Show Notes:As a small business owner what does it mean to run a sustainability brand? Is it true that sustainability brands rooted in demonstrable solutions are generally more successful than those that use vague or superficial eco-friendly messaging? And how useful are authenticity and a genuine commitment to addressing environmental and social problems to building consumer trust? What is their contribution to financial sustainability, long-term loyalty and profitability?Ruchi Chawla, Founder of Cottsbury a GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified sustainable fashion brand was my guest on the 141st episode of The Elephant in the Room podcast. In the episode we attempted to answer some of the questions above while Ruchi shared her inspiring journey towards establishing a sustainable fashion brand rooted in organic cotton. We also spoke about 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾- Her journey from working in the fashion industry to taking a more conscious entrepreneurial path driven by the desire to bring meaningful change in the industry- The fashion industry’s overreliance on harmful chemicals and environmental negligence that is responsible for significant pollution and resource depletion- How Cottsbury distinguishes itself from conventional fashion brands through ethical sourcing, transparency, getting certified, including 100% traceable production and a zero-waste policy.- How consumer behaviour is driven by levels of market maturity (UK/India) for sustainable products/brands. This in turn is driven by consumer awareness, economic factors and cultural contexts (amongst others)o Consumer resistance and price sensitivity- Ruchi emphasizes the importance of mentorship and support networks, attributing her perseverance and success to the guidance she has received throughout her entrepreneurial journeyThe episode culminates in a thoughtful reflection on the future of sustainable fashion and the collective responsibility of consumers and entrepreneurs to advocate for more ethical practices. Ruchi emphasizes the need for ongoing education and engagement to shift perceptions about sustainable products, dispelling the notion that such choices are inherently elitist or inaccessible.Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good afternoon, Ruchi. Wonderful to have you as a guest on the Elephant in The Room podcast today.Ruchi: Good Afternoon, Sudha. My pleasure to be here and talk to you.Sudha: Brilliant. So just give us a quick introduction before we launch into the questions.Ruchi: I'm Ruchi. I'm from India. I have studied and worked in India and also in Europe, in Amsterdam and Belgium.I've been in the fashion industry since my post-graduation and in various functions in the fashion industry with various brands and companies. I've travelled all around the world for work and for leisure and that brings me to my current passion project, which is Cottsbury which I'm running now, for last two years plusSudha: Brilliant. So what inspired you to get on this journey into organic and sustainable fashion and launch your brand Cottsbury. Can you share the story behind discovering Pure Certified Cotton and why it became the...
Show Notes: On the 140th episode of The Elephant in the Room podcast my guest was Sangeeta Waldron an industry veteran with over 3 decades of experience. Sangeeta's story is shaped by both personal and professional transitions, including navigating a recession and shifting her aspirations from advertising to government communications. Her bold decision to leave the security of a civil service role for a not-for-profit organisation working with the developing South marks a pivotal moment in her career, reflecting her commitment to meaningful work aligned with her heritage and values.In the episode our conversation delves into how these early experiences shaped Sangeeta’s perspective on identity, inclusion and sustainability communications 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾- Her resilience in overcoming challenges as a British Indian woman in a predominantly white industry- The current state of inclusivity within the public relations highlighting the persistent underrepresentation of diverse voices- 'What Will Your Legacy Be?' Sangeeta’s latest book where she explores climate change and the role of businesses in fostering sustainable practices- The importance of representation in storytelling and the necessity for brands to engage with broader demographics to effectively communicate in today's global society- Our collective responsibility towards creating a more equitable and compassionate world, urging listeners to contemplate their own legacy and contributions to societal progressThe discussion links her individual journey to the broader context of responsible communications, emphasising how personal identity and lived experience can drive impactful change in sustainability narratives and foster greater inclusion in the workplace. Head to the podcast to listen to the episode (link in comments) 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good Morning Sangeeta. Wonderful to have you as a guest on The Elephant in the Room podcast today.Sangeeta: Thank you for inviting me. I'm really excited about our conversation this morning.Sudha: So let's get started with a quick introductionSangeeta: So it's a quick one. I mean, I've been over 30 years in this industry. In a strange way, I was born here, but I completed my degree in India, my college and university. So when I left India, I came as a postgraduate thinking I'm just going to, like most postgraduates or graduates, think they're just gonna be snapped up for a job.I wasn't.And the country at that time, the UK was going through a recession. And so it was very hard to find work. And I really wanted to be a copywriter in advertising when I was at university. That was my thing. That's what I really wanted to do. So I was trying to desperately get into advertising when I came back to the UK, but the recession had really affected. Well, we know that media and communications is always the first industry to suffer from recessions and knockbacks. So no one really wanted me. And I didn't have any office skills either.So I sat the civil service entrance exam. And I got through. So I spent the first five years of my career writing speeches for a previous prime minister and ministers, but there is just so much...
Show Notes:The global climate movement/industry is not very inclusive; amongst other things it struggles with gender gap. This is especially true in a country like India where the climate industry, particularly the clean energy sector, suffers from a significant gender gap, with women severely underrepresented in technical and leadership roles. While women disproportionately bear the burden of climate change impacts, social and systemic barriers limit their participation in the very sectors that could offer solutions and economic empowerment.Along with several government initiatives focused on women’s participation, there are several grassroots and third sector initiatives that are working towards building skills and capacity. One such initiative is Nadhi-SheforClimate a women-led initiative building climate resilience through human capital development. Nadhi works at the intersection of gender equity and climate adaptation by enabling women to enter and thrive in green careers building long-term individual and community economic resilience.They also support micro-entrepreneurs in climate-aligned sectors such as sustainable agriculture, clean energy, circular economy, and low-carbon servicesand help create community-driven knowledge networks.Nadhi is the brain child of Shalini Bharat Shalini Bharat a banker turned climate entrepreneur and social leader. After a 17-year career in finance, including serving as the COO of Corporate Bank at Deutsche Bank India, Shalini founded the climate community platform with a vision to empower 100,000 women to become climate leaders by the year 2030.Head to the podcast to hear Shalini talks about the motivations that spurred her to create a platform dedicated to increasing female representation in climate leadership, citing the overwhelming lack of women in decision-making roles within this critical field. She speaks about initiatives to facilitate capacity building, fostering community, and provide career support for aspiring female climate leaders. Shalini also speaks about the importance of partnerships in advancing these objectives, highlighting how collaborations with various organizations can amplify the impact of their mission. She also reflects on how authenticity and purpose are critical to driving meaningful change within the climate space.Shalini is also the founder of the circular economy startup The Kind BusinessTo learn more, head to the podcast 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 (link in comments) Episode Transcript: Sudha: Good morning, Shalini. Wonderful to have you as a guest on The Elephant in the Room podcast today.Shalini: Thank you. My pleasure to be here and thanks for inviting me.Sudha: Let's start with a quick introduction. Shalini, what inspired you to start a business focused on climate? What is Nadhi She for climate? And is that the right pronunciation?Shalini: It's Nadhi. Like river. I'll talk about the inspiration behind NadhiSo, Nadhi, it's been about, I think 16, 17 months since I started Nadhi, but the backstory to this is I used to be a corporate banker. And in 2021 I left my job a CXO level person, quit the job without a plan, wanted to, get into the climate space. But I started with a little bit of social leadership fellowship. But when I kind of entered the climate space, I. It was very overwhelming.First of all, you...
