For All Podcast by Great Place To Work India

Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO and Board Director of Magic Bus India Foundation, joins Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work® India, for a powerful conversation on leadership, youth employability, and scaling social impact in India. Jayant brings nearly three decades of corporate leadership experience and entrepreneurship into the development sector. Over the past nine years, he has helped Magic Bus expand one of the world’s largest youth development and livelihood programs. The organization now works with millions of young people across India, helping them move from education to sustainable employment. In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India, Jayant shares the leadership philosophy behind Magic Bus’ mission of “childhood to livelihood.” He explains how the organization works with adolescents from marginalized communities, equipping them with life skills, education support, and job-ready training that prepares them for the workforce. The conversation explores how youth employability, skills development, and inclusive growth are critical to India’s long-term economic future. Jayant also discusses the scale of the challenge. Millions of young people drop out of education or struggle to transition into employment due to lack of skills and opportunities. Magic Bus addresses this gap through large-scale skilling and livelihood programs, helping young people build confidence, develop workplace readiness, and secure meaningful employment. Technology is another central theme in the discussion. Jayant shares how Magic Bus is leveraging digital platforms, data systems, and artificial intelligence to strengthen learning outcomes and improve employability. From tracking program impact to training youth in emerging technologies like AI, the organization is preparing young people for the future of work. The conversation also explores leadership and workplace culture. Jayant reflects on how Magic Bus transformed its internal culture to become a trusted and high-performing workplace. By focusing on people, programs, processes, and partners, the organization has built a culture rooted in trust, accountability, and purpose. Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work® India, adds perspective on the importance of building high-trust workplaces that enable employees to do their best work while contributing to meaningful impact. This episode is packed with insights for leaders, policymakers, and professionals who care about the future of work, youth development, and social innovation. Listeners will gain insights on: Youth employability and skills development in India Leadership lessons from the social sector The role of technology and AI in future jobs Building high-trust workplace cultures Collaboration between NGOs, corporates, and government Scaling social impact and livelihood opportunities If you are interested in leadership, youth skilling, workforce development, or the future of work in India, this episode offers valuable perspectives and actionable insights from two leaders shaping the conversation. Tune in to the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India to hear Jayant Rastogi and Balbir Singh discuss how purpose-driven leadership, technology, and strong workplace culture can help unlock opportunities for millions of young people.

In this episode of the For All Podcast, Damodar shares with Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work India, all about his first hand experience on the shop floor and instances on how data backs his everyday observations around consumer patterns. With a career spanning over 3 decades, Damodar has worked with Hindustan Unilever and Future Group, amongst others. He has authored, 'Supermarketwala', and is well known for “retail by observation” that decodes shopper behaviour by watching them.

Rachana Bahadur is the Senior Vice President and Country Head for Synchrony in India, with 25-year career spanning leadership roles in the banking and financial services sector. In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place to Work® India, she elaborates on her leadership journey, leveraging culture as a force multiplier, and establishing executive excellence for GCCs in India.

What does it take to build a purpose-driven organization in an industry that deals with people at their most vulnerable moments? Krishnan Ramachandran, MD and CEO of Niva Bupa Health Insurance, takes us behind the scenes of leading a company where talent practices aren't just HR initiatives but the bedrock of sustainable success.Krishnan reveals the sobering reality that approximately five crore Indians fall into poverty annually due to hospitalization expenses – a statistic that fuels Niva Bupa's purpose of giving every Indian confidence to access the best healthcare. This purpose isn't just words on a wall; it's brought to life through innovative programs like "Smile Ko Claim Karle," where employees meet families whose lives they've transformed, connecting daily transactions to real human impact.The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Krishnan discusses his evolution as a leader, particularly his growing appreciation for talent development as the cornerstone of organizational success. He shares how Niva Bupa has systematized talent acquisition through their "Hire Right" program, which evaluates candidates not just on skills but on their ability to build high-performance teams, deliver outcomes, maintain strategic thinking, and demonstrate entrepreneurial ownership.For professionals navigating today's rapidly changing landscape, Krishnan offers timely wisdom on embracing AI as a force multiplier rather than a threat. "Either you eat it or it eats you," he advises, suggesting that technology can handle routine tasks while amplifying human creativity and intelligence. This perspective, coupled with his emphasis on finding passion in one's work and prioritizing physical and emotional well-being, provides a blueprint for sustainable career success.Ready to transform how you think about leadership and organizational culture? Listen now to discover why humility might be the most underrated leadership trait and how the health insurance industry represents one of India's most exciting multi-decadal growth opportunities.

In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place To Work® India, Harit shares with Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work India, how storytelling has shaped his leadership journey and offers insights into the mindset future leaders need to thrive. Harit Nagpal, the MD & CEO of Tata Play has a career spanning over four decades and has held leadership roles at renowned brands like Shoppers Stop, Vodafone, and PepsiCo. He has also authored the book “Adapt- To Thrive, Not Just Survive” and co-authored a case study for the London Business School curriculum.  

Leading one of the world’s most iconic hospitality brands in a fast-growing and culturally diverse region requires more than just operational excellence; it calls for emotional intelligence, cultural fluency and a deep commitment to people. At Hilton, these are embedded in how teams work, lead and serve every day. In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place to Work® India, Balbir Singh, CEO of Great Place To Work India, is joined by Zubin Saxena, Senior Vice President and Regional Head, South Asia at Hilton, for a candid conversation on how to sustain a people-first culture that promises higher revenues and shareholders’ returns.

Balfour Manuel, Managing Director of Blue Dart Express, joined the company as a young MBA graduate and rose through the ranks to lead one of India’s most trusted logistics brands. He was named ‘CEO of the Year’ at the 23rd Business Leader of the Year Awards in 2025.In this episode of the For All Podcast, hosted by Balbir Singh, CEO, Great Place to Work® India, Balfour reflects on Blue Dart’s enduring culture, from early values to everyday actions that build trust, resilience, and belonging. 

Dhiraj Singh is the CEO of SIS Group Enterprises, a market leader in security. An IIT Mumbai graduate with degrees from Tulane and Thunderbird, he has led several startups in the infrastructure and services sectors and held leadership roles at Tata Steel, Bechtel, Laing O’Rourke, and DLF’s vKarma Capital. He’s also a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and internationally featured wildlife photographer.In this episode of the For All Podcast by Great Place to Work® India, Dhiraj Singh shares how SIS Group fosters belonging, trust, and performance across a 300,000-strong workforce. From eliminating the CHRO role to redefining care, he unpacks the values and practices behind SIS’s people-first culture. With sharp insights and relatable stories, this episode offers a real-world look at building purpose-led workplaces at scale.