Dr. Tejashree Shah – Architect of Impact, Policy, and Purpose-Driven Leadership

Intro:
“Welcome to Believe in Future – Amazing Mentor, the global leadership series with Gaurav Garg. Today we have a very special guest: Dr. Tejashree Shah. Tejashree is a visionary leader often called an “architect of impact, innovation, and inclusive leadership”. She co-founded clean-food startups like TANS and Shree Foods, and even helped steer policy as part of India’s G20 Startup20 team. Beyond that, she’s an executive coach and mentor to emerging leaders. Dr. Shah, it’s an honor to have you here.”

Questions:
Segment 1: Roots of Resilience (Reflective)
Q1 “Let’s start from the beginning. You’ve worn many hats, but it all began with leadership training and communication. What drew you into empowering others so early on?”
Q2 “It sounds like those early days built the foundation for everything. Was there a particular defining moment or challenge back then that shaped you?”
Q3 “What a powerful story. You turned something scary into a new purpose. What did you learn from that experience?”
Q4 “That’s inspiring. How did that moment make you feel, personally?”
Segment 2: Leadership Alchemy (Inquisitive)
Q5 “Let’s talk about leadership. After all these experiences, how do you define leadership?”
Q6 “Great perspective. You’ve worked in communications and strategy – can you share a story where clear communication led to a breakthrough?”
Q7 “That’s a great lesson. Speaking of transformation, what does it mean to transform an organization or a mindset?”
Q8 “Beautiful. You mentioned coaching – how do you build a ‘leadership pipeline’ when mentoring executives?”
Segment 3: Policy & Progress (Curious)
Q9 “You’ve moved seamlessly between private startups and public policy. How did you end up in government relations and innovation policy?”
Q10 “Speaking of Startup20 and G20, what was that experience like? What’s a key insight you gained?”
Q11 “Interesting – so policy can supercharge innovation. Are there misconceptions between the two worlds?”
Q12 “Can you share a personal story from this policy work?”
Segment 4: Fine Print & Bold Strokes (Bold)
Q13 “Now, let’s tackle the tough questions. You mentioned pausing your own company for Startup20 work. That’s a bold move. How did people react?”
Q14 “What’s a bold idea you champion that not everyone agreed with?”
Q15 “Have you faced any heated debates?”
Q16 “If I asked, ‘Was it worth it to go against the tide?’ what would you say?”
Segment 5: Guiding Stars (Warm)
Q17 “Let’s talk mentorship. What one piece of advice do you give every aspiring leader?”
Q18 “That’s wonderful. What’s a common blind spot you see in emerging leaders?”
Q19 “Can you share a success story from someone you mentored?”
Q20 “Finally, what’s the one piece of advice you wish you’d had earlier?”
Segment 6: Lightning Round: Truth & Dare (Playful)
“Time for our rapid-fire round! I’ll ask quick questions, and just shoot the answer. You ready?”
1. “What’s one thing people misunderstand about your work?”
2. “Your favorite productivity hack or daily habit?”
3. “If you weren’t leading, what would you be?”
4. “A mentor who changed your life?”
5. “A mantra or quote you live by?”
6. “How do you relax after a long day?”

Segment 7: Beyond the Horizon (Visionary)
Q21 “As we close, let’s look ahead. What’s your vision for the future of leadership and innovation?”
Q22 “Any upcoming projects you’re excited about?”
Q23 “Looking back, how has your vision changed over time?”
Q24 “Any final piece of advice as we wrap up?”
Q25 In our Believe in Future series, I always ask guests: What do you believe in, Dr. Shah?”


Outro:
“Thank you, Dr. Shah. That belief in purpose is inspiring.” “That’s all for today’s episode. If you enjoyed this conversation with Dr. Tejashree Shah, follow Believe in Future on your favorite podcast platform. Join us next time for another leadership story. Until then, keep believing in the future!”