! Startup bros! Welcome to a new episode of Arguable, where we dive into the world of venture capital and startups and try to separate hype from truth. Seven of the world’s eight most highly-valued public companies were once venture capital-based tech startups. Venture capital and technology are eating the world. But what is VC, really? How does it work, and how does it make decisions about which startups to invest in? As we celebrate billion-dollar startups and as venture capitalists become media gurus and pundits, it’s time to take a step back and ask some difficult questions. Has the growth of venture capital been good for entrepreneurship and innovation? What are the drawbacks and limitations of venture capital? And what kinds of tech entrepreneurship could we imagine beyond venture capital? Bringing together experience from academia, investment and building businesses of their own, Utkarsh and Dhruva try to understand the future of innovation and startups in India and beyond.

Building Your Category of One with Ex-KKR India CEO Sanjay Nayar Points discussed in the podcast 1. Mental models for shaping the early stages of your career 2. Decision frameworks for making big career transitions 3. Frameworks for investments, the new world order, and India's role in shaping it 4. Insights on work-life integration, family, and a being supportive partner

Welcome to the third episode of "Arguable," where we, Utkarsh and Dhruva, dive into the changing nature and value of work as we know it. We kick things off by dusting off John Maynard Keynes' crystal ball from 1930. Remember when he boldly predicted we'd all be living the 15-hour workweek dream by now? Spoiler alert: we're not. But why? We'll unpack this economic plot twist and why we're still chained to our desks instead of sipping piña coladas on the beach. Fast forward to today, and we're staring down the barrel of a Goldman Sachs report that's got everyone's circuits frying. Three hundred million jobs potentially replaced by AI? That's not just a new industrial revolution; it's a whole new economic dimension! The four most dangerous words used by pundits are, ‘This time it's different.’ We follow their cue and explore whether this time it really is different. We're not just talking about machines taking over assembly lines. We're talking about AI potentially writing your next novel, diagnosing your illnesses, or even arguing your court cases. Is this the dawn of a utopian future or the prelude to a jobless dystopia? We navigate the choppy waters between techno-optimism and techno-skepticism, exploring why we should be both thrilled and terrified about our silicon-powered future. Will AI be our loyal sidekick, freeing us up for more creative pursuits? Or will it be the ultimate job thief, leaving us all twiddling our thumbs? Voltaire once said, "Work saves us from three great evils: boredom, vice, and need." Would we still work if AI-induced productivity made work unnecessary? There are reasons to believe we would. That’s why we go into the Universal Basic Income debate. Tune in and tell us what you think. Mentioned: 1. Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren: John Maynard Keynes 2. The US labor market is automating and becoming more flexible: Goldman Sachs 3. Can This Country Show Europe How to Compete Again?: The New York Times 4. Passion Economy and the Side Hustle Revolution: Utkarsh Amitabh

In this podcast, we discussed Vishal’s new book on the politics of education in India. Education offers a lot of promises, it is considered an engine for social and economic mobility, it promises a path to development, to empowerment, to jobs. But what happens when some of these promises are not upheld? We deep dive into some chapters of Vishal’s book and he explains what ‘more’ is there to education and how deeply caste, class and gender are tied to this

Welcome to the second episode of "Arguable," where Dhruva Bhat and Utkarsh Amitabh engage in a discussion about the role of universities in political discourse. Between them, Dhruva and Utkarsh have studied at some of India and the world's top universities: Harvard, Oxford, Wharton, INSEAD and Ashoka. They bring their experience in education to the question: should universities take political stances, or should they remain neutral? In this podcast, we talk about the history of protest and political statements at universities, the growing distrust in higher education globally, and the benefits of a bottom-up versus a top-down approach to political discourse. Along the way, we explore the challenges of addressing diversity and inclusion in higher education, debating how universities can balance the need for fairness in admissions with the goal of fostering a diverse academic environment. What does this mean for the future of higher education and its role in society? And how should universities navigate the fine line between political engagement and neutrality? Tune in to this episode of "Arguable" to find out.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of "Arguable," where friends and debate enthusiasts Utkarsh Amitabh and Dhruva Bhat kick off a series designed to challenge your thinking and sharpen your ability to navigate tricky debates. In this episode, they tackle a compelling question: can you achieve more good by earning as much money as possible and donating it, or by choosing a career with a direct impact? Along the way, we dissect the principles of Effective Altruism, explore the power of role models, and analyze the balance between following one's passion and pursuing practicality in career choices. What can the examples of Tesla and Edison tell us about how to make change in the world? What is the role of the arts in doing good? And what does this mean for your life and career? Mentioned: * 80,000 Hours: https://80000hours.org/ * “What “We Owe the Future by Will MacAskill * "The Infinite Game" by Michael Lewis * "How to Be Famous" by Cass Sunstein Utkarsh Amitabh is the founder of Network Capital (networkcapital.tv), one of the world’s largest mentorship platforms that empowers 7.5 million school students and 200,000+ young professionals to build meaningful careers. He is a writer at Harvard Business Review and the author of two best-selling books on work. An engineer by training, Utkarsh received his MBA from INSEAD, and is working on a doctorate at the University of Oxford. Dhruva Bhat co-founded and directs Lumiere Education, a company that delivers advanced extracurricular programs to thousands of high school students worldwide. n the past, he has coached the Indian national debate team to win the World Schools Debating Championships. Dhruva graduated from Harvard with an A.B. in economics and from Oxford with a Ph.D. in international development as a Rhodes Scholar.

Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL is the founder of Cobra Beer, Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership Limited, a Joint Venture with Molson Coors, and Chairman of Molson Coors Cobra India. In the Monde Selection, one of the most prestigious quality awards in the world for beer, the Cobra range have collectively been awarded a total of 110 Gold medals since 2001, making it one of the most awarded beers in the world. Lord Bilimoria is the Founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council, a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London, a former Chancellor of Thames Valley University (now the University of West London); he was the youngest University Chancellor in the UK when appointed. Karan was a former Senior Non-Executive Director of the Booker Group now TESCO PLC (2007-2016); he is one of the first two visiting entrepreneurs at the University of Cambridge; he is a founding member of the Prime Minister of India’s Global Advisory Council. In 2006, Karan Bilimoria was appointed the Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea, making him the first ever Zoroastrian Parsi to sit in the House of Lords. In 2008 he was awarded the Pravasi Bharti Samman by the President of India. He is an honorary fellow of Sidney Sussex College Cambridge and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Judge Business School, Cambridge University. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young and graduated in law from the University of Cambridge. He is also an alumnus through executive education of the Cranfield School of Management, the London Business School and the Harvard Business School. In July 2014, he was installed as the seventh Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, making him the first Indian-born Chancellor of a Russell Group University in Great Britain, and he is the President of the UK Council for International Students Affairs (UKCISA). Since 2017 Lord Bilimoria has been a Bynum Tudor Fellow at Kellogg College, University of Oxford. Lord Bilimoria is an Honorary Group Captain in 601 Squadron Royal Air Force. In June 2020, he was appointed President of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). In this podcast, we cover - 1. Mental models for creating a new category 2. ⁠Frameworks and principles for building a global brand 3. Leadership lessons from a distinguished career in business and politics

In this podcast, we cover - 1. Blending Creativity Across Disciplines: Puneet shares insights on how her diverse experiences in news writing, advertising, and acting have shaped her approach to storytelling and creativity. She emphasizes the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in the ever-evolving media landscape. 2.⁠ ⁠Discipline and Rigor of Writing: How Puneet finished her book and found a publisher 3.⁠ ⁠Writing with Authenticity: Drawing from her debut novel, Puneet delves into the intricacies of writing with a blend of reflective realism and pop culture. Puneet Sikka is a media professional who has previously worked as a writer in the news and advertising industry. She is also an aspiring actress with performances in theatre, TV and digital commercials, short films as well as a feature film to her name. Puneet studied at the Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi and Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune. Her debut novel, Take No. 2020, is a hybrid of pop culture and realism that combines her lived experience within the entertainment industry and her passion for writing.

