TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING

With the election upon us here in the US, these next few weeks on TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I’m DOING , we’re sharing a series of Lotus for POTUS conversations, hearing insights from leading edge voices to help inform and get out the vote!  A few months ago, I created a meme with a photo of Vice President Harris that went “In Sanskrit, Kamala means Lotus… In America, Kamala means POTUS” and for me and many others, that sentiment sums up the imperative choice we’re making at the highest level, being thoughtful about our past, present, and future.  Now, Neera Tanden is someone who has had a front row seat at both the campaign and policy level, with decades of experience as an advisor and leader.  She currently serves as Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council, which drives the development and implementation of President Biden’s domestic policy agenda. Previously, she was Senior Advisor and Staff Secretary in the White House, where she was responsible for Presidential decision-making. Prior to her roles in the Biden-Harris Administration, Neera was the President and CEO of the Center for American Progress, one of the largest think tanks in the country. She has served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations, and Neera has also been a policy advisor to Hillary Clinton in the White House, the Senate, and her campaigns. So it was great to catch up with her about the campaign, and what’s resonating for her, as I was particularly curious about hearing what was both compelling and unique about Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate. Remember, conversation is the antidote to apathy. Go to vote.gov for information about registering, and to kamalaharris.com to learn about the Harris-Walz campaign. Please get involved, get engaged, and get informed about all your local issues and candidates up and down the ballot. 

10/1/24 • 19:56

Abhay is joined by professor, advisor, and author, Gautam Mukunda.He is the author of Indispensable: When Leaders Really Matter and Picking Presidents: How to Make the Most Consequential Decision in the World, and has served as a professor at Harvard, Yale, and Tufts. By cultivating expertise as an advisor on leadership and strategy problems,  with publishing widely on innovation, security issues, and synthetic biology, in being on the board of the UPAKAR FOUNDATION (a national non-profit devoted to providing college scholarships to underprivileged students of South Asian descent), and in being a former Jeopardy champion, Gautam is well on his way to achieving his life's goal: to have the world’s most confusing resumé !(0:00 - 2:40) Introduction(2:40) Part 1 - Systems, dispensability, seduced by unfiltered leaders(18:53) Part 2 - "Standing down", Kamala Harris, risk mitigation(41:59) Part 3 - Unlearnings and lessons, leadership style, advise for voters(1:03:18) Conclusion

9/26/24 • 65:42

So I thought that today we would focus on the world of puzzles.  As kids, young and old, we are fascinated and curious about putting together random pieces of cardboard to make a picture, or take numbers or scenes or words and fit them together to make something whole, craving that satisfaction to find the answer and all the frustrations and exhilarations that come with it! Whether you’re doing sudoku or playing a game or proving online that we’re human and not a robot, puzzles keep our minds focused on solving problems.  For many across the world, crossword puzzles are part of a daily routine, trying to find different ways to use and frame words from clues that playfully speak to everyday culture, trivia, knowledge, and even local or global nuances.  So it was really fun to catch up with crossword puzzle constructor, Mangesh Ghogre, first India-based crossword constructor for the Los Angeles Times in 2010 and The New York Times in 2013.  Mangesh is an investment banker and a writer, and has had a true passion as a crossword puzzle solver and constructor since his college days.  His expertise has developed over decades and his work and writing have been featured in The New Yorker, The Times of India, and The Economic Times, among others. Mangesh is currently the editor and constructor for the Mini Crossword in The Forbes India magazine. Some of his marquee NYT crosswords include a Fourth of July-themed crossword in 2017, a Mahatma Gandhi-themed crossword in 2019 to celebrate Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary and Taj Mahal-themed crossword in 2023 to celebrate Indian independence day.  I was able to chat with him this summer, and in true puzzle solving fashion, we started out with the basics…

9/17/24 • 23:38

Abhay shares a conversation with Los Angeles based art gallerist and curator, Rajiv Menon, to talk about his ongoing work, about art and race and the global South Asian, and even some of the barriers and accelerators he’s encountered along the way.Rajiv's latest exhibition is titled "Three Steps of Land", as an artistic ode to Onam and Kerala.(0:00 - 2:46) Introduction(2:46) Part 1 - Mobilizing art, making art relevant, trusting relationship with visual arts(19:54) Part 2 - Nostalgia and Whiteness, connecting the dots of his exhibits, misconceptions(32:23) Part 3 - Unlearning, finding harmony with art in a digital world, Los Angeles and beyond, "how can I get involved"(44:59) ConclusionRemember that it's National Suicide Prevention Month in the US - if you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 9-8-8 or go to 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

