Her magical childhood lived on a tea estate in Kerala laid the genesis for her deep connection to nature and her passionate advocacy for environmental conservation. Meet Sunitha Srinivasan, the brilliant mind and soul behind EIB Solutions, a family-owned manufacturing enterprise that produces eco-friendly, biodegradable cleaning formulations that are human and animal-safe.

With nearly 30 years of professional experience across various industries, Sunitha holds the exciting laurel to have started her career as India’s first female tea taster and blender! She then went on to work in the retail sector for over two decades in across five countries before she started EIBS.

Sunitha has pioneered a retail skill development course for underprivileged children through Jeevika Skills Foundation, a CSR initiative of C2C Organizational Development. Sunitha is also an author with two historical narratives in her repertoire, while she is currently working on her third book.

Hit play to listen to this fascinating story!

[04:00s] Starting her career as India’s first woman tea taster!

[06:25s] From retail to entrepreneurship and sustainability

[18:00s] Of safe, sustainable chemical manufacturing at EIBS

[22:30s] The economics of it all, the business model

[25:00s] Influencing mindsets towards sustainability

[39:36s] RWL Read Sunitha’s books, ‘Trailblazers of the Travancore Plantations’ and ‘Echoes of History: Travancore’s Legacy’; ‘Secret Life of Trees’ by Peter Wohlleben (what Sunitha refers to as ‘Book of Forests’ in the podcast)

More about Sunitha’s work at EIBS here: https://www.eibs.co.in/

Connect with Sunitha on LinkedIn

Connect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn

What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

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This podcast is sponsored

Our guest today is on the incredible mission of changing the way buildings are designed, built and lived in, in India, using data and communications as the foundations for advancing green building. Circular thinking, in his words, is the key for a future-ready India.

Meet the remarkable Sriram Kuchimanchi, founder and CEO of Smarter Dharma which is building the world’s first Sustainability Resource Planning Platform (www.sdplus.io) and which has become an impactful force in influencing key players in building environmental, social and institutional sustainability today. An Ashoka Fellow and TEDx Speaker, Sriram gave up his corporate tech job in the US 13 years ago to move back to India and work at the confluence of technology and sustainability, assisting communities, companies, and government agencies understand, embrace and practice sustainability.

Hit play to listen to Sriram’s incredible journey!

[06:02s] Journey from corporate world into sustainability entrepreneurship

[13:40s] Genesis of ‘Smarter Dharma’

[15:47s] Sriram’s ‘circular thinking’ concept behind Smarter Dharma

[33:12s] Biggest barriers to green construction today

[43:14s] Biggest learnings

[49:05s] RWL Read ‘Ecotopia’by Ernest Callenbach

More about Smarter Dharma at https://www.smarterdharma.com/

More about Sriram here: https://www.ashoka.org/en-in/fellow/sriram-kuchimanchi ; https://businessindia.co/climatechange/smarter-dharma-changes-the-way-buildings-are-designed

Connect with Sriram on LinkedIn

Connect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn

What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Tune In Alexa, Amazon Music, Pandora, and more.

This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

Meet Kayleigh Fazan, the visionary founder of The International Retail Academy, a pioneering force in the global retail industry. With an unwavering commitment to elevating customer experiences, Kayleigh has championed a transformative ‘bottom-up’ approach, fostering a new era of excellence in the world of retail.

For over 15 years, Kayleigh has been on a mission to empower shopfloor teams within global retail brands, equipping them with the essential soft skills needed to excel in an ever-evolving marketplace. A renowned expert in retail leadership, Kayleigh has led countless brands on a journey towards customer-centric success, arming them with the tools to create meaningful connections with their clientele.

Hit play to listen to her roaring success of a story!

[03:23s] Her journey into retail
[10:02s] Exploring the global landscape of retail
[15:47s] “Don’t lose touch with the shop floor ever!”
[28:49s] Starting her entrepreneurial journey
[37:39s] Return of the retail stores post COVID
[51:16s] RWL Read ‘The Culture Map’ by Erin Meyer and ‘Uplifting Service’ by Ron Kaufman; Tony Robbins’ podcast

More about Kayleigh’s work at The International Retail Academy
Connect with Kayleigh on LinkedIn

Connect with Vinay on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn
What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com

Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Tune In Alexa, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn + Alexa, Stitcher, Jio Saavn and more.

This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook