The Brand Called You

Welcome to another inspiring episode of The Brand Called You!

In this episode, host Ashutosh Garg speaks with Manoj Gupta, Founder of Consciouspreneur®, bestselling author, and global technology leader. Manoj shares his remarkable journey from corporate success to a life centered on purpose, presence, and inner fulfillment.

Discover how a life-changing experience inspired the Consciouspreneur® movement—a philosophy that combines conscious leadership, intentionality, and sustainable business success.

The conversation explores redefining success, the difference between being "the best in the world" and "the best for the world," the role of Vedic wisdom in lead...

In this engaging episode of The Brand Called You, Ashutosh Garg hosts A. Manimekhalai, Former MD & CEO of Union Bank of India, the country's fourth-largest public sector bank. With over three decades of experience, A. Manimekhalai shares her journey from humble beginnings at Vijaya Bank to breaking barriers as a woman leader in Indian banking.

Discover the values and leadership philosophies that guided her, along with the strategies behind Union Bank’s remarkable transformation—including profits increasing from ₹5,200 crore to ₹18,000 crore—and the interventions that improved asset quality. A. Manimekhalai also discusses the importance of culture, talent developmen...

How is technology changing the way we think—and are we unknowingly outsourcing our minds?

In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, Ashutosh Garg speaks with Sanjay Jain, Former CMD of Accenture and author of Are We Outsourcing Our Minds?, about the evolving relationship between technology, artificial intelligence, and human cognition.

Drawing on more than four decades of leadership experience in strategy, consulting, technology, and outsourcing, Sanjay reflects on the defining moments of his career before exploring one of today's most pressing questions: Are digital tools making us more capable, or...

Join us for this episode of the "Leaders Who Care" series as Mark Sadovnick sits down with Vandana Tolani, Founder & CEO of Convanto, one of India's most recognized boutique investment banks led by a female founder.

Vandana shares her inspiring journey from Singapore and Jakarta back to India, revealing how she built a successful career in wealth management and broke through gender barriers in the investment world.

Discover Vandana's personal story, the challenges she faced as a self-made woman, and the values that drive her mission to empower founders and startups across the globe. Learn...

Join us for this episode of the "Leaders Who Care" series as Mark Sadovnick sits down with Vandana Tolani, Founder & CEO of Convanto, one of India's most recognized boutique investment banks led by a female founder.

Vandana shares her inspiring journey from Singapore and Jakarta back to India, revealing how she built a successful career in wealth management and broke through gender barriers in the investment world.

Discover Vandana's personal story, the challenges she faced as a self-made woman, and the values that drive her mission to empower founders and startups across the globe. Learn...

In this inspiring episode of The Brand Called You, host Mark Sadovnick speaks with Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, Founder & Chief Vision Officer of Open Origin. From her distinguished family heritage in Bengal to founding a school for women and underprivileged children in India at the age of 18, Indrani's journey brings together global citizenship, creative innovation, and an unwavering commitment to social and environmental change.

Discover how her collaborations with icons such as David Bowie, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga, combined with her work in climate action, filmmaking, and social justice, have shaped her mission to build a more regenerative future. A...

In this inspiring episode of The Brand Called You, Stephen Ibaraki speaks with Theadora Sauvé, Board Member, Million Peacemakers, and a rising leader in the Canadian legal profession.

Theadora shares her journey from competitive figure skating to earning McGill University's prestigious dual law degree, while discussing leadership, governance, ethics, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in legal practice. She explains the path to becoming a lawyer in Canada, how AI is transforming legal work, and why adaptability is becoming one of the profession's most valuable skills.

The conversation also explores her work with Million P...

In this episode of The Brand Called You, Stephen Ibaraki speaks with Ronald C. Shon, President of Shon Group and Founding Partner & Co-Chairman of REDDS Capital.

Ron shares the defining moments of his remarkable journey—from taking over his family's investment business at a young age to building a successful career across real estate, venture investing, technology, and philanthropy. He reflects on the lessons learned from his father, the importance of humility and lifelong learning, and how attention to detail has shaped his investment philosophy.

The conversation explores why Ron recognized the transformative potential of ar...

