EP #76: Naren Balakrishnan - Helping Canadian Companies Innovate By Navigating The Multi-Billion Dollar SRED Program

Naren Balakrishnan (@naren.bala) is a Partner at Grant Thornton LLP.He joins Ara on this week’s episode of #TheTamilCreator to discuss his past life being an engineer at IBM, the $3 billion-plus tax credits that are given out in Canada every year, his relationship with money including how he invests, why companies need to consider & take advantage of the SRED program, and more!Follow Naren:- LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalakrishnan/) - Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/naren.bala/) Timestamps00:19 - Ara introduces this week’s guest, Naren Balakrishnan01:00 - Naren’s upbringing, family life, and path to becoming a software engineer03:24 - What he liked, and didn’t like, as a software engineer; a passion for problem-solving05:32 - Making the switch to work in a technology-based role08:22 - Government Canada’s SRED (Scientific Research and Experimental Development) program10:46 - Naren explains how Grant Thornton adds value to its customers15:37 - The types of companies that eligible to apply for SRED17:31 - How Naren would enhance the SRED program if he had a say in policy20:38 - The amount of money Canadian companies spend on R&D; what are they spending it on?24:36 - How Naren’s friends/family reacted to his career change27:12 - His biggest learning lesson in the last 3-5 years; how to deal with people29:54 - The personal legacy he wants to be remembered for by his friends and family32:06 - Advice he would give his 16-year-old self33:32 - Naren’s relationship with money; saving and investments34:52 - His favourite ways to consume new information; podcasts, articles, etc.37:50 - Investments being poured into enhancing space39:09 - How COVID-19 impacted Naren; physical activity and seizing the moment41:51 - Creator Confessions50:00 - The Wrap UpIntro MusicProduced And Mixed By:- The Tamil Creator- YanchanWritten By:- Aravinthan Ehamparam- Yanchan Rajmohan      Support the show