The Brand Called You

In this episode of The Brand Called You, Kevin Surace, CEO and CTO of Appvance.ai, discussed his entrepreneurial journey, emphasising the importance of company culture for innovation. He shared his role in creating soundproof drywall and the first AI virtual assistant, Portico. Surace highlighted the impact of generative AI on QA, predicting job displacement in tier-one customer support and manual testing. He also discussed sustainability initiatives, such as retrofitting the Empire State Building with high-R value windows, which recovered costs in three years. Surace's forthcoming book, "The Joy Success Cycle," advocates for joy as a strategic business advantage to enhance productivity.00:33- About Kevin SuraceCEO and CTO of Appvance.ai, known as the father of virtual assistantsSerial entrepreneur with 95 worldwide patents across technology and sustainabilityBroadway enthusiast and author of the upcoming book "The Joy Success Cycle"

In this episode of The Brand Called You, Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman of GTT Data Solutions and 5F World, discussed his journey from a missionary school in Karti Silvai to leading successful tech companies. He emphasized the importance of leadership, processes, technology choice, and culture in digital transformation. Natarajan highlighted the dual intelligence model, combining human and AI capabilities. He shared insights from Harvard Business School case studies on Zensar, focusing on a culture of love and democratic decision-making. Natarajan also discussed his social venture, Lighthouse Communities, which aims to empower slum youth through skills training and public-private partnerships, targeting 100 lighthouses and 1 million beneficiaries.00:37- About Dr Ganesh NatarjanTech entrepreneur and innovator who led successful companies like Zensar and AptechPassionate social impact leader through Lighthouse Communities FoundationAdvocate for dual intelligence, balancing human potential with AI capabilities

In this episode of The Brand Called You, Sahana Hallur, founder of Foodlovery, shares her transformation from homemaker to mompreneur at age 45. Starting during COVID-19 by delivering nutritious food to senior citizens, she built a successful business creating natural, preservative-free products like granola bars and puffkins, emphasising grassroots marketing, employee dignity, and her philosophy to "trust the process, not the destination."About Sahana HallurSahana is a Mompreneur, and the proprietor of Foodlovery.Key products of her brand are granola bars, dry food bars, makhanas, puffkeens and mattris.She now specialises in customised snack boxes for seminars, meetings, and conferences.

Discover the inspiring journey of Rashi Anand, founder of Lakshyam and co-founder of India’s first 100% ecological animal sanctuary, Tuk Tuk Gilhari. From rescuing street children to empowering women and caring for animals, Rashi’s story teaches us the true meaning of leadership, empathy, and sustainable impact.00:32- About Rashi AnandRashi is the founder and CEO of Lakshyam.She's also the co-founder of Tuk Tuk Gilhari, India's first 100% ecological and sustainable animal sanctuary.

Veteran and leadership coach Charles Browne shares his unique journey from nuclear submarines to corporate boardrooms, revealing essential lessons on authenticity, managing stress, overcoming imposter syndrome, and making powerful decisions under pressure.00:34- About Charles BrowneCharles is a certified No more Mr. Nice Guy coach.He's the author of a book titled The Pursuit of Identity & Purpose.He went from a nuclear submarine to a boardroom.

In this episode of The Brand Called You, Michael Erath, a seasoned entrepreneur and leadership coach shares hard-earned insights on building elite teams, overcoming betrayal, and the Five Obsessions framework that drives clarity, alignment, accountability, execution, and profit growth for lasting business success.00:37- About Michael ErathMichael is the Founder and lead guide of Next Level Growth, with certifications as an EOS implementer and Scaling Up coach.He is the bestselling author of Rise: The Reincarnation of an Entrepreneur, The Path to the Pinnacle, and Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations.He is a proud fellow member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).

In this episode of The Brand Called You, Dr. Cecilia Dones, data leader and AI ethics expert, on moving businesses from mystical AI hype to mastery — leveraging data responsibly, balancing automation with human touch, and empowering organizations to innovate ethically.00:33- About Cecilia DonesCecilia is the founder and Chief Data Officer of 3 Standard Deviations.

In this episode of The Brand Called You, Cees Links—entrepreneur, wireless tech pioneer, and the quiet force behind Wi-Fi standardization discovers how a team led from the Netherlands helped change the world, one protocol at a time.00:35- About Cees LinksCees Links, also known as "The Father of WiFi", was introduced to Haider Zia in early 2023. He instantly recognized the immense potential of SuperLight Photonics and embarked as the CEO.He is a visionary leader with a remarkable track record in the world of technology innovation.

In this episode of The Brand Called You, Kerry Sulkowicz, founder of Know Thyself 360—a groundbreaking platform that fuses psychoanalytic wisdom with AI to help leaders uncover blind spots, gain deeper self-awareness, and enhance their impact.00:36- About Kerry SulkowiczKerry is the Founder and Managing Principal of the Boswell Group.He's the founder and CEO of KnowThyself360°.He's the past president of the American Psychoanalytic Association. 

In this episode of The Brand Called You, Saiswaroopa Iyer—author, academic, and storyteller—talks about her journey from venture capital to reimagining ancient Indian women protagonists through rich narratives rooted in dharma, philosophy, and history. Discover how she blends modern insight with ancient tales to bring new light to forgotten stories and moral dilemmas.00:54- About Saiswaroopa IyerSai is an author and an academic. She's an author of five best selling novels based on ancient Indian women protagonists.She's the recipient of the Stree Shakti Award for her contribution to Indian Literature. She has also trained in Carnatic Classical music and has won a gold medal from TTD for her rendition of Annamacharya Kritis.