In this episode of the Second Innings podcast, hosts Atul & Suman talk to Anil Nair to explore his journey from a successful career in advertising to founding Goodwind Moto Tours, a premium motorcycle touring company. Anil shares his early influences, the challenges he faced in his career, and the importance of self-awareness and purpose in making significant life transitions. He emphasizes the need to embrace the unknown and the value of personal growth through experiences, ultimately leading to his passion for motorcycling and helping others.Anil Sadasivan Nair is the co-founder of Goodwind Moto Tours, a premium motorcycle touring company from India. GMT is the pioneer in premium motorcycle tours taking Indian riders to exotic routes in Europe, Africa and Asia. He also serves as the co-founder and executive director of Hyper-ready Technologies, an AI technology firm. Apart from these two he holds board positions in various companies, including Kalyan Jewelers and Candere.With 27 years of experience in advertising, Anil's last role in advertising was CEO and managing partner at L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, a leading global advertising agency from where he retired in 2020. He was also a member of the global leadership board for Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide.In addition to his professional achievements, Anil authored "License to Fall," which shares insights from motorcycling about living life on one's own terms. The book is available on Amazon and in select bookstores. Anil is married to Arati Nair, an avid trekker who teaches social skills and English to children from less privileged backgrounds for the NGO Angel Express in Mumbai. He is a father to a young lady pursuing her master's degree in digital marketing and social media at the University of Dublin, Ireland.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction to Second Innings Podcast

00:02:12 Anil Nair's Early Life and Background

00:03:14 Transition to Mumbai and Early Career

00:04:10 Passion for Cricket and Its Impact

00:05:10 Injury and Career Shift

00:05:30 Discovering Advertising and Marketing

00:06:31 Family Influence and Motorcycling Passion

00:07:44 The Journey to Mumbai and Dreams of Motorcycles

00:15:49 The Challenge of Acquiring a Bike

00:18:06 Balancing Passion and Career in Advertising

00:20:07 The Near-Fatal Crash and Its Impact

00:21:48 The Decision to Buy Another Bike

00:23:22 Transitioning from Bikes to Cars

00:24:19 The Influence of Advertising on Passion

00:26:24 The Birth of an Agency

00:28:18 Navigating Success and Challenges in Advertising

00:30:49 The Desire for Independence

00:33:22 The Journey to Founding a New Agency

00:36:32 The Leap of Faith: Starting A New Agency

00:38:40 Navigating Risks and Rewards in Entrepreneurship

00:41:46 Financial Preparedness: The Reality of Starting Up

00:46:43 Building a Legacy: From Agency to Impact

00:48:27 Passion Meets Purpose: The Birth of Goodwind Riding

00:55:10 Self-Justification and Truth

00:58:47 The Race of Life: Running Your Own Race

00:58:57 The Journey of Writing a Book

01:01:51 Lessons from Motorcycling: Metaphors for Life

01:08:38 Reflections on the Journey: What Would You Change?

01:08:57 Advice for Transitioning: Start with Why

In this episode, hosts Atul S Nath and Suman Ghose engage in a conversation with Navyug Mohnot, a seasoned entrepreneur and life design coach. They explore Navyug's journey from his early life experiences, shaped by his father's career with the United Nations, to his education at IIT and his eventual transition into entrepreneurship. The discussion delves into the concept of 'Designing Your Life', emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, vulnerability, and intrinsic motivation in navigating life's challenges and opportunities. The conversation concludes with reflections on identity, the importance of chipping away at life's complexities, and the value of embracing both success and failure as part of the journey.

Navyug is the CEO of QAI, a transnational Process Improvement consulting organisation, and the Founder and CEO of QGLUE, a consulting, coaching, and training company that helps enterprises and individuals adopt and embrace the ‘design-led way’ to foster innovation and success.

Navyug’s passion for all things “design” led him serendipitously to the celebrated Stanford book and offering “Designing Your Life”. Navyug is a Stanford- trained “Designing Your Life” (DYL) Coach, Facilitator, and Educator for Universities, and brought the renowned program to India for the first time as Visiting Faculty at Ashoka University and at the Indian School of Business.

Navyug did his B.Tech from IIT Delhi and received the “Outstanding Contribution to National Development” award from the IIT Delhi Alumni Association. He pursued a Fellowship for a PhD program in the USA. He dropped out to pursue his dream of returning to contribute to the globalisation of the then-nascent Indian IT Industry.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction to Second Innings Podcast

00:03:16 Navyug Mohnot's Early Life and Influences

00:11:55 Navigating Education and Career Choices

00:17:20 The Concept of Accidents in Life

00:24:17 Finding Balance Between Decisiveness and Fluidity

00:29:52 Understanding Personal Values and Decision Making

00:31:42 Aligning Values and Purpose in Organizations

00:34:21 The Importance of Self-Reflection and Core Values

00:36:20 Embracing Failure and Learning from Mistakes

00:40:00 Transitioning from QAI to Life Design

00:45:52 The Power of Aha Moments and Self-Awareness

00:49:57 Navigating the Dichotomy of Life

00:54:57 Navigating Emotional Challenges in New Ventures

00:58:23 The Value of Effort Over Outcome

00:59:30 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

01:03:45 Life by Design vs. Default

01:04:12 Building a Portfolio of Identities

01:07:32 Reflections on Past Choices

01:10:11 Advice for Different Life Stages

Hosts Atul S Nath and Suman Ghose engage in a conversation with a person who has scaled Mt Everest - Hemant Soreng, an adventurer, entrepreneur, and author. Hemant shares his inspiring journey from a middle-class upbringing in Delhi to climbing Mount Everest and starting his own travel company, Rustic Travel. The discussion covers his early influences, the emotional challenges of entrepreneurship, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures. Hemant emphasizes the importance of taking risks, staying hungry, and embracing experiences as a way to grow personally and professionally.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Second Innings Podcast01:54 Meet Hemant Soreng: The Adventurer02:10 Early Life and Influences06:43 Transition to Engineering and MBA07:03 The Dot-Com Boom and Early Career11:34 Starting Up: The First Business Venture16:28 Navigating Challenges and Acquisitions18:50 Navigating Early Career Challenges21:35 The Thrill of Entrepreneurship23:45 Lessons from Personal Loss25:38 The Journey to Everest32:11 Starting Rustic Travel37:09 Reflections on Achievements and Future Aspirations44:57 The Challenges of Climbing and Descent45:34 Transitioning Between Startups47:57 The Importance of Financial Planning49:24 The Power of Commitment and Focus51:21 Navigating the Pandemic: A New Journey51:27 Reflections on Experience and Advice for Entrepreneurs

In this Reflections episode, Atul & Suman reflect on their chat with Radhika Vaz and Balaji Ramanujam. Radhika is a stand-up comedian and writer now, having worked in multiple jobs prior to that – while Balaji has worked across the Asia Pacific region building some very exciting brands and is now an ed-tech entrepreneur chasing the problem of preparing children to be entrepreneurs, inventors, original thinkers in an AI-automation driven world. They discuss the significant influence of upbringing on their paths, the importance of finding purpose and passion in their careers, and the emotional challenges faced during their entrepreneurial journeys. The conversation highlights the value of resilience, the joy of pursuing one's interests, and the realities of navigating a less structured work environment.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Guests and Their Backgrounds02:21 Influence of Upbringing on Personal Development04:42 Finding Purpose and Passion in Life07:11 Navigating Emotional Challenges in Entrepreneurship

Atul & Suman discuss the importance of self-awareness and introspection in career transitions. They reflect on Episode 17 with Vikas Tandon & Siddarth Menon - explore how recognizing personal dispositions and emotional triggers can lead to significant changes in one's professional life. The discussion highlights the challenges of navigating career paths, the fear of stepping into new roles, and the necessity of taking time for reflection to avoid burnout and stress. The episode emphasizes that awareness of one's feelings and motivations is crucial for personal growth and fulfilment in one's career.Vikas Tandon is an IIMA graduate, tried his hand at corporate jobs for the first 6-7 years, subsequently started a digital agency -Indigo Consulting. Indigo was acquired by the Publicis Groupe in 2012 after which he had the choice to continue as an Internet Entrepreneur/Leader, or pursue his first passion, Music. He chose the latter, and currently is a semi-professional musician learning music, writing original songs, and playing live.Siddarth Menon is a sales, marketing and strategy expert with over 20 years of experience. Having worked with Coca Cola & Colgate, he joined Epigamia as a founding member and helped scale it to a recognisable and well distributed brand. He is now an advisor and Consultant to Startups and works with them to build a playbook for growth.

In this episode, hosts Atul and Suman engage in a deep conversation with guests Vikas Tandon and Siddarth Menon about their career transitions and the importance of self-awareness.

