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Corner Office Conversation

The Economic Times

Corner Office Conversation is The Economic Times’ flagship interview podcast featuring unfiltered, one-on-one conversations with some of India and the world’s most powerful business leaders.

Hosted by ET’s top journalists and editors, this fortnightly show goes beyond headlines and press releases to explore how CEOs and founders think, decide, and lead in an era of disruption.

From Marc Benioff (Salesforce), Dara Khosrowshahi (Uber), and Roland Busch (Siemens) to Adar Poonawalla (Serum Institute), Suresh Narayanan (Nestlé India), and Ravi Kumar S (Cognizant), these conversations uncover personal leadership playbooks, global strategy pivots, lessons from failures, and bold visions for the future — across industries like tech, healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and consumer goods.

New episodes drop every alternate Monday.

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#44
Thursday · 28 min
Deedy Das: AI’s Cyber Threat, India’s IT Jobs and Why OpenAI Is Undervalued
AI investment is soaring, but who will ultimately capture the value—and who will be displaced? Menlo Ventures partner Deedy Das explains why Anthropic’s enterprise bet paid off, why OpenAI and its rivals may be undervalued, and what follows the current infrastructure boom. He also delivers a stark warning: AI agents can already probe and breach major corporate systems, giving attackers an unprecedented advantage. For India, the consequences could be profound as intelligence becomes purchasable through compute, weakening the country’s traditional human-capital edge. Das also discusses the agent-driven internet, AI regulation, IT services and why writing remains a modern career superpower. You can follow Himanshi Lohchab on her social media: X and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes like - Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns, The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech, Groww’s ₹6,600 Cr Leap - Fintech’s Big Market Test Begins , OML CEO on the Creator Economy’s Next Wave & much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#43
Monday · 14 min
McKinsey’s Cheryl Lim on Asia’s New Leadership Model, AI and Talent
What makes some CEOs and founders successful? At The Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Cheryl Lim, Partner at McKinsey & Company, joins ET’s Anirban Chowdhury to explore the mindsets and behaviours that drive long-term value creation, how leaders balance big ambitions with disciplined execution, and what it takes to build organisations that can sustain growth. Listen In You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes like - Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns, The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech, Groww’s ₹6,600 Cr Leap - Fintech’s Big Market Test Begins , OML CEO on the Creator Economy’s Next Wave & much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#42
September 24 · 17 min
Ashwini Vaishnaw on Semiconductors, AI Risks and Techno-Legal Regulation
India is scaling its semiconductor ecosystem as AI development accelerates—and both are raising new questions around technology, investment and regulation. In this Corner Office Conversation, Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw speaks to ET’s tech editor Surabhi Agarwal about Semicon 2.0, global investment in India, electronics manufacturing and the country’s value-addition journey. He also lays out his views on AI risks, company responsibility, techno-legal safeguards and global cooperation on AI regulation. Listen In You can follow Surabhi Agarwal on her Linkedin, X profiles and read her Newspaper Articles. Check out other interesting episodes like - Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns, The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech, Groww’s ₹6,600 Cr Leap - Fintech’s Big Market Test Begins , OML CEO on the Creator Economy’s Next Wave & much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#41
September 21 · 22 min
Sun Life’s Kevin Strain on FDI, Bancassurance and More
India has opened insurance to 100% foreign ownership. But Sun Life CEO Kevin Strain says ownership is less important than building the right business—and that the company currently works better alongside the Aditya Birla Group than alone. In this conversation from the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Strain explains to ET’s banking editor Sangita Mehta why Sun Life’s India insurance business is growing 25% annually, where its $100-billion asset manager goes next, and how private credit and infrastructure could power its expansion. He also discusses bancassurance, AI’s inability to replace empathy, and a stark longevity challenge: 40 working years may now need to finance 40 years of retirement. Listen in You can follow Sangita Mehta on her social media: Twitter and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes like - Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns, The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech, Groww’s ₹6,600 Cr Leap - Fintech’s Big Market Test Begins , OML CEO on the Creator Economy’s Next Wave & much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#40
September 17 · 18 min
Marriott’s Anthony Capuano on India Growth Plans and The Impact of the West Asia War
From expanding its India footprint to adapting hospitality for the age of AI, Marriott is navigating a rapidly changing travel industry. At The Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Anthony Capuano, President and CEO of Marriott International, joins ET’s Anumeha Chaturvedi to discuss India’s growth story, tourism, talent, technology, and the future of the global hospitality business. Listen in You can follow Anumeha Chaturvedi on her social media: X and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes like - Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns, The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech, Groww’s ₹6,600 Cr Leap - Fintech’s Big Market Test Begins , OML CEO on the Creator Economy’s Next Wave & much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#39
