Welcome to The Silicon Dreams by Orbis86. Join the hosts as they brings you inspiring stories from startups, entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors in the heart of Silicon Valley. Get valuable insights and tips to pursue your own Silicon Dream. Subscribe now for regular episodes!﻿

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/25/7/af2689b1-a41e-4b3d-bb5b-272152b92bc6_tsd-schwark-bhargavi.mp3

Join us for a live panel moderated by Preethy Padmanabhan featuring Schwark Satyavolu, Co-founder &amp; CEO, Startup, and Bhargavi V., Founding Partner at Java Capital, as they discuss the future of fintech, venture capital, and emerging innovation shaping 2025 and beyond.The panel also explores what investors are looking for in early-stage startups, how entrepreneurs can build resilient and scalable companies, and the broader shifts redefining financial services globally.From AI-driven finance and digital infrastructure to startup growth and evolving investor priorities, this conversation offers valuable insights for founders, builders, and investors navigating the rapidly changing fintech landscape.

Schwark Satyavolu and Bhargavi V.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/25/7/0572da60-91eb-4b0f-9a44-23aa56bc273b_tsd-divya_raghavan.mp3

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Divya Raghavan, Early Stage VC at Hitachi Ventures Global, for a thought-provoking conversation on the power of grit, resilience, and perseverance in building long-term success. Drawing from her experience working closely with startup founders, Divya shares insights into the passion and determination she sees in entrepreneurs, the importance of cultivating grit in the workplace, and the lessons that shaped her own journey into venture capital.Inspired by the ideas explored in Angela Duckworth’s “Grit,” the discussion dives into why passion and perseverance often matter more than talent alone, how individuals can develop resilience through challenges, and the mindset required to achieve meaningful goals in an ever-evolving world.Divya also reflects on the value of growth, adaptability, and learning through setbacks while navigating the fast-paced startup and investment ecosystem.

Divya Raghavan

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/25/7/942d753b-90e9-436d-bf58-b8a8d6643171_tsd-molly_mccabe.mp3

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Molly McCabe, CEO of HaydenTanner, to unpack the major global trends shaping humanity, business, and innovation, leading up to From Africa’s rising economic potential and the rapid expansion of the global middle class to the critical role of immigration in driving innovation, Molly unpacks how these macro trends will impact businesses, governments, and communities worldwide. The discussion also explores the rise of senior demographics, the future of healthcare and age-friendly technology, shifting economic power toward Asia and India, and the evolving role of women in shaping tomorrow’s workforce and leadership. Molly shares powerful insights on adapting to change, identifying 10X growth opportunities, and preparing for a rapidly evolving future.

Molly McCabe

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/25/7/49d00dd9-ec93-4bf5-b2ab-322efb3b4372_tsd-andrew.mp3

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Andrew Romans, General Partner at 7BC Venture Capital and author of Masters of Corporate Venture Capital. Drawing from his extensive experience in Silicon Valley, Andrew unpacks the real motivations behind corporate venture capital and why it operates differently from traditional VC models. From navigating corporate structures to understanding strategic investments, the conversation sheds light on what truly drives CVC decision-making.Andrew also shares key challenges faced by corporate venture arms and offers practical, no-fluff advice for startups looking to raise capital from CVCs—what to do, what to avoid, and how to stand out.This episode is a deep dive into the intersection of innovation, capital, and corporate strategy—perfect for founders, operators, and anyone building in today’s evolving tech ecosystem.

Andrew Romans

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/25/7/ba01322b-faa3-451f-8101-de37f01654f4_tsd-lucie_newcomb.mp3

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Lucie Newcomb, Founder &amp; CEO of The NewComm Global Group, an international advisory and training firm specializing in global business development and leadership.Inspired by the book Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman, the conversation explores what truly defines impactful leadership. From empowering teams to unlocking collective intelligence, Lucie shares actionable insights on how leaders can shift from being “diminishers” to becoming “multipliers.”This episode dives into the power of collaboration, innovation, and global leadership strategies—offering a fresh perspective on how to build high-performing teams that thrive in today’s fast-evolving world.