Show Notes:Black and Ethnic Minority representation in leadership positions in the UK PR Industry leaves much to be desired and is well below FTSE 100 @11% and FTSE 250 @9% (Parker Review 2025). However, I am an optimist and do believe that direction of travel has been set by advocates and agencies… Collective progress may be slow, but equity & inclusion is mainstream and there are more role models than ever before…Alicia Solanki, Senior VP EMEA @Team Lewis is one such role model challenging cultural expectations and stereotypes to make space for herself in the UK industry. In this fast-paced conversation on The Elephant in the Room podcast we spoke about the dynamics of leadership and representation in the industry from the perspective of a woman of colour.Alicia also spoke about the importance of mentorship in fostering resilience and empowerment amongst underrepresented communities.- Authenticity and cultural sensitivity- Work life balance decoded- Codeswitching – life saving hack or demotivating burden?- Evolving definitions of leadership and empathy in leadership- DEI alive or dead? Are clients continuing to prioritise DEI initiatives or are they backtracking on their previous commitments?Each and every time I hear somebody speak about their lived experiences, I am blown away by how unique our experiences are to each one of us. How important it is for us to understand that Black and Ethnic Minorities or the global majority are not homogenous. That understanding context and intersectionality are key to informed equitable interventions for inclusive workplaces and thriving communities. Her advice to young Black and Ethnic minority professionals entering the industry - ‘make your own magic’. Episode TranscriptSudha: Good morning, Alicia. Wonderful to have you on the Elephant in the Room podcast today.I'm delighted because I've been following you on LinkedIn for some time and it's a great pleasure to have you here today.Alicia: Thank you, Sudha. It's a pleasure to be here today.And yes, my friends and family always laugh about how obsessed I am with LinkedIn, so I'm glad you found me on there too.Sudha: Brilliant. So let's start with a quick introduction. Alicia: So I'm Alicia Solanki. I'm SVP EMEA at Team Lewis. Team Lewis is a global marketing agency here in London, but we're also global. We're around the world in 25 offices. I've done my whole career agency side. Before that I was in the Omnicom family. So, yeah, I guess I love the buzz of agency.I love the discipline of PR and how it's really expanded now. I have two children, Ella, who's 11, just started high school. So lots of change came going on in our house at the moment.And then I have a little boy called Ethan, who's eight. So, yeah, married, busy life, juggling loads of plates. But I kind of like it that way. So that's a bit about me.Sudha: Yeah. Oh, my God, it sounds really busy and with life changing stuff. I mean, moving
Show Notes: Shifting political priorities and economic pressures over the past couple of years have seen several countries scale back climate commitments contributing to the growing gap between climate pledges and real-world emissions (still rising).What does this mean for a ‘Just Transition’ and Net Zero? While there is no silver bullet, IUCN and UNEP emphasise Nature based Solutions (NbS) can be pivotal for climate mitigation and adaptation, when pursued alongside rapid decarbonisation globally.To discuss NbS, and climate change I recently caught up with Swapan Mehra a global leader in climate action and ecosystem conservation. In this deeply insightful conversation Swapan spoke about how NbS is a holistic approach to addressing the climate crisis, through a spectrum of actions designed to protect and restore ecosystems while simultaneously delivering co-benefits for biodiversity, communities and individuals. We also spoke about…👉🏾 How NbS are fundamental in agrarian contexts like India, where communities are inextricably linked to their natural environments.👉🏾 The practical implementations of NbS in India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), that highlight the ambitious targets set for increasing forest carbon stocks by 2.5 to 3 billion tons by 2030👉🏾 The challenges to adoption by the private sector · Lack of standardised financial mechanisms, regulatory hurdles, and insufficient data and knowledge about NbS performance and returns👉🏾 NbS frameworks including IUCN; Voluntary carbon markets integrity initiative👉🏾 Investor expectation vs reality👉🏾 Voluntary carbon markets, carbon credits and greenwashingWe also spoke about India’s carbon trading and green credit scheme, leadership commitment, the impact on SMEs, projects he is particularly proud and being a climate optimist……“To me, just transition means ensuring that climate action doesn't come at a cost of life, livelihoods, equity, inclusion, but rather climate action promotes life, livelihood, equity, inclusion. In the context of the global south, especially India, where our communities have such a direct relationship with nature, with our landscapes, this means putting farmers first, indigenous communities first, it means ensuring investments which are locally contextualized to the needs of the communities and ensuring that a large part of the benefit flows to them. These are communities who have not played a major role in actually causing climate change, and now yet we are dependent on them to solve the problem for us.” Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good afternoon, Swapan. Wonderful to catch up again after a long timeSwapan: Good afternoon, Sudha. Very good to catch up.Sudha: Let's get started with a quick introduction. Tell us a bit about yourself and IORA Ecological Solutions.Swapan: Sure. So, firstly, thank you for having me on your podcast Sudha. I'm Swapan Mehra, I'm the founder and CEO of IORA Ecological Solutions. IORA Ecological Solutions is a leading developer of nature-based solutions, policies, implementation plans and action on ground in India. Over the last 15 years, we worked across 200 projects in the areas of forest conservation, forest restoration, and sustainable agriculture, while also helping India and many other countries develop leading policies to not only plan action
Shownotes:5 years post COVID I continue to ask the question – Do organisations need to have a business purpose? And what does having a business purpose mean in practice?For the 136th episode of The 🐘 in the Room podcast I spoke with Shikhar Aggarwal, the Joint Managing Director of BLS International one of the world’s largest global service delivery company (visa, passport, consular, and citizen services).Themes covered in the episode include 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾- What it means to be a purpose driven business providing citizen services and facilitating mobility- Insights on global cultural integration for a listed Indian entity (the only one in the industry) with 60,000 employees and a footprint across 70 countries- Lessons from the pandemic: agility, empathy and building trust- Evolving challenges in the industry including geo-political crises, cybersecurity and inclusivity in service delivery- Commitment to Sustainability & ESG reporting: The aspiration to set global benchmarks in citizen services- Role models in the industry and beyond #TCS #L&T #Wipro #Azim PremjiTo learn more head to the podcast, link in comments 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾#BLSInternational #CitizenServices #GlobalMobility #ShikharAgarwal #Leadership #Sustainability #ESG #Innovation #PurposeDrivenBusiness Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good afternoon, Shikhar, thank you for being a guest on The Elephant in The Room podcast today.Shikhar: Thank you so much for inviting me.Sudha: Brilliant. So let's start with a quick introduction to who you are and what you do..Shikhar: