The Indianness Podcast | Insights from Indian Business Leaders, Indian Founders & High-Performing Indian Americans

In this episode, Sanjay Puri speaks with Rahul Roy Chowdhury, former CEO of Grammarly and one of the key leaders behind Google Chrome. From Calcutta to Silicon Valley, Rahul shares a non-linear journey shaped by curiosity, bold pivots, and building products that impact billions. They explore his early bets on AI, lessons from working with Sundar Pichai, navigating the rise of ChatGPT, and why comm...

Bhaskar Chakravorti’s journey spans St. Stephen's College, Bell Labs, McKinsey & Company, and The Fletcher School at Tufts University — shaping global thinking on AI and digital transformation. In this episode, Bhaskar Chakravorti shares insights on policy, “Small AI,” and why real change goes beyond logic into human context. A sharp, thoughtful take on the future of technology, economies, and...

On this episode of the Indianness Podcast , host Sanjay Puri speaks with Bhaskar Chakravorti about his remarkable journey from Delhi to global academia and policy. From Bell Labs and McKinsey & Company to building the Digital Evolution Index at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, he reflects on technology, leadership, and global change. Chakravorti also shares why digital inclusion and “S...

In this special compilation episode of The Indianers Podcast , we bring together the most moving moments from our conversations with remarkable Indians across the diaspora. From career-defining failures to breakthrough reinventions, these stories go beyond success — revealing what it truly takes to build a life abroad while carrying home within you.

In this deeply inspiring episode, we sit down with Ram Sareen, CEO and Founder of TUKA Group (TUKATECH)—a pioneering force in global fashion technology and the man behind one of the world’s most influential CAD-CAM apparel software companies. Born in India and raised in a family of garment manufacturers, Ram’s journey is anything but conventional. After immigrating to the United States, he washed...

In this deeply inspiring episode, we sit down with  Ram Sareen ,  CEO and Founder of TUKA Group (TUKATECH) —a pioneering force in global  fashion technology  and the man behind one of the world’s most influential  CAD-CAM apparel software companies .  Born in India and raised in a family of garment manufacturers, Ram’s journey is anything but conventional. After immig...

In this episode of  The Indianness Podcast , host  Sanjay   Puri  sits down with  Dr. Soumitra Dutta , Founding Dean of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and creator of the  Global Innovation Index  and  Network Readiness Index . Dr. Dutta’s journey from academia to global leadership has been defined by innovation, impact, and a vision for digital...

What does it take to rise from an average student to becoming a visionary CFO in healthcare? In this in-depth conversation, Parinda Gandhi opens up about her extraordinary journey on the Indianness Podcast .  Early struggles & immigrant family life in Cleveland.  The importance of parental influence on spirituality, culture, and education.  How she turned setbacks—like being und...

Prof. Priyamvada Natarajan joins the Indianness Podcast for a cosmic conversation on science, curiosity, and the invisible universe.   In this powerful episode:  Learn how Priyamvada mapped the first dark matter models and studied black hole formation  Discover her journey from a curious child in Coimbatore to Chair of Astronomy at Yale  Understand the deeper meaning behind sci...

Join us on the Indianness Podcast with Alok Sama as he revisits:  A life of 17-hour workdays, massive mergers, and global finance  Deep personal reflections on mortality, regret, and missed phone calls  How a cadaver at age 10 turned him away from medicine forever  Lessons in failure—from cricket to startups—and how they shaped his resilience  The moment he realized his so...

Join us in this episode of the Indianness Podcast as we explore Sonia Vora's inspiring journey—from her immigrant upbringing in Detroit to becoming the Chief Strategy Officer of a mental wellness company and CHRO of the Gates Foundation.  💡 What you’ll learn:  How Sonia’s parents shaped her values through resilience and empathy  Her pivot from finance to HR, integrating AI and huma...

Indianness Podcast: Harini Gopalakrishnan on Learning, Integrity, and Career Growth   🎧 How does integrity and a strong foundation shape career success? In this engaging episode of the Indianness Podcast, Sanjay Puri interviews Harini Gopalakrishnan , CTO for Life Sciences at Snowflake. Harini reflects on her career journey, from her early days in Chennai to becoming a leader in healthcare t...