9/12/24 • 46:52

Abhay shares a conversation with social entrepreneur and recent Harvard University graduate, Shruthi Kumar.They talked about her commencement speech, college activism, being a South Asian student, and now entering life after graduation(0:00 - 3:32) Introduction(3:32) Part 1 - "The Power of Not Knowing", harmonizing empathy with action(17:22) Part 2 - Nebraska and Harvard, complacency, South Asian student life(32:45) Part 3 - Power and Peace, unlearning, optimism going forward(48:24) Conclusion

9/3/24 • 49:59

Abhay is joined by Dr. Ritu Raman, MIT engineering professor and author of the book "Biofabrication", for a conversation about personal and professional lessons learned from her journey, the tethers of science fiction and pop culture, and the possibilities and limits of her work.(0:00 - 2:58) Introduction(2:58) Part 1 - setting the stage and defining the work, popular science fiction(16:39) Part 2 - robotic applications, ethical considerations, priorities, extension of herself(32:01) Part 3 - achieving in the academic world, scientific literacy and mentoring, finding joy(47:34 Conclusion

8/27/24 • 49:03

Entrepreneur, journalist, and podcaster Ginni Saraswati joins Abhay for a conversation that touched upon everything from storytelling to mythbusting to wedding planning! Ginni is the founder and CEO of Ginni Media and hosts "The Ginni Show".(0:00 - 2:40) Introduction(2:40) Part 1 - wedding planning, storytelling  and building relationships(12:24) Part 2 - the weight or lightness of identity, the biggest myths about podcasting(24:19) Part 3 - media mogul, AI and the optimism(30:02) Conclusion

8/20/24 • 32:10

Chef, content creator, and author Sanjana Modha joins Abhay to talk about everything from lunchtime food, to cooking as a parent, to her go-to dessert, to writing her new book "Sanjana's Feasts", which is due out this fall 2024. (0:00 - 3:01) Introduction(3:01) Part 1 - lunchtime, cooking as a parent(11:14) Part 2 - cooking as a way to connect the dots, vegetarian cooking, local specificities(25:28) Part 3 - making a great recipe, hospitality, single dish expression(35:32) Conclusion

8/13/24 • 37:30

It’s hopefully obvious to many that the AI revolution has not only begun but it’s in full swing. Now since I’m in healthcare and well a wee bit older than those entering the workforce right now, I wanted to get the perspective of someone who has not only grown up with AI as a digital tool and familiar science but also has developed a relationship in researching AI and using it to tackle problems at scale.  So it was wonderful to connect and share a brief chat with machine learning technology researcher and entrepreneur, Dhruv Kulkarni.  Dhruv is both a current college student at Berkeley (GO BEARS!)and a tech startup founder - someone who grew comfortable with machine learning and AI early on in his formative years.  It’s that same comfort and ease that fueled a spirit of innovation and utility to use these tools and help solve problems, particularly of interest for me in the healthcare space, where so far Dhruv has tackled the administrative problem of accelerating the prior authorization process in small clinics and now is serving as AI director at Forta Health and helping to tackle chronic conditions and problems like helping parents in caring for autistic children.  If you’re keeping score, Dhruv has already along the way, served as an entrepreneurial peer resource and mentor for other students, founded two startup companies that were acquired, developed an emerging expertise at the intersection of fintech and AI, and has already gained investor experience as a venture partner. We chatted and I wanted to learn a bit more about his work and journey, but we started by talking about when Dhruv first discovered that AI and machine learning was something he could harness and actually control…