My name is Shikhar Aggarwal. I'm the joint Managing Director of BLS International. I started in Delhi; I'm a chartered accountant. I worked in a couple of companies before joining BLS International in 2014. So it's been an 11-year wonderful journey. And here we are, listed company with presence in 70 plus countries today.Sudha: Awesome. Since I'm from a comms background, and Bhavya is also I'd like to hear your elevator pitch for BLS International. What is your mission and vision for the company? It's quite a huge business.Shikhar: At BLS International, we are a trusted global tech enabled service provider to governments worldwide, committed to simplifying access to essential citizen services. We are operating in 70 plus countries and have processed more than 360 million applications till date. Our mission is to be the world's most trusted and efficient partner for government to citizen services. Also, our mission is to be the largest Indian company in global service delivery. There have been a lot of IT companies out of India, global IT companies, but I feel that a global service delivery company out of India, we are probably the primary one and we want to be the largest one.Our vision is to touch the lives of a billion people across the globe by delivering citizen services that are seamless, secure and powered by innovation. We aspire to be the global benchmark for inclusive technology driven service delivery that empowers...
There is research to show that climate washing is on the uptick along with a growing trend by companies worldwide to utilise carbon credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions. The trend (carbon offsetting) is driven largely by companies making net-zero pledges. However in the absence of standardised frameworks and regulations claims of greenwashing can undermine the credibility of carbon mitigation efforts examples: overstating the impact, under reporting harm to communities or environmentTo understand the ecosystem better I spoke with Shreya Garg, a seasoned climate professional and auditor to share her expertise on the dynamics of the carbon markets. Independent auditors are key to building trust in carbon markets by provide objective assessment of projects, prevent misrepresentation of data. In our wide-ranging conversation we spoke about additionality, permeance, community impact…...👉🏾 The evolution of the Indian carbon market from niche, compliance driven model to a more dynamic and voluntary environment👉🏾 The burgeoning international interest in Indian carbon credits and what is fuelling the demand👉🏾 How global net-zero commitments and increased scrutiny around climate disclosures are major factors driving the evolution of voluntary carbon markets👉🏾 The difference between compliance and voluntary carbon markets and how they can shape corporate reputation and sustainable practices👉🏾 Why greenwashing remains a huge challenge👉🏾 The need transparency, integrity and community engagement and technology in the evolving landscape of carbon markets. In our conversation Shreya highlighted the necessity for equitable benefit sharing and community engagement to restore trust in climate initiatives. We also spoke about the need for more women in the climate space, emphasizing the unique perspectives they bring to community engagement and project sustainability.To know more about carbon markets and climate washing head to the podcast 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good morning, Shreya, Thank you for being a guest on The Elephant in the Room podcast today.Shreya: Morning Sudha. it's totally a pleasure.Sudha: Brilliant. So let's get started with a quick introduction to who you are and what you do.Shreya: So I'm Shreya, I'm a climate professional for about 14 years and I've been working in the carbon markets. Right now I'm associated with different organisations, gold Standard there’s FCF, India and Isometric. And my main work is guidance around the carbon credit quality strategies and market synergies. Prior to this, I was vice president operations at Earthood where I led a team of auditors who were working on validation and verification of climate projects.Sudha: Brilliant. How has the carbon credit market transformed over recent years and what are the main factors contributing to this change? Especially when we consider a diverse country like India. I read a recent report that the carbon credit market in India is booming.Shreya: Definitely. I think the carbon markets have evolved to a great degree. They've evolved from a niche compliance driven market to a broader, more dynamic voluntary markets. We have seen that there are no commitments per se, that are being made by the countries,...
Show notes:Are there people who inspire you, make you want to be better and do better?I have been fortunate to meet with amazing and inspirational people from all walks of life through my podcast The Elephant in the Room. Individuals who refuse to be defined by their circumstances or the challenges they encounter in life. Akashdeep Bansal, CEO of SaralX, and my guest for the 134th episode of the podcast is one such person. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at a young age, Akash's path took an unexpected turn when a conversation with his master's supervisor prompted him to consider the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals in pursuing STEM education. This pivotal moment not only reshaped his academic trajectory but also inspired the creation of SaralX, a startup focused on enhancing digital accessibility for people with disabilities.In this episode we spoke about 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 👉🏾 How this led to the setting up of a collaborative network aimed at breaking barriers and fostering inclusion👉🏾 Discovering purpose and becoming an entrepreneur advocating for inclusivity in the digital realm👉🏾 Misconceptions that digital accessibility is solely for people with visual impairments, emphasizing that it encompasses a diverse array of disabilities, including motor impairments, cognitive challenges, auditory limitations……👉🏾 The need to shift from a complaint-driven approach to accessibility towards one that inherently integrates inclusive practices into the foundational design of products and services.👉🏾 Societal awareness and acceptance in facilitating a truly inclusive environment for all individuals, regardless of their abilities. We also spoke about stigma, role models and what motivates him. Akash believes that it is not just one person who inspired his journey, it is the collective influence of those he has engaged with on his journey. His commitment to creating awareness and fostering inclusivity with SaralX is rooted in the notion that true empowerment stems from dismantling societal barriers rather than imposing limitations on those who are excluded.Thank you @Prateek Madhav, Assistech Foundation for the introduction 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾To learn more about Akash’s inspirational journey head to the podcast 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode TranscriptSudha: Good morning, Akash. Wonderful to have you as a guest on The Elephant in The Room Podcast today.Akash: Good morning, Sudha. It's my pleasure to be here.Sudha: Brilliant. So let's get started with a quick introduction to who you are and what you do. I heard a little bit from Prateek of AssisTech Foundation. Let's hear from you.Akash: What I can say about myself is, right now I'm doing this startup called SaralX, where we are basically helping in making the digital world inclusive for person with disabilities. Prior to this, I've done my master and PhD from IIT Delhi And I'm born and brought up in a small town which is called Gango, which comes under the district xxxx.So that a small brief about me.Sudha: Oh, wow. From UP straight to Bangalore. That's good.Akash: Yeah,p...
