Podcast · Business

Play to Potential Podcast

by Play to Potential Podcast · English · Business

This Podcast is created and curated by Deepak Jayaraman (an Executive Coach and a Leadership Advisor). He lives in Mumbai and works with successful Senior Executives by helping them play to their unique potential but with a sharp focus on transitions (business or career). Just like businesses need t

New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 1 hr 16 min
Latest: 1 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 39 min

706: 112.00 Christina Wallace on Being intentional about a Portfolio Life

GUEST: Christina Wallace is a Harvard Business School faculty member, entrepreneur, author and Broadway producer who has built a career across business, technology and the arts. Her own journey has moved across seemingly different worlds, giving her a deeply personal perspective on what it means to build a career and life that does not fit neatly into a single identity. In this conversation, we explore Christina's idea of a Portfolio Life and why it may be useful to think beyond the traditional model of building one linear career. She introduces the idea of the Human Venn Diagram — the…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E705 · 19 Sep 2026 · 22 min
705: EP1 Crafting a Full Life - Ramesh Mangaleswaran on What Will You Do With Your Next Chapter?
GUEST: In this episode of Crafting a Full Life , Deepak Jayaraman speaks with Ramesh Mangleswaran about what it means to build a life beyond your professional identity. After more than three decades at McKinsey, Ramesh began consciously preparing for his next chapter and has since embraced what he calls a portfolio life . They explore how to create space for reflection, invest in relationships, think about transitions before they arrive, and be intentional about where you choose to spend your time and energy. Ramesh also shares his GIFT framework — Giving, Investing, Family & Friends, and…
E704 · 28 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
704: 111.00 Dr. Wendy Smith on Navigating dilemmas, tensions and paradoxes
GUEST: Dr. Wendy Smith is one of the world's foremost researchers on leadership, paradox and organizational change. She is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management at the University of Delaware and co-author of the influential book Both/And Thinking , which explores how leaders navigate competing demands in an increasingly complex world. In this conversation, we explore why many of leadership's hardest decisions are not problems with a single correct answer but paradoxes that require holding multiple truths simultaneously. Wendy explains the important distinction between tensions,…
E703 · 26 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
703: 110.00 Viral Doshi on Careers, College choices, AI and on adopting the Rolex Approach to his journey
GUEST: Viral Doshi is one of India's pioneers in career and college counselling. Over the last two decades, he has mentored more than 30,000 students, helping them navigate educational choices, international admissions and long-term career decisions. He is widely regarded for his highly personalised approach and has consciously built a practice centred on excellence rather than scale. In this conversation, we explore Viral's remarkable journey from running a Super Alloys manufacturing business to building one of India's most respected career counselling practices. He reflects on how passion…
E702 · 12 May 2026 · 48 min
702: EP 10 Connecting the Dots: Journaling - Building a deeper relationship with yourself
This episode of Connecting the Dots is on Journaling. Over the years, I’ve noticed an interesting contrast. Many accomplished leaders credit journaling as a practice that helped them think clearly, improve judgment, process complexity and stay grounded. At the same time, many people want to journal but don’t know where to begin or how to make the practice meaningful. This episode is for the latter. Through insights from guests like Ethan Kross, Tasha Eurich, Daniel Pink, Rich Fernandez, Bill Burnett, Rajiv Vij, Andrew Likierman and Vinay Sitapati, we explore both the Why and the How of…
E701 · 11 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
701: 109.00 Hitendra Wadhwa on Atomic Leadership
GUEST: Hitendra Wadhwa is a professor at Columbia Business School, founder of the Mentora Institute, and author of Inner Mastery, Outer Impact. His work explores how leaders create meaningful change by first working on their inner world. In this conversation, we explore a different way to think about leadership. Instead of focusing on traits or competencies, Hitendra introduces the idea of activating states and how leadership is often shaped in small, high-stakes human moments. We discuss why leadership is less about grand strategies and more about what happens in micro interactions such as…
E700 · 5 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
700: 108.00 Jennifer Garvey Berger on building our complexity fitness
GUEST: Jennifer Garvey Berger is a leadership thinker, author, and co-founder of Cultivating Leadership. Her work focuses on adult development and how leaders can grow their inner capacity to meet an increasingly complex world. She is the author of Changing on the Job and Unlocking Leadership Mindtraps . In this conversation, we explore why many capable leaders still feel overwhelmed, reactive, or stuck despite their experience. Jennifer introduces the idea of complexity fitness and explains how leadership today is less about having answers and more about expanding how we make sense of…
E699 · 15 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 23 min
699: 107.00 Roopa Kudva on Leadership Beyond the Playbook
GUEST: Roopa Kudva is the former Managing Director of CRISIL and the former Managing Partner at Omidyar Network India. Over the last four decades, she has worked across financial services, impact investing and company boards, and now brings those lessons together in her book Leadership Beyond the Playbook. In this conversation, we explore what she has learned from leading at scale, investing in early-stage founders and observing leaders across sectors and generations. Roopa talks about what it really takes to stay grounded as you rise, how to think about purpose without forcing it, and why…
E698 · 12 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 33 min
698: 106.00 Bill Burnett on Designing a Life of Play, Purpose and Possibility
GUEST: Bill Burnett is a designer, educator, and co-author of Designing Your Life. He has worked across toys, technology and academia, and now leads the Life Design Lab at Stanford where he helps people rethink how they build their careers and lives. In this conversation, we walk through his journey from the early days of design to his work with students and professionals who are trying to find clarity in a world that keeps shifting. Bill talks about the power of curiosity and play, the value of reframing problems before rushing to solutions, and why small prototypes often reveal more truth…
E697 · 18 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 27 min
697: 105.00 Jaspreet Bindra on AI Literacy - Navigating the AI revolution
GUEST: Jaspreet Bindra is an author, speaker, and thought leader in the areas of digital transformation and artificial intelligence. In this conversation, we explore his journey from a corporate career to entrepreneurship and his work in helping individuals and organizations build AI literacy. Jaspreet believes that understanding AI is no longer optional, it is essential for leaders who want to stay relevant and human in the age of technology. He shares insights on how AI is reshaping the nature of work, decision-making, and leadership itself, while emphasizing the enduring importance of…
E696 · 16 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 30 min
696: 104.00 Neeraj Aggarwal on Leadership, legacy and living a full life
GUEST: Neeraj is the Chair, Asia Pacific at Boston Consulting Group and a key driving force behind Plaksha University, an institution that seeks to reimagine technology education and undertake transformative research to address grand challenges.Neeraj has over 25 years of experience with clients spanning multiple sectors and has worked closely with more than 100 CEOs over the years, across geographies ranging from Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. In this podcast, we explore Neeraj's journey from his humble beginnings in Assandh, Haryana and explore his perspectives on how leadership…
E695 · 14 Sep 2025 · 24 min
695: Tanmay Vora on The Art of Sketchnoting
GUEST: Tanmay unpacks the idea of 'skillstacking' - the art of strategically combining our skills to shape the playground we operate in. He specifically discusses about how sketchnoting adds to his flywheel in terms of how he adds value in his work. The Book: Play to Potential - Lead a full life, become the best you (Published by Penguin RandomHouse) is now available to order (1-30 copies) on Amazon - https://qr1.be/29Z6 Published on August 2025. ABOUT THE BOOK: Play to Potential offers a refreshing exploration of human potential, emphasizing discovery through play rather than work. Deepak…
E694 · 29 Aug 2025 · 1 hr 23 min
694: EP 6. Flavour-ful Lives - Vineet Panchhi
GUEST: In this episode of FLAVOUR-ful Lives, we explore the multifaceted journey of Vineet Panchhi, a true exemplar of embracing multiple identities. From his early days in Hotel Management at IHM Pusa to successful careers in Sales, HR, Singing, Jingle Creation, Movie Workshop Directing, Internal Communications, and Poetry, Vineet embodies the essence of not being confined by one identity. Learn how he defies the conventional path, demonstrating that our pasts do not have to define our futures. Join us as we delve into his story, featured in the Play to Potential book. The Book: Play to…
E693 · 29 Jul 2025 · 27 min
693: Vineeta Singh on Leading a full life and Building to Last
GUEST: In this special episode, we feature a candid and insightful conversation with Vineeta Singh, Co-Founder & CEO of Sugar Cosmetics, Mother of two young children, Shark Tank India judge, and a committed marathoner. What began as a thoughtful note of appreciation for the Play to Potential book turned into a rich dialogue on what it truly means to lead a full life. Vineeta shares how the book’s themes—especially around self-awareness, internal compasses, and pacing for the long game—resonated with her deeply. Drawing from her entrepreneurial journey and her experiences as a runner, she…
E692 · 8 May 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
692: EP 5. Flavour-ful Lives - Sumeet Mehta
GUEST: In this episode of FLAVOUR-ful Lives, we dive into a compelling conversation with Sumeet Mehta, CEO and Co-Founder of LEAD, a billion-dollar ed-tech company. Known for his pivotal role in my self-awareness journey since our days at IIMA, Sumeet’s story exemplifies the power of pausing to pivot. Discover how a strategic sabbatical set him on his path and how childhood experiences can hold the key to unlocking future potential. Join us as we explore the journey of an inspiring leader featured in the Play to Potential book. The Book: Play to Potential - Lead a full life, become the best…
