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

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 technology. 📌 Topics Covered: The impact of growing up in a joint family How her grandmother’s lessons on integrity shaped her career The value of foundational knowledge in professional success Why saying "no" can build more trust than saying "yes" How continuous learning and adaptability are key to career longevity 🚀 Watch now to learn how Harini’s approach to integrity and learning drives her success!  Resources Mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harinigopalakrishnan/  ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 - Podcast Episode Highlights   1:05 - Harini’s early life: Born in Kerala, raised in Chennai, bilingual roots, and joint family upbringing.   2:05 - Emphasis on education and gender equality in her family.   3:03 - Memories of grandparents and their influence (moral values, music lessons).   4:03 - Learning veena and lifelong lessons from foundational skills.   5:15 - Career advice: Importance of foundational knowledge and adaptability.   7:34 - Balancing passion vs. practicality in career choices.   10:14 - Transition to college: Networking, curiosity, and cultural adaptability.   13:05 - Discussing integrity and saying "no" in professional settings.   17:38 - Choosing computer science: Pragmatism and societal expectations.   20:07 - Undergrad experience: Fun vs. academic rigor, soft skills.   24:27 - First job at Cognizant: Corporate challenges and self-discovery.   30:01 - Pursuing a master’s in bioinformatics: Risk-taking and career pivots.   34:06 - Career inflection points: Moving to tech, international exposure.   39:56 - Working in Europe and cultural adaptability lessons.   46:04 - Leadership style influenced by Indian values (integrity, customer focus).   50:10 - Failures and resilience: Returning to India post-master’s.   53:44 - Role of mentors: Grandmother, professors, and customer guidance.   55:34 - Lightning round: Coffee lover, remote work preference, intuition over data.

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 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pradeep_Khosla 

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 Columbia University helped shape his dual identity and career.Key Takeaways: (03:01) Dr. Jha’s childhood memories in Bihar.(08:51) The great unknown of moving to Canada. (17:11) The move to New Jersey and the harsh reality of facing racism.(19:25) Facing a high school teacher who told him to change his name.(25:47) Learning to embrace both his Indian and American identities.(38:59) The President’s invitation to join the White House as COVID-19 Response Coordinator.(40:00) The privilege of working in the West Wing as an Indian immigrant.(41:25) The value of building and maintaining meaningful relationships.(42:34) Why service is one of the most enriching experiences in life.Resources Mentioned:Dr. Ashish Jha -https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashish-jha-b9aab41/Columbia University -https://www.columbia.eduBrown University School of Public Health -https://graduateprograms.brown.edu/graduate-program/public-health-mph?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=MPH&utm_content=traffic&creative=613468509292&keyword=brown%20university%20masters%20in%20public%20health&matchtype=b&network=g&device=c&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwreW2BhBhEiwAavLwfLqUIDqHZqKhWapyYPIskdsJHEW872WYuwCVEI0U4PObifvPrFTEdxoCRUIQAvD_BwEHarvard Medical School -https://hms.harvard.eduUniversity of Toronto -https://www.utoronto.caWorld Health Organization (WHO) -https://www.who.intThanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show. #Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness

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, perseverance and profound impact. Key Takeaways:(00:11) Contributing new knowledge rather than just absorbing information is crucial.(01:22) Early life experiences in a university campus environment.(04:18) The significance of a safe and stimulating childhood in shaping future leaders.(16:35) A love for mathematics and logical problem-solving shaped Dr. Puri’s academic and professional trajectory.(33:02) Dr. Puri’s passion for electronics and building things from an early age guided his career choices.(49:21) The importance of having mentors and role models in shaping one’s career and personal growth.(53:32) Success is defined by contributing to a body of knowledge and having a respected, credible standing in one’s field.(01:02:45) Focus on the work itself rather than the results to achieve excellence.(01:04:10) The role of mentors, including family members and colleagues, is indispensable in achieving success.Resources Mentioned:Dr. Ruchir Puri - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchir-puri-b117021a/IBM Research - https://research.ibm.comNIT Kurukshetra - https://nitkkr.ac.inIIT Kanpur - https://www.iitk.ac.inThanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show. #Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness

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.Key Takeaways:(02:29) Growing up in a mixed-race household. (05:32) Visiting India for the first time was a culture shock. (12:30) The influence of her resilient grandmother. (17:17) How her father’s forward-thinking nature shaped her. (35:25) Achieving early success in her career.(37:22) The impact moving to London had on her career. (45:47) The importance of stepping outside your comfort zone.(46:10) The value of pushing oneself to be uncomfortable. (47:32) The strategic selection of mentors.(50:59) Feeling at home in the Silicon Valley community.Resources Mentioned:Sonalee Parekh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonaleeparekh/RingCentral | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ringcentral/Hewlett Packard Enterprise - https://www.hpe.com/us/en/home.htmlRingCentral | Website - https://www.ringcentral.comGoldman Sachs - https://www.goldmansachs.comBarclays Capital - https://home.barclaysThanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show. #Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness

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 Takeaways:(00:02) Career progression at IBM to the CEO chairman’s office.(00:37) Finding a home and belonging in San Francisco.(00:53) The impact of Bombay’s unsafe environment on her desire to leave.(12:00) Shruti’s family’s immigration journey from India to the US.(23:39) Reverse engineering venture-backed companies.(31:29) Passion for venture capital and setting an example.(34:41) Guiding principle: “My life is my message.”(37:00) Finding alternative outlets to thrive.Resources Mentioned:Shruti Gandhi - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrutigandhi/Array Ventures - https://www.linkedin.com/company/array-ventures/IBM - https://www.ibm.com/Thanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show. #Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness

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.Key Takeaways:(00:53) The importance of taking risks and avoiding life on autopilot. (05:10) The need to constantly seek growth and learning. (07:27) The challenges of adapting to new environments during childhood. (12:45) The significance of pursuing higher education abroad. (21:30) The role of supportive parents in career development. (25:30) The desire to break traditional molds and seek freedom. (30:10) Embracing new opportunities at Estée Lauder. (35:20) The impact of creating a culture of joy in the workplace. (42:00) The complexities of holding both an Indian and American identity. (47:55) Encouraging more women in technology and leadership roles. (51:45) Avoiding career plateaus and seeking continual growth. (54:30) Blending Indian and American cultures for future generations.Resources Mentioned:Sowmya Gottipati - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sowmyagottipati/Estée Lauder Companies - https://www.elcompanies.com/Columbia Business School - https://business.columbia.edu/about-usThanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show. #Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness