#302 Kiran Malviya - Respect, Rebellion, and the Queen of Hearts

In this powerful episode of the Dental Leaders Podcast, Prav sits down with Kiran Malviya, Vice President of Enterprise Solutions at Straumann Group EMEA.

Kiran’s story is one of quiet defiance, cultural grace, and relentless ambition.

From a traditional Indian upbringing in Nagpur to global leadership at Philips and now Vice President of Enterprise Solutions at Straumann Group EMEA, Kiran has walked a path few would dare to take.

In this deeply personal episode of the Dental Leaders Podcast, Kiran shares how she navigated an arranged marriage, strict family expectations, and the joint family system - not by fighting back, but by playing the long game with dignity and respect, guided by the strong values instilled in her by her parents.

We explore how she built a thriving dental practice, pursued a full-time MBA with a 7-year-old at home, and entered the corporate world with no prior experience - ultimately landing in high-impact leadership roles on the global stage.

She opens up about love, motherhood, leadership, ambition, and the deep meaning behind her tattoos.

A raw, thoughtful, and truly original conversation.

In This Episode

00:00:05 - Potential vs performance

00:05:25 - Childhood in Nagpur, India

00:08:25 - Traditional Indian upbringing and gender roles

00:11:05 - Early rebellion and feminist poetry

00:16:20 - Arranged marriage system in India

00:18:55 - Reverse engineering her marriage proposal

00:21:45 - Philosophy on love and marriage

00:24:00 - Dental school admission in India

00:27:20 - Joint family dynamics and restrictions on working

00:33:15 - Strategic navigation of family expectations

00:36:05 - Financial challenges and seven-year plan

00:39:10 - Decision to pursue MBA

00:42:30 - Meeting her mentor at Philips

00:44:25 - MBA experience and personality transformation

00:48:35 - Move to Delhi and Phillips career

00:51:00 - Learning sales and finding her niche

00:57:45 - Leadership philosophy and authenticity

01:08:25 - Cultural differences between Philips and Straumann

01:13:25 - Player learner culture at Straumann

01:15:20 - Work-life balance and working patterns

01:18:10 - Challenges of being a woman leader

01:22:55 - Future career aspirations

01:26:55 - Transition from Philips to Straumann

01:28:10 - Advice to younger self

01:28:35 - The tattoo stories

01:32:50 - Current living arrangement with husband

01:39:15 - Definition of success

01:45:15 - Last days and legacy

01:47:35 - Fantasy dinner party

About Kiran Malviya

Kiran Malviya is Vice President of Enterprise Solutions at Straumann Group EMEA, where she is known for her decisive leadership, empathy, and ability to inspire cross-functional teams.

She spent over a decade at Philips, leading across sales, marketing, and business development, with a strong focus on global key accounts and digital transformation.

Originally trained as a dentist in India, she transitioned into the corporate world after earning her MBA from the Indian School of Business, and now leads with a powerful blend of strategy, heart, and authenticity.