Lucie Newcomb

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/22/9/8088b835-8b8a-459a-996a-fa0c5865e257_tsd-catherine_montgomery.mp3

In this episode, Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cnmontgomery/overlay/about-this-profile/" rel="nofollow">Catharine Montgomery</a>, Founder &amp; CEO of Better Together, a communications agency focused on purpose-driven brands and social impact storytelling.Inspired by the book Built to Sell by John Warrillow, the conversation explores what it truly takes to build a business that is not only profitable—but scalable and sellable. From creating repeatable systems to sharpening your value proposition, Catherine shares practical insights on building a company that can grow beyond its founder.This episode goes deeper into the importance of clarity, positioning, and long-term vision—especially for founders looking to create sustainable, future-ready businesses.

Catharine Montgomery

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/22/10/f0deb968-96e2-434d-ba9d-db02a3263932_tsd-sushma_malhotra.mp3

In this episode of Silicon Dreams, host <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/preepadu/" rel="nofollow">Preethy Padmanabhan</a> speaks with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sushmamalhotra/" rel="nofollow">Sushma Malhotra</a>, President &amp; CEO of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/s5advisory/" rel="nofollow">S5 Advisory</a>, about how How to Win Friends and Influence People shaped her leadership journey.Sushma also shares actionable leadership strategies — giving sincere praise, avoiding direct criticism, encouraging growth after mistakes, and using empathy to influence clients and teams effectively. The discussion also touches on insights from How to Stop Worrying and Start Living and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.A powerful reminder that great leadership starts with genuine interest, meaningful relationships, and the ability to make others feel heard, valued, and inspired.

Sushma Malhotra

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/22/9/92d00d25-a8b1-4df1-98b3-433fac4d233a_tsd-ash_seddeek.mp3

In this episode,<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/preepadu/" rel="nofollow">Preethy Padmanabhan</a> sits down with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashseddeek/" rel="nofollow">Ash Seddeek</a>, CEO at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/executivegreatness/" rel="nofollow">The Executive Greatness Institute</a>, with an impressive background spanning Deloitte Consulting, Oracle, and Cisco. Inspired by his book Road to Success, Ash breaks down a powerful framework for career growth through three strategic steps — Own it, Win it, and Crush it.This conversation goes beyond traditional career advice, diving into how strategy, excitement, and personal energy can become your biggest competitive advantage. Ash shares insights on taking ownership, building momentum, and consistently delivering at a higher level to unlock exponential growth.

Ash Seddeek

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/22/9/08a93ca5-b9ee-4be8-81f5-4f8247eb1e07_tsd-rajita_kulkarni_bagga.mp3

In this episode, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/preepadu/" rel="nofollow">Preethy Padmanabhan</a> sits down with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajitakulkarni/" rel="nofollow">Prof Mrs Rajita Kulkarni</a>, President of Sri Sri University, for a thought-provoking conversation inspired by her book Unknown Edge.Unknown Edge explores a powerful idea — that true transformation lies beyond what we can logically measure or predict. It uncovers the subtle forces that separate the mystical from the mundane, guiding individuals and organizations toward deeper clarity, stronger relationships, and sustainable growth. Drawing from her journey from banking to academia and leadership, Prof. Mrs. Rajita Kulkarni shares insights on self-discovery, decision-making, and how aligning inner awareness with external action can unlock new dimensions of success. The conversation also highlights the importance of intuition, purpose-driven leadership, and navigating uncertainty with clarity.

Prof. Mrs. Rajita Kulkarni,

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/22/9/1b106a77-ac9f-455d-9cad-714fab059a3a_tsd-shaloo_garg.mp3

In this episode, our host <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/preepadu/" rel="nofollow">Preethy Padmanabhan</a> sits down with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaloo-garg/" rel="nofollow">Shaloo Garg</a>, Managing Director of AI Startup Ecosystem, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft/" rel="nofollow">Microsoft</a>, for an energizing conversation inspired by 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗺 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗯.Antifragile introduces a powerful idea — that some systems, people, and organizations don’t just survive shocks but actually 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆. The book challenges the traditional mindset of avoiding risk and instead encourages embracing change and disorder as catalysts for growth.Shaloo shares insights from her journey in leadership and social impact, reflecting on how volatility can drive innovation and how startups and leaders can prepare themselves to succeed in uncertain environments. The conversation also explores the importance of resilience, taking calculated risks, and maintaining “skin in the game” when building for the future.

