I’ve always believed that meaningful conversations have the power to change the way we see the world, and each other.
Born in Calcutta, I grew up surrounded by stories and voices that shaped my earliest understanding of connection. Over the years, that curiosity carried me across India and the U.S ; working with global teams, collaborating with institutions like MIT and Virginia Tech, and supporting Fortune 50 clients including UPS, Microsoft, UnitedHealth Group, Albertsons, Morgan Stanley, all while helping build a learning and design startup from the ground up.
Along the way, I wore many hats; sales leader, account manager, project lead, culture carrier, from setting up our U.S. office in Atlanta to bridging clients and cross-border teams. But no matter the role, the mission was always the same: helping people connect better, deeper, and more meaningfully.
That spirit now lives in Between Us, Make Every Conversation Count™, a podcast that brings together voices from across sectors and walks of life to explore what truly matters: mental health, sustainability, entrepreneurship, healthcare, identity, and hope.
As host and producer, I don’t chase headlines, I hold space.
For stories that go deeper. For moments that stay. For people making sense of the world, together.
Because in the end, it’s not about spotlighting loud voices.
It’s about hearing the ones that often go unheard.
If you care about storytelling, community, and change… welcome.
Let’s make every conversation count
Santosh Kumar
Founder & Host, Between Us, Make Every Conversation Count™
Storyteller | Culture-Builder | Global Collaborator
I’ve always believed that meaningful conversations have the power to change the way we see the world, and each other.
Born in Calcutta, I grew up surrounded by stories and voices that shaped my earliest understanding of connection. Over the years, that curiosity carried me across India and the U.S ; working with global teams, collaborating with institutions like MIT and Virginia Tech, and supporting Fortune 50 clients including UPS, Microsoft, UnitedHealth Group, Albertsons, Morgan Stanley, all while helping build a learning and design startup from the ground up.
Along the way, I wore many hats; sales leader, account manager, project lead, culture carrier, from setting up our U.S. office in Atlanta to bridging clients and cross-border teams. But no matter the role, the mission was always the same: helping people connect better, deeper, and more meaningfully.
That spirit now lives in Between Us, Make Every Conversation Count™, a podcast that brings together voices from across sectors and walks of life to explore what truly matters: mental health, sustainability, entrepreneurship, healthcare, identity, and hope.
As host and producer, I don’t chase headlines, I hold space.
For stories that go deeper. For moments that stay. For people making sense of the world, together.
Because in the end, it’s not about spotlighting loud voices.
It’s about hearing the ones that often go unheard.
If you care about storytelling, community, and change… welcome.
Let’s make every conversation count
Santosh Kumar
Founder & Host, Between Us, Make Every Conversation Count™
Storyteller | Culture-Builder | Global Collaborator
The Teacher. The Mentor. The Visionary.
Some people build careers. A rare few build legacies.
In this special episode of Between Us, we sit down with Dr. Mohan B. Rao—Chairman of CII WR Education Taskforce and Advisor at SIWS Group of Institutions—whose journey from industry to academia has inspired thousands across generations.
From boardrooms to classrooms, Dr. Rao has spent decades shaping young lives. But who is the man behind the resume?
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
His early life, values, and what shaped his journey
His transition from corporate leadership at Godrej and Datamatics to transformative work in academia
Why mentorship matters now more than ever
His bold ideas for fixing the gaps in our education system
Insights on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), startups, AI, and the future of learning
Personal reflections, regrets, triumphs—and what still fuels his passion
Whether you're a student, educator, policymaker, or curious learner—this episode is a masterclass in leadership, learning, and living with purpose.
Timestamps:
00:00 Coming up
01:50 Introduction
06:24 How can we have seamless marriage between Education & Entrepreneurship
08:45 What is Mentoring and what does it involve
13:15 How to close the gap between the education and real world skills
17:34 How do we prepare today's student for AI
18:35 Key 5 impactful features of NEP 2020
23:42 Role in CII
31:08 What is your role in helping the startups driving innovation
36:00 How can Indian Knowledge System help in today's startups?
45:56 What Motivated you to leap from corporate to teaching?
47:44 His Journey (Experience working in Godrej)
01:01:12 What is his advice for young generation?
01:03:40 His Journey in Datamatics
01:05:45 Importance of Human Connections
01:14:57 Why do learn the lesson after something happens?
01:18:40 Personal Journey (Growing up years)
01:25:20 How we all are interconnected but are we closely connected with each other?
01:28:00 What is your legacy?
01:32:14 His Learnings from his working abroad
01:36:40 Rapid Fire Questions
01:41:34 Closing Remarks
Don’t forget to like, share, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that matter.
Tag someone who needs to hear this today.
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The idea of ‘Between Us’ stems from the fact that every conversation matters, especially the one that we have with ourselves. Using podcast as a medium, I am fortunate to bring folks who have made an impact in everyday lives, from diverse backgrounds, to engage in a meaningful conversation. The topics are as diverse and deeply interconnected - from climate justice to big tech to healthcare as a constitutional right to millennial expectations to gender equality and inclusiveness. I warmly welcome you to join me in this journey.
#BetweenUs #Podcast #DrMohanBRao #EducationLeadership #MentorshipMatters #IndianKnowledgeSystems #FutureOfEducation #CII #LearningWithPurpose #TeacherMentorVisionary #InspiringConversations #LifeLessons