In this episode of the Indianness Podcast , we sit down with Anjana Harve , EVP & CIO at BJ’s Wholesale Club , to explore the intersection of leadership, innovation, and digital transformation. With a career spanning multiple industries, she shares insights on navigating AI advancements, leading global teams, and fostering an inclusive tech culture.   💡 Key Takeaways:   ✔ How to dri...

In this episode, Dr. Pradeep Khosla reflects on his career, the role of mentorship, and the importance of embracing challenges. Learn how his Indian roots influenced his approach to leadership and innovation in the U.S. education system.   Resources Mentioned:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/pradeepkhosla/   https://chancellor.ucsd.edu/about/about-the-chancellor/index.html   htt...

On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha , Founder and Trustee at Ashoka University , Founding Dean of ISB, Founder of Harappa Education and President at upGrad . Dr. Sinha is a visionary leader in education and entrepreneurship. He has reshaped higher education in India and is now setting his sights on the entire world. Dr. Sinha shares how his upbringing, his father and his sisters’...

On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ashish Jha , former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health . Dr. Jha shares his inspiring journey from growing up in a small village in Bihar, India, to being asked by the President of the United States to join his administration. He also opens up about facing racism in high school and how support at Col...

Community is the foundation on which success is built. A strong support network opens opportunities and helps us overcome even the most challenging adversity.  On this episode, I’m joined by Mamta Patel Nagaraja , Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration , to explore her unconventional journey from a small town in Texas...

On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ruchir Puri , Chief Scientist of IBM Research, IBM Fellow, and Vice President of IBM Technology & Technical Community. Dr. Puri shares his journey from Kurukshetra’s National Institute of Technology to spearheading innovations at IBM, reflecting on how his early fascination with electronics and mathematics shaped his career. It’s a story of passion, persevera...

Success is not a straight line; it's about seizing opportunities and learning at every step.  In this episode, I’m joined by Raju Narisetti , Leader, Global Publishing at McKinsey & Company . Raju’s 33-year career spans media and publishing across continents, from launching Mint in India to The Wall Street Journal. His unconventional journey from Hyderabad to leading global media is a testam...

Community is the foundation on which success is built. A strong support network opens opportunities and helps us overcome even the most challenging adversity. In this episode, I’m joined by Sonalee Parekh , Chief Financial Officer of RingCentral , a large software company. Sonalee has held leadership roles at Hewlett Packard, served on several boards and has over a 20-year career on Wall Street. K...

Community is the foundation on which success is built. A strong support network opens opportunities and helps us overcome even the most challenging adversity. On this episode, I’m joined by Prem Natarajan , Chief Scientist, EVP, and Head of Enterprise Data and AI at Capital One, to explore his journey from Chennai to leading AI initiatives at a major financial services company. Key Takeaways: (00:...

Success in the business world often hinges on one’s ability to solve problems and navigate challenges. This week, I’m joined by Shruti Gandhi, General Partner and Founding Engineer of Array Ventures and Commissioner of the San Francisco Employees' Retirement System. Shruti shares her inspiring journey from working at IBM to leading a venture capital firm focused on enterprise data startups. Key Ta...

On this episode, I’m joined by Dhireesha Kudithipudi , Founding Director of the MATRIX AI Consortium and Director of the Neuromorphic AI Lab at the University of Texas, San Antonio . Dhireesha shares insights from her journey, which began in a small village in India and has led her to the forefront of developing energy-efficient AI systems that mimic the human brain. Key Takeaways: (00:11) The imp...

Taking chances and learning from new experiences can lead to incredible personal and professional growth. Embracing change and stepping out of one's comfort zone are keys to continual success. On this episode, I’m joined by Sowmya Gottipati , Head of Global Supply Chain Technology of Estée Lauder Companies , for an inspiring discussion on her journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Ke...

On this episode, Kedar Deshpande , former CEO of Zappos and Groupon , joins me to share his insights on leadership, entrepreneurship and redefining success. Kedar’s perspective on curiosity and questioning the status quo has led him to make a significant impact in various sectors. Key Takeaways: (01:02) The importance of looking for disproportionate impact. (04:33) Redefining success: it’s about t...