Shaloo Garg

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/2/26/5/9dca007d-30e6-4c90-aff4-ae8913476611_tsd-prith_banerjee.mp3

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Prith Banerjee, Senior Vice President of Innovation, and member of the ELT, Synopsys, for a thought-provoking conversation inspired by Innovation Factory: Creating and Sustaining High-Performance Innovation.Innovation Factory explores what it truly takes to build and sustain a high-performance innovation ecosystem within an organization. Drawing from his experience as former CTO of HP and his extensive leadership journey across academia and industry, Prith shares a practical roadmap for leaders who want to move beyond ideas and create lasting impact.Prith reflects on the key pillars that drive innovation — a clear strategy, a supportive culture, strong talent management, and meaningful collaboration with external partners. He also discusses the critical role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in shaping the future of innovation. With experience as a serial entrepreneur, senior executive, and current CTO at ANSYS, he connects these insights to real-world leadership lessons.

Prith Banerjee | Building a Culture of Innovation: Inside Innovation Factory

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/2/26/5/65fffd55-a62b-4488-99d8-78ed036da15b_tsd-mita_gupta.mp3

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Mita Gupta, Executive VP and Group Head, WNS Procurement, for a thoughtful conversation inspired by Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein.Range challenges the widely accepted belief that early specialization is the only path to success. Instead, David Epstein makes a compelling case for generalists—those who explore broadly, experiment across roles, and draw insights from diverse experiences—especially in complex and unpredictable industries.Mita reflects on what resonated most with her from the book and connects its ideas to her own professional journey. Having taken on dynamic roles as a Co-founder, VP, and Board Advisor, she shares how embracing multiple interests and challenges enabled her to successfully build and scale B2B businesses. Through personal examples, she explains why adaptability, curiosity, and cross-functional thinking can become powerful career assets.

Mita Gupta | The Generalist Advantage: Inside Range by David Epstein

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/2/26/5/12e08521-1898-4f0b-826d-568b7f3f8c83_tsd-syamla_bandla.mp3

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Syamla Bandla, Senior Director of Production Engineering at Meta, for a thoughtful conversation inspired by Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown.Atlas of the Heart is a powerful exploration of human emotions—why we feel what we feel, how those emotions shape our behaviors, and how emotional awareness can deepen our relationships. Syamla shares what she loved most about the book, the key insights that stayed with her, and how she’s applied them in her own life and leadership journey.Together, Preethy and Syamla dive deep into the importance of naming our emotions, building emotional resilience, and developing tools to cope, heal, and connect more meaningfully—with ourselves and with others.

Syamla Bandla | Mapping Our Emotions: Inside Atlas of the Heart

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/2/26/4/68caecc6-b000-4b06-add0-d23f080538df_tsd-jeremy_ryan_slate-.mp3

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Jeremy Ryan Slate—Founder &amp; Host of the Top 100 podcast Create Your Own Life, and bestselling author.Jeremy has interviewed some of the world’s highest performers—from Indy 500 winners and NYT bestselling authors to platinum recording artists, billionaires, and even a former CIA Director. In his book Unremarkable to Extraordinary, he breaks down the principles these remarkable individuals applied to create lasting impact and define success on their own terms.In this conversation, Preethy and Jeremy dive deep into his personal journey—how he overcame adversity, built resilience, and shaped his own definition of success. It’s an honest, insightful, and energizing discussion you won’t want to miss.

Jeremy Ryan Slate | From Unremarkable To Extraordinary

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/1/27/15/1e9e7f4f-7416-4532-8518-2df41115fc58_tsd-kison_patel.mp3

n this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Kison Patel—CEO- M&amp;A Science | Exec Chairman- DealRoom—to unpack his practical and timely book, Agile M&amp;A.Drawing from years of hands-on experience leading complex mergers and acquisitions, Kison breaks down how the M&amp;A landscape is rapidly evolving—and why many companies still get it wrong. He shares how agility, alignment, and execution discipline are redefining successful dealmaking in today’s market.This conversation explores what it truly takes to execute M&amp;A with clarity, speed, and confidence—from avoiding common pitfalls to building repeatable, scalable M&amp;A strategies that actually work.

Kison Patel

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/1/27/15/1867ccb5-d99c-412c-abe2-867bd66c92d1_tsd-ron_carucci.mp3

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Ron Carucci—owner and managing partner at Navalent, best-selling author and contributor to Harvard Business Review and #Forbes—to unpack his powerful new book, To Be Honest.Based on 15 years of research and 3,200+ interviews with leaders worldwide, Ron reveals how clear identity, accountability, governance, and cross-functional relationships shape honesty, justice, and purpose inside organizations—and why getting them right makes companies 16x more likely to tell the truth and serve the greater good.Featuring real stories from leaders at #Patagonia, #Microsoft, and #Best Buy, this conversation explores what it truly takes to build purpose-driven, high-integrity companies—even when it’s hard.

Ron Carucci

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/1/27/15/abcba084-d6ce-4ff1-b1cf-6b09b0665060_tsd-shawn_flynn.mp3

In this episode, we bring you a powerful conversation with Shawn Flynn— Investment Banker and Managing director, SVH capital . Hosted by Preety Padmanabhan, this conversation challenges the hustle-first narrative and reframes what it really means to create results. Shawn shares insights on how shifting how you pursue outcomes can help you achieve more — faster, with less stress, and greater clarity.Together, they unpack the key factors that influence your ability to create results, the internal obstacles that quietly hold you back, and how to overcome them. The discussion also dives into increasing impact, empowering others to succeed, and building a results-driven approach that feels healthy, natural, and sustainable.

Shawn Flynn

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/12/22/9/2517744b-f47e-42d7-ae9d-55288199423c_tsd-jean-loi_ck_michaux.mp3

In this episode, we bring you an inspiring conversation with Jean-Loïck Michaux — Founder &amp; CEO of Serendipia Hotels — as we explore the transformative impact of the book Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins. ⚡📘Jean-Loïck shares how reading the book at 19 helped him dismantle limiting beliefs, overcome fear, and build the mindset needed to pursue extraordinary goals. Over the past decade, he has launched multiple companies, started schools in Africa, and cultivated the habits, discipline, and belief systems that shape high achievers.He breaks down the 7 traits of success, the role of empowering beliefs, and how you can train your mind to produce the outcomes you want — consistently and confidently.

Jean-Loïck Michaux | The Mindset That Builds Extraordinary Lives

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/12/22/9/3d82481a-1643-4180-bd88-8e1a4223ad81_tsd-connie_kwan.mp3

In this episode, we bring you a powerful conversation with Connie Kwan — CEO of Spark AI and a Master Storyteller at 4Storyteller — as we dive into The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo. 📊✨Connie breaks down the storytelling principles that made Steve Jobs unforgettable — clarity, simplicity, emotion, and theatrical presence. She shares how she applies these lessons in her own craft, along with practical tips to help you transform your presentations from “just slides” into compelling narratives that captivate any room.

Connie Kwan | Mastering the Art of presentation

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/12/22/9/9a5686ba-166d-4f20-aec5-fb093b0c6827_tsd-shikha_mittal.mp3

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan sits down with Shikha Mittal — Senior Director, Product Management at ServiceNow — to unpack the timeless lessons of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. ✨Shikha shares why this book has been a guiding force in her life — from pursuing her “personal legend” to trusting the journey even when the path isn’t clear. She highlights themes of resilience, intuition, and following your dreams despite setbacks, offering a glimpse into how these ideas shape her approach to both life and work.Through Shikha’s lens, we explore how aligning purpose with action, learning from failures, and staying open to life’s signs can fuel personal and professional growth.

Shikha Mittal | Discovering uroose Through "The Alchemist"

Welcome to the Silicon Dreams by Orbis86. Join the hosts as they bring you inspiring stories from startups, entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors in the heart of Silicon Valley. Get valuable insights and tips to pursue your own Silicon Dream. Subscribe now for regular episodes!