ContraMinds Podcast - Unlocking Personal Growth and Professional Excellence

ContraMinds Timeless Wisdom - Kumar Vembu on People, Trust and Ownership (Ep01)

Let's know what you liked and learnt! In this timeless conversation from 2021, Kumar Vembu reflects on how enduring organisations are built—not through control, pedigree, or process-heavy management, but through deep trust in people and an uncompromising belief in ownership. Drawing from his own journey and the early days of Zoho, he explains why academic excellence is a poor proxy for professional excellence, and how responsibility—when given early—can transform individuals into high-performing contributors.This episode unpacks what it truly means to design for ownership at scale. From trusting people from day one, to creating decision-makers instead of escalators, Kumar shares practical, culture-defining principles that help close the education–work gap and build organisations where people don’t wait for permission—they take responsibility. This is a masterclass on leadership, culture, and long-term thinking.  5 Key TakeawaysTrust must come before performance:High-performing cultures are built by trusting people early—not after they’ve “proven” themselves.Academic success ≠ workplace effectiveness: Attitude, learning ability, empathy, and ownership matter far more than grades or fluency.Responsibility from day one accelerates growth: Treating people as professionals from their first day builds accountability faster than any training program.Ownership means solving problems, not escalating them: Mature organisations create decision-makers who bring recommendations, not just issues.Culture is shaped by daily signals, not slogans: Policies, feedback loops, retrospectives, and leadership behaviour quietly but powerfully define how people think and act.Listen to the full episode: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube🔗 Links & Resources:ContraMinds: https://www.contraminds.comSubscribe to our Newsletter: https://blog.contraminds.com🎧 Listen on Podcast Platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xceASphmwAjJONTlsvo2YApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contraminds-decoding-people-minds-strategy-and-culture/id1485202972Follow ContraMinds:Twitter: https://twitter.com/contramindsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/contraminds/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/contramindsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/contraminds

2025 Recap Episode - 12 Questions Heading into 2026

Let's know what you liked and learnt! Across a year of conversations on ContraMinds and The Super CMO Show, a pattern quietly emerged. No matter the domain—AI, careers, marketing, health, or leadership—the same deeper questions kept surfacing, demanding better judgment rather than easy answers.⸻Summary of the 12 Guest Perspectives•Sai Gaddam explored the shifting boundary between human intuition and machine intelligence, arguing that relevance lies not in competing with AI on prediction, but in owning judgment, context, and responsibility.•Prof. Rohit reflected on careers and identity, highlighting how growth often stalls not because of missing skills, but because people cling too tightly to familiar versions of themselves.Listen on Spotify: •Steven Puri examined creativity in an age of abundance, emphasizing that taste, discipline, and clarity of intent—not access to tools—separate enduring creators from forgettable ones. •Neeraj Sagar reframed longevity as a career problem, challenging the idea of linear success and arguing for slower pacing, sustainable ambition, and long-term energy management.•Jillian Reilly surfaced the invisible permissions people wait for, showing how agency is often constrained less by external barriers and more by internalized rules we never question.•Prof. Vasant Dhar addressed accountability in an AI-driven world, reminding us that even as machines improve at prediction, humans must remain responsible for values, trade-offs, and consequences.•Prof. Jeevanjyoti critiqued formal education systems, pointing out the widening gap between how institutions teach and how adults actually learn through experience, curiosity, and feedback. •Prof. Prasad Naik spoke about leadership under pressure, highlighting the importance of discernment—knowing what to protect, what to cut, and what to double down on when growth is no longer easy.•Akhil Almeida warned against false signals in modern marketing, showing how overreliance on surface-level metrics can create confidence without clarity.•Nitin Seth unpacked why transformation is emotionally hard for organizations, even when intellectually accepted, revealing that change fails more from fear than from strategy.🔗 Links & Resources:ContraMinds: https://www.contraminds.comSubscribe to our Newsletter: https://blog.contraminds.com🎧 Listen on Podcast Platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xceASphmwAjJONTlsvo2YApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contraminds-decoding-people-minds-strategy-and-culture/id1485202972Follow ContraMinds:Twitter: https://twitter.com/contramindsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/contraminds/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/contramindsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/contraminds