Join Ashutosh Garg in a profound conversation with Jaya Row, CEO of Vedanta Vision and Managing Trustee of Vedanta Trust, on The Brand Called You.

In this enlightening episode, Jaya Row explores the timeless wisdom of Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita, discussing the true nature of happiness, the role of the ego, the importance of self-knowledge, the meaning of dharma, and practical ways to achieve spiritual growth in today's fast-changing world.

Discover:

Why suffering persists despite our true nature being bliss.

How desires and the ego shape our experiences.

...

Unlock the secrets to lasting financial freedom as Ashutosh Garg sits down with seasoned financial advisor and author Maneesh Taneja in this insightful episode of The Brand Called You.

Drawing from his book, 7 Steps to Financial Freedom: Simple Habits, Compounded Returns, Maneesh shares practical, easy-to-understand financial lessons that cut through the noise and empower individuals to build lasting wealth through discipline and smart decision-making.

From understanding risk and the importance of diversification to harnessing the power of compounding and building an emergency fund, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies that can transform your financial...

Join us for an insightful episode of The Brand Called You as host Ashutosh Garg speaks with Jyothika Raju, Co-Founder and Program Director of ImpactAI Foundry.

Discover how Jyothika's journey—from studying engineering in Bengaluru to leading initiatives at the intersection of artificial intelligence, public policy, and social impact—has shaped her vision for responsible AI.

In this conversation, she explores:

What responsible and accountable AI truly means

The challenges NGOs and nonprofits face when adopting AI

Why capacity building is more valuable than technology dependency

Practical AI s...

Join us for an insightful episode of The Brand Called You as host Ashutosh Garg speaks with Jyothika Raju, Co-Founder and Program Director of ImpactAI Foundry.

Discover how Jyothika's journey—from studying engineering in Bengaluru to leading initiatives at the intersection of artificial intelligence, public policy, and social impact—has shaped her vision for responsible AI.

In this conversation, she explores:

What responsible and accountable AI truly means

The challenges NGOs and nonprofits face when adopting AI

Why capacity building is more valuable than technology dependency

Practical AI s...

In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, host Stephen Ibaraki speaks with Thorsten "Thor" Claus, Founding Partner of the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), venture capitalist, technologist, engineer, and educator.

From dismantling discarded electronics as a curious child in Germany to leading investments across Silicon Valley and Europe, Thorsten shares lessons from a career spanning hypergrowth startups, global venture capital firms, and the pioneering NATO Innovation Fund. He discusses the importance of curiosity, servant leadership, supporting diverse emerging fund managers, strengthening transatlantic technology ecosystems, and balancing venture investing with hands-on engineering in advanced manufacturing.

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In this inspiring episode of the Leader Who Cares series on The Brand Called You, host Mark Sadovnick engages in a heartfelt and insightful conversation with Wael Doukmak, CEO of R2L Innovations & Ahlan Inc. Wael shares his remarkable journey from Damascus to the United States, reflecting on his early influences, the importance of family, and his curiosity-driven pursuit of knowledge.

The conversation explores Wael's career transitions—from pharmacy to computer science, entrepreneurship, teaching Arabic, becoming CNN's on-air interpreter during the Iraq War, and leading digital transformation initiatives with Cisco in Saudi Arabia and Ooredoo in Qatar.

Welcome to The Brand Called You (TBCY) and our "Leaders Who Care" series!

In this inspiring episode, host Mark Sadovnick sits down with Alastair Callender, Senior Yacht Broker at Moravia Yachting and philanthropist. Alastair shares his remarkable journey from growing up near Chichester Harbour in England to designing award-winning yachts and creating meaningful impact through philanthropy.

Discover how yacht design, brokerage, and curated experiences extend far beyond luxury—bringing families together, enabling business masterminds, promoting mental well-being, and supporting charitable initiatives. Alastair also discusses how artificial intelligence is transforming yacht design while explaining why personal re...

In this episode of The Brand Called You, we explore the world of social impact, technology, and innovation with Darlene Damm, Faculty Chair and VP of Community and Impact at Singularity University. Drawing on her remarkable journey across Singularity University, Ashoka, the World Bank, and pioneering ventures in impact technology, Darlene shares how growing up in a small rural community—and learning from visionary mentors—shaped her mission to create meaningful global change.

