What does it take to lead through disruption when technology is rewriting the rules every day? On the latest episode of Unmute with Ganesh Natarajan, Meet Nitin Rakesh, a global business leader whose journey is as remarkable as the insights he shares.
Beyond the boardrooms, billion-dollar decisions, and technology transformations, this episode uncovers the personal story behind the leader.
We talk about:
🔹 Growing up with limited resources but limitless ambition
🔹 The mindset shifts that helped him move from small-town India to the global stage
🔹 Navigating failures, setbacks, and moments of self-doubt
🔹 Building a career across continents and cultures
🔹 Leading through the age of AI and digital disruption
🔹 Why continuous learning remains the ultimate competitive advantage.

This isn’t a conversation about quick wins or startup hype.
It’s about playing the long game.
From co-founding global tech enterprises to contributing to industry bodies like NASSCOM, Ashank shares what it really means to build with vision, resilience, and purpose. The episode dives into the mindset required to scale impact, create opportunities at scale, and think beyond personal success.
Expect a candid, thought-provoking conversation on:
Why endurance matters more than speed in building success
The difference between chasing growth and creating lasting value
Leadership lessons that stand the test of time
The role of business in nation-building and inclusion
If you’re a founder, operator, or someone trying to build something meaningful, this episode will challenge how you think about success and what it truly takes to sustain it.

For Safina Husain, it became a lifelong mission.
In this episode of Unmute with Ganesh, host Dr. Ganesh Natarajan sits down with Safina Husain, Founder of Educate Girls, to explore the story behind one of India’s most impactful social movements.
What began as a simple but powerful belief — that educating girls can transform communities — grew into a nationwide effort working in some of India’s most underserved regions. Through community mobilization, persistence, and purpose-driven leadership, Educate Girls has helped bring millions of girls back into classrooms and change the narrative around girls’ education.

Featuring Dr. Anand Deshpande, Founder, Chairman & Managing Director of Persistent Systems. In this candid conversation, Anand shares the career-defining choices, customer-led strategies and leadership values that transformed a 1990 startup into a global digital-engineering company. Listeners will hear about founding discipline, scaling product and services businesses, talent and culture, and how purpose-driven leadership shapes long-term impact.