In the 7th episode of Back to School with PC, we feature Devika Kher, a researcher who has extensively worked on the declining female labor employment in India. In this episode, Devika speaks to us about the history, economics, politics and the everything of women in the workforce.  

She shares with us fascinating insights of how the industrial revolution was detrimental to women's fight for equality and how it took a couple of world wars and the washing machine to help make progress.   

Devika tweets @DevikaKher and Blogs at http://medium.com/@DevikaKher 

Timeline:  

1:18 How has society progressed on gender equality in the last century and a half? 

4:25 Understanding the role of RBG in forwarding Women's rights 

6:20 What are the obstacles hindering a 50% participation of women in the work force? 

8:04 Economic case for Higher Women participation for everyone 

11:10 Women participation in developing vs developed countries 

12:12 Understanding the reasons for decrease in India's Female participation rate in labour? 

17:20 How do we solve this problem of decrease in Female participation rate? 

22:11 Understanding the dynamics of India's female participation rate through the U shaped curve 

26:35 Effect of the Covid Pandemic on Unemployment to both the genders 

29:25 Understanding the gender pay gap and the narrative? 

31:36 Pink Collar Jobs and the effects of occupational segregation? 

36:52 The efficacy of Corporate Diversity 42:40 What makes Devika hopeful? 

... 

Happy Listening :)  

Shownotes: 

RBG Documentary: https://www.netflix.com/in/title/80240086

Hans Rosling: Factfulness: https://www.amazon.com/Factfulness-Reasons-World-Things-Better/dp/1250107814

Hans Rosling: Washing machine: The magic washing machine | Hans Rosling

Women and Labor Market Changes in the Global Economy: Growth Helps, Inequalities Hurt and Public Policy Matters: ZafirisTzannatos

Chinmay Tumbe: A history of Migration: https://www.amazon.in/India-Moving-Migration-Chinmay-Tumbe/dp/0670089834

Report on Maternity benefit by Teamlease: https://www.teamleasegroup.com/maternity-report

Freakonomics: The true story of the gender pay gap: https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-true-story-of-the-gender-pay-gap-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/

Documentary on Female Cab drivers in Mumbai: https://drivingwithselvi.com/

Namita Bhandari: Women in workforce in India Women in Labour

Amit Verma: Seen and Unseen podcast with Namita Bhandari: Ep. 132: Women at Work

In the 6th episode of the show, we have Melina Sanchez Montañés, who currently works with the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the COVID Alliance for Social Entrepreneurs to support social entrepreneurs during the crisis and its aftermath. 

In this episode, Melina helps us understand the need to build an equitable and sustainable world post Covid, her forays into impact investing and the role of global institutions.  

1:51 Melina's background 

3:40 Initial reaction to the Corona Virus pandemic 

4:41 Important trends that Covid has accelerated 

8:50 How do we solve for the negative impacts of the pandemic for the most vulnerable communities? 

11:30 Will we go 'back to normal' post Covid? 13:40 How equipped are corporates and govt''s are in creating an equitable future for all stakeholders? 

15:34 Impact Investing: How do we make this mainstream? 

17:10 How do we evaluate returns for an impact investment? 

19:01 How big is the opportunity in the impact investing space? 

21:05 Will Environment goals become mainstream for Corporates? 

23:15 What's the role of global institutions like WHO, WEF in our world today? 

26:57 How can a normal person contribute to the accelerate recovery? 

...  

Happy Listening :)

In this episode, we have Maureen Lwanga, a South African based entrepreneur, helps us deconstruct the issues around Race and Racism. Racism is complicated and its effects are beyond discrimination on the color of one's skin. Maureen thoughtfully helps us understand the evolution of the issue, how we could check for our own biases and become allies in this fight to overcome it. 

1:51 Maureen’s Introduction 

3:41 Experience moving back and starting her own firm 

5:25 Growing up in Apartheid South Africa and Liberation there after 

8:55 What does race mean to you? 13:05 Battling systemic racism 

15:19 Origins of Race 18:25 Ethnicity and Race 

20:30 Deeper meaning to race 

20:45 How do we correct for biases 

27:02 Black lives moment  

30:08 How can someone become an ally

 ... 

 Happy Listening :)

In the fourth episode of the show we have Yogi Maurya, the Sporting and Technical director of Fateh Hyderabad FC, speak about his journey from being an All-American soccer player to establishing his own football club in India. This journey has been anything but linear, as Yogi spent a good 15 years in the corporate world after graduating from Wharton, only to go back into his first love, football. In this captivating conversation, Yogi speaks to us about his decision making process, his startup adventure and also the state of Indian football.

1:02 Initial Forays into Football 

5:57 Choosing his Career path   

8:49 How was the transition into coaching after a corporate career? What value did the experience add?

13:09 Inception of Fateh Hyderabad FC

16:55 Commercial Viability of Football Clubs in India. Creating unique business models for sustainability

19:35 Getting coaching badges at 36, before founding the club.  His decision making process and de-risking the next career move.

26:50 Grassroots Indian football and India's way forward

---

Happy Listening :)

In this episode, Priya Kodidala, the creator of The Telugu Archive, speaks to us about her passion project to revive Telugu Literature. She speaks candidly on her love for the Telugu Language, her efforts to revive and share literature through her Instagram handle The Telugu Archive and  about the Implications of the National Educational Policy.

1:08 Her Formative years and how she discovered her love for literature

6:22 Role of Languages in the present day world

9:40 Effect of Globalization and Standardization of Languages

12:05 Is Art in general political? Has there been a change in the standing of art in today's world?

16:55 The reasons for the growing influence of cinema over literature on the society

18:10 How do we increase accessibility to literature in today's world?

21:16 How does Priya strike a balance between running her passion project and everyday work?

23:36 India's New Education Policy. Priya's view on the policy of teaching children in their mother tongue?

---

Happy Listening :)

The Ironman is widely considered the most brutal and physically demanding competition in the world. A single event can consist of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run. How does one achieve such a daunting goal? Are there smarter ways to achieve not just this, but goals in our everyday life?

0:18 Introduction

6:20 Growing up in Mexico in the 90s and 

8:04 Lessons learnt early in Diego's life by moving out of his comfort zone

9:08 Diego's first Entrepreneurial experience

11:40 Diego's goals growing up. Was it an amalgamation of many goals or a single goal?

13:43 The process of setting smaller objectives

14:48 Merits of setting shorter objectives than pursuing a lofty goal

20:48 Diego's goal setting while pursuing the Ironman: Series of victories rationale

---

Happy Listening :)

The first episode, incidentally coincides with the International Tiger day, has Rohin Bakshi, my classmate from INSEAD, a wildlife photographer, who graciously agreed to talk about life in the wild, the need for wildlife conservation and the fight against global warming, all pivotal issues that will determine this generation’s future.

1:55 Rohin's school days

6:55 How was the process of preparation for University?

11:58 Learnings from his first job

14:20: His Entrepreneurial Journey

16:05 His first experience in the wild

19:30 The process of clicking wildlife

22:12: Why is it important to preserve wildlife and maintaining the ecological balance?

24:54: What's global warming and climate change? Why should the future generation be cognizant of these issues?

31:05 5 pictures from his lens' in the wild

42:55 Advice for Kids

---

Happy Listening :)