The xMonks Drive

The workplaces have never been as generationally fragmented as they are presently. We have 5 gens working together in a mix pool. Each generation comes with their own strengths and we are surely witnessing the results. But how to keep such diverse minds aligned to a common vision. How would the future look like? Who is going to lead who? How will leaders shift? The 100th episode brings to you ever...

Happy New Year Folks! The xMonks Drive 2023 year opener couldn't have been better! Pandit Dasa has joined us as the first guest of the year. He is a former monk and an authority on Mindfulness, and Mental Health. Listen to the episode as Pandit brings out the best from his experience and tells us why empathy alone can not generate productive workplaces. What do modern leaders need to do more?...

Whether you are a budding podcaster or someone who wants to acquire the Art of Charm,  Jordan Harbinger in this episode has only the best pieces of advice for everyone.  An absolute force of a human, Jordan shares about his journey, a million downloads and the art of winging a conversation. Jordan Harbinger is a Wall Street lawyer turned podcast interviewer with an approachable style and knack for...

Jason Feifer is in the house everyone! The nonstop optimism machine as he likes to call himself talks about the illusion around identifying with your work, humble beginnings and building a tomorrow. Jason Feifer is the editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine and host of the podcast Problem Solvers , which is about entrepreneurs solving unexpected problems in their business. Outside of Entrepreneu...

This episode brings to you the agile, diligent and the purpose weaver, Mr. Sanjeev Mantri with us. He is a sports fanatic who loves to be on the move. Sanjeev shares his lessons learnt from being on field to leading corporate halls. Listen to Sanjeev bringing a new lens to losing, leading and leaving a legacy.  About Sanjeev- A seasoned banker with experience that betrays his age, Sanjeev is alrea...

Everybody is different. We don't need to figure it out. We just have to respect it. What we as a society have made a norm are actually just 2% of the people. Who set the benchmark? Who drew the line?  Meet Praful, Queer Neurodivergent Entrepreneur on the latest episode of xMonks Drive in a chat with Gaurav Arora. Praful Baweja is the Co-Founder of 6 Degrees Growth Network, Queer Neurodivergen...

Are you having trouble expanding your startup? You're not the only one!  It's common to occasionally run into a wall. Nevertheless, many people are able to create successful businesses. What exactly are they changing, then?   What realities have shifted in these decades?  In this conversation, you will explore how coaches can help a start-up environment to accelerate growth with Rohit Th...

Acceptance is a small, quiet room. And in this room, there is space for everything bitter life offers.  Life is not always like we want. Even though we imagine it to be in a particular way, it ends up being something else. But what is important is that these factors should never be able to stop you from what you want. In this life philosophy-centred episode of The xMonks Drive, get a chance to lis...

A leader is neither born nor made. A leader chooses to be a leader. So does that mean, it has always been inside us all the time?  Most of us fail at it because we go straight into leadership skills without first addressing the leader’s mindset. Leadership is more than just a title.   Who you are is how you lead. It’s that simple. As you reflect on your own leadership, I’d invite you to answer the...

L eadership is one of the hottest topics around. Every few minutes, a new leadership-related blog, podcast, opinion piece, or article is out. Almost anyone can refer to themselves as a leadership coach, and many people from various areas of life do so. However, a lot of them endorse unevaluated and unproven notions. A successful leader never stops learning. Tune in to the podcast episode to learn...

The festive season just got over! And I am sure you had a great time with your family and friends. What each festive season or to say good or bad times teach us that --Connections Matter. There could not have been a better time to discuss more deeply on the matter. My guest, Pat Hedley joins us to offer hard-earned wisdom about the true spirit of making a connection. One being learning and sharing...

You are more than your title, but some problems do come along with these titles. What are the problems which only CEOs face and can relate to? How does one go from an HR head to a full-time CEO? So when everybody around you is doubting you, how do you build faith in your team, and in your stakeholders? That's the story of Amit Malik. In this episode, let yourself experience the power of accep...

