Coffee By Two

Key takeaways: Backstories shape choices His father’s failed businesses made him crave stability, while others chase variety to make up for their parents’ steady lives. Our career choices are never random. Luck and serendipity matter We often underplay how much timing, mentors, and chance encounters influence a career. Success is not only about effort. Everyone wears masks At work, most people pre...

In this inspiring conversation, Anil Nair — former CEO of L&K Saatchi & Saatchi — takes us on a journey from his childhood in Trivandrum to the fast-paced world of advertising and beyond. Anil reflects on the power of resilience, the thrill of motorcycling, and the importance of staying curious in a rapidly evolving job market shaped by AI. He shares candid insights into the evolution of a...

In this episode, writer Janaki Lenin discusses her journey from film editing to becoming a wildlife author, her unlikely connection to Rahul Dravid, and life at the Madras Crocodile Bank. She reflects on growing up as a loner, her evolving relationship with nature, and how she met her partner, Rom Whitaker. Janaki shares insights into human-animal conflict, the overemphasis on tigers, and the impa...

In 2004, the Indian men's cricket team toured Pakistan after 15 years. It was a momentous tour, and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is said to have told Sourav Ganguly not just to win games but also win hearts. The Indian team did both. They won the test and ODI series. On their return home, some of them had to be ushered out of the airport secretly because of the teeming crowds outside. S...

The late Hal Riney, one of advertising's most legendary copywriters, wrote the campaign for Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign in 1984. Apparently, President Reagan teared up when he saw 'It's morning in America' for the first time. Memorable political campaigns are a rarity, and working on a General Election campaign is even rarer. Jayshree Sundar was the branch head of Leo...

While doing his MBA, Sumanto taught to support himself financially. Young and nervous, he was a target for trouble makers. Then one incident changed everything. 

After completing his Master's, Sumanto did an MBA. Here, he taught students to support himself financially. It also taught him a life lesson. 

If you type Sumanto Chattopadhyay's name in Google, he is described as an actor. And by his admission, he has a lot of people asking him about his blink and miss role in the popular movie - Piku. If you type 'English Nut' on Youtube, you'll see Sumanto in another avatar - simplifying phrases and words and English. You'll also catch him interviewing the likes of Shashi Tharoor and Ruskin Bond. The...

Many people dream of being an author. No one dreams that their first book will be about their battle with cancer. But that was the twist in the tale in Shormishta Mukhrjee's life. "I had no clue what I wanted to do" A casual trip to an ad agency with a friend who was to give a copy test turned into a career. While her friend didn't get the job, Shormishta got the job of copywriter in HTA (what is...

Not much has been written about women's cricket. The Fire Burns Blue is a book that seeks to turn the tide and bring the evolution of women's cricket to the fore. Thoroughly researched and beautifully written, the book goes behind the scenes of women's cricket in India. On more than one occasion, it seemed as though women's cricket had turned a corner. But the last year, where the women's team did...

Venkat Iyer left a well-paying corporate job to turn full-time organic farmer. He chronicled his experiences in a delightful book called Moong over Microchips. This episode was eye-opening in more ways than one. Things we discussed:  a) His decision to quit corporate life and dive headlong into farming  b) The differences between city and village life  c) How the farm laws proposed...

Sai Ganesh and a few of his friends wanted to make quizzing more accessible and fun. Over numerous rounds of drinks, they came up with the idea for India Wants to Know - India's first panel quiz show. In this episode we speak about:  a) Quizzing evolving over the years  b) How access to information means everyone can be a quizzer  c) How India wants to Know is different from your re...

Madhavi Das quit her corporate job to start Bamboo Tribe, a sustainable fashion brand. But the garment industry is a tough place for outsiders. After 3 years, she inched back into corporate life. In this episode, we speak about: a. The reason for her quitting her well-paying job to get into the garment industry  b. The people she had to deal with  c. The additional skillsets she had to p...

Vinay Prashant worked for 18 years in the corporate sector before jumping headlong into the social sector. He co-founded Tamaala, an enterprise that works to promote and sustain rural art forms. In this episode, we speak about: a) Why rural art forms are dying b) Why do people migrate from villages c) The loss of skillsets after artisans move to the city d) How Tamaala is trying to bridge historic...

In times of crisis, people always turn to leaders for direction. It's also a testing time for leaders.  We have seen some heads of state mislead their people and make false proclamations. At the same time, few leaders have emerged as torchbearers in crisis management. Srijata Bhatnagar has made a career being a guide and mentor to leaders. She believes that leadership is a skill, not some inb...

The Covid 19 virus has brought the world to its knees. While there is a lot of information (and misinformation) going around, I wanted to delve a little deeper into this crisis and understand viruses better. Dr. Ananya Tupaki is a microbiologist with a keen interest in infectious diseases. Here are some of the things we cover in this episode: - How do medical professionals know that they are battl...

Sustainable is trending.  But what does it really mean?  Most of us don't really think about our consumption patterns, especially since buying just requires the click of a button.  It's just easier to buy instead of taking the trouble to upcycle or consume less.  Shailaja quit her corporate job to begin Rimagined, an organization dedicated to upcycling. Now, upcycling and recyc...

Kunj was an advertising creative director who quit her full-time job to follow her varied passions that include travel and cooking. Today, she takes up select projects, travels, and has already hosted two food pop-ups. In a world where everyone wants to be a digital nomad and influencer, I sat down with Kunj to ask her what exactly it is like to live off the grid. Is it all about working on top of...

I'm not sure when it hit me. It must have been at one of those soulless office parties where the high point was the gossip. Don't pinch me. I wish I could sleep through this. Seriously. What was I even doing there? There's got to be more to life and work than this. You know those conversations you have with people that stir your imagination and make you believe that anything is possible? Exchanges...