Show notes:Did you know that ultra processed foods (UPFs) make 57% of the average British diet and up to 80% when it comes to children and people with lower incomes. And that the major food and drink companies lobbied to block the UK government’s efforts pushing for discounts on healthier and minimally processed products In the Indian sub-continent meanwhile, an average household derives more calories from processed foods than fruits (The Lancet study 2020). What is staggering is that this diet has been reshaped over the course of a single generation. While regulations around ultra-processed foods are tightening in both the UK and India, food regulations in India are considered weak, ambiguous, and industry-friendly, leading to a lack of strong front-of-pack labelling and effective advertising restrictions. Last year I reached out to the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) in India - a pivotal global foundation dedicated to transforming the food industry to learn more about their work and the ATNI’s India Index. The India Index 2023 assesses the performance of the 20 largest food and beverage manufacturers of India. The findings based on 1,901 products are not unexpected but still staggering 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👉🏾 The average Health Star Rating for all companies’ products is a shocking 1.9 out of 5, well below the ‘healthy’ threshold of 3.5👉🏾 Sales of packaged F&B in India have surged by 15% every year since 2011, outperforming total food sales. Spending on F&B increased at a rate of 9% per year between 2011 to 2021👉🏾 76% of sales are derived from less healthy products. Nineteen of the 20 companies derive most of their sales revenue from less healthy products.👉🏾 The positives seven of the 20 companies have responsible advocacy plans and five institutional investors and shareholders of food companies in India have now signed up to nutrition frameworks such as the Investor Expectations on Nutrition, Diets and Health as part of their responsible investment strategies.Another disappointing fact, specifically highlighted in the index is that products sold in low-income countries like India tend to have lower health star ratings than those sold in high-income countries, indicating that the nutritional value of products may be lower in lower-income markets.The findings are an eyeopener for the food industry, consumers, regulators, investors and activists and reveal the need for reform and greater transparency.And should we not be asking as to how and why is it acceptable for multinational companies to offer products with low nutritional value in poorer countries compared to their offerings in high-income countries?Head to the podcast to listen to the episode 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good morning, Vivek. Wonderful to have you as a guest on The Elephant in the Room Podcast today.Vivek: Morning Sudha. And thank you for giving me this opportunity to come to the podcast, The Elephant in the Room and share my thoughts with you.Sudha: So let's get started could you introduce yourself for the benefit of the audiences?Vivek: I'm Vivek Arora and I work in the area of food and nutrition. So right from the beginning in the career I was involved with the food production. And there was a turnaround in 2008 when I got the opportunity to produce therapeutic and supplementary foods, and that's how I got introduced to the space of Nutrition.And since then, I found a purpose, earlier I was producing fast foods and now I'm...
Show Notes:The current negative sentiment and noise around equity and inclusion can feel overwhelming. At such times it makes sense to step back and celebrate the work of organisations steadfast in their vision (there are many of them around). The Taylor Bennett Foundation (TBF) is one such organisation dedicated to increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the communications industry that has been doing some stellar work to deliver on its purpose. I recently took the opportunity to invite Koray Camgöz, the new CEO of the TBF and one of the nicest people I know in the UK PR industry to talk about his priorities and focus.Koray has been a staunch advocate for building a fairer and more inclusive industry from his time at the PRCA, including championing the work of PRCA REEB and the EIAB. Always extending himself to support the cause. So, it was great to hear him reflect on his experiences including his recent stint at Ketchum and how it has shaped/prepared him for his current role as CEO. We also spoke about 👇🏾 👇🏾 👇🏾👉🏾 Systemic barriers that have historically hindered diversity, such as reliance on unpaid internships👉🏾 The need to cultivate a supportive culture that welcomes and nurtures diverse talent👉🏾 Koray argued for a steadfast commitment to DEI initiatives, linking inclusion to organizational success and innovation👉🏾 Why leadership accountability is paramount for driving meaningful change within organizations👉🏾 He shared examples of successful alumni and partnerships with leading organizations, illustrating the transformative impact of the foundation’s work.The new CEO of Taylor Bennett Foundation envisions a future where the stories of diverse individuals are celebrated, positioning the Taylor Bennett Foundation as pivotal in reshaping the communications landscape.To learn more, head to the podcast, link in comments 👇🏾 👇🏾 👇🏾And keep tuned future episodes where I spotlight TBF and its incredible alumni.Episode Transcript:Sudha: Hi Koray. Wonderful to meet with you after such a long time. It's been a couple of years, I think, since we last met. For the benefit of our viewers, let's start with a quick and a brief introduction.Koray: Thank you Sudha, yes, and it's amazing to be with you.I'm a huge fan of it. So, thank you, for inviting me back on. My name's Koray Camgöz. I'm the Chief Exec of the Taylor Bennett Foundation, which is a charity that exists to increase ethnic diversity in communications. I've been with the charity for just over four months now, and prior to that, I've been in communications for around about 15 years, most recently as a director at Ketchum and formerly with the PRCA and the CIPR.Sudha: Congratulations on your role as the new CEO of Taylor Bennett Foundation. So how did the role come about and how has it been so far?So tell us about how the role came about, how it has been so far.Koray: Yes, I was with Ketchum for just over a year and a half in total. I worked principally with Adobe, but also with Samsung. But as you say, much of my focus was on corporate reputation.I was in the corporate team at Ketchum. But everything that I approach...