E691 · 26 Mar 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
691: EP 4. Flavour-ful Lives - Sucharita Mukherjee
GUEST: In this episode of FLAVOUR-ful Lives, we feature Sucharita Mukherjee, CEO of Kaleidofin, a FinTech company empowering millions with affordable finance. Sucharita’s story is a powerful example of resilience as transformation rather than simply bouncing back. From her early career at LSR, IIM Ahmedabad, and top-tier banks in London to navigating a personal upheaval in 2008 that led her to co-found IFMR Capital (now Northern Arc), her journey shows the depth of inner work and strategic choices. Explore how she balances incubating three startups, parenting two young daughters, and leading…
E690 · 23 Feb 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
690: EP 3. Flavour-ful Lives - Soma Biswas Vajpayee
GUEST: In this episode of FLAVOUR-ful Lives, we spotlight Soma Vajpayee, an inspiring art-based therapist whose journey exemplifies adapting and thriving through change. From being an IIMA graduate alongside her husband Bhavtosh Vajpayee to moving across various locations over the years, Soma has shown that being a 'trailing spouse' can be transformed into an empowering journey. Her story highlights embracing challenges, inner work, and navigating past demons to align passion and purpose. Discover how Soma's path brings to life the rediscovery process central to the FLAVOUR framework in the…
E689 · 11 Feb 2025 · 1 hr 32 min
689: Navigating the Long and Messy Midlife | Deepak Jayaraman | Ravi Venkatesan
ABOUT THE EPISODE Midlife is a phase when we find ourselves pulled in multiple directions—across work, home, health, friendships, and hobbies. In this session, Ravi Venkatesan delves into themes from Deepak Jayaraman’s recent book, Play to Potential. The book offers a nuanced exploration of how to unlock human potential—not just professionally but holistically—by embracing life’s highs and lows. Drawing from his acclaimed Play to Potential podcast and his experiences as a coach, Deepak introduces the FLAVOUR framework, a practical guide to navigating the intricate interplay of family,…
E688 · 29 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
688: EP 2. FLAVOUR-ful Lives - Sangeeta Shahaney
GUEST: In this episode of FLAVOUR-ful Lives, we feature Sangeeta Shahaney, an inspiring figure whose life journey exemplifies resilience and intentional living. Daughter of one of India's pioneers in Executive Search, Sangeeta initially chose the path of being a homemaker after marrying a sailor. However, the sudden loss of her husband led her to reexamine her life and navigate a transformative path that culminated in building a successful SAT coaching practice in Pune. Her story is a powerful testament to embracing reality, simplifying choices, and staying resilient. Discover her journey as…
E687 · 15 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 31 min
687: EP 1. FLAVOUR-ful Lives - Ravishankar Iyer
GUEST: In the first episode of FLAVOUR-ful Lives, we engage with Ravishankar Iyer, a storyteller and podcast host whose journey embodies positivity, simplicity, and the pursuit of passion. Coming from an Indian middle-class background, Ravi’s love for stories began in childhood and set him on an unconventional path. Though he started traditionally—ranking 11th in CA and graduating from IIMA—he made deliberate, sometimes difficult, choices to follow his true calling. With deep inner work, he has found balance, understood ‘how much is enough,’ and crafted a life rich in meaning alongside his…
E686 · 12 Sep 2024 · 1 hr 24 min
686: 103.00 Ricardo Sunderland on The Energy Advantage
GUEST: Ricardo Sunderland is an author and a CEO Transformational Coach with Egon Zehnder, a global leadership advisory firm. In this podcast, we discuss his latest book, "The Energy Advantage, How to go from managing your time to mastering your energy," Ricardo's life’s purpose is to help leaders connect to and manage their energy to become humane leaders. He coaches senior leaders to help them bring coherence to the way they lead, and to help them reach their full societal impact. In addition to his coaching work, Ricardo collaborates with Board’s Chairs and Nominating Committees during…
E685 · 25 Jul 2024 · 54 min
685: EP 9 Connecting the Dots: Parenting - Helping our children play to their potential
This episode of Connecting the Dots is on Parenting - something we are all winging. We go to colleges, trainings and leadership development programmes for all sorts of capabilities, but there is none for parenting. In this episode, we learn from Roger Federer’s parents, Nandan, Nilekani‘s parents and many other successful leaders who reflect on their childhood. We also learn from some of the researchers on how we can be mindful as parents. If you have a child 10 years or above, the chances are, you will find this of value. We also realise you are short on time. So I have handpicked 10…
E684 · 28 Mar 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
684: EP8 Connecting the Dots: Judgment - Making sound decisions amidst complexity
This episode of Connecting the Dots deals with Judgment - Making sound decisions amidst complexity. VUCA - (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) is a term that is used to describe the state of the world. Some people use BANI - (Brittle, Anxious, Non-Linear, Incomprehensible). Whatever the terminology, it is fair to say that the world has gotten more grey, nebulous and harder to predict. Sound judgment, today, is arguably more relevant than ever. Tune in as we peel the layers on this nuanced topic. You can stay connected with the podcast by subscribing to the Email newsletter or to the…
E683 · 27 Feb 2024 · 1 hr 27 min
683: EP7 Connecting the Dots - Staying resilient through quakes
This episode of Connecting the Dots deals with STAYING RESILIENT THROUGH QUAKES. We explore what it takes to be resilient as an individual and go on to examine what it takes to create a resilient culture in an organization. Very often, even the notion of resilience is misunderstood. We examine the nuances in what the term means. Is it “bouncing back” to something or using the quake as an opportunity to shape-shift to something else. In the fragile and brittle worlds we live in, being resilient is turning out to be a super-power. Tune into this episode to learn and grow! You can find nuggets…
E682 · 24 Jan 2024 · 59 min
682: EP6: Connecting the Dots - Building Habits that stick
This episode of Connecting the Dots deals with Building Habits that stick . This is that time of the year when your new year resolutions meet the rough and tumble of your life. Having a process that ensures that you work towards your outcomes is critical. As James Clear says, we don’t rise to the level of our goals. We fall to the level of our systems. We shine the light on how we can all build habits that stick. While this episode is a compilation across many speakers, if you want to tune into the various nuggets around this theme of harmonising across work and other elements of life, you…
E681 · 27 Nov 2023 · 1 hr 23 min
681: EP5: Connecting the Dots - Breathing Life into Work
This episode of Connecting the Dots deals with BREATHING LIFE INTO WORK. A lot of us, consciously or sub-consciously end up putting work on our pedestal and relegate the other elements of life to a distant second. In this episode, I share some of my learnings (from the 102+ episodes and from my lived experiences) around how focusing on Health, Personal Relationships, Social Impact work and Guitaring have helped me get better at my work! While this episode is a compilation across many speakers, if you want to tune into the various nuggets around this theme of harmonizing across work and other…
E680 · 28 Sep 2023 · 1 hr 39 min
680: EP4: Connecting the Dots - Identity
This episode of Connecting the Dots deals with IDENTITY. When we look at issues around transitions, reinventing ourselves and navigating the pulls and pressures of mid-life, the key often is in reflecting on our identity. This episode, we go deep into how we think about Identity and how sometimes, we end up caging ourselves and end up being a prisoner of our own lack of imagination around our identity. While this episode is a compilation across many speakers, if you want to tune into the various nuggets around this theme of Identity, you could visit -…
E679 · 30 Aug 2023 · 1 hr 4 min
679: EP3: Connecting the Dots - Listening
Welcome to CONNECTING THE DOTS - Episode 3. The first two were on Internal and External Self-Awareness. This one is on Listening! How do we listen to others, ourselves, our heart, our body, our inner voice and much much more. The quality of our listening can have a significant impact on the lives we lead! While this episode is a compilation across many speakers, if you want to tune into the various nuggets around this theme of Listening, you could visit - https://www.playtopotential.com/tags/listening You can stay connected with the podcast by subscribing to the Email newsletter or to the…
E678 · 2 Aug 2023 · 42 min
678: EP2: Connecting the Dots - External Self-awareness
Welcome to the second episode of CONNECTING THE DOTS. We pick a theme for every episode and try and look at that topic from multiple lenses. Where appropriate, I also try and bring in my experiences as a Coach and a Sounding Board and from my journey as well. In this second episode, we discuss External Self-Awareness. How do we tune into the feedback that we get from the outside world and become a better version of ourselves? The question worth asking in this context is - How 360 is our 360? While this episode is a compilation across many speakers, if you want to tune into the various…
E677 · 8 Jul 2023 · 46 min
677: EP1: Connecting the Dots - Internal Self-awareness
Welcome to the first episode of CONNECTING THE DOTS. We pick a theme for every episode and try and look at that topic from multiple lenses. Where appropriate, I also try and bring in my experiences as a Coach and a Sounding Board and from my journey as well. In this first episode, we discuss INTERNAL SELF-AWARENESS. Barry Schwartz (Author of Paradox of Choice) states that in a world of abundance, two things happen - 1) Decision-making becomes complex 2) You experience FOMO. Self-Awareness, I believe, is the steering wheel that can help us navigate through life where we experience close to…

About Play to Potential Podcast

Play to Potential Podcast is a English business podcast from Play to Potential Podcast. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Play to Potential Podcast
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 1 hr 16 min
Latest episode: 1 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1213410599

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