The xMonks Drive

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. ...

Are You Being a Good Ancestor? Raju Narisetti poses this intriguing question, while urging us to reflect on our role in shaping the future.  In this episode on xMonks Drive, Narisetti, former journalist and presently Leader, Global Publishing at McKinsey & Company sheds light on the trust crisis in journalism and the perception that it can be bought and sold. He emphasizes the importance of co...

In this episode of xMonks Drive, listeners are invited to delve into the complexities of the human experience through the lens of one man's inspiring journey. Through the conversation with former CEO of Indus Towers and expert leadership advisor, Shantharaju B S, we are reminded of the power of resilience and the importance of authenticity in leadership. But beyond the lessons on success, thi...

Looking for inspiration in all the wrong places? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Join us on our latest podcast episode, "Finding Inspiration in the Ordinary," as we chat with mindfulness leadership guru, Hari TN.  We'll explore how being aware of our own biases can actually help us find inspiration in the everyday moments of life. So, let's get ready to embrace ou...

You know what's the worst thing we humans do? We take things for granted.  We forget how fragile life is and act like we're entitled to everything. But this episode is here to remind us of the reality. But what happens when those good things are taken away from us? When life throws us a curveball that we never saw coming? That's when we're forced to confront our own mortality,...

Investing can be a tricky game, and despite our best efforts to make rational decisions, emotions often come into play. Fear and greed can cloud our judgment and lead to bad investment decisions.  But it's not all bad news! In this session, we'll explore why we make these mistakes and how our minds influence our money. Drawing on insights from behavioral economics and psychology, we&apos...

Did you know that over 80% of small businesses in India are self-funded and lack access to formal credit? That's a staggering figure that highlights the challenges faced by micro-business owners in getting the financial support they need to grow and thrive. But our guest today, Deepak Kothari, is changing that. He co-founded ftcash, a company that's using technology to create a new model...

As we kick off this brand-new season, I can feel the excitement bubbling up inside me! With a remarkable ability to speak comfortably in front of audiences, our guest Ramkumar's story is filled with invaluable lessons on personal growth, exploring different perspectives, and stepping into unknown territories. You'll also hear about his journey from entrepreneurship to corporate, and how...

It's time for Season 2 of The xMonks Drive!🎙️ Get ready to indulge in a world full of captivating stories and intriguing conversations. While Season 1 focused on the WHY, Season 2 is all about the HOW. 💡 Our latest season is packed with stories that will move you, challenge your perspectives, and inspire you to chase your dreams. From leaders who faced challenges head-on, to dreamers who dar...

It is the grand finale episode. It has to be a banger!  So here we present the Unscripted and Unfiltered Gaurav Arora, taking the heat of the spotlight.  Listen to him going off the record about his journey, getting real about his lows, his all-time favourite philosophies, his reason behind choosing 108 and baring his vulnerable side while also spilling some beans along the way!  Know Gaurav - Up,...

TW: Discussions on Assualt And Trauma In this episode of The xMonks Drive, we hear from Karen, a survivor of assault, who shares her story of strength, resilience, and forgiveness.  Today's episode is a powerful one as we explore the concept of forgiveness after trauma. We are honoured to have Karen, a survivor of sexual assault, share her story and message of hope with us.  This episode is a...

How often have you drifted from your awareness, without being attentive to it? Have you ever heard of the No-Opponent mindset of Aikido? Can we imbibe the same in our leadership values? This beautiful conversation with Grayson James is for all those curious pathmakers, who are here to break the conventional thread.  About Grayson James Grayson James is the esteemed CEO and Founder of Grayson James...

As a coach, motivational speaker or in any role where you are trying to persuade someone, it's common to come across statements like "I can't do it" or "I don't have enough time/money/resources".  The natural reaction is to try and counter this statement with a disagreement frame, by saying things like "Yes, you can do it" or "It doesn't cost...

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with guest Dave Ulrich, a leading expert in management, as we explore the theme of "Abundance in Uncertainty."  In this episode, we delve into the power of uncertainty and how we can harness it, the role of identity in uncertain times, and the elements that contribute to a sense of abundance in people and organizations. With insights on embrac...

The layoff paradox is an engaging but challenging topic to tackle.  In a world where more and more companies are facing the need to reduce costs by cutting jobs, it is important to understand who is affected the most and who stands to gain from these layoffs.  On the bright side, we have LinkedIn's #1 Career Coach on the latest episode, to explore the nuances of the layoff paradox to understa...

In this episode, we’re talking about a topic that is crucial for all leaders - having a strong second-in-command! We’re thrilled to have Cameron Herold, a former COO and business coach, join us as our guest. With over 1,000 entrepreneurs and CEOs under his belt, Cameron has a wealth of knowledge to share on this topic. We’ll be discussing everything from what qualities to look for in a potential s...

Listen to #1 Executive Coach Marshall Goldsmith on xMonks Drive podcast. If you're looking for a new way to get inspired and motivated, this is it! Marshall Goldsmith is an executive coach who has worked with the CEOs of some of the world's biggest companies. His books have sold over 5 million copies worldwide, and he has been named as "the #1 Executive Coach in the world". In...