Shownotes:The businesses most likely to succeed are those that are born to solve real life problems. Would you agree?For Sakshi Mittal, a Wharton educated, investor at Softbank, a health crisis during her first pregnancy was the trigger to her entrepreneurial journey. The result was Foodhak – a physical and digital ecosystem that challenges the food industry and makes 'food as medicine' accessible to all. Technology and AI are used at Foodhak to gain insights from the latest research and empower consumers in their dietary choices. The first time I heard Sakshi (her child was in the audience with a minder) speak at the India Week in London, I was intrigued by Foodhak (the name), her ‘food as medicine’ mantra, her decision to move away from a highly successful career at Softbank etc…. So I decided to dig deeper and invited her to be a guest on The Elephant in the Room.In this free flowing conversation we spoke about 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Why it required courage to transition from a career in finance to entrepreneurship? We also spoke about the accompanying discomfort and uncertaintyHow Foodhak is leveraging technology, including machine learning, to interpret clinical research on nutrition, with the aim of empowering consumers with personalized dietary advice through an innovative appSustainability as a core principle at Food Hak, using healthier and sustainable ingredients, like millets, while also optimizing packaging to reduce environmental impactWhy work-life balance, is integral to her well-being and family time is an opportunity to recharge from the demands of entrepreneurshipThe crucial role networking and mentorship play in fostering connections that can lead to collaborations and support in developing a successful business.She also spoke about the unique challenges faced by female founders, the influence of her family on her work ethics, her career trajectory, her partnership with Deepak Chopra…….I am in awe of all entrepreneurs, the belief, hard work, commitment, dedication, the relentless nature of running a business – it is inspiring. And women entrepreneurs who navigate the intersectional demands of their personal and professional lives deserve especially to be recognised and celebrated.So, here to celebrating risk taking in the pursuit of one’s passion.To learn more about Sakshi’s journey head to the podcast 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Hey, Sakshi. Wonderful to finally have you here today as a guest on my podcast, The Elephant in the Room.Sakshi: Thank you for having me.Sudha: Let's get started. Who is Sakshi Chhabra Mittal? I saw you on the panel discussion at India Week earlier in the year, and I saw you have a very rich and varied experience, also of geographies, not just industries.Could you share your experiences from childhood, school, college, family of what has probably shaped the person you are today?Sakshi: I think that's such a big question. But it's a lovely question because it actually takes you back and helps you recap your life. And helps you be grateful for those who've had a good influence on you and be grateful for those who challenged you because it's the combination of the two that kind of makes you and defines your life...
Shownotes:2018, was a defining year for me career wise, it was also the year when I was able to live up to my aspiration to contribute a percentage of my time pro-bono to the third sector. I had the opportunity to align and engage with PRADAN, a leading Indian charity working in the livelihoods space. This opened the door for some wonderful collaborations and strategic work with the organisation in the last 6 years. The person who enabled this partnership was Sudhir Sahni – our paths had intersected briefly in the past.A veteran of the Indian Advertising Industry, Sudhir made a deliberate shift to the non-profit sector after three decades, in the quest for work that aligned with his beliefs. At PRADAN Sudhir leverages his experience to foster partnerships and amplify PRADANs impact amongst external stakeholders.In the 130th episode of The Elephant in the Room podcast, Sudhir talks about his transformative journey from the corporate to the social sector; the intrinsic motivations that guided the move; his desire for a collaborative approach to work focusing on individual potential; challenges faced by the development sector; the evolving funding landscape; equity and inclusion in the third sector; a community centred approach to delivering projects; women in leadership; ….etc.We also spoke about the impact of Transformers an interview series featuring leaders and best practice from the third sector and Samagam, a multi-stakeholder platform conceptualised and hosted by PRADAN to facilitate dialogues and collaboration amongst the third sector, private sector and governments. It is great to call a fellow champion and ally for women in the workplace, a friend.To hear more about Sudhir’s transition to the third sector head to the podcast 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good morning, Sudhir. Welcome to the Elephant in the Room podcast today. Thank you for being a guest.Sudhir: Hi Sudha, it's always a pleasure talking to you. Happy to be with you today. Thank you.Sudha: So let's get started. My first question to you is how did this move happen from advertising to the social sector or the impact or the development sector? Was this a planned move the? Last time I'd met you before you were with Pradan you were at Ogilvy?Sudhir: Yeah. I've had a wonderful career in the advertising world over almost about 28 odd years and I loved what I was doing. And I loved, the kind of influence it had on people, on consumers. So that was great. At some point I felt that my style of working and engaging with people was I would say far more collaborative than competitive, which is required in the corporate world. And for me, I think getting the work done was more important than getting credit for it.I was beginning to wonder whether at a certain point I may not be so fit for the corporate world going forward. And my learning curve was beginning to plateau. And I would especially find pleasure in helping people achieve their tasks and realize their potential the underdog performing was far more exciting, than the champion team delivering a winning campaign I felt that maybe I may have a far more, if I may say, you know, within quotes, socialist outlook. And was happier to create more equals within the team than, create or deal with unequals.So that was beginning to fester in my mind.A couple of campaigns that really excited me. One was The Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign...