Prof. Jeevanjyoti Chakraborty on Curiosity, Chaos & Real Education #064

Let's know what you liked and learnt! In this powerful conversation, Prof. Jeevanjyoti Chakraborty of IIT Kharagpur breaks down something we all struggle with — how to really learn. Most of us study for exams, memorize formulas, follow structured notes… yet never develop the mental muscle of learning on our own.Prof. Jeevanjyoti explains why students today feel lost when confronted with uncertainty, why our schooling ignores curiosity, and why tinkering, breaking things, and exploring messiness is essential for growth.He talks about:– The curse of coaching and predefined learning paths– Why learning to learn is more important than any degree– How students can build “research instincts” early– Why mechanical engineering is deeply connected to biology– How India can rethink teacher training and lifelong professional upskilling– The need for continuous education for engineers, just like doctorsHe also shares deeply human moments—from his vulnerabilities as a professor to the mentors and mathematicians who shaped his thinking. This episode is a must-watch for students, parents, teachers, leaders and anyone who wants to stay relevant in a fast-changing world.Chapters00:04:01 – Students Forget Professors Are Human00:07:10 – Learning How to Learn Opens Your World00:12:57 – Build Your Learning Muscle Slowly00:21:44 – Words Are the Gateway to Knowledge00:26:39 – India Needs a Culture of Tinkering00:36:46 – Teachers Must Evolve How They Teach00:39:39 – Professionals Must Keep Upgrading Themselves00:49:27 – Success Is When I Impress Myself00:49:44 – Time Management Solves Most Problems00:50:23 – I’d Tell My Grandparents I’ve Done Okay00:52:00 – Learn in Class — Don’t Postpone LearningThis episode was made possible by the great folks at https://goaffortless.ai.⁠Effortless⁠ has been designed to be user-friendly, aiding you in your journey to streamline financial tasks. Experience the convenience of achieving e-Invoicing and E-way Bill Generation in just a couple of clicks, simplifying your business processes.#LearningHowToLearn, #LifelongLearning, #CuriosityMindset, #EducationReform#StudentSuccess, #EngineeringEducation, #IITKharagpur, #TinkeringMindset#ContinuousLearning, #ContraMindsPodcast🔗 Links & Resources:ContraMinds: https://www.contraminds.comSubscribe to our Newsletter: https://blog.contraminds.com🎧 Listen on Podcast Platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xceASphmwAjJONTlsvo2YApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contraminds-decoding-people-minds-strategy-and-culture/id1485202972Follow ContraMinds:Twitter: https://twitter.com/contramindsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/contraminds/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/contramindsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/contraminds

Thinking With Machines: Sense-Making, AI Agents, Future of Work - Prof. Vasant Dhar (#063)

Let's know what you liked and learnt! In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, Professor Vasant Dhar( @NYUSternBusiness )  NYU professor, AI researcher, investor and author of Thinking With Machines—breaks down how artificial intelligence is reshaping judgment, expertise, work and society. He explains why the future isn’t “AI vs. humans” but humans thinking with machines, and why sense-making, question-framing, and domain expertise will determine who thrives in the AI era. If you want to understand how AI will transform your work, your learning, and your decision-making over the next decade, this is a must-listen episode.Order your copy now on amazon: https://www.amazon.in/Thinking-Machines-Brave-New-World-ebook/dp/B0FY46ZK3K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QWFVXWM6XPBW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QAmd26NZIHy0tIeYIGVA9wvWljQv9YbpT7dVn5Z_CsSu8yGu7NFctEIu-iDWXad6GunWWKCMnaRyvt__e_tfi11CiYvt20oq-_MeJANKPT6GHAsyavm_PtNpxQsVdaKpFLk_673aPz2pHbeiuoi6fFUQTXOEz3mzlWKFXGJRDS3Deg6v-iAhkc182XN9vl0ZSP5Fm5O6J4Y4tJtRdH7pb1v5fPajSXVaBcT3MiC4RKY.Ctza_MtdSMwkOgdCD26V1hTDzPexrVmU3gOhKYn5-6M&dib_tag=se&keywords=thinking+with+machines&qid=1763633694&s=digital-text&sprefix=thinking+with+amchine%2Cdigital-text%2C208&sr=1-1⭐ 5 Key Takeaways1. The future is “thinking with machines”—there is no opting out.2. Sense-making is going to become the most valuable human skill.3. AI will bifurcate humanity into superhuman performers and de-amplified dependents.4. AI agents can now execute complex, multi-step workflows—data gathering, analysis, valuation, critique—mirroring expert reasoning.5. Trust in AI depends on predictability and consequences of error.This episode was made possible by the great folks at https://goaffortless.ai.⁠Effortless⁠ has been designed to be user-friendly, aiding you in your journey to streamline financial tasks. Experience the convenience of achieving e-Invoicing and E-way Bill Generation in just a couple of clicks, simplifying your business processes.#AI, #ArtificialIntelligence, #VasantDhar, #ThinkingWithMachines, #FutureOfWork, #AIAgents, #MachineLearning, #SenseMaking, #ContraMinds, #TechPodcast🔗 Links & Resources:ContraMinds: https://www.contraminds.comSubscribe to our Newsletter: https://blog.contraminds.com🎧 Listen on Podcast Platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xceASphmwAjJONTlsvo2YApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contraminds-decoding-people-minds-strategy-and-culture/id1485202972Follow ContraMinds:Twitter: https://twitter.com/contramindsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/contraminds/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/contramindsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/contraminds