Discover valuable insights into systems-changing entrepreneurship, the founding of pioneering ventures such as Matternet and DIY Rockets, and the use of technology to solve huma...

Unlock the inspiring journey of Anusha Nerella, a seasoned technology leader, Member of the Forbes Technology Council, Microsoft MVP, and advocate for responsible AI, in this insightful episode of The Brand Called You.

Anusha shares her remarkable journey from rural India to leading global technology initiatives across financial services and the public sector. She discusses her work in AI, automation, digital transformation, and enterprise modernization at organizations including Barclays, Citibank, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Discover the pivotal moments that shaped her career, the resilience that fueled her success...

In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, we sit down with Alain Chetrit, Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of LabConnect, to explore his remarkable journey across multiple industries, including fashion, telecommunications, finance, and healthcare.

Alain shares the story behind the Knowledge Impact Network and the Knowledge Pledge Community, explaining how these initiatives harness the collective expertise and networks of global leaders to create meaningful social impact. He also discusses how YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) empowers both members and non-members to drive positive change around the world.

Discover how leadership, innovation, and collaboration can be...

Join us for an insightful episode of The Brand Called You, where Ashutosh Garg speaks with Elizabeth Rosenberg, Global Marketing and Communications Advisor, about personal branding, authentic leadership, intuitive intelligence, and the future of leadership in an AI-driven world.

Elizabeth shares her entrepreneurial journey, practical strategies for helping senior executives build authentic personal brands, and why intuition, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking are becoming increasingly valuable in today's rapidly evolving workplace.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Why authenticity is the foundation of a strong personal brand.

How setbacks...

In this episode of TBCY, we sit down with Richard Barnes, Founder & CEO of Select Research and the visionary behind the groundbreaking Body Volume Index (BVI). Richard shares his journey from pioneering body-shape imaging in retail to revolutionizing health assessment with BVI—a powerful alternative to the nearly 200-year-old Body Mass Index (BMI). Discover how BVI leverages advanced imaging, MRI technology, and smartphone technology to deliver personalized health metrics, offering deeper insights for individuals, healthcare professionals, and organizations worldwide.

Learn about the research collaborations with the CDC, the Mayo Clinic, and global health organizations, and discover how BV...

In this episode of The Brand Called You, we welcome Justin Byers, Founder & CEO of Axio BioPharma, for an insightful discussion on transforming the biopharma industry through data coordination and infrastructure innovation. The conversation focused on lessons from Justin’s experience at leading pharmaceutical companies, the challenges of fragmented process data, and why connecting siloed systems—not the science itself—is the industry's greatest hurdle.

The discussion explored how a unique combination of biotechnology and cybersecurity expertise shaped Axio BioPharma’s federated, vendor-neutral architecture. One key concept was the importance of providing a coordination layer that enables AI model...

In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, Ashutosh Garg speaks with Shanil Ebrahim, Partner and Head of AI Strategy at Deloitte Canada, about the evolving role of artificial intelligence in business. Shanil shares his expertise on what defines an effective AI strategy, why many organizations struggle to scale AI beyond pilot projects, and why leadership in the AI era requires a hands-on approach.

Discover why successful AI adoption is about far more than technology—it requires transforming business operations, organizational culture, and decision-making processes. Shanil also discusses the importance of data governance, th...

Welcome to this episode of The Brand Called You, featuring Michael Ambrosino, Partner at Access Ventures. In this in-depth conversation with Stephen Ibaraki, Michael shares his journey from a passionate young athlete in the Bronx to a top-performing sales professional and, ultimately, a leading figure in tech talent acquisition and venture capital.

Discover how pivotal childhood experiences, mentorship, and a relentless commitment to self-improvement shaped his remarkable career. Michael reflects on overcoming setbacks, developing resilience, and building an internal mindset that enabled him to thrive across multiple industries.

The conversation also explores startup culture, scaling...

Discover the remarkable journey and visionary leadership of Prof. Chua Kee Chaing, President of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), in this insightful episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY).

The conversation traces Prof. Chua's inspiring path—from becoming the first member of his family to attend university to leading Singapore's first university of applied learning. Along the way, he shares lessons from his career in academia, research, industry collaboration, and national innovation.