8/8/24 • 19:33

Samhita Mukhopadhyay, author of "The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning" joins Abhay for a conversation about a range topics from “trickle down feminism” to being the daughter of two Bengali immigrants, to mentoring and leadership. Samhita served as the executive editor of the popular blog Feministing and then for Teen Vogue and in reflecting on her journey, found herself squarely in the messy middle of it all in being a girl boss, questioning the notion that happiness and fulfillment stem from overwork and professional achievement. In “The Myth of Making It”, Samhita questions “hustle culture” and the neo-liberal feminist mantras of leaning in and persevering as seductive and often destructive definitions and methods. Through a blend of personal anecdotes, expert analysis, and the varied experiences of workers, she tackles this paradox of why working success for women can feel deeply important and so unsatisfying at the same time.(0:00 - 3:30) introduction(3:30) Part 1 - redemption and liberation, "hustle culture"(14:20) Part 2 - "trickle down feminism", mentoring and leadership, counseling new women entering the workforce(31:49) Part 3 - daughter of Bengali immigrants, South Asian modern feminism, exploring and enjoying paradoxes(46:48) Conclusion

7/23/24 • 48:36

Abhay is joined by writer, director, and producer Vivek Agnihotri to share a broad ranging conversation about his life as a filmmaker.His films include The Kashmir Files, The Vaccine War, and the upcoming The Delhi Files.  Believe it or not, the kidneys, Keyser Söze, and cricket all were involved!(0:00 - 2:45) Introduction(2:45) Part 1 - Rallying and inspiring, truthseeking, combating the lonely journey(18:00) Part 2 - unlearning vs additive journey, fear and fearlessness(36:38) Part 3 - his advertising background, national pride, aging gracefully(52:53) Conclusion 

7/16/24 • 57:48

Abhay is joined by cricket athlete Saurabh Netravalkar, whose clutch bowler performance led Team USA to a dramatic victory over Pakistan and into the Super 8 competing against Team India in the recent Men's T20 World Cup.  They chatted about everything from his cricket journey to integrating sport with life as a software engineer to growing cricket in the US. (0:00 - 2:59) Introduction(2:59) Part 1 - compartmentalizing cricket and non-cricket life, goal setting, lessons learned(17:19) Part 2 - staying level, being a leader, an unconventional cricket journey, loyalty to team(33:58) Part 3 - growing cricket in the US, talents and legacy(45:34) Conclusion

7/9/24 • 47:20

Abhay is joined by Dr. Ami Bera, United States Congressman (D) CA-6, as they share a broad conversation about his experiences and journey as the longest serving Indian American in Congress. (0:00 - 3:10) Introduction(3:10) Part 1 - Doctoring and crossover skills in politics, relationship building and prioritizing(13:36) Part 2 - Governing and campaigning(26:01) Part 3 - Foreign affairs, Indian American experiences, Patriotism(36:16) Conclusion

7/2/24 • 38:49

Abhay is joined by Vikas Khanna, the celebrated judge of Master Chef India,  Michelin award-winning chef, author, and filmmaker.  Vikas' new restaurant BUNGALOW, opened this past spring in New York City.  They shared a chat about his journey and bringing people "home" through his food experience.(0:00 - 2:36)  Introduction(2:36) Part 1 - first professional meal, how to age gracefully as a culinary artist(12:00) Part 2 - merging sentiments of other worlds and finding "home", diverse interests, how to prevent cooking boredom(27:06) Part 3 - cooking when no one's watching, nostalgia(37:04) Conclusion

6/25/24 • 39:02

Abhay is joined by award-winning actor Kani Kusruti for a conversation about her ongoing work and recent role in the film, "All That We Imagine As Light", which recently won the Grand Prix award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.(0:00 - 3:06) Introduction(3:06) Part 1 - relationship with the film, awards, working with director Payal Kapadia(15:17) Part 2 - the acting process, feedback and success, her craft of acting(33:39) Part 3 - women as storytellers in the industry, discovering Kani(44:53) Conclusion

6/18/24 • 47:04

Abhay is joined by award-winning filmmaker, Raja Choudhury, whose newest documentary "America's First Guru" is available to stream on PBS, and showcases the story of the young and charismatic Swami Vivekananda’s travels to the US in the late 1800’s to speak at the first World’s Parliament of Religions conference in Chicago, broadly introducing Hindu philosophy and India’s spiritual culture to American audiences.(0:00 - 2:41) Introduction(2:41) Part 1 - deciding to make the film, surprises and discoveries(16:53) Part 2 - unlearnings, journey toward "bliss", American experience(29:42) Part 3 - trusting in spirituality, Indian and Hindu wisdom, empowering message

6/11/24 • 45:09

National policy expert, Rohini Kosoglu, joins Abhay to talk about everything from building trust with leaders to policy intersections and governance with AI to the imperatives of this upcoming election cycle.  Rohini recently served in the Biden-Harris administration as Deputy Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor to the Vice President. (0:00 - 3:19) Introduction(3:19) Part 1 - parenting and relationship development, additive experiences with leaders(14:29) Part 2 - intersections of A.I. and policy, innovation vs regulation, governing with compromise(32:44) Part 3 - South Asian American patriotism, election imperatives(45:37) Conclusion

6/4/24 • 47:38

SPOTLIGHT episodes of TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING feature brief chats about a unique topic or cause.Varsha Mathur, J.D., PCC, a certified dating and relationship coach with over seven years of experience, guides clients worldwide to effortlessly find and sustain lasting love with their ideal partners.  Through her personalized coaching approach, Varsha empowers both singles and couplesto cultivate confidence, ignite attraction, and build partnerships that withstand the test oftime. A former practicing lawyer and mediator, Varsha draws on her personal journey, including divorce and remarriage, to help others make decisions untainted by negative influences, propelling them toward their dreams. Varsha’s work is deeply rooted in her belief that people should not be burdened by various cultural and societalstigmas or taboos that disempower them from living their most authentic and fulfilling life.

5/30/24 • 26:54

Choreographer and dance artist Rohit Gijare joins Abhay to talk about everything from teaching to getting inspired to constantly being a student of dance.  (0:00 - 2:53) Introduction(2:53) Part 1 - routine, inspiration, improv(14:08) Part 2 - how to define "good", being an effective teacher, dance and cultural importance(32:45) Part 3 - breaking stereotypes and barriers, being a student of dance(46:58) Conclusion

5/28/24 • 48:36

Abhay is joined by Raj Lulla, author of the novel "The Caring House", to talk about writing about grief, mental health and empathy, and "metabolizing" grief. Their mutual love of the West Wing definitely also came up. (0:00 - 2:53) Introduction(2:53) Part 1 - ignition and inspiration to write the book, children grieving(13:75) Part 2 - inconsistencies, "metabolizing" grief, personal journeys(28:31) Part 3 - hope, immigrant mental health experiences(39:59) ConclusionIf you or someone you know is need of support for a mental health, suicide, or emotional distress crisis in the US, please call/text 988 For worldwide resources, please visit https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm

5/14/24 • 41:39

Abhay is joined by Priyanka Kamath, the founder and CEO of 100 Girls in Blockch(AI)n.They chatted about build skill equity in tech for emerging economies and provide solutions for grassroots projects, with girls and women leading at the forefront. Of note, on May 4, 2024, Priyanka is showcasing the 100 GIGA demo day, the result of a 3 month bootcamp of girls building software solutions with  AI innovations in healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education.(0:00 - 3:16) Introduction(3:16) Part 1 - blockchain and generative AI, building skill equity(15:24) Part 2 - building cohorts of girls and women, Priyanka's "why", trust ladders(29:43) Part 3 - creating capital and investing, finding peace, advise and lessons(41:40) Conclusion

5/2/24 • 44:08

Abhay is joined by the Indian pop music group W.i.S.H. ...Ri, Zo, Sim, and Suchi (Riya Duggal, Zoe Siddarth, Simran Duggal, and Suchita Shirke) share their experiences as they aim to be India's next big pop music group and the first all female group to catch fire in nearly 2 decades.  They talked about dynamics as a group and as individuals, longevity, and learning outside of their comfort zones(0:00 - 2:44) Introduction(2:44) Part 1 - Empowerment and what Gen-Z wants from them(12:39) Part 2 - reverse mentoring lessons, girl bosses, and their "Indianness"(27:39) Part 3 - longevity, group improvement, and comfort zones(41:18) part 4 - early learning and how it matters(47:44) Conclusion

4/30/24 • 50:38

Abhay chats with award-winning documentary filmmaker Nisha Pahuja about everything from the impact of her Academy Award and Peabody Award nominated film To Kill a Tiger, to processing past experiences and trauma, to holistic filmmaking without judgment.(0:00 - 3:09) Introduction(3:09) Part 1 - after the Oscars, instincts, building trust with Ranjit's family(15:13) Part 2 - seeking out the gray, leading a team, mapping boundaries(29:42) Part 3 - making films as a diasporic Indian, structural change, audience impact

