Let’s Talk CSR, ESG & Sustainability — What’s Real, What’s Hype? ft. KHURRAM NAAYAAB
Host: Bhagyashree Lodha | Guest: Khurram Naayaab
In this podcast, Khurram Naayaab, General Manager- CSR and Head Givernance at Anil Agarwal Foundation (Vedanta), discusses CSR, ESG, and sustainability with host Bhagyashree Lodha. He differentiates genuine CSR (needs-based, sustainable community impact over 3+ years), ESG (environmental/governance compliance), and sustainability (long-term strategy) from hype, sharing his 29-year journey and Vedanta's Nandghar project—9,000+ modernized Anganwadis across 15 states for early childhood education, maternal health, and women empowerment. Topics include thematic selection, NGO partnerships, holistic village development, government collaborations in aspirational districts, essential CSR skills (empathy, immersion), and the need for scalable corporate-NGO-government models.
Watch Video on YouTube
Inside the Mind of a CSR Director: Funding, Impact & NGOs with RUSHIN PATEL
Host: Bhagyashree Lodha | Guest: Rushin Patel
In this podcast, Rushin Patel, CSR Associate Director at CMS Infosystems Ltd. , discusses Corporate Social Responsibility in India with host Bhagyashree Lodha. He views CSR as passion-driven investment aligned with national priorities and SDGs, targeting education, health, livelihoods, women/youth empowerment, and climate resilience. Patel outlines project planning—needs assessments in aspirational districts, vetted NGO partnerships, monitoring, and sustainability via community ownership and government linkages—citing CMS's multi-state initiatives like youth skilling, women entrepreneurship, and STEM education. The talk also emphasizes passionate teams, transparent collaborations, and lasting impact over short-term efforts.
Watch Video on YouTube
Scale vs Depth & Brand-Led Impact ft. SUMIT CHAUHAN
Host: Bhagyashree Lodha | Guest: SUMIT CHAUHAN
In this podcast,Sumit Chauhan, Head of CSR at Mphasis, joins host Bhagyashree Lodha to explore the realities of Corporate Social Responsibility in today's corporate landscape. He explains "Brand-Led CSR"—how companies prioritize funding that aligns with their brand identity, values, and business goals. The discussion dives into the ongoing debate of Scale vs Depth in social impact: whether chasing large numbers (scale) sometimes compromises meaningful, lasting change (depth). Sumit highlights key skills for building a career in CSR and spotlights Mphasis' focus on tech-enabled initiatives for social mobility, environmental sustainability, and supporting excluded communities.
Watch Video on YouTube