Charag Krishnan

As we get set for the third Nexus of Good Annual Awards, I recall how it was the interaction with organizations like Akshay Patra, Humana India , Akshara, Lend-A-Hand India and the wonderful work done by these organizations that gave me the idea of Nexus of Good . This article in Indica News is all about the evolution of Nexus of Good movement that has come a long way. https://lnkd.in/gxSDqyKV

80

2 Comments

It takes courage to talk about cancer. In this inaugural episode of the podcast "Unstoppable Indian Women," two women—podcaster Madhumita Jena, founder of Naari, and Anu Shultes, CEO of DashFi —both alumnae of the College of Engineering, Guindy—talk about Anu's journey through cancer and share valuable insights with us. Please give it a listen. #cegshines

3

Yesterday, my lovely colleague and AIGAC peer Krithika Srinivasan and I were discussing the purpose of MBA admissions rounds: https://lnkd.in/e2QAQPss So there are two things that deserve to be mentioned when it comes to the admissions rounds: 1) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭? 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬? 𝐘𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨.... The rounds exist so the MBA AdComs can evaluate a sizable pool of applicants simultaneously. This helps them *select* the most qualified candidates and shape the composition of their MBA class in terms of academic qualifications, professional backgrounds, and diversity. Back in the day, Round 1 used to have a certain "signaling power". It indicated the candidate is very committed and that program is a top choice for them. This is no longer the case, people have all sorts of strategies about how they split their schools across rounds. And they often plan on multiple deposits before they make a choice. So the guiding light should always be - when can you submit the strongest application possible. 2) 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 2: 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭. While pushing things from Round 1 to Round 2 is a relatively risk-free option, what happens if you can't pull things off for Round 2? In Round 3, if it even exists (Harvard Business School no longer has one), your odds do go down significantly. That often leaves you with the only viable option being to apply next year... 𝐒𝐨 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 2, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖. And to make sure your efforts are smart and efficient, next month I will open MBA ABC one last time this year for Round 2 candidates. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰: https://lnkd.in/ekcd2QVm #mba #mbaadmissions #mbaaplication

2

2 Comments

technology can't solve all our social problems but it is an exponentially growing superpower that is likely to be at the core of most of our scaled solutions going forward. we must figure out ways to get India's best product managers and engineers excited about solving social problems, despite our constraints. I share some of our tech-first thinking and work in this interview with Venkatesh Kannaiah of The Indian Express

214

5 Comments

Inspired by Dr. Samish Dalal session at the #5thFFFPConference, I recalled my 2021 skydiving experience. Sushama K Jain bhabhi's words still resonate: "Throw all fears and negativity out while jumping." As I stood at the door, I hesitated: "I don't want to go... take me back down from the plane." Fear crept in: •⁠ ⁠What if the parachute doesn't open? •⁠ ⁠Will I return home safely? But the instructor took the leap, leaving me no choice. I panicked, calling out "Mummy, Mummy!" with the added pressure of capturing perfect pictures and videos. Two valuable lessons aligned with Samish's insights: 1.⁠ ⁠In life and business, you have no choice but to jump 2.⁠ ⁠Having a mentor is like having a parachute - guidance and support. Interestingly, despite initial reluctance, I started enjoying the fall due to external pressure to capture perfect moments. Share your own experiences and lessons in the comments!

9

2 Comments

On Community Building— As a journalist in my past life, my editors taught me how every story needs a peg. Peg is the special angle that makes a story timely and relevant. For instance, a cover story I wrote for The Hindu titled Pangs of Wasseypur in 2012 involved travelling to Wasseypur a few weeks after Gangs of Wasseypur 2 had come, and contrasting the reel life from the real life. It was timely. The movie & its ultraviolent character was fresh on everyone's mind, and relevant because the story would quench everyone's curiosity about questions like: did Faisal Khan really exist? Is Wasseypur really that violent? My story was not just a review of the film, but shed light on the place & its people. It merged cinema with culture, travel & society. It became interdisciplinary. You can read the story here: https://lnkd.in/g9tXEPBu I took this learning with me and plastered it on all the communities I built thereon. If it was not interdisciplinary, I would not build it. I was interested in writing. The most obvious way would have been to just build an offline community of writers. It was possible, but boring as it tickled just one side of the brain. With YourQuote, we consciously built a community of tech-savvy writers. So it catered not only to the writer in you, but also the technologist in you. It allowed us to build a community of early writers who were ardent product ideators. It allowed writing to become interdisciplinary. Their ideas paved our product roadmap. Same is happening with Bookmark. The readers are avid dating app users. Their feedback is shaping our product. In 2023, in my life post YQ, I filled my time building new communities. Two in particular, Pretty Old Cars (@prettyoldcars on Insta) & Cubbon Reads, I consistently curated along with my partner. We love them both because they are interdisciplinary. Cubbon Reads isn't just about books and readers, but also about reclaiming public space, championing leisure and exploring new restaurants for a group lunch post the reading. We meet and learn from each other about Bangalore's history, and try out new cuisines while discussing urban policy. Every weekend, someone new comes & dazzles us. Pretty Old Cars, similarly, isn't just about old cars but about exploring new parts of the city wherever we go. It's documenting urban history as much as it is about documenting old cars. We don't create communities for everything we're passionate about. We look for the peg, an interdisciplinary aspect which makes it tick for us. For instance, both of us love cycling but we don't see ourselves building a cycling community. For the simple reason: it will only cater to one interest. Had we been in Delhi, we would have loved to create a cycling community that did 50Ks every weekend to explore nearby archaeological ruins such as Tughlaqabad. It'd merge our love for history with our love for cycling. If you're building communities, try making it interdisciplinary. It would never get boring.

21

5 years ago - today before C-19 wrecked a havoc reminiscensing fateful aftermath ): ; I was compelled by reasons inspired from childhood to involve in welfare of school going kids especially those enrolled in public elementary school from deprived households and in need of social & economic support- to rejuvenate & reinvent themselves to ladders of legendary! To nurture minds that perceive possibility within reach and declutter downcast demeanour with inspiration through words and empathy - donating the backpacks. As I reflect the journey hitherto, midwifed by individuals of goodwill & and like-minded partners. The metrics of success in our engagement so far has not only been earmarked by funds raised, events conducted but the lives transformed & inspired with an implicit caveat - to pay forward in future, guided by idea that children learn better not in words but through actions. Like a humming bird tale cliche... every service devoted to humanity welfare does whack a mole!

1

This podcast happened around a year ago with Shantanu Deshpande. This was perhaps earlier on in the success of The Barbershop with Shantanu when there were fewer episodes (but each one had already started getting incredible viewership in the hundred thousands). Because Shantanu and I had gotten to know each other relatively well around this time, I went into the conversation with no prep and just anticipating a nice conversation. I remember him saying "So, that was really unscripted but it was good" and I think I said "Wait, did I need to do homework? You never gave me any questions!" :) For many that know me well, you will know that I don't really like public speaking but I have to do it because of the nature of my role. I've become better at it, over time, and more confident. But, smaller 1:1 conversations are what I prefer because you can build on each other's thoughts, spark ideas and get inspired by someone else's POV on the world. When I look at this episode now, here's what I like about it: - It's easy and it flows. There's no Q&A really - it's truly a conversation that got recorded. Neither of us takes ourselves too seriously. Lively faces! - There's a good dynamic here that perhaps keeps the viewer interested in both Shantanu and me. While I'm the subject of the podcast, it's his respectful asking of questions, the sharp intellect and connecting the dots across my responses that probably engages the viewer, too. The back-and-forth, the repartee, building on ideas - perhaps that makes the viewer feel part of the conversation and not just a passive listener. - There is vulnerability and authenticity. There is no seeking of validation, or an urge to send a particular message/image. For both of us, it's a view into who we are as people, that we are comfortable with who we are (well, most of the time), and an honesty about sharing leadership challenges. Perhaps because of the sector (non-profit), it didn't do as well as some of other podcasts from for-profit leaders (mine was at 25K views while others had 70K+). But, what I treasured were two things: - The qualitative comments, messages, LinkedIn comments and people telling other people about Peepul. - The viewership length. I think the relatability and exchange led to many people watching the whole 2-hour long video rather than give up mid-way or early-on. They stayed and engaged. Some of me has changed since then and quite a bit has remained the same. The podcast really helped more people get to know about Peepul, understand more about me as a leader, what I hold close as values, and just that it's OK to just be yourself because that honesty & sincerity is what an audience relates with. Thank you, Shantanu Deshpande for being such a great interviewer. It comes so naturally to you to have meaningful conversations and so impressive the way you ask questions! ALL: feel free to do your bit to increase the views so that we can show that non-profit views can equal for-profit ones!

226

9 Comments

I've been talking about your Career Vision Narrative and how it makes or breaks candidacies in the MBA admissions race. And today, I have more to say on that topic! After 15 years in MBA Admissions, I know one thing. At best, only 1 in 5 MBA candidates gets admitted to the most competitive MBA programs. Womp. The strongest your career vision, MBA resume, and essays are, the more likely you are to get admitted. It’s that simple. So the harder and smarter you work on your MBA application, the most likely you are to be that 1 in 5. So what should you be doing right now? If you are an #MBA candidate applying in R1, read on: https://lnkd.in/eu7bSjTp #mbaadmissions #mbaaplication

9

This is the classical example of how a visionary and committed leader can transform the society. #india #entrepreneurship #leadership #makeinindia #investinindia IPQC Consulting Services

7

She has taken over her dad’s business and is a second-generation leader. Sonal Gupta Tandon and I, along with four other teammates, fired up the dance floors at Delhi University for three years. Nineteen years have passed, and we haven’t had many opportunities to meet in-person except a few. We decided to reconnect over a year ago and have been making consistent efforts to unite. Last night, we finally got some private time together. The first thing I asked her was, "What's one mistake you wouldn't want to make again and would like to share with younger people, especially as a businesswoman?" She replied that her message is particularly for women who plan to have children: "Never take an excessively long break from work. Take some rest after pregnancy but get back to work as soon as your body supports you. Otherwise, life can get complicated in unpredictable ways. One needs to maintain their individuality through their work so as not to lose themselves in the process..." What’s the one mistake you don’t want younger people to make? #Leadership #Womenatwork #SecondGenerationLeadership #BusinessWomen #Entrepreneurship #CareerAdvice #WorkLifeBalance #WomenInBusiness #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerBreak #PregnancyAndWork #Inclusion #WomenEmpowerment #Mentorship #LifeLessons #CareerDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #WorkLifeIntegration #SuccessTips #BusinessLeadership #WomenLeaders #DEIB #Humanresource

76

3 Comments

Shoutout @MSivaloganathan on the release of his TED Talk on reimagining leadership! Watch now on TED and follow his new organization, Harmonious Leadership, as they rewrite the rules for leadership and impact. #HarmoniousLeadership #TEDtalk #keynotespeaking https://lnkd.in/gDC5pwig

4

1 Comment

My book on how universities can systematically change to better serve their mission for research, service and learning has been published. Within the book I include four example universities: Cornell, Georgia Tech, Tec de Monterrey (Mexico) and Plaksha (India), representing innovation by: new venture, strategy, visionary leadership and startup. I use the term "inside innovation" to distinguish change within to improve universities from "outside innovation," aimed at the transfer of knowledge to others, for impact outside the university. The book is available in several formats: hard copy, ebook and Kindle. https://lnkd.in/g2VGb57X https://lnkd.in/gbZR7Zcm

82

8 Comments

While doing some research for Baithak Foundation, I stumbled upon this paper authored by Shantala Hegde. It highlights the neurochemical changes facilitated by music. Each of them is highly critical to children as well as adults. We need more such papers and studies which document the impact music can have on children as well as on grown-ups! Here is a link to the PDF of the full report: https://lnkd.in/dKBhwnqE

13

4 Comments

Wow Dr. India White 🗣️📖📝📐📚 + I vibed so hard on the latest ep of Math Therapy. When we operate from a place of fear, equity is impossible; but when we operate from a place of abundance, equity has the chance to truly thrive 🌱 #equity #matheducation #mathematically #education #maththerapy #abundancemindset #podcast #selfhelppodcast #ncsm #nctm #dei

