Shows
In Focus by The HinduIn Focus-Parley | Is the 10-minute delivery model necessary?On December 31, more than a lakh gig and platform workers held a strike. In a memorandum to Union Labour Mansukh Mandaviya, their unions demanded that the that the 10 to 20-minute service delivery system should be immediately withdrawn to prioritise worker safety.
The Union government sees the four Labour Codes, which was implemented recently, as an answer to the problems of gig workers, especially for bringing them into the ambit of social security. The strike also threw light on the need to create more job opportunities in sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture.
Is the 10-minute delivery model n...
2026-01-0835 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent Ep.23 - The GCC Stories of Ad Agencies - Kuch Khaas Hai!You sure would be able to sync up if we say BIG4 Consulting and GCCs. But... how about we say BIG6 in the context of GCCs? Would you be able to make the connection? Catchup this episode to know what the big names of the Ad media world are doing in India and how many more can India host.
2025-11-1607 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.36 - Retain or Let Go?Having a retention conversation after someone resigns... is it a waste of time? What's the enterprise philosophy of retention, if there's one. The best opportunity for a Supervisor is to do the right things for their people when they are working with them, not after they resign.
2025-11-0904 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent Ep.22 - Who is hiring: GCCs or IT Services?The last 5 years since the pandemic has seen multiple cycles of spikes and troughs in hiring in the Indian IT Sector. The recent trends have however been in favour of GCCs, as being more consistent in hiring compared to IT Services cohort. Do the higher net additions that GCCs cohort have done point at a larger & long-term trend? What do the numbers say?
2025-11-0207 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.35 - What's a 'generous' severance package?Large enterprises announcing layoffs often add-in severance packages to soften the situation at both sides of the table. This episode discusses if there's a severance package that's generous enough to reduce the sting of the sense of rejection that layoff comes with.
2025-10-2704 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent Ep.21 - What GCCs want... 4SP?What are the latent parameters that greenfield GCCs would look at while exploring a location for their setup? Xpheno's 4SP framework can come handy to understand the ask and feasibility of carrying out the hiring plan of Greenfields.
2025-09-2807 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.34 - Which affiliation motivates you?What motivates you the most at work? Is it Money? Affiliation? Achievement or Power? If it's Affiliation and Connection... what are you more connected to...? The Enterprise or Brand? Your Manager? Your team or peer group? Or your role?
2025-09-1406 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent Ep.20 - Tech Talent Aspiration Pyramid: Frictions @ GCCHow does the Tech Talent Aspiration Pyramid cause and drive friction at GCCs? What are the frictions in play within the tech cohorts and their spillovers into the GCC talent dynamics?
2025-09-0808 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent Ep.19 - Talent Acquisition @ GCC: The World of TAThe power of GCC lies in their Talent and this Talent is powered by the Talent Acquisition specialists. Is there an ideal tenure for TA professionals at GCCs, especially Greenfield GCCs?
2025-08-2408 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.33 - Freedom at WorkWhat's your definition of Freedom at the workplace? Choice of work time, space, location, colleagues, bosses, tasks... and beyond.
2025-08-1804 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.18 - GCC Leadership Hiring: What the Numbers Say?A reflection on the leadership hiring among the GCCs in India. Comparing 2 sub-cohorts of enterprises within the GCCs cohort to assess how the hiring trends vary between them.
2025-08-1007 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.32 - Company Dinners - How 'free' are they?Are company dinners with bosses and colleagues the time to connect with them or enjoy the meal? Are there official DOs and DONTs for informal lunch or dinner meetings with super bosses and colleagues? Should HRs also set out guidelines for the same?
2025-07-2707 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.17 - Bengaluru GCCs: What drives Positive Talent Balance?Bengaluru remains the GCCs capital of India... and that's not without reason. From talent to infra to weather to brands... what drives the Talent Positive state of Bengaluru's GCC ecosystem? Kamal dives into these factors and more on this episode of GCC Talent Podcast.
2025-07-2106 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.31 - Nothing is ConfidentialIf you know your colleague's salary and use it, is it a breach of confidentiality terms signed with your employer? What do you do if you get to know your colleague's salary or increment percentage or bonