In Episode 7 of Circle, hosts Gayatri Rangachari Shah and Jaya Mehrotra are joined by

dynamic business icons Shalini Sekhri and Vivek Gambhir. Together, they unpack

career pivots, moments of bold decision-making, and the true power of owning your

path, highlighting how personal agency empowers leaders to shape their own

futures.

Through heartfelt stories and hard‐won lessons, they discuss all about the tough

turns, unexpected opportunities, and the mindset shifts that redefine careers. Each

anecdote is packed with insight, sparking new ways to think about growth, ambition,

and purpose in today’s fast‐changing world.

If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or anyone in transition, this episode is a must watch

for you!

00:00 – Start

1:51 – Introduction

2:54 – Things They Did in Their First Jobs That Feel Irrelevant Now

7:14 – What Does Agency Mean to Them?

11:14 – How to Exercise Agency When You’re New

14:53 – How Has Agency Helped You

17:28 – Have You Exercised Agency to Your Benefit?

18:39 – How ‘Agency’ Applies to All Facets of Our Lives

19:29 – Collaborative Agency: Who Gets It Right?

20:17 – Important Tips for Organizations to Exercise Agency

21:29 – Amazon’s Two-Door Policy

22:11 – Exercising Agency in a Multi-Gen Family Business

24:24 – Personal and Career Pivots

31:08 – Hiring Decisions: What They Value in Talent

36:57 – Gender Bias in Hiring

41:53 – AI, Automation & the Future of Jobs

44:51 – Staying Relevant in a Fast-Changing World

46: 20 – Getting Unstuck Mid-Career

50:32 – Balancing STEM Subjects & Soft Skills

53:52 – Recruiting Process in India

55:07 – One Trait That Makes Founders Effective

HMU: Looks Salon

Location: Honeycomb Studio