Episode #2 - Thriving Through Uncertainty: Navigating Constant Change & Disruption with Haresh Khoobchandani (Autodesk)
Struggling with the pace of constant change and uncertainty?This episode with Haresh Khoobchandani shares grounded advice on how to adapt and thrive. I’m Sital Ruparelia. I help organisations build future-ready teams and support individuals in shaping future-ready careers in an era of intelligence. With 25+ years in leadership, talent, and recruitment - including a decade at Microsoft leading executive hiring across Asia - I now host the Talent X Tech podcast, where we explore how AI and emerging technologies are transforming the way we work, lead, and manage talent.In this episode, I sit down with Haresh Khoobchandani, Vice President for Asia Pacific & Japan at Autodesk, author of Growth by Choice, TEDx speaker, and Oxford alum. A senior leader with over 25 years of experience, Haresh has built and led multicultural teams across the region with Microsoft and Autodesk. He brings a calm and intentional approach to growth, leadership, and self-disruption in today’s fast-changing world.You’ll learn:Why strong leadership is critical in an age of disruption, from AI to geopoliticsWhat “dancing in the rain” really means when navigating volatility and setbacksHow to grow by choice, not by chance, through intentional decisions we can all makeWhy disrupting yourself is smarter than waiting to be disrupted in a world of constant changePractical ways to stay future-ready in the AI era, even if you’re not in the tech sectorWhat the Japanese concept of Kintsugi taught him about resilience and bouncing backThe vital role HR plays in digital transformation and the future of workHaresh’s inspiring message to Gen Z and early-career professionals🎧 If you're leading, learning, or navigating this era of change, this conversation is for you.👉 Hit 'Subscribe' for more weekly episodes and short clips on the future of talent, tech, and transformation.(00:00) – Highlights reel(00:45) – Introducing Haresh – his journey, roles, and mindset(03:06) – Witnessing Singapore’s transformation and Asia's growth(05:54) – Favourite Asian food and the role of food in connection(07:40) – Key leadership influences and how they shape leadership today(11:26) – Navigating a world of constant change, disruption, and uncertainty(16:14) – Tech innovation: lifelong learning and solving problems with tech(20:23) – Embracing change: owning our own disruption in a shifting world(23:04) – Self-awareness: the key to Growth By Choice(25:02) – Leadership traits needed in times of constant change:(30:48) – Investing in yourself in a world of distraction and overwhelm(34:29) – Defining success at different stages of life(39:12) – Role of HR teams in times of change and tech transformation(41:37) – Building Digital literacy: Importance of upskilling and change management(48:36) – Leading businesses in Asia: cultural nuance and regional insight(50:44) – Gen Z: career advice to his children and early professionals(59:42) – Kintsugi - Japanese story of resilienceKEEP IN TOUCH:👤 With Sital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sitalruparelia/🌐 Talent x Tech LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/talent-x-tech/🌐 Learn more at www.talentxtech.com📸 Instagram - @talentxtech
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Episode #1 – Future-Proofing Careers in the AI Era with Annella Heytens (Microsoft)
Worried about how AI will impact jobs, careers, or leadership?Then this episode is a must-listen.I’m Sital Ruparelia, your host. With 25+ years in leadership, recruitment and talent management — including a decade at Microsoft leading Executive Talent Acquisition across Asia — I now speak weekly with business leaders, HR heads, and subject matter experts at the intersection of talent, tech, and transformation.In this first episode of Talent X Tech, I sit down with Annella Heytens — a global HR leader with experience at Microsoft, AWS, and Coca-Cola — to talk about career growth in an AI-enabled world.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why career paths will be non-linear in the AI age.What skills matter most as the world of work evolves.Why learning agility is your future-ready superpower.How to take ownership of your growth (and help others do the same).What it means to disrupt yourself before the world does.Career advice for early professionals — and their parents.Be sure to subscribe, follow, and share.0:00 Highlights reel of the interview0:45 Introduction1:41 Favorite Asian food2:24 Annella’s big career leap that shaped her style and mindset10:33 Lessons from taking career risks12:26 AI’s impact on jobs14:48 AI: Types of new jobs/skills15:57 Continual learning of technology skills20:08 Human-centric skills needed in the New World of Work22:32 Career management in the AI-enabled workplace26:58 Self-driven careers & risk-taking28:20 Leadership & succession in a tech-enabled workplace32:33 How HR policies need to evolve for the New World of Work35:50 How companies should reward for innovation and risk-taking39:39 Asia: How to lead and manage talent in Asia41:26 Career advice for graduates today44:26 Advice for parents46:12 Advice Annella would give to her younger self🔔 Subscribe for more discussions on the talent, tech and transformation.KEEP IN TOUCH:🌍 My website - www.TalentXTech.com📸 Instagram - @talentxtech LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/talent-x-tech/
Talent X Tech is a podcast about the future of work — with conversations at the intersection of tech, talent, and transformation.
Hosted by Sital Ruparelia, each episode explores how emerging technologies like AI, automation, quantum, and new media are reshaping leadership, careers, and the way we work.
Season 1 features guests from Microsoft, Google, HSBC, Workday, Sompo, and more across Asia Pacific.
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