Portraits of Strength

In this episode, Harry sits down with Sarika Nayak — IT professional, Bollywood dance instructor, community builder, and mother to Ranch, her son on the autism spectrum. Born and raised in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Sarika has been dancing since she was three years old, training for over a decade in the classical Indian dance form Odissi under a guru who shaped not just her art but her spirit. Now roote...

Guest: Suha Lingam — Managing Principal of Digi Trunk, former digital marketing leader at Studio McGee, Intermountain Healthcare, Zale Jewellers, and Claire's. MBA from BYU, digital marketing training from Cornell. Survivor of domestic abuse and someone who chose to rebuild life entirely on her own terms. Episode Summary: Suha's story begins long before the boardroom. Born in Sri Lanka, ra...

What does it look like to build a thriving company in a male-dominated industry, stay grounded in your identity, and still make time to dance? Rajyalakshmi Kola — co-founder of Sunworks Energy, IIT Madras and Virginia Tech alumna, and a force in India's renewable energy sector — joins Portraits of Strength for a conversation that is equal parts grounding and inspiring. With over 12 years of experi...

Dr. Madhavi Manchi Nukala (Maddy) — Sociologist, Researcher & Human Ethics Manager What does it mean to stay rooted in who you are when life keeps uprooting you? In this episode, Harry sits down with Dr. Madhavi Manchi Nukala ~ sociologist, researcher, fierce advocate for social justice, and self-described "politely persistent" human being. Born into a Telugu-speaking family that mov...

What does it look like to rise to the director level in one of the most male-dominated industries in the world — while navigating motherhood, imposter syndrome, and life as a woman of color in Utah? In this episode, Harry the Anecdotist sits down with Sai Mounika Potti, Director of Product and Test Engineering at Texas Instruments in Lehi, Utah, for a conversation that is as honest as it is inspir...

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, host Harry reconnects with his childhood friend Dr. AJ — a relationship that goes all the way back to their school days at Nasr School in Hyderabad, India. What unfolds is part reunion, part masterclass in resilience, identity, and the power of self-belief. Dr. AJ shares her journey from a vibrant childhood in South India, to immigrating to th...

Episode Summary In this powerful episode, Dr. Chelsea Shields shares her journey from growing up in a large Mormon family to becoming an anthropologist who bridges science, strategy, and human behavior. She discusses her dual PhD in biological and cultural anthropology, her groundbreaking work on the placebo effect in West Africa, and her role in the Mormon feminist movement that changed 86 out of...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Portraits of Strength! Join host Harry in an intimate conversation with Lavanya Mahate, a celebrated restaurateur, entrepreneur, and community leader who has redefined success on her own terms. From a childhood in India where the kitchen became her safe haven, to building a restaurant empire in Utah, Lavana shares her journey of resilience, self-discovery, and t...

Strength doesn’t always look the way you think it does.