Shownotes: As a podcast host one of my biggest joys is celebrating incredible people making a difference. People who I know through my work or because of my podcast or from my networks who have raised the bar either in their personal or professional life.My guest on the 129th episode of The Elephant in the Room podcast is Ashima Tyagi, our lives intersected briefly in the late 2000s when we worked in different divisions of one of India’s largest PR and PA agency. At the time Ashima was a rookie, getting to grips with operating in male dominated and patriarchal metals and mining industry in India. Fast forward to 2024 when I bumped into her on LinkedIn. I was chuffed to see Ashima Tyagi was Economics Associate Director, at S&P Global Market Intelligence unit in Singapore.I had a lot of questions for her – about the move from Delhi to Singapore, her experience of living and working in a new country and culture away from her family. I was curious to understand how she was navigating work-life balance and what it meant to her, especially considering that we have it drilled into us, that hard work (long hours) and sacrifice is the route to success. We also spoke about her leadership style has evolved over the years, the impact of imposter syndrome, how organizational culture can drag women down or enable them to thrive, her role in WINS S&P Global, networks and networking, her advice to young women joining the industry today, what motivates her and ambition……While Ashima’s may not recognize it her move to Singapore was a brave decision at many levels a) She had never moved cities before b) She was leaving behind her husband and one year old son c) Her motivation was personal growth. Not many young women in this part of the world are able to priorities their personal and professional ambitious and it continues to stymie and disadvantage them. So, kudos @Ashima Tyagi, every little step counts……To hear more about Ashima’s personal and professional growth head to the podcast (link in comments) 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good morning, Ashima. Wonderful to have you finally as a guest on The Elephant in the Room podcast. We've been like talking about this for some time, but it wasn't quite working out until now.Ashima: Thanks Sudha. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I really appreciate it.Sudha: So, for the benefit of our listeners, I know you from our time together at Vaishnavi, where we interacted briefly. let's start with a quick introduction to who you are and what you do.Ashima: I've spent nearly, I think, 16 years plus in the commodities world and currently I share my expertise, insights as an economist, primarily in the metals and mining sector. In my current role, of course, we're helping clients navigate the volatility that we see in the supply chains. And we do this by embedding all of that in our pricing forecast and buying strategies and that helps our clients also achieve cost savings, on all the things that they source.Sudha:Not everybody understands the commodities market, so you've explained it very well in layperson terms. So Ashima, you moved a couple of years back to Singapore. What has been your experience of living and working in a new country and culture?And of course, Singapore has a huge expat community.Ashima: Yeah, I relocated to Singapore...
Show notesThroughout history, there have been genuine supporters and sceptics of equity and inclusion. We can all see how the current political climate in the US has deepened the divide fuelling anti-ESG/DEIB rhetoric, leading many organizations, including prominent ones like Target, Meta, Amazon, McDonald’s, Ford, Harley Davidson etc. to reduce or cease their initiatives. However, there is room for cautious optimism considering that some of the world largest organisations continue to be committed including Patagonia, Costco, JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft, Netflix, Apple, Eli Lilly, Amazon, Pfizer, Salesforce, Google, P&G, Goldman Sachs.But, for a lot of people, like Gagandeep Bhullar, Founder of Superhuman Race, a data platform that measures good, it is business as usual. She does not perceive a decline in commitment or interest from US companies. In the 128th episode of The Elephant in the Room podcast Gagandeep Bhullar, joined me to discuss the pressing need for measuring and scaling "good" in today's society. She emphasised that traditional measures of success often overlook the value of good deeds, which do not typically yield tangible rewards in the corporate world.In the episode Gagandeep shares her journey from a successful career in aerospace at Boeing to becoming an entrepreneur focused on sustainability. We also delved into the unique features of her technology platform, which stands out by driving actionable sustainability practices rather than just reporting. As we explored the dynamics of ESG reporting across the world, in India and the built environment, Gagandeep also highlighted the importance of authentic narratives in sustainability and how sectors like real estate are leading the way in adopting these practices.We also discussed her belief that BRSR is on the path to becoming one of the best frameworks in the world, her exhilarating and challenging journey into entrepreneurship, and two exciting projects: a climate model to predict asset-level risk and a study on the built environment and real estate developers. Fun fact: Superman, Batman and mythology inspired the name she chose for her platform 😎😎😎If you are interested in DEI, ESG Reporting, and Sustainability, tune in to the podcast to learn how SHR is leading the charge with technology for good. Link in comments 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode TranscriptSudha: Good afternoon, Gagan. Wonderful to have you as a guest on The Elephant in the Room podcast today.Gagan: Thanks Sudha. It's lovely to be here.Sudha: Let's start with a quick introduction to who you are and what you do.Gagan: I am Gagan Bhullar, and I founded the Superhuman Race. So what I do now is that I run a data platform called Superhuman Race that measures good.So that is essentially who I am and what I do at the moment. My background is entirely aerospace though, so I'm a math and science nerd basically.Sudha: Wow. Okay. That's very interesting. We'll talk more about the transition later on, but tell us a bit more about Superhuman Race and how did you arrive at the name?And secondly, what is your ambition when you set up this Superhuman Race?Gagan: I'll start with the vision first, and the reason why I started Superhuman race. When I started Superhuman Race, I was at Boeing, and I had a dream job. So, I was having a lot of fun, but I was also a very young person. And I think I was struggling...
Show notes:What role can technology play in breaking down barriers and building inclusion? Can AI be a force for good? There is sufficient research to show that assistive technology can be a game changer for people with disabilities enabling them to be more independent(self-care) and improving their participation in social interactions, education, employment etc. So, when I came across an article by Prateek Madhav on assistive technology, I jumped to the chance to invite him to be a guest on The 🐘 in the Room.According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a staggering 16% of the world’s population or 1in 6 of us or about 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. Under international human rights law, sometimes domestic laws countries have an obligation to address the inequities faced by persons with disabilities. Disability inclusion is an imperative to achieving the SDGs. However, disabled people face huge barriers to accessing education, livelihood opportunities and of course there are stereotypes and stigma that continues to prevail.It was inspiring to hear about technology for good, about innovations that are enablers to inclusion and help people live more fulfilling lives. AssisTech Foundation(ATF) the non-profit founded by Prateek Madhav aims to build an ecosystem that leverages innovations by technology startups in assistive technology. Today, the foundation is the world’s fastest and largest ecosystem of assistive technology, with a network 450 innovators and startups in India and access to 1200 globally. Through the Inclusive InnovationNetwork (+N) (IIN) that he co-founded, Prateek Madhav aims to create a global ecosystem for collaboration and peer learning by partnering with entrepreneurs and investors.The vision is for ATF to become an impact unicorn – creating scalable impact on thelives of at least a billion people. The big takeaway for me, is that socialimpact companies can be a force for good and help address some of the biggestproblems facing our communities and the world. ATF shows that is possible.To get your daily/weekly dose of inspiration and hear more about the ATF head to the podcast. Link in the comments 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good afternoon, Prateek. Thank you for being a guest on The Elephant in the Room podcast today.Prateek: Thank you very much for the invitation. It's a pleasure to be here.Sudha: We always start with an introduction. So please share a brief introduction with our listeners.Prateek: Thank you. So, my name is Prateek Madhav.I'm the co-founder and CEO of AssisTech Foundation. I grew up in North part of India, in a town called Jaipur. Out of house for 25 years. So don't know my kids...