A central theme of the discussion is how higher education must evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. Prof. Ch...

In this episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY), Stephen Ibaraki speaks with Jan Romportl, PhD, CEO & Co-Founder of Elin.ai, about his remarkable journey through applied linguistics, cybernetics, philosophy, and artificial intelligence.

The conversation explores how Jan has bridged the gap between cutting-edge AI research and real-world applications, drawing on an interdisciplinary approach that combines philosophy, cognitive science, neuroscience, and technology. From his early fascination with programming to the rapid evolution of large language models, Jan shares insights into the future of AI, digital well-being, and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

A central theme of...

In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, we sit down with Dr. Sam Schrevel, Postdoctoral Researcher at Leiden University Medical Center and qualitative researcher at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Dr. Schrevel specializes in healthcare and public policy, focusing on how the lived experiences of individuals—particularly marginalized communities—should shape health systems and government policy.

We explore topics including the experiences of ADHD patients in the Netherlands, the impact of austerity and private equity on mental healthcare systems, the widening social and health disparities in wealthy societies, and the subtle power dynamics within welf...

In this episode, Stephen Ibaraki sits down with Prof. Sanjeevikumar Padmanaban, Full Professor of Electrical Power Engineering at the University of South-Eastern Norway. Prof. Padmanaban shares his remarkable journey from India to Italy, South Africa, Denmark, and Norway, highlighting the academic milestones, international collaborations, and research breakthroughs that have shaped his career.

Discover the latest innovations in AI-driven power electronics, renewable energy integration, advanced energy storage, electric vehicles, and offshore renewable systems. Prof. Padmanaban also discusses the future opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into power systems, improving energy efficiency, and enabling a cleaner, smarter, and more...

In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, we welcome David Shami, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Consumer Justice Law Firm.

David shares his journey as a first-generation lawyer and explores the critical issues surrounding consumer justice, civil rights, and the profound human impact of inaccurate background and credit reports. He explains how technology, automation, and AI are transforming consumer reporting systems while also increasing the risk of costly errors. David also discusses the biggest misconceptions about consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), shares compelling real-life cases from his legal practice, and outlines...

In this episode of The Brand Called You, host Ashutosh Garg is joined by Meghann Dawson, Founder of The Unperfect Life Co and author of the forthcoming memoir Becoming is Messy. Meghann opens up about her journey as a chronic trauma survivor, exploring how early hardships shaped her resilience, leadership style, and coaching philosophy.

She shares insights on reclaiming power through storytelling, the vital role of humor in healing, the realities of perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety, and how trauma influences identity—especially for women and mothers. Meghann also introduces her Unperfect Level Up framework, designed to guide in...

Dive into the inspiring journey of Steve 'Moby' Leitch, an ultramarathon channel swimmer, speaker, author, and founder of Beyond the Shoreline.

In this episode, Steve joins Ashutosh Garg to share his remarkable transformation from addiction to becoming one of the few people to complete six of the legendary Ocean 7 swims. Discover how swimming became his path to recovery, the lessons the ocean has taught him about humility, resilience, and leadership, and why storytelling has become central to his mission of inspiring hope.

Whether you're facing your own challenges or are simply fascinated by human endurance...

In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, host Ashutosh Garg speaks with Shagorika Heryani, Founder of Athina, speaker, and writer with more than two decades of experience studying the intersections of culture, consumer behavior, and branding across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Discover how hidden cultural signals shape today's markets, why some products become inevitable, how emotional connections with brands are built, and what it takes for organizations to remain culturally relevant in an increasingly fragmented world.

• Why mainstream culture is becoming increasingly decentralized• The rise of regional cont...

Join host Stephen in this compelling episode of TBCY as he sits down with Simon Pereira Shorey, Founder and Chief Vision Officer of the International Foundation for the Displaced. Simon shares his incredible life journey—from his early days in British boarding schools, his transformative experiences during 9/11 in Manhattan, to his extensive humanitarian work in disaster response and resilience-building. Learn how Simon’s background  in management, consulting for major organizations and companies, and deep empathy for underserved communities have driven him to tackle one of the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges: displacement due to conflict, disaster, and climate change.

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In this episode, host Stephen Ibaraki speaks with Dr. Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), about the rapidly evolving world of quantum technologies and their growing impact on business, cybersecurity, public policy, and the global economy.

Discover how quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communications are advancing from research laboratories toward real-world applications, while governments, academia, and industry work together to accelerate innovation and commercialization.

Dr. Merzbacher shares insights from her multidisciplinary career spanning scientific research, federal science policy, and industry consortium leadership. She also explains how QED-C is helping...

In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, Ashutosh Garg speaks with Coach Kevin Voisin, Mindset Coach, Speaker, and CEO of We Live Legend, about overcoming perfectionism, preventing burnout, and creating a fulfilling life across five essential areas: faith, family, finance, fitness, and fun.

Kevin shares his philosophy of being "powerfully imperfect," explains why excellence matters more than perfection, and offers practical strategies for overcoming limiting beliefs, building accountability, and taking meaningful action toward lasting personal growth.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, or someone seeking positive transformation, this episode provides actionable insights to help...

Unlock the secrets of building a powerful speaking career with Ashley Stahl, Founder of Wise Whisper Agency, in this episode of The Brand Called You, hosted by Ashutosh Garg.

Discover how to craft your signature talk, understand the difference between credibility and authority, and turn personal stories into impactful, actionable insights that inspire audiences and drive meaningful results.

Ashley shares her journey from starting with no speaking experience to building a thriving speaking career. She also reveals practical frameworks for creating scalable intellectual property and discusses real-world success stories, including how one client went from...

In this inspiring episode of The Brand Called You, Ashutosh Garg speaks with Devendra Kumar, Founder of Ladli Foundation Trust. From surviving extreme hardship as a child labourer in a Delhi slum to becoming a nationally and internationally recognized social leader, Devendra's journey is a remarkable story of resilience, empathy, and impact.

He shares powerful lessons from his childhood, the inspiration behind founding Ladli Foundation, and the organization's unique approach to creating sustainable social change through volunteer-driven action. The conversation explores critical issues such as child marriage, women's empowerment, digital inclusion, grassroots leadership, and...

Unlock the secrets behind resilient brands, leadership transformation, and sustainable business growth with Jonathan Lewis, President of McKee Wallwork. In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, host Ashutosh Garg explores how organizations navigate pivotal moments, overcome stalled growth, and build stronger identities that drive long-term success.

Drawing on decades of experience advising companies through periods of uncertainty and change, Jonathan explains why many growth challenges stem not from market conditions but from internal leadership dynamics. He shares practical insights on organizational identity, leadership alignment, decision-making under pressure, and the role of humility in navigating disruption.<...

In this enlightening episode of The Brand Called You, we welcome Ferdinand Mehlinger, Founder of G-Stacker, a cutting-edge AI application focused on local business authority stacking and entity verification. Ferdinand, an early contributor to Google's original BackRub project, shares vivid stories from his time at Google, offers an insider's perspective on how search has evolved from SEO to AI-driven optimization, and explains the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses competing against large brands.

Discover how G-Stacker addresses verification challenges that traditional SEO agencies often struggle with, why entity anchoring within Google's ecosystem is critical, and which signals...

Unlock the secrets to powerful presentations in the virtual age! In this episode of "The Brand Called You," we welcome Jeffrey Brandeis, CEO and Founder of Engaging Webinars, who shares actionable insights on making presentations truly impactful for business success.

Discover why most presentations fail to engage audiences, the key differences between simply presenting information and creating real influence, and how to use the ENGAGE Framework to transform your next pitch or webinar. Learn practical tips on audience engagement, building trust, leveraging storytelling, and avoiding common credibility pitfalls.

This in-depth conversation also delves into why...

In this insightful episode of TBCY, communication strategist Laura Doman shares her expertise on how to transform from being overlooked to unforgettable. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Laura dives into the nuances of executive presence, the true value of authenticity in an AI-driven world, and actionable steps professionals can take to enhance their communication skills—whether on Zoom, LinkedIn, or the boardroom. Discover why human connection trumps technical prowess, the power of subtext and storytelling, and how anyone (including introverts!) can develop magnetic presence. If you want to level up your influence, win more opportunities, and leave a lasting impression, th...