The xMonks Drive

Discover the balcony view great leaders need. Edward Morrison joins us to share insider tips on mastering the balancing act. We spill secrets on motivating teams, solving thorny problems, and aligning strategy. Dive into decentralizing leadership without losing alignment. And find out why vision statements flop at inspiring people. Plus Edward’s wisdom from the executive trenches. All this and mor...

Nothing happens without people. In this episode, superconnector Judy Robinett shares why relationships are the foundation for success. Judy explains how she moved beyond transactional "networking" to build genuine bonds that enrich both parties. She stresses the importance of listening with empathy and finding shared values. Reflecting on her journey, Judy traces the link between her chi...

How to Create Belonging in a World of Suffering In this episode, Gaurav talks to Jerry Colonna, the CEO of Reboot.io and a renowned executive coach, about how to deal with the heartbreak and violence that pervades our world. Jerry shares his insights on how our ancestors, our spiritual traditions, and our own self-awareness can help us create a sense of belonging with ourselves and others. He chal...

How can somebody be 110 percent consumed?  Today’s guest is one of those people who is such a deep thinker, that just one episode with him was not enough.  He is Ramkumar Narayan, theVP Technology and Managing Director of VMWare India, a leading industry voice with a knack to breakdown tech in laymen terms.  In this episode, we're going to talk about how technology is changing the world, how...

How many times have you struggled to get your message across, to understand what someone else is saying, or to deal with a conflict or a misunderstanding?  How many times have you wished you could communicate better, clearer, and more effectively? If you can relate to any of these situations, then this episode is for you.  Our guest, Benjamin Guttmann, is a renowned expert in the field, and they&a...

We have crossed the point of NO RETURN! This Earth we are living on, we have ignored its cry for help. What happened to us? We used to be able to talk to plants, animals and nature.  When did we lose that bond with Mother Nature? Have we forgotten that nobody else is coming to our rescue?  A quick disclaimer, I really don't know how to describe our today’s guest, or even brief you about this...

Join us for a casual chat with Sanjeev Bhikhchandani, the man behind Naukri.com and a lot more. In this episode, he spills the beans on how it all started. Back in '97, he was just an average guy taking small steps as an entrepreneur. Naukri.com was just one of those ideas, but it turned out to be a game-changer. He tells us how luck played its part, but it was also about hard work and smart...

Today we are going to meet someone who has shaped the way we work and lead in the 21st century, Gary Boles, the co-founder of eParachute, and the author of The Next Rules of Work  Gary is also a frequent keynote speaker and workshop leader on the future of work, learning, and career development.  In this episode, we will talk about Gary’s personal journey of finding his purpose, his insights on ho...

Today, we've got a heavy hitter in the world of leadership with us. Greg Settle. He is a world-class expert on leadership and transformational change.  Greg has helped hundreds of organizations across the globe navigate complex and disruptive changes. A Lecturer at Wharton, accomplished entrepreneur, global executive and one of the foremost experts on transformation and change today, Greg hel...

Take a moment to think about the ideas of masculinity you have grown up with. How do they affect your life and the men around you?   Our guest today comes with a mission to break down these norms. Jindy Mann everyone. A coach and mentor. And facilitator who works with men to help them discover and express their authentic masculinity. This conversation is for everyone, not just men. Help this episo...

Are visionaries born? Are they built? Can any everyday Joe or Jane become a visionary? That's the curveball I throw Justin right off the bat. His answer? Well, Justin's got a thing or two to say about that. Justin is not your typical PR guy. He is a visionary who sees things differently and helps others do the same. He has a knack for finding and telling stories that resonate with the me...

From the streets of Nizamabad, India, to Silicon Valley, we were taken on the journey of Raju Reddy's evolution from employee to entrepreneur, the pivotal role of mentorship, and the power of giving back. This episode brings you to the epicentre of the power India holds. Raju draws a vision of where rural India will be the greatest job creators in the world. And in this quest, we cracked the...

Sally starts her tale – women with amazing skills, entering workplaces big time. But guess what? These skills rarely hit the strategic and leadership radars. Hold on, swish sound – ah, got your attention now? Sally's lightbulb moment hits – great ideas from women get lost in the corporate hubbub. Aha, and that's how she steps into the world of women's leadership. Fast forward, and S...