4/23/24 • 44:17

SPOTLIGHT episodes of TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING feature brief chats about a unique topic or cause.Neha Assar has been adorning brides across the nation with bespoke ornate mehndi and body art since 1994 and is now opening doors to many opportunities that are leading to creative collaborations and ground breaking projects. The concepts used are original and the designs are expertly applied freehand, through inspired improvisation and alacrity. Neha Assar has become a celebrated and much sought after figure in the industry. Her artwork has been recognized via various media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, NBC, Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Buzzfeed and many more. Neha Assar’s artwork has also been exhibited at LA Fashion Week, The Oscar Awards, The Emmy Awards, MTV Movie Awards, and The Grammy Awards. Her list of celebrity clients is ever-growing, already consisting of such names as SZA, Kylie Jenner, Drake, G-Eazy, Lebron James & Family, Shaquille O'Neal, to name a few.

4/18/24 • 27:53

Abhay chats with bureaucrat, educator, and ex-Member of the Legislative Assembly(MLA) in Japan, Yogendra Puranik.Known also as "Yogi-San", the native of Maharashtra was the first Indian born elected official in Japan and now serves as the first-ever foreign-origin principal of a public (government) school, and the first-ever Indian-origin Civil/Gazetted officer in Japan.(0:00 - 2:44) Introduction(2:44) Part 1 - adjusting to Japanese life after 25 years, evolving responsibilities, running for elected office(16:05) Part 2 - comparing campaigning in Japan to the US and India, cultural barriers and friction(30:53) Part 3 - navigating Japan as an immigrant, raising his son in Japan, cultivating trust(44:01) Conclusion

4/16/24 • 45:20

Abhay is joined by comedian Nimesh Patel to chat about his latest tour, the journey of his comedy life and everything in between.(0:00 - 2:42) Introduction(2:42) Part 1 - watching comedy, latest tour, structure to his shows(12:53) Part 2 - pre-show routines, when Indians are in the audience, mirrors and windows(26:29) Part 3 - anatomy of a good joke, being irreverent, success and lasting impressions(35:46) Conclusion

4/9/24 • 37:42

Abhay is joined by "Master Pastelist", artist Sangita Phadke for a conversation about her journey in art, her work with still life and realism, and the storytelling from both sides of her paintings.(0:00 - 2:26) Introduction(2:26) Part 1 - first memory of artistic expressions, being self-taught, the "eye" for art(16:52) Part 2 - realism, being a "Master Pastelist", still life and motion, background and calling(33:18) Part 3 - intersections, community, art and its rewards(46:34) Conclusion

3/28/24 • 48:29

Abhay is joined by the founder, chairman, and managing director of Persistent Systems, Anand Deshpande, for a conversation about everything from learning new skills to creating jobs to the transition away from being a CEO to legacy.(0:00 - 3:10) Introduction(3:10) Part 1 - learning new skills, helping build a biotech ecosystem(18:01) Part 2 - Anand's US journey, lessons from transitions away from being CEO(30:02) Part 3 - the thrill of giving, creating jobs, AI in mentorship(43:56) Part 4 - motivating a population, the identity of the Indian entrepreneur, legacy(55:08) Conclusion

3/26/24 • 56:55

Abhay chats with singer and songwriter Raveena Mehta about everything from dreams of music to her artistic journey and collaborating to her own playlist.(0:00 - 2:18) Introduction(2:18) Part 1 - dreaming and feeling at "home"(14:18) Part 2 - spirituality of music, versatility, collaborating(23:44) Part 3 - listening and playlists, aesthetics and disposability, how her listeners feel(35:54) Conclusion

3/19/24 • 37:32

Virginia State Senator and congressional candidate, Suhas Subramanyam, joins Abhay to talk about governing and running a campaign, finding common ground, taking on tough fights, and how he stays energized.  (0:00 - 238) Introduction(2:38) Part 1 - energy after a long day, district is a proxy, track record and taking on hard fights(15:22) Part 2 - staying consistent and getting to the middle, Indian Americans in politics(27:13) Part 3 - connecting through the political process, lessons learned, and cultivating trust(37:16) Conclusion

3/12/24 • 38:48