Vikas is an IIMA graduate, tried his hand at corporate jobs for the first 6-7 years, subsequently started a digital agency -Indigo Consulting. Indigo was acquired by the Publicis Groupe in 2012 after which he had the choice to continue as an Internet Entrepreneur/Leader, or pursue his first passion, Music. He chose the latter, and currently is a semi-professional musician learning music, writing original songs, and playing live.

Siddarth is a sales, marketing and strategy expert with over 20 years of experience. Having worked with Coca Cola & Colgate, he joined Epigamia as a founding member and helped scale it to a recognisable and well distributed brand. He is now an advisor and Consultant to Startups and works with them to build a playbook for growth.

Vikas shares his journey from a successful corporate career & entrepreneurship to pursuing his passion for music, while Siddarth discusses his shift from a corporate leader to advising startups. The conversation explores themes of risk-taking, the power of awareness, and the relationship between passion and skill, ultimately emphasizing the significance of financial preparedness in navigating career changes.

In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of financial planning, the importance of setting goals, and the role of perseverance in entrepreneurship. They discuss the significance of partnerships in business, reflect on their past decisions, and emphasize the need for self-awareness and overcoming self-doubt. The dialogue highlights that while financial safety is essential, the journey of entrepreneurship requires adaptability, resilience, and a supportive network.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction to Second Innings Podcast

00:05:10 Vikas Tandon's Journey: From Corporate to Music

00:16:11 Siddarth Menon's Path: From Corporate Success to Startups

00:24:27 The Power of Self-Awareness in Career Transitions

00:35:42 Navigating Major Life Transitions: Vikas & Siddarth's Insights

00:39:22 The Value of Education and Risk Taking

00:42:30 Living Life on Your Own Terms

00:45:59 Understanding Personal Risk and Desperation

00:48:42 The Importance of Harmony in Life

00:52:51 Passion vs. Skill: A Misconception

00:56:13 Financial Preparation for Transitions

01:05:44 Timing and Self-Awareness in Career Changes

01:08:59 Learnings and Unlearnings from Transitions

01:15:52 The Importance of Connection and Community

01:18:15 The Value of Partnerships in Business

01:21:01 Navigating the Challenges of Finding Co-Founders

01:26:30 Reflecting on Past Decisions: What Would You Change?

01:37:08 Advice for Those Hesitant to Take the Leap

Atul & Suman's Reflections on the chat with Srikanth Sarathy, talking about his multiple career transitions and insights into his thinking and learning.

A quick bonus episode as a window into the long-form conversation with Srikanth!

Srikanth has over 20 years of leadership and organizational building experience across advertising, digital, media & entertainment, consumer engagement and leadership development Walt Disney & Leo Burnett, He has been instrumental in setting up and nurturing two start-ups in the consumer engagement and advertising space. Advocacy India, and He was one of the founding Leadership Team at Tilt Brand Solutions, Srikanth is now an ICF certified leadership coach and a co-founder at The Core Questin. Srikanth is an avid reader, traveller and photographer, traveling across India to experience and document some of its amazing wildernesses.

In this 16th episode of the Second Innings podcast, hosts Atul Nath and Suman Ghosh talk to Srikanth Sarathy, exploring his journey through various career transitions, the importance of support systems, and the pursuit of passion and purpose.

Srikanth has over 20 years of leadership and organizational building experienceacross advertising, digital, media & entertainment, consumer engagement andleadership development Walt Disney & Leo Burnett,He has been instrumental in setting up and nurturing two start-ups in the consumer engagement and advertising space. Advocacy India, and He was one of the founding Leadership Team at Tilt Brand Solutions, Srikanth is now an ICF certified leadership coach and a co-founder at The Core Questin. Srikanth is an avid reader, traveller and photographer, traveling across India to experience and document some of its amazing wildernesses.

The discussion emphasizes the need to listen to one's inner voice and the value of reframing questions to foster personal growth and fulfilment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Second Innings Podcast

06:44 The Journey of Transitioning Careers

11:25 Embracing Change and Taking Risks

15:46 The Importance of Support in Transitions

20:43 Reflections on Comfort Zones and Growth

24:09 The Role of Gut Instincts in Decision Making

30:06 Understanding Risk and Financial Planning

35:10 The Importance of Support in Transitions

41:21 Challenges and Learnings in Entrepreneurship

46:40 The Role of Partnerships in Success

48:39 Embracing Cosmic Insignificance

50:19 The Role of Support and Timing

54:54 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs