Influencers Of Change

About Influencers Of Change

Influencers of Change is a podcast hosted by Sayali Waghmare exploring the people, power, and decisions shaping global transformation across sectors, policy, communications, education, business, and culture before they become headlines. Through long-form conversations with leaders, founders, strategists, educators, communicators, and policy thinkers, the podcast unpacks how major shifts actually happen: from governance and corporate ethics to public trust, institutional redesign, strategic communications, and cultural influence. Each episode explores: - The decisions and ideas behind long-term influence - The trade-offs, tensions, and failures rarely discussed publicly - The intersection of systems, communication, policy, and people This is an insight-led, people-centric podcast designed for those who want to understand how influence is built and how change truly happens behind the scenes. Hosted by Sayali Waghmare.

Publisher

Sayali Waghmare

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 May 2026

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Reject the Rejections: Do You Know You May Have a Right to Be Rejected by a Human? | Sheeraz Gulsher

   In this episode of Influencers of Change, Sayali Waghmare speaks with Sheeraz Gulsher, Co-Founder of People Like Us, about the changing face of recruitment and the systems, technology and decisions that can shape who gets access to opportunity. Sheeraz shares the story behind Reject the Rejections, People Like Us’ campaign calling for greater transparency and accountability in automated recruitment. The conversation explores how AI and automated screening are being used in recruitment, where bias can enter these systems, and what happens when candidates do not know how they have been assessed. We also discuss the impact on identity and confidence, including why some jobseekers feel compelled to change or hide aspects of themselves on their CVs, as well as the importance of transparency, independent bias audits and the potential right to request human review of an automated decision. The conversation also looks beyond the campaign itself: from People Like Us’ earlier work on pay and workplace inequality, to the role of research, creative campaigning and policy in turning evidence into action. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:53 – Meet Sheeraz Gulsher and People Like Us 04:58 – From workplace inequality to systemic change 09:40 – From research to campaigns: making complex issues accessible 12:59 – The research behind Reject the Rejections 14:21 – Do you have a right to human review? 16:19 – Human bias, technology and independent audits 18:19 – When jobseekers feel forced to hide their identity 20:07 – Behind the Reject the Rejections campaign film 22:13 – What systemic change could look like 25:13 – Closing About Sheeraz Gulsher Sheeraz Gulsher is Co-Founder of People Like Us (https://www.youtube.com/@MeetPeopleLikeUs), a community and campaigning organisation focused on workplace equity, representation and access to opportunity. Through research, campaigns and community-led work, People Like Us has challenged issues including ethnicity and class pay gaps, name bias and, most recently, automated recruitment through Reject the Rejections. About Influencers of Change Influencers of Change (https://www.youtube.com/@InfluencersOfChangePodcast) is hosted by Sayali Waghmare and explores the people, power and decisions shaping transformation across policy, communications, education, business and culture. Through long-form conversations, the podcast looks beyond the headline to understand how meaningful change actually happens. 🎙️ Guest: Sheeraz Gulsher, Co-Founder, People Like Us 🎧 Podcast: Influencers of Change

2. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Navigating India's Growth: Balancing Progress and Sustainability | Pavan Srinath

   Can India Scale Sustainably? A Conversation with Pavan Srinath Pioneering a new blueprint for growth, technology, and collective prosperity. India is authoring one of the most dynamic transformation stories in modern history lifting millions into prosperity, driving rapid urban innovation, and demonstrating world-class capability in digital public infrastructure. As the nation scales, it faces a defining opportunity: to build a growth model uniquely its own. Rather than repeating the legacy industrial paths of the West, India has the chance to pioneer a resource-smart development paradigm where economic ambition and environmental systems reinforce each other. In this episode, public policy researcher and communicator Pavan Srinath (The WELL Labs Show) joins us to explore how India can achieve durable prosperity at scale. Using water systems and infrastructure as a strategic lens, Srinath highlights how aligning world-class engineering with local governance can unlock immense potential. The key lies in channeling India’s remarkable individual dynamism into collective stewardship empowering communities, modernising public systems, and designing institutions built for long-term resilience. Dive into the full episode to see why the future of India's development hinges on community agency and institutional design. Episode Chapters 00:00 Meet Pavan Srinath 01:15 What Progress Really Means 03:20 Individual Change vs. Collective Change 07:25 Why Local Governance Matters 10:10 The Raichur Water Story 19:45 Listening to Communities First 26:45 Turning Wastewater Into a Resource 28:35 Tech That Fits the Problem 33:50 Government, Private Sector, and Public Good 36:50 Development With Environment 39:20 India’s Own Path to Prosperity 42:05 Dignity, Excellence, and Hope Tune into the full conversation: 👉 [Watch the full episode on YouTube (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/influencers-of-change/id1896812878) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/033mZkEHwfnUqTPbzbqeLR) | Apple Podcasts (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfY4ML016O2t432FFSkFYh0jmET2xUpKv)] #PublicPolicy #Sustainability #IndiaGrowth #WaterSystems #LocalGovernance #ClimateAction #SustainableDevelopment #UrbanPlanning #Infrastructure #WELLLabs #CollectiveAction #Podcast

3. 

   3 Jul 2026

   The Changing Definition of PR: From Attention to Influence, Culture, and Trust | Adrian Ma

   For decades, success in public relations was measured by visibility: headlines, media coverage, and share of voice. Today, that definition is changing. In a world shaped by AI, fragmented media, misinformation, and shifting public expectations, influence is no longer earned simply by being seen. It's earned by being credible, authentic, and trusted. In this episode of Influencers of Change, I speak with Adrian Ma, Founder & Partner at Fanclub PR and Humankind Communications, about how PR is evolving and what that means for communicators, business leaders, and brands navigating an increasingly complex world. Together, we explore: • Why traditional PR models are no longer enough • The growing challenge of misinformation and the responsibility of communicators • Why storytelling changes behaviour more effectively than facts alone • The award-winning Mount Recyclemore campaign and what made it resonate globally • Why brands need "the receipts" before communicating purpose • The future of PR, AI, Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), and the skills the next generation of communicators will need One insight from Adrian perfectly captures the conversation: "People rarely remember the statistics. They remember the story." Perhaps that's the biggest shift facing our profession. Whether you're a communications professional, marketer, founder, policymaker, or student, this conversation offers practical insights into the changing role of influence in today's world. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:29 How PR Has Changed Over the Last 15 Years 03:55 Why Traditional PR Models No Longer Work 06:06 Misinformation, AI & PR's Responsibility 09:19 Why Influence Is Often Misunderstood 10:58 Why Stories Matter More Than Statistics 11:19 Case Study: Mount Recyclemore 18:12 Storytelling Beyond Technology 19:25 Purpose, Profit & Authenticity 22:11 Avoiding Performative Communications 25:00 Building Trust Through Action 26:31 The Responsibility of PR Leaders 28:08 The Future of PR in the Age of AI 30:53 What Communicators Need to Unlearn 33:41 Closing Thoughts What do you think will define the future of PR, attention, influence, or trust? Share your thoughts in the comments. Subscribe for more conversations with leaders exploring the influence and infrastructure behind the major global shifts. #PublicRelations #PR #StrategicCommunications #Storytelling #BrandTrust #CorporateCommunications #Leadership #AI #Influence #Trust #ReputationManagement #Podcast

4. 

   17 Jun 2026

   Angela Balakrishnan: Strategic Communication for Public Trust and Behavioural Impact

   Impact at scale is rarely achieved through regulation alone. It depends on an institution's ability to communicate clearly, build trust, and influence behaviour without losing public confidence. In an increasingly complex world, communication is not simply about explaining decisions; it shapes how people understand, engage with, and respond to the systems around them. In this episode of Influencers of Change, Sayali Waghmare is joined by Angela Balakrishnan, Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), to explore how communication shapes public behaviour, builds institutional trust, and translates complex regulation into meaningful action. From protecting vulnerable communities from predatory scams to changing how organisations think about sensitive personal data, Angela shares how strategic storytelling and clear messaging can create real-world impact beyond headlines and metrics. This conversation explores: • Why trust sits at the heart of privacy and transparency. • How communications can influence behaviour at scale. • The role of storytelling in making complex issues accessible. • Why practice change matters more than vanity metrics. • How organisations can build credibility through clarity. If communication is more than messaging, what responsibility comes with shaping public understanding? 🎙️ Hosted by Sayali Waghmare. Follow and subscribe to stay updated with upcoming conversations across platforms. YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@InfluencersOfChangePodcast) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/033mZkEHwfnUqTPbzbqeLR)  |  Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/influencers-of-change/id1896812878). | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/influencers-of-change/). | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/influencersofchangepodcast?igsh=Ymp1MWlxbGlqNGty) #InfluencersOfChange #StrategicCommunications #Leadership #Trust #DataProtection #PublicAffairs #Storytelling #Governance #ICO

5. 

   28 May 2026

   How Creative Education Quietly Shapes Society, Systems & Global Influence | Rathna Ramanathan

   In this episode of Influencers of Change, Professor Rathna Ramanathan, Provost of Central Saint Martins and Executive Dean for Global Affairs at UAL, explores how creative education quietly shapes society, legitimacy, leadership, and global influence. This conversation goes far beyond arts education. It explores how institutions design the conditions for collaboration, resilience, cultural legitimacy, and long-term systems change. We discuss: Why traditional educational hierarchies are increasingly failing What it means to treat education as infrastructure, not curriculum The invisible work behind institutional redesign How creativity, communication, and power intersect globally Why the future may depend more on how we educate than what we teach This is a conversation about systems, influence, and the structures shaping the next generation of leadership. Hosted by Sayali Waghmare.

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.