Show Notes:There are some brilliant leaders doing amazing work to promote equity & inclusion in the UK. Would you agree? There are not enough superlatives to describe the hard work and commitment of these advocates.Christina Brooks, Founder and CEO Ruebik is one such leader. Along with her day job she is a trustee for an alternative provision school in Tottenham, a Trustee for pioneering Social Communications Centre for Autism. She also mentors incarcerated young people and advises many black owned social startups.So, I was thrilled to have @Christina Brooks as a guest on the 126th episode of The 🐘in the Room podcast to talk about all things equity and inclusion. In this freewheeling conversation we spoke about her journey from global talent lead at Rolls Royce to starting Ruebik an inclusion first talent attraction agency and DEI consultancy. We also spoke about 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👉🏾 Learnings from the corporate world that she brought to her entrepreneurial journey👉🏾 Being purpose led, and B-Corp certified👉🏾 Lived experiences, and her intersectional identities that led to her being othered👉🏾 Her thoughts on Industry trends indicating a slowdown and step back in investment and commitment of DEIB/EDIB initiatives👉🏾 How culture and measurement contribute to creating an impactful recruitment and hiring process👉🏾 Conscious/Inclusive leadership👉🏾 Future of work – the impact of AIWe also spoke about her podcast Elevated Conversations with Tacita Small and Monique Carayol, Zoom Fenty, even Beyonce, her beliefs, motivations and having a long view of change………..To learn more head to the podcast (link in comments) 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good morning, Christina. It's such a pleasure to have you as a guest on The Elephant in the Room podcast today.Christina: It's an absolute honour to be here Sudha. Thank you for the invitation.Sudha: Brilliant. let's start with a quick introduction to who you are and what you do. Also, tell us why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?Christina: Yeah, a really good question. Why did I decide to become an entrepreneur because it was not by design, I actually fell into it. So, if I give you a little bit about my background, I've got almost 20 years executive search experience. So that's really my bread and butter. So really thinking about how organisations should attract and retain exec leaders.And prior to setting up Ruebik, I worked for Rolls Royce as a global talent acquisition lead. So, my team were in Derby, and I was based down here in London, and it was a really wonderful experience. And my mandate at the time was to increase gender representation, and we started to look at other underrepresented strands as well. But I think the real light bulb moment for me, Sudha, was when I was often looking for suppliers and other executive recruitment firms to help us really think about diversity.They often sounded and looked like the business that we were trying to change and innovate in. And so really for me, I built the kind of business that I wanted to work with. So Ruebik, as it stands, it's an extension of a talent acquisition function. And so, we really partner closely with organisations who are trying to move the
Shownotes: Reams have been written recently about SDGs, climate change, just transition…… what does it mean in practice? India's National Action Plan on Climate Change emphasises the need for inclusive and sustainable development to ensure it does not fail millions on the margins or without a voice. It would not be presumptuous to say that most people in world are aware of India’s demographic dividend. At 21% or 253 million, India is also home to the largest adolescent population in the world of which 120 million are girls. For a just transition and for India to reap the benefits of the demographic dividend by unlocking the potential of its youth, it is crucial that they are empowered with knowledge and skills to combat social and economic exclusion.A majority of India’s adolescent girls are on the margins and face numerous challenges including lack of access to education, domestic work, early marriage and pregnancy and financial dependency. There are a myriad of government initiatives and schemes aimed at keeping this group in education in urban and rural area, but long lasting change will be impossible without addressing the deep rooted cultural norms, expectations and stereotypes.This is where organisations like VOICE4Girls, step in, they create safe spaces for girls to have critical conversations around their physical and mental health; recognising, preventing and reporting violence and a space where they can dream. This social enterprise led by Anusha Bharadwaj, has impacted over 3,00,000 girls and boys through their work across 12 different Indian states. In the 125th episode of The 🐘in the Room podcast we spoke about Anusha’s childhood, how it influenced her to step into the social sector, her ambition for Voice4Girls, breaking the cycle of exclusion, deprivation for young girls and boys, the challenges of being a founder. We also spoke about 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👉🏾 SoCh for social change an initiative aimed at building leadership capabilities of young social changemakers,👉🏾 Social entrepreneurship as a powerful force for transforming communities and nations, being hubs of innovation👉🏾 Context, feminism and feminist leadership 👉🏾 Failures, highlights and role models girls and boys can identify withAnd much more in this freewheeling and inspiring conversation. Head to the podcast to know more about the incredible work being done by Ashoka Fellow, Anusha Bharadwaj and Voice4Girls 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good morning, Anusha. Wonderful to have you on the Elephant in the Room podcast today.Anusha: Hi Sudha, lovely to be here.Sudha: Let's get started with a quick introduction. Tell us a bit about your childhood, your education, what sort of influences did you have? I'm curious to understand how and why you decided to work in the social sector.Anusha: Every time somebody asks me this question, some new parts about my family emerges and today what really came up is that I grew up in a South Indian family where education was super important Sudha. In fact, both my great grandfathers were very well educated, one was a medical officer, the other was a maths professor. And I've heard that, even during those times, this is still very British ruled India both my grandmothers, my maternal and my paternal grandmother, both are high school graduates.p...
Show notes:The ESG backlash is real, and it is polarising. The rhetoric around it exacerbated because of roll backs by corporates and governments on climate/energy commitments. According to a leading ESG publication, Trump’s victory in the world’s second largest democracy, is likely to result in roll backs on climate and ESG regulation in the country and retreat from the global stage. Despite all the noise against ESG - asset managers globally are expected to increase their ESG related AuM to US$33.9 trillion by 2026 (84% growth). The driver for growth for ESG activity is not altruism but value creation. In India the world’s largest democracy there are reasons for cautious optimism, with the government introducing a slew of policy changes over the last decade, that makes it obligatory for organisations to adopt an ESG lens for sustainability reporting. Since 2022-23, the top 1000 listed companies are obliged to follow the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting framework. The driver of course is India’s ambition to be a 7 trillion economy by 2030. There is lots to be done but the country is on the path.To discuss India’s journey on ESG and Sustainability reporting I spoke with Arvind Chari and Chirag Mehta, Quantum Advisors in the 124th episode of The Elephant in the Room podcast. The focus of the conversation was global and local trends and Quantum’s own approach to ESG investing. We spoke about 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👉🏾 The drivers for sustainable investing👉🏾 Responsible (patient investing) and what it means. Adding a 5th P to the 4 Ps investment management - predictability or patient capital 👉🏾 The reason for developing Quantum’s own due diligence process or integrity screening mechanism👉🏾 How weightage on governance can drive better E and S performance for an organisation👉🏾 Sustainable investing in the Indian context (considering India needs approx. $200 billion a year), where the country is on the sustainable investing journey👉🏾 Public equity markets as the low hanging fruit for sustainable investing in India👉🏾 Whether Indian companies are prepared to meet the regulatory requirements in particular BRSRWe also spoke about the ESG backlash, social license to operate, whether ESG funds perform better than funds that don’t have an ESG lens, the EHG trilemma and The 🐘 in the Room. If sustainability, sustainable investing, transparency and accountability is your thing check out Quantum’s ‘The Little White Book of Governance’.Disclaimer: Quantum Advisors are not my client and I remain sceptical of the investment management & PE industry and their relentless pursuit of profits. However, we know how critical they are to achieving global and local climate and SDG targets. I was drawn to Quantum's mantra ‘Be good and Do good’ and intrigued by the integrity screen.Check it out for yourself – links in the comment 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾#esginvesting #esg #sustainability #impact investing #governance #Climatehange #SDGsEpisode TranscriptSudha: Good morning, Arvind and Good Afternoon, Chirag. Wonderful to have both of you on The Elephant in the Room podcast today.Arvind: Sudha, it's good to have us. Your name of the podcast itself is so interesting, and there are always a lot of elephants in the room to be discussed about so great to be talking to
Shownotes:Not many people in the western world have heard of Hansen’s disease or Leprosy – for most who are familiar with it arouses fear and aversion. It is a tropical disease that occurs in more than 120 countries, has been referenced in the bible and Victoria Hislop wrote The Island inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony, which sold over a million copies.My earliest interaction with the disease was on the Main Street of the city I grew up in. Along the street, one aften came across a small group of people begging for alms, those badly affected being pulled on makeshift carts by the more able bodied. The easiest thing to do was to ignore them or pretend one could not see them or their plight. That was my first experience of shame. Shame at the lack of knowledge, confidence or ability to engage with respect with people disfigured and ostracised by disease. However, this is not about me but about people who are disenfranchised, excluded from accessing healthcare, education, economic opportunities and social support because of fear and misinformation.A couples of months back, I happened to be seated on the same take table at India Week as Sian Arulanantham, head of programmes and research of Leprosy Mission UK. We got chatting about the incredible work they are doing across the world and in India and I invited them to be a guest on my podcast to speak about the important work being done to eradicate an ancient disease that stigmatises and makes outcasts of over two hundred thousand people every year.In this episode of The Elephant in the Room podcast, Daisy Mansfield Policy and Advocacy Adviser at Leprosy Mission talks about the work being done in India and across the world. We spoke about a) how they deliver on their goals in this highly complex geography b) behaviour change campaigns for education and removing social stigma c) Strategies to empower individuals and families d) Roles models with lived experience of disability and stigma e) WHO 2035 goal for eradication of the disease and challenges to getting to the targetThe most important thing to remember is that if detected early, the disease is curable with multi drug therapy (MDT) and the good news is that the WHO has made MDT available free to all leprosy patients around the world (with the help of big pharma).Head to the podcast to listen and see how you can support the cause 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾Episode Transcript:Sudha: Good morning, Daisy. Lovely to have you here today. I'm so glad that I met with Sian and Louise at India Week recently in London. And that's how I came to know about the work of Leprosy Mission UK. So, let's start with a quick introduction. Tell us a bit about yourself.Daisy: Hello. Yes. It's so nice to be with you on the podcast today. Thank you very much for having me. I'm Daisy and I work for the Leprosy Mission and have done for about three years now in a number of different roles. So, my current role is called a Programs and Advocacy Officer. Which means I am a point person, look after some of the projects that we fund in India and work in partnership with our team over in India. And previously I had roles in fundraising and also advocacy and policy working with UK stakeholders in parliament and also in international spaces such as the UN and WHO to advocate for people affected by leprosy.Sudha:...
Shownotes:Disclaimer: All views expressed in the podcast are Sakshi Bansal’s personal views and do not represent or reflect the views of Arup Ltd.Excited to share the latest episode of The Elephant in the Room podcast featuring Sakshi Bansal FRSA ChMC! 🎙️ Sakshi, a recipient of The Diana Award, the world’s first UNESCO Kindness leader and Founder of Project LEAP, dives deep into the 'S' in ESG. In our conversation, we explore:👉🏾 Psychology's link to sustainability👉🏾 Social equity, triple bottom line, and social license to operate👉🏾 Challenges in reporting the 'S' factor and current industry trends👉🏾 Global sustainability dialogue dynamics and diversity concerns👉🏾 Millennials' & Gen Z's perceptions of Purpose-driven organizations👉🏾 The importance of continuous learning in navigating evolving standardsTune in for insightful discussions on sustainability and ESG with @SakshiBansalLink to the podcast in the comments below. 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾hashtag#ESG hashtag#Sustainability hashtag#PodcastDiscussionEpisode Transcript:Sudha: Good morning, Sakshi. Wonderful to have you as a guest on the Elephant in the Room podcast today.Sakshi: Hi, thank you so much. It's so nice to be here.Sudha: To start with, give us a quick introduction and tell us a bit about yourself, maybe your childhood, education.Sakshi: Gosh a bit about myself. So, I am a psychologist by education, both a bachelor's and master's degree, but I'm also a management and strategy consultant now. And if I look back on my career, because it's so well integrated into who am I it's what I call a roller-coaster career or a squiggly career. It started in a tech startup. I was studying in Delhi I wanted to be a professional salsa dancer, And I came across these guys and they were doing something really...