Business & Society with Senthil Nathan

Inspiring and thought-provoking conversations with eminent thinkers and sustainability leaders about business in society. Hosted by Senthil Nathan, Chief Executive of Fairtrade Australia New Zealand.

Business & Society with Senthil Nathan is a business podcast hosted by Senthil Nathan, with 47 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Senthil Nathan hosts Business & Society with Senthil Nathan, a business show with 47 episodes published.

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  Business & Society with Senthil Nathan

  #46 Innovation Myths: What History Reveals About Breakthrough Ideas with Andrew Leigh

  Sep 10, 202637 min

  In this episode, Senthil sits down with The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Australia's Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities, and Treasury, to explore how innovation actually happens—and why the stories we tell about it are often wrong. Drawing from his book The Shortest History of Innovation , Andrew challenges popular myths: the lone genius, the eureka moment, and the innovation cluster. Instead, he reveals what history really teaches us about breakthrough ideas: they emerge through tinkering, collaborative teams, and the cross-pollination of diverse ideas. The conversation also tackles artificial intelligence—both its transformative potential and the real risks we need to manage—and explores what true leadership looks like in an age of rapid technological change. Link to the book: The Shortest History of Innovation Please visit our website, www.businessandsociety.net , for more inspiration.

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  Business & Society with Senthil Nathan

  #45 Giving Voice to Values: the Art of Speaking Up with Mary Gentile

  Aug 19, 20261h 4m

  What does it really mean to act on your values at work? Most of us think speaking up means confrontation—blowing the whistle, telling your boss they're wrong, or risking your career. But what if there's a better way? In this episode, Senthil talks with Mary Gentile, creator of Giving Voice to Values, about how to navigate ethical conflicts with skill, strategy, and authenticity. Mary spent decades studying how leaders actually speak up—not through preaching or confrontation, but through practical tactics grounded in who they are. We explore what values really are, why we freeze when facing conflicts, and how you can prepare yourself to act on what matters most—even in cultures where speaking up feels impossible. Link to Mary Gentile's book: Giving Voice to Values Please visit our website, www.businessandsociety.net , for more inspiration.

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  Business & Society with Senthil Nathan

  #44 Democracy, Climate, and the Business We Need: A Reckoning with Rebecca Henderson

  Jul 29, 202656 min

  What does business owe society? And what does society owe business in return? These aren't abstract questions—they're survival questions. As climate change accelerates, democracies falter, and mission-driven companies struggle to stay afloat, we need a new conversation about what capitalism can actually do. This week, we sit down with Rebecca Henderson to explore the real constraints, the hidden power of the private sector, and why this moment might be more hopeful than it seems. Rebecca Henderson is one of 25 University Professors at Harvard and author of Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire . We talk about climate commitments, investor power, the future of democracy, and what it takes to build a business that lasts. If you're a founder, a leader, or simply trying to understand how we got here and where we go next, this conversation is for you. More about Rebecca's work and research: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=12345 Please visit our website, www.businessandsociety.net , for more inspiration.

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  Business & Society with Senthil Nathan

  #43 Another Sort of Freedom: Dharma, Markets, and the Art of Leading Well with Gurcharan Das

  Jun 24, 202650 min

  What does it mean to live a full life — not just a successful one? Gurcharan Das, former CEO of Procter & Gamble India and one of the subcontinent's most celebrated public intellectuals, has spent a lifetime asking exactly that. In this conversation, he reflects on his memoir Another Sort of Freedom , tracing a life shaped by restlessness, curiosity, and the classical Indian framework of the four aims — Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. From being fired on his first day in business to navigating the ethical minefield of the License Raj, from quitting the corporate world at fifty to write and think, to walking into the offices of Sonia Gandhi and L.K. Advani and finding no political home — his journey is as unlikely as it is instructive. Along the way, Gurcharan shares the idea he considers the most original in the Bhagavad Gita — Nishkam Karma , acting for the sake of the work itself, without attachment to personal reward — and why he believes it remains one of the most underappreciated gifts to modern leadership. He also offers a frank assessment of India's economic journey: what liberalisation delivered, what it failed to, and why he remains cautiously optimistic about the road ahead. A rich, wide-ranging conversation about business, philosophy, and the art of making a life. Link to Gurcharan's website: https://gurcharandas.org/ Please visit our website, www.businessandsociety.net , for more inspiration.

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  Business & Society with Senthil Nathan

  #42 Spiritual Philanthropy: Beyond Metrics and Mandates with Geoffrey Jones

  May 28, 202641 min

  What drives business leaders to give? Geoffrey Jones, celebrated business historian at Harvard Business School, challenges everything we think we know about philanthropy. In this episode, we explore "spiritual philanthropy"—a concept rooted not in tax incentives or CSR mandates, but in deeply held values. Geoff reveals why leaders in emerging markets approach giving differently than their Western counterparts, how proximity to poverty shapes generosity, and what happens when business values get watered down by growth. We also discuss what business history teaches us about capitalism, responsibility, and the skills leaders need in an increasingly complex world. A conversation about fairness, purpose, and what it really means to do good. Link to Geoffrey Jone's latest book: Deeply Responsible Business Please visit our website, www.businessandsociety.net , for more inspiration.

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