September 14 · 21 min
Bain’s Manny Maceda on the End of Globalisation, India’s Opportunity and the AI Reset
The multinational is giving way to the multi-local, as tariffs, geopolitics and supply-chain risk force companies to rebuild around regional roots rather than one global blueprint. In the latest Corner Office Conversation from The Economic Times World Leaders Forum Bain & Company Global Chairman Manny Maceda tells Anirban Chowdhury what this fragmentation means for India's shot at becoming the world's factory, why AI's payoff still eludes most companies deploying it, and whether costlier capital is quietly forcing private equity to build better businesses instead of just cheaper deals. He closes with a leadership lesson for this moment: companies that lose their talent will eventually lose their customers too. Listen in You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes like - Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns, The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech, Groww’s ₹6,600 Cr Leap - Fintech’s Big Market Test Begins , OML CEO on the Creator Economy’s Next Wave & much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#38
September 10 · 35 min
Publicis Sapient’s Nigel Vaz on AI, the Future of Work and India’s Opportunity
AI is reshaping how businesses work, but the biggest shift may be how humans and technology work together. At The Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Nigel Vaz, CEO, Publicis Sapient, joins Dia Rekhi to break down the “Iron Man” approach to AI, why enterprises need to reimagine how work gets done, and where agentic AI can create real business value. You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & X Check out other interesting episodes like - Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns, The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech, Groww’s ₹6,600 Cr Leap - Fintech’s Big Market Test Begins , OML CEO on the Creator Economy’s Next Wave & much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#37
September 7 · 22 min
J.P.Morgan’s Anu Aiyengar on Mega Deals, AI’s Banking Reset and the India Bet
ET opens its World Leaders Forum podcast series with Anu Aiyengar, global chair of investment banking, J.P.Morgan. In conversation with Anirban Chowdhury, she explains why uncertainty is driving—not deterring—big-ticket deals, and why companies are buying scale, stability and resilience. She examines the risks posed by rising yields, inflation and oil, the curious leeway investors are giving AI spending, and how automation is reshaping entry-level investment-banking work. Aiyengar also makes the case for India as an under-owned market and reveals her contrarian bets on old-economy businesses, healthcare and cross-border dealmaking over the next five years. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes like - Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns, The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech, Groww’s ₹6,600 Cr Leap - Fintech’s Big Market Test Begins , OML CEO on the Creator Economy’s Next Wave & much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#36
September 4 · 45 min
Subrata Mitra on India’s VC Reset, the AI Capital Race and What Comes Next
What does one of India’s original venture capitalists see coming next? Accel’s Subrata Mitra speaks to Anirban Chowdhury about a funding market moving from exuberance to discipline—and an AI boom whose economics remain deeply uncertain. He explains why India cannot fight a trillion-dollar foundational-model battle with a fraction of that capital, and where its more credible opportunities lie. The conversation explores Accel’s interest in AI-enabled services, deeptech, spacetech and advanced manufacturing, the logic behind keeping funds relatively small, and the long process of developing investors. Mitra also shares lessons from failure, reinvention and the unpredictable journeys of successful founders. Listen In You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes like -Sarvam AI on NVIDIA's Investment, Voice AI Economics, and India's AI Strategy, Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns, The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech, Groww’s ₹6,600 Cr Leap - Fintech’s Big Market Test Begins , OML CEO on the Creator Economy’s Next Wave & much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#35
August 27 · 33 min
From Insurgent to Establishment: The Trilegal Story
Trilegal began as an outsider in a legal industry dominated by closely held, family-run firms. More than two decades later, it has become one of India’s largest law firms—and part of the establishment it once challenged. Partners Nishant Parikh and Sridhar Gorthi talk to ET’s Vinod Mahanta and Maulik Vyas about the model behind that rise, the founder-rainmaker trap holding back midsized firms, competition from global firms and the Big Four, and why AI could reshape both fees and the traditional associate pyramid. They also confront two deeper questions: whether elite credentials still determine who enters corporate law, and whether Trilegal’s founders can truly surrender power when success arrives. Tune in You can follow Maulik Vyas on his social media X and Linkedin You can follow Vinod Mahanta on his social media: X and Linkedin Check out other interesting episodes like -Sarvam AI on NVIDIA's Investment, Voice AI Economics, and India's AI Strategy, Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns, The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech, Groww’s ₹6,600 Cr Leap - Fintech’s Big Market Test Begins , OML CEO on the Creator Economy’s Next Wave & much more. Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#34
August 13 · 38 min
Sarvam AI on NVIDIA's Investment, Voice AI Economics, and India's AI Strategy
