What does it take to go from a Marathi-medium school in suburban Mumbai to VP of IT at one of the world's largest automotive groups?
In Episode 8 of What Shapes Us, Vidya sits down with her former classmate Gauri Mudkavi-Kulkarni,Chartered Accountant turned global IT leader, for a conversation that spans six cities, two decades at Danone, and a door-to-door job hunt through Shanghai in 1999.
Gauri reflects on the father who invested in his daughters when most wouldn't, the unconventional career pivot that quietly changed everything, and what she believes capable women still get wrong at work, from waiting too long to raise their hand, to underestimating the power of intentional networking.
In this episode:
- Growing up in Vile Parle and what her father's choices gave her
- Choosing systems audit at Godrej when no one else wanted it
- Moving to Shanghai with a bicycle and a list of firms to cold-visit
- Life across Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Jakarta, Paris, and London
- What capable women consistently underplay, and what to do about it
Recorded on 15th February 2026
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What is What Shapes Us?
Lived experiences through the 5 Es: Endowment, Environment, Education, Effort, and Equality of Opportunity
In this series, Vidya speaks with thinkers, academicians, and ordinary people to uncover how the five Es intersect in personal and professional spheres, a framework she first articulated in a 2010 op-ed in Mint
Every conversation moves beyond surface narratives, inviting guests to reflect on what shaped them, what held them back, and what propels individuals and societies forward.