David works at the intersection of technology and teams. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Cambridge University. He has worked on the Android team at Google, and managed Facebook's internal videoconferencing and collaboration team. He has also been Head of Engineering at a number of startups, supervising the growth of digital product teams from 10 to 100+ engineers. David is now an independent consultant and owner of Simplified Systems Consulting, helping clients as an Interim VP Engineering. In his spare time he still writes code, and practices contemporary dance. He recently published "Building High Performing Teams", in which he describes his approach to running successful Tech companies. In this podcast, we cover - 1. The art of running a successful tech company with a people first approach 2. Why the most complex technological challenges ultimately are people challenges and how you can resolve them 3. Ways to make big career transitions This is the link to his book - https://www.amazon.com/Building-High-Performing-Teams-Successful/dp/B0D449KWN5

In this podcast, we cover - 1. Mental models for figuring out what to do with your life  2. Nuances of career transitions  3. Doubling down on the things you care most about  Dhruva Bhat is an entrepreneur and researcher with extensive experience in educational innovation and international development. He co-founded and directs Lumiere Education, a company that delivers advanced extracurricular programs focusing on research, AI/ML, and professional development to high school students worldwide. Under his leadership, Lumiere has reached over 4,000 students from 70 countries. In the past, he has helped scale India’s largest debate education nonprofit, the Indian Schools Debating Society, and coached the Indian national team to win the World Schools Debating Championships.  ​Dhruva graduated from Harvard University with an A.B. in economics, magna cum laude and from Oxford University with a Ph.D. in international development as a Rhodes Scholar. His research on education and entrepreneurship in developing countries has won the Dunlop Prize in Business and Government, the Burke Knapp Travel Grant and the Murray Speight Research Grant. 

In this podcast, we cover - 1. Thinking about your career in phases 2. Figuring out what matters and why 3. Working like a lion: Sprint, rest, repeat  Abhilasha is a graduate of IIT Delhi and Harvard Business School. Over the years she has worked at the intersection of tech and innovation across diverse industries such as digital healthcare, blended education, and consumer tech across Asia and North America.   She was previously the Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret. ​Outside her professional career she is passionate about mentoring college students and young professionals, and advising early stage businesses and non-profit organizations.

Heidi Roizen is a venture capitalist, corporate director and former technology CEO/entrepreneur. Today, Heidi is a partner at leading venture firm Threshold Ventures and serves as a board member for private companies Upside Foods and Polarr in the Threshold portfolio. She is currently also an independent corporate director for Invitation Homes (NYSE:INVH) and Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL). Heidi is also an Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University and leads Stanford’s Threshold Venture Fellows Program in the Management Science and Engineering department. At Stanford, Heidi also serves on the advisory councils of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) and Stanford Technology Ventures (STVP). She started her career as co-founder of software company T/Maker and served as its CEO for over a dozen years until its acquisition by Deluxe Corporation. After a year as VP of Worldwide Developer Relations at Apple, Heidi then became a venture capitalist in 1999. She has undergraduate and MBA degrees from Stanford and is the proud mother of two kids and two rescue dogs. In this podcast, we cover - 1. The adventure of building and scaling your business 2. The art of having difficult conversations 3. Nuances of gender dynamics in entrepreneurship 4. Leveraging your social network to advance social good 5. The joy of giving back Read her HBS Case Study: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=26880 Check out her podcast: https://www.threshold.vc/podcast

In this podcast, we cover - 1. Understanding various contributions of one of the most iconic, but understudied leaders of modern India 2. Women in politics during the early years of post independence India 3. ⁠⁠Powerful friendships and fall outs Pallavi Rebbapragada is a journalist and public policy consultant based in Delhi. She started her career at India Today as a features writer and journeyed through Europe, the Middle East and the Far East capturing life and culture in her stories. She then worked with Forbes and Firstpost, at times dipping into the dark depths of the economy of death workers, prison reforms and India's drug crisis. On other days, she interviewed the strongest voices across politics, business and cinema. Her first book, Upon a Bright Red Bench, was assessed at the Yale Writers' Conference in 2014. During her recent stint at the Delhi Vidhan Sabha, she realised that her true passions lay at the cusp of poetry and policy. With empathy and strategy, seeping into ink and onto paper, she wishes to pen the story of her nation's tomorrow.

In this podcast, we cover - 1. The ethics of career choice2. Critical analysis of the structural badness of work3. AI ethics and achievement gaps John Danaher is a lecturer in the Law School. He holds a BCL from University College Cork (2006); an LLM from Trinity College Dublin (2007); and a PhD from University College Cork (2011). He was lecturer in law at Keele University in the UK from 2011 until 2014. He joined NUI Galway in July 2014. John's research focuses on the ethical, legal and social implications of new technologies. He maintains a blog called Philosophical Disquisitions, and produces a podcastwith the same title. He also writes for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies.Free, open-access pre-prints of his academic papers can be found on Philpapers, Researchgateand Academia.