Sarvam AI began with an ambitious proposition: build foundational AI models in India. It must now prove that those models can support a viable business. Co-founder Pratyush Kumar explains to Himanshi Lohchab the company’s expansion into compute, inference, customised models and enterprise applications, while Peak XV Partners MD Rajan Anandan lays out the investment case. They discuss NVIDIA’s backing, the economics of voice AI, Sarvam’s enterprise adoption and why specialised models could be cheaper than global frontier systems. The conversation also confronts the capital required to remain competitive, India’s weak R&D spending and the central question facing Sarvam: can technical capability translate into durable revenue? Tune in. You can follow Himanshi Lohchab on her social media: X and Linkedin Listen in to the episode of Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation, Corner Office Conversation with Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director, Youtube India, Corner Office Conversation with G.V. Prasad, Co-Chairman and Managing Director Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Corner Office Conversation with Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV & Surge and much more. Catch the latest episode of “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#33
August 10 · 28 min
LinkedIn CEO on AI Jobs, Agentic Hiring and the AI Slop Problem
LinkedIn CEO Dan Shapero says the platform’s data points to a more complicated story. In this Corner Office Conversation, Shapero joins Anirban Chowdhury and Dia Rekhi to discuss why hiring has slowed, how AI is rewriting skills, and why India is seeing a surge in AI roles, R&D hiring and new founders. He also explains LinkedIn’s fast-growing AI Hiring Assistant, the possibility of recruiters’ AI agents talking to jobseekers’ agents, the platform’s crackdown on “AI slop,” and why LinkedIn wants to remain a trusted professional network. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin You can follow Dia Rekhi on social media: Linkedin & X Listen in to the episode of Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation, Corner Office Conversation with Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director, Youtube India, Corner Office Conversation with G.V. Prasad, Co-Chairman and Managing Director Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Corner Office Conversation with Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV & Surge and much more. Catch the latest episode of “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#32
August 3 · 25 min
Cognizant’s Surya Gummadi on How AI Can Deliver Returns
AI adoption is soaring, but where are the financial returns? Surya Gummadi, President, Americas at Cognizant, argues that enterprises are consuming tokens without always choosing the right use cases. He joins Anirban Chowdhury to explain why companies remain trapped in pilot mode and what it takes to scale AI successfully. Gummadi discusses the coming transformation of coding, testing, talent models and IT contracts; Cognizant’s approach to acquisitions; the evolution of GCCs; and AI’s potential in healthcare. He also reveals how Cognizant used context agents to identify $200 million in new opportunities within three to four months. Listen in: You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#31
July 20 · 41 min
The Future of Insurance in India | Sarbvir Singh of PB Fintech
India’s insurance industry is changing faster than ever. New regulations, 100% FDI, AI-powered underwriting, rising medical inflation and Policybazaar’s expansion into healthcare through PB Health are reshaping how Indians will buy—and use—insurance. In this episode of The Morning Brief, ET’s Anirban Chowdhury speaks with Sarbvir Singh, Joint Group CEO of PB Fintech, on why India remains underinsured, how health insurance is evolving, whether claims can become less painful, the future of retirement planning, and the biggest reforms set to transform the sector over the next five years See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#30
June 29 · 38 min
Corn Man: The Man Who Quietly Cornered Half of India's Popcorn Market
One in two popcorn kernels eaten in India comes from one man's farms. He built the crop from nothing, the processing plant that rivals anything in North America, and a farmer network no competitor can crack. When COVID killed every client overnight, most founders would have cut and run. He doubled his acreage. He has 50Xed his revenue in 5 years, build a moat few can crack and plans to now indigenise other crops and commodities like oats and palm oil with host Anirban Chowdhury. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin Listen in to the episode of Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation, Corner Office Conversation with Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director, Youtube India, Corner Office Conversation with G.V. Prasad, Co-Chairman and Managing Director Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Corner Office Conversation with Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV & Surge and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#29
June 8 · 24 min
Corner Office Conversation: Zia Mody On Law, Legacy and Leadership
She walked into the courtroom with no playbook and built an empire anyway. Host Maulik Vyas talks to one of India's most formidable legal minds Co-Founder & Managing Partner of AZB & Partners, Zia Mody, who reflects on four decades at the forefront of corporate law, from the chaos of early liberalization to billion-dollar cross-border deals. She opens up about the cautious mood on deal street amid global uncertainty, why women in law still have ground to cover, the very real pressures of succession at a firm she helped build from 12 lawyers to over 700, and the one thing she believes separates good lawyers from great ones. You can follow Maulik Vyas on his social media: X or Linkedin Listen in to the episode of Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation, Corner Office Conversation with Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director, Youtube India, Corner Office Conversation with G.V. Prasad, Co-Chairman and Managing Director Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Corner Office Conversation with Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV & Surge and much more. Catch the latest episode of “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#28
June 4 · 29 min
Habil Khorakiwala on India's First FDA-Approved Antibiotic.