2

This article couldn't have been more spot on Azim Premji Foundation   I’ll probably showcase snippets at every Funder meeting that I have as it addresses some of the most common comments that I hear: - Give me exact projections of how many lives my money will change  - Why can’t I see quarterly changes from my contribution? - I do all my social work entirely myself as I don’t see any change when implementation organizations (NGOs) do it. Narrating one recent conversation as an example: Funder CSR Team: “My target is to map 75000 children this year through an education program….”  Let It Count: “...As in, 75k names should appear in the list of attendees?” Funder CSR Team: “Yes with their photos and Aadhaar card details” Let It Count: “But what is only 10% of these 75k regularly attend the program or have any takeaway from it” Funder CSR Team: “That doesn't matter, as long as I can show the Board that 75000 lives have been touched upon and ‘changed’.” Focusing solely on Numbers, Speed & Pre-defined Impact often leads to a temporary illusion of success not really benefitting anyone - wasted resources/ CSR spends for the Funder & low/temporary benefit to the recipient.  Rightly said below – ‘Human and social changes take time’ and for it to make a genuine positive impact to someone’s life or the society at large, it will have to be sustainable, permanent and well-planned. 

18

💡Education may not always seem glamorous, but its potential to create lasting impact is profound. 🌍 By incorporating project-based learning, we can engage students in meaningful ways while addressing important issues like migration and assimilation. 🔑 Starting small is key—implementing just one project or skill-building class can set the stage for transformative change. Remember, real impact takes time and commitment. Let’s invest in our future by prioritizing innovative education! 🔗Watch out latest episode on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/dBXsxWYe 🔴 Make sure SUBSCRIBE to our channel for more amazing and valuable podcast episodes #EducationMatters #ProjectBasedLearning #FutureLeaders #InspireEdTalk #Podcast

9

1 Comment

The construct of "here-and-now" Those of you that are involved in either Tavistock-based group relations work or NTL labs (of which ISABS in India is a part) have undoubtedly heard the expression "here-and-now," a present moment in time as it relates to your life in the group. At the outset, let me state that my comments here are not from the standpoint of an expert or one possessing a certain degree of prowess in either group technology. If anything, I have been an outlier or fly on the wall. I think of the "here-and-now" as a somewhat illusory construct, for I don't believe that the "here-and-now" truly exists, other than as a figment of our imagination that facilitates holding the group in the mind. If a group consultant asks a member to reflect on what is happening in the moment, as in the present or "here-and-now" from an individual or group-based standpoint, the reflections for the most part are a recounting of a past moment, not a true reflection of the present. Ideally, as long as you can hold the "here-and-now" in the mind, I suppose that in a manner of speaking, you are capturing the present moment. But the moment you start reflecting on or articulating what is happening, you are recounting the past; for the present moment has already slipped out of your streams of consciousness. You are too late! So, I am wondering if it would not make more sense in this kind of group work, to start referring to the "there-and-then" as opposed to the here-and-now. It's important for members to realize that at best, here-and-now is a nimble and fleeting phenomenon that is not attainable. If you are interested in writing a joint journal article with me on this topic, please reach out.

2

Can education ruin a family? In low-income households, it has been happening since decades! Few weeks after launching Rang De in 2008, I read an article about "how domestic workers are getting indebted for funding their children's education". More than 40% of domestic workers send their kids to private schools because they know quality education is the only way out of poverty. They would borrow from moneylenders at the start of every academic year and the loans would pile up. We met with the family featured in the article and realized that this was a much bigger problem in India. It inspired us to launch our loan program for children of low-income households. We funded few women in Chennai and witnessed the impact firsthand. But we hit a brick wall. Though we could provide affordable loans, we had no control over the quality of education that these students were receiving. We had to shut the program down because we were unable to scale it. We tried to come up with solutions to solve the problem but couldn't find a sustainable solution. This long-awaited dream came true in 2023. Last year, Rang De partnered with PW (PhysicsWallah) to enable India's first-gen learners get access to high-quality education, regardless of their economic background. Our social investors raised ₹1.29 Cr for 55 students who then got access to higher education. We are back with the Physics Wallah Fund for their second semester! If you missed the opportunity to invest in these 55 bright students last year, here’s your opportunity to become part of their growth journey. Adding the link to the website in the comments.

379

18 Comments