We grow into the adults, we needed as children. Does that come into our way of becoming leaders?  The truth is life happens to all. Jerry Colonna adds that in between life happening and decisions we make, one cannot be a strong leader unless one allows oneself to grow, and this can only happen by leading a life examined. Hear more of life and leadership with Jerry in this episode of The xMonks Dri...

Can listening as a core discipline bring transformation in systems?  Hear from the author of Transforming Systems—Why the World Needs a New Ethical Toolkit and the former member of The Planning Commission Of India and the learning factory himself, Arun Maira. The episode contains the wisdom of exemplary leadership, living, listening, kindness and special bits from Arun’s core memories.  In This Ep...

How does one walk the path of giving hope of life to people, while losing his own brothers to suicide? That is Dennis Gillan for you, folks!  The xMonks Drive brings to you the story of Dennis Gillan who turned his misery into a mission. Listen to him, as he takes us on his personal journey of being a reluctant warrior, masking his grief for 16 years to establishing his own suicide prevention foun...

Every business is bound to go through instants of ambiguity as it evolves. During that process, leaders who can guide employees through difficult situations and show them how to handle recurring issues can have a significant impact.  In this episode with Umar we will explore ways to look at today's challenges through the lens of adaptive leadership. Umar is a growth and transformation managem...

The ability to communicate eloquently and effectively is a skill. However, relatively few of us are aware of this or actively work to hone this skill.   One of the crucial elements of communication is ‘listening.' Unless we are good listeners there is no way we can be effective communicators. However, the human mind is fickle and fleeting. Every 7 to 10 seconds, our minds wander, our listenin...

Have you ever wanted to fly an aircraft and serve your nation?  This time on The xMonks Drive we have with us Retd Air Vice Marshal Nicodemus Manohar Samuel to talk about his journey as a pilot in the Indian Air Force. This podcast attempts to raise awareness of the remarkable Indian Air Force . Samuel has superannuated as an Air Vice Marshal from the Indian Air Force after a career spanning 36 ye...

Some people are born on third base—they inherit money, marry into wealth, or win a lottery. The rest of us must hit base (and occasionally strike out) in our quest to amass our own money. And this is what a true entrepreneur's journey involves. However, the question is: How far would you go to sate your thirst for knowledge and become an Indian solopreneur? This podcast with Purva Aggarwal (F...

You may have heard of mindfulness , or the capacity to be fully present in the moment, which can offer a variety of advantages. According to general mindfulness research, these advantages range from reduced stress and sadness to elevated levels of focus and happiness. But what does mindfulness really mean? And how can you spot it and make use of its many advantages? One method to fully experience...

Life doesn't come with a manual, and no matter how long we spend "in the womb," when it's time to go out into the big wide world, we still don't seem to know what's going on. And occasionally all we need is someone to talk to. Prayer is a way of getting in touch with the essence of things, more so than simple talk, despite its own strength. It is the best listener you...

Who we are is how we lead. It’s not just about what we do in the world when it comes to leadership; it’s also about who we are. Take a minute to consider whether it is possible to divorce one's identity from the roles we play. I don't believe so. You need to have a solid understanding of who you are as a person and how to use that knowledge to your advantage as a leader. You may assess y...

The world needs women leaders - from running big organisations to running countries. Gender-equal leadership will prompt a more efficient and integrated society. Nevertheless, despite the fact that women enter the workforce in relatively equal numbers to men, their ascent to the top can be more difficult and slower for them. But this did not stop Mrs. Sangeeta Talwar . She broke the barriers and t...

Humans are social beings who crave connections, trust, and belongingness. People strive to connect with other people about ideas, feelings, and experiences that matter to them and that they may share with others because they don't like to feel alone in what they are experiencing. Thus, building communities becomes crucial for fostering connections between people and creating the infrastructur...

Systemic Coaching throws open a vast arena where the coaching is not just about how a team works together but also how it can mean a lot of different things. There is a lot of talk about "systemic" these days, but is there really a consensus on what it means in the context of coaching? We delve into leadership coaching and how systemic thinking may be used in coaching in this episode wit...