Be Wilful. Go Astray. Feel Your Way - Jillain Reilly (#062)

Let's know what you liked and learnt! The 10 Permissions: From Stuck to Self-Directed in a Fluid WorldIn this thought-provoking conversation, author and change-maker Jillian Reilly joins Swami to explore her powerful framework — The 10 Permissions — a new rulebook for navigating today’s fluid, unpredictable world. Together, we unpack what it means to upgrade our Adult Operating System, move from I am to I can, and replace fixed plans with curiosity-driven action. Jillian reveals how giving ourselves permission — to experiment, think small, go astray, and feel our way — transforms anxiety about change into agency and adaptability. From reimagining education and parenting to rebuilding culture at work, this episode is an invitation to stop waiting for approval and start designing a life that’s responsive, alive, and truly self-directed.Order the Book: https://tenpermissions.com/Key Insights1️⃣ Permission Is the Bridge Between Intent and ActionReal change begins when we stop waiting for validation and give ourselves the authority to move.2️⃣ Update Your Adult Operating SystemBring unconscious “rules for living” into awareness — and rewrite them for today’s fast-shifting realities.3️⃣ Experiment and Think SmallProgress now comes from micro-moves and low-stakes trials, not grand five-year plans.4️⃣ Feel Your Way ForwardWhole-body intelligence — instinct, emotion, and reflection — is becoming as critical as data and logic.5️⃣ Redefine Success as RelevanceIn a fluid, AI-driven world, sustained success depends on curiosity, continual reinvention, and embodied learning.———Timestamps00:00:00  Intro — Welcome and Context00:04:12  “We’re Living Through the Great Unraveling.”00:08:10  “We’re All Running on an Old Operating System.”00:14:11  “Shift from ‘I Am’ to ‘I Can.’”00:18:57  “Permission Is the Bridge Between Intent and Action.”00:22:21  “You Can’t Think Your Way to Growth.”00:30:25  “Take Small Bets. Learn Faster.”00:34:59  “Schools Are the Blackberry.”00:40:01  “You Are Your Best Security.”00:43:29  “Don’t Raise Obedient Kids. Raise Capable Ones.”00:50:08  “Look for a Teacher, Not a Fight.”00:55:03  “Preorders Are Permission in Action.”00:57:14  “Success Will Be Measured by Relevance.”00:58:50  “Curiosity Is the New Career Plan.”01:00:34  “Don’t Stifle Your Strongest Ideas.”01:02:15  “Permission-Givers Change the World.”01:06:07  “You Can’t Think Your Way Into Being.”#The10Permissions, #AdultingRules, #FutureOfWork, #AdaptiveMindset, #PersonalGrowth, #WholeBodyIntelligence, #CuriosityDrivenLife, #ReinventYourself, #ThinkSmallLearnFast, #EmotionalIntelligence, #BeWilfulGoAstrayFeelYourWay, #ContraMindsPodcast, #JillianReillyThis episode was made possible by the great folks at https://www.goeffortless.ai🔗 Links & Resources:ContraMinds: https://www.contraminds.comSubscribe to our Newsletter: https://blog.contraminds.com🎧 Listen on Podcast Platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xceASphmwAjJONTlsvo2YApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contraminds-decoding-people-minds-strategy-and-culture/id1485202972Follow ContraMinds:Twitter: https://twitter.com/contramindsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/contraminds/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/contramindsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/contraminds