Alpha Women by Lumikai

Most people know what Vani Kola built. This episode is about how she thinks.0:00 – Precap 1:43 – Episode Introduction 2:37 – Meet Vani Kola: The Force Behind Kalaari Capital 3:35 – What Success Really Means 4:48 – The Alpha Mindset Explained 6:40 – Growing Up and Building Conviction 14:40 – Money, Risk and Financial Thinking 17:40 – Building Kalaari Capital from Scratch 20:20 – Why New India Is a Massive Opportunity Shift 23:04 – Breaking Through as a Woman in VC 30:12 – Backing Women Entrepreneurs 36:33 – Setbacks, Mindset and Resilience 39:16 – Identity, Labels and External Validation 41:09 – What’s Next for Vani KolaAs Founder and Managing Director of Kalaari Capital, Vani Kola has spent nearly two decades backing some of India’s most important startups. Kalaari manages $850M+ in assets and has invested in 100+ companies across the Indian startup ecosystem.In Episode 1 of Alpha Women, Salone Sehgal sits down with Vani Kola for a candid interview on leadership, risk, ambition, bias, and the founder mindset that led her to build Kalaari with $100K in savings and no salary.This is a deeper look at one of India’s most influential investors, beyond the biography and into the framework. A must-watch conversation for anyone interested in venture capital in India, startups, entrepreneurship, and women leaders.Subscribe to Alpha Women for more conversations with the women shaping business, capital and culture in India.In partnership with SpotifyMedia Partner: Outlook Business

The Vani Kola story is easy to summarize. The person behind it is not. Vani Kola, Founder and Managing Director of Kalaari Capital, has built one of India’s most influential early-stage venture capital firms, with $850M AUM and over 100 portfolio companies.But the milestones only tell part of the story.In Episode 1 of Alpha Women, Salone Sehgal, Founder & Managing Partner - Lumikai, sits down with Vani for a more personal conversation about the journey behind the outcomes, the trade-offs along the way, the choices that shaped her path, and what she thinks about the likeability trap women often fall pray to.A closer look at the person behind the track record.Episode 1 drops May 23. Subscribe for more conversations. In partnership with Spotify | Media partner: Outlook Business

What does it actually take to lead at the highest levels as a woman in India?The world has enough content that asks women about work-life balance and their morning routines. This isn't that.Alpha Women is a podcast series that cuts through the noise. Raw conversations with the women at the top of their fields. Asking the harder questions: How do you think about risk? What did you have to sacrifice, and was it worth it? How do you lead when the room wasn't built for you?In partnership with Spotify | Media partner: Outlook Business#AlphaWomen #Lumikai #WomenLeaders #Leadership #India #Innovation #WomenEmpowerment #Podcast