Episodes

  • Episode 50: The Future of Hyperlocal Retail in India ft. Akanksha Hazari

    Episode 50: The Future of Hyperlocal Retail in India ft. Akanksha Hazari
    Mar 6 2026
    In this episode of the Do Big Podcast, we are joined by Akanksha Hazari, Founder & CEO of LoveLocal, one of India’s fastest-growing hyperlocal e-commerce platforms empowering neighborhood retailers and kirana stores. Akanksha shares her inspiring journey, from being a professional athlete ranked among the top junior squash players in the world to becoming a mission-driven entrepreneur building technology for local communities. Through LoveLocal, she is enabling thousands of small retailers to go online, helping them compete in a rapidly evolving digital commerce landscape while preserving the deeply personal shopping experience that local stores are known for. In this conversation, Akanksha talks about the challenges of building a hyperlocal marketplace, the importance of strong teams and culture, lessons from sports that shaped her entrepreneurial mindset, and how technology and AI could transform everyday shopping. She also shares her vision for the future of retail, from omnichannel commerce to the idea of “zero-click shopping,” where technology anticipates your needs and brings the convenience of local stores directly to your doorstep.
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    47 mins
  • Episode 49: From Chatbots to Data Strategy - AI for Modern SMEs | ft. Dr. Debarag Banerjee - Part 2

    Episode 49: From Chatbots to Data Strategy - AI for Modern SMEs | ft. Dr. Debarag Banerjee - Part 2
    Feb 28 2026
    In this episode, we continue our conversation with Dr. Debarag Banerjee, Chief AI & Data Officer at L&T Finance Ltd., as he breaks down practical and accessible AI use cases for SMEs. He shares how businesses can begin their AI journey without heavy investments - by identifying repetitive tasks, automating content creation, improving productivity, and deploying simple chatbots with a customer-first approach. Tune in for a practical discussion on lowering the barriers to AI adoption, avoiding common chatbot pitfalls, understanding data privacy and responsible AI practices, and why building a strong data foundation is the most important first step for any SME looking to scale with AI.
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    15 mins
  • Episode 48: How AI is Transforming Lending & Financial Services in India | ft. Dr. Debarag Banerjee – Part 1

    Episode 48: How AI is Transforming Lending & Financial Services in India | ft. Dr. Debarag Banerjee – Part 1
    Feb 20 2026
    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Debarag Banerjee, Chief AI & Data Officer at L&T Finance Ltd., who shares how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of financial services in India. From real-time loan decisioning engines to multilingual AI-powered collections, he offers a behind-the-scenes look at how large-scale AI systems are driving profitability, inclusion, and smarter risk management. Tune in for an insightful conversation on AI myths and realities, the power of predictive and generative AI in lending, how businesses can build AI readiness through strong data foundations, and why AI could be the biggest democratizing force for SMEs in the years ahead.
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    31 mins
  • Episode 47: Inside High-Scale Engineering Teams: Culture, AI & Productivity | ft. Surya Srinivas, greytHR – Part 2

    Episode 47: Inside High-Scale Engineering Teams: Culture, AI & Productivity | ft. Surya Srinivas, greytHR – Part 2
    Feb 10 2026
    In this episode, we sit down with Surya Srinivas, Vice President of Engineering at greytHR, as he shares a deeper look into the engineering culture, technology priorities, and people-first mindset behind one of India’s most trusted HR platforms. He talks about how greytHR has built a highly agile engineering organization, reduced attrition through remote-first hiring, and scaled talent by tapping into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Tune in for an insightful conversation on building strong engineering cultures, using AI to improve productivity across development, QA, and reliability. We also explore how SMEs can adopt digital tools effectively, the role of freemium models in enabling small businesses, and how technology can truly empower people, not just processes.
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    15 mins
  • Episode 46: Building the Future of HR Tech in India | ft. Surya Srinivas, greytHR - Part 1

    Episode 46: Building the Future of HR Tech in India | ft. Surya Srinivas, greytHR - Part 1
    Jan 30 2026
    In this episode, we sit down with Surya Srinivas, Vice President of Engineering at greytHR, who shares his perspective on building and scaling one of India’s most widely adopted HR and payroll platforms. With nearly two decades of experience in engineering high-scale, high-trust systems, Surya walks us through how greytHR has evolved into a full-suite HR operating system used by tens of thousands of businesses and millions of employees. Tune in for an insightful conversation on the evolution of HR technology, building resilient and secure cloud-native platforms, engineering for scale and compliance, and how intelligent automation is shaping the future of workforce management for SMEs in India.
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    25 mins
  • The growth & efficiency playbook for SMEs | ft. Anand Deshpande - Part 2

    The growth & efficiency playbook for SMEs | ft. Anand Deshpande - Part 2
    Jan 16 2026
    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Anand Deshpande, Founder and Chairman of Persistent Systems, for a deep dive into how AI can move beyond buzzwords and start delivering real business value for SMEs. Drawing from decades of experience across multiple technology cycles, he shares a practical perspective on how businesses can use AI to improve productivity and support sustainable scaling. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on where SMEs should realistically begin their AI journey in 2026, how to approach automation and data readiness, and what it takes to build the right mindset, teams, and systems to scale effectively with technology.
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    20 mins
  • Episode 44: How SMEs can leverage technology to stay ahead in 2026 | ft. Anand Deshpande - Part 1

    Episode 44: How SMEs can leverage technology to stay ahead in 2026 | ft. Anand Deshpande - Part 1
    Jan 15 2026
    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Anand Deshpande, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Persistent Systems, who shares insights from a career spanning multiple technology cycles - from the dot-com era and mobile to cloud and AI. He reflects on his journey of building one of India’s most respected technology companies and offers a long-term perspective on how innovation, discipline, and clarity shape lasting institutions. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on which technologies truly matter for SMEs in 2026 and beyond, the role of AI as a foundational shift rather than a passing trend, and how businesses can prepare for the future by focusing on data, productivity, and sustainable technology adoption.
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    19 mins
  • Episode 43: Building for the Long Term: Entrepreneurship, Resilience & Scale | ft. Utkarsh Kawatra – Part 2

    Episode 43: Building for the Long Term: Entrepreneurship, Resilience & Scale | ft. Utkarsh Kawatra – Part 2
    Dec 26 2025
    In this episode of the Do Big Podcast by Tata Tele Business Services, we sit down with Utkarsh Kawatra, Co-Founder and CEO of myHQ, for a candid conversation on entrepreneurship, resilience, and what it truly takes to build a business in India. Utkarsh shares his journey from working in venture capital to becoming a full-time entrepreneur, and the realities that come with it. From navigating compliance and administrative complexity to dealing with loneliness at the top, this episode pulls back the curtain on the less glamorous side of building a company.
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    11 mins