Wockhardt's FDA approval of Zaynich marks a historic first, the only drug entirely discovered and developed by an Indian company to clear US-FDA scrutiny. ET’s pharma editor Vikas Dandekar and Rica Bhattacharyya talk to Habil Khorakiwala, Chairperson of Wockhardt who unpacks the 25-year innovation journey behind this milestone. From a deliberate pivot to antibiotics when big pharma was exiting the space, to navigating financial turbulence, asset sales, and regulatory hurdles, Khorakiwala reflects on strategic patience and scientific conviction. He also outlines peak sales projections of $1.5–2 billion, the US commercial roadmap led by daughter Zahabiya, and a robust pipeline of blockbusters ahead. You can follow Vikas Dandekar on his social media: X or Linkedin and Rica Bhattacharyya on her X and Linkedin Listen in to the episode of Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation, Corner Office Conversation with Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director, Youtube India, Corner Office Conversation with G.V. Prasad, Co-Chairman and Managing Director Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Corner Office Conversation with Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV & Surge and much more. Catch the latest episode of “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#26
June 1 · 31 min
Jio Studios’ Dream To Be Part of a Global $100B Industry
What does it take to back India's highest-grossing films three years in a row? Host Anirban Chowdhury and ET’s film journalist and critic Rajesh N Naidu talk to Jyoti Deshpande, President - Jio Studios, Media & Content Business -Reliance Industries Ltd, who pulls back the curtain on how she green-lights films, why she rejects 98 out of every 100 ideas, and what Indian cinema needs to do to crack the global market. From Stree 1 to Stree 2, Laapataa Ladies to Dhurandhar Jyoti reveals the method behind the madness. She shares Mukesh Ambani's first principles that shaped JioStudios' rise, why she bets on the filmmaker's conviction over star power, and how Indian studios must think about vertical integration, regional crossover, and eventually competing with Hollywood. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin Listen in to the episode of Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation, Corner Office Conversation with Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director, Youtube India, Corner Office Conversation with G.V. Prasad, Co-Chairman and Managing Director Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Corner Office Conversation with Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV & Surge and much more. Catch the latest episode of “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#25
May 22 · 27 min
Corner Office Conversation: HP India MD Ipsita Dasgupta on AI PCs & Creator Economy
HP’s MD and SVP for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Ipsita Dasgupta joins ET’s Anirban Chowdhury in the latest Corner Office Conversation to discuss why India’s PC story is still in its early stages — and how AI PCs, creators, SMEs and students could drive the next wave of growth. She explains why HP sees “a PC in every child’s hands” as a national opportunity, how AI-powered computing could change productivity for enterprises and creators alike, and why India may emerge as a critical manufacturing and innovation hub in the global tech supply chain. She also speaks candidly about women in leadership, risk-taking, workplace culture and building communities that help women succeed in tech. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin Listen in to the episode of Corner Office Conversation with Sridhar Vembu, CEO, of Zoho Corporation, Corner Office Conversation with Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director, Youtube India, Corner Office Conversation with G.V. Prasad, Co-Chairman and Managing Director Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Corner Office Conversation with Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV & Surge and much more. Catch the latest episode of “Corner Office Conversation” on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts,and wherever you get your podcasts from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#24
May 18 · 26 min
Dara Khosrowshahi - India To Be Uber’s No. 1 Market
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says India could become Uber’s largest market globally over the next decade and on whether he is open to a partnership with Travis Kalanick. In this conversation with ET’s editor, ETtech.com, editor-startups, emerging business, new economy Samidha Sharma and Pranav Mukul, he explains Uber’s India strategy across AI, EVs, bike taxis, logistics, and autonomous driving. He discusses the company’s new partnership with the Adani Group, why India’s engineering talent is central to Uber’s AI stack, and how the company sees itself evolving into a broader logistics and work platform. The discussion also covers competition, quick commerce, public transport integration, and whether AI will augment workers or eventually replace them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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