In this deeply impactful conversation, Anu Arora is joined by Dr. Akhtar Badshah, global thought leader, author, and former senior Philanthropy executive, to explore what leadership looks like when it is grounded in purpose, service, and responsibility to community.
Together they examine leadership as a moral and human practice—one that centers dignity, shared responsibility, and measurable, long-term impact.
Dr. Badshah shares insights drawn from decades of work across Technology, philanthropy, and global development, emphasizing that meaningful leadership begins with Clarity of purpose and a commitment to serve beyond self-interest.
Together, Anu and Dr. Badshah reflect on:
Leadership as stewardship
The role of community in shaping sustainable impact
Why purpose must guide decision-making in times of uncertainty
The responsibility leaders hold to future generations
This episode is an invitation to rethink leadership as a shared responsibility to humanity.
🎧 Ideal for leaders, changemakers, social impact professionals, and anyone committed to values-driven leadership.
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Learn more about Dr. Akhtar Badshah:
A seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in international development managing a corporate philanthropic program and co-founding a global nonprofit for social enterprise. Badshah has also taught architecture and urban development at MIT and is a published author, and an acclaimed international speaker. His expertise is in the areas of corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, information technology for development (ICT4D), nonprofit development, and creating opportunities for youth.
Badshah has experience in creating a vision and then executing on it. He has built global programs with a diverse team, based on a conviction that programs need to be effectively global and appropriately local. Badshah has worked effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders from government, business, and nonprofit leaders, to academics, to ordinary citizens.
Badshah has authored Purpose Mindset: How Microsoft Inspires Employees and Alumni to Change the World, Our Urban Future: New Paradigms for Equity and Sustainability, co-authored Technology at the Margins – How IT Meets the Need of Emerging Markets and co-edited Connected for Development – Information Kiosks for Sustainability. He has also published numerous articles in international journals on CSR, ICT4D, megacities and sustainability, housing, and urban development. Dr. Badshah has also lectured at numerous universities around the world on issues of Technology and Development, Social Innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility. He also blogs on the Huffington Post.
Dr. Badshah has extensive experience in serving on numerous boards. He is currently the Chairman of the Board at Global Washington, and Vice Chair of the Broad, Microsoft Alumni Network. He has previously served on the boards of Council on Foundations, the Telecentre.org Foundation, United Way King County, Youth Empowerment and Sustainability, and has served on the Advisory Board of the US Chamber’s Corporate Citizenship Center, World Affairs Council, and Santa Clara University Center for Science and Technology.
_____________________ #PurposeDrivenLeadership #LeadershipPodcast #CommunityImpact #HumanCenteredLeadership #SocialImpact #GlobalLeadership #LeadershipResponsibility #PurposeAndService