Not all stories are true.  Not all stories are helpful. Not all stories are healthy.  Some stories are distorted, some stories are incomplete, some stories are harmful. Some stories are holding us back, some stories are hurting us, some stories are killing us. In this episode, Raj Sisodia and I confront the stories that we have been telling ourselves about life and work. He reveals the traumas tha...

The OG Rags To Riches Story of Greg Beebe! Today, I want to take you on a journey of discovery, of wonder, of curiosity.  I want to show you how ordinary people can do extraordinary things, how they can overcome adversity, find meaning, and inspire others. I want to ask them not only what happened, but how it felt.  My guest today is Greg, a man who has lived many lives in one. He was born in a po...

What made Rishad say this? In the period of AI transition do we have to worry about being dead inside? Rishad Ahmed is an accomplished executive coach, speaker, trainer and author. As an AI Transition Specialist, he has a passion for helping individuals and organizations thrive in the age of AI. With a deep understanding of ancient principles and a focus on developing a new form of intelligence, R...

In today's episode, I bring to you, not just a conversation but a *LEADERSHIP * SIMPLIFIED * MASTERCLASS* with none other than Mr T V Narendran, the CEO and MD of Tata Steel.   Someone who inspires me and I have great admiration for.  So naturally I was curious about his leadership style, the challenges he faced, and meeting the expectation of keeping up with the legacy. If you liked this epi...

The man, the myth to the legend is with us today and he is popularly known as The Happiness Guru, Srikumar Rao. He tells that the biggest illusion we have is Maya. It has been tricking us.  Why is Maya the cosmic illusion we have been chasing?  Find out on this episode of xMonks Drive. Srikumar Rao enlightens us about the biggest illusion that has been playing tricks on us all - Maya. Ah, yes, May...

As much as professional relationships matter for an organisation, it also impacts our own health, job-satisfaction and overall well-being. They affect how we work, how we feel, and how we grow.  And what are those early signs of a toxic workplace?  Obviously, we don't want to create it. We don't want to stay in that rut. As leaders, we are always trying to make our workplace better, our...

Today, I am joined by Rusty Gaillard, a remarkable individual who formerly held the esteemed position of worldwide director of finance at Apple. But here's the kicker: Rusty realized that despite all the glitz and glamour, something was off. Deep down, he knew he wasn't living the life he truly wanted. So, he did something totally mind-blowing. He walked away from it all, leaving behind...

Buckle up for an epic ride on xMonks Drive!  Get ready to dive headfirst into history as we chat with the incredible Paul Kix, author of the mind-blowing book, "You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live: Ten Weeks in Birmingham That Changed America."  Brace yourself for the unfiltered truth about the groundbreaking 1963 Birmingham Campaign that flipped the script on the...

Rhett's about to spill the tea on how to crack that elusive Fortune 500 code. Oh, and get this—Rhett's gonna take us on a wild ride, battling it out between our inner voice and intuition.  He also exposes the truth about how he listens to his inner voice and intuition, and how he avoids filling his mind with junk.  But wait, there's a twist! We've been sleeping on accountabilit...

Mohandas Pai is here to drop some truth bombs: nobody gives a darn about you! Yep, that's right.  The world keeps spinning, whether you're the next superstar or just a couch potato.  But don’t worry, he’s not here to crush your dreams. He’s here to show you how to be the best in your field without being arrogant, how to believe in your country and your people, and how to create a lasting...

Ever wondered what it’s like to run seven marathons in seven continents? Yeah, us too. That’s why we invited Satish Shenoy, an advisor, author, speaker and runner who did that.  But that's not all! Our chat with Satish takes an unexpected turn as we explore the world of AI (that's artificial intelligence, folks). We all know it's everywhere, from Netflix to the latest tech gadgets....

When purpose becomes the very exact reason we are stuck.!! Yeah! Let that sink in.  What are the other truths that haunt us in the middle of our lives, when we realize that we have not lived up to our expectations, or that we have lived too much by them? In this episode, I talk to R Anand, a man who has asked himself these questions, and who has found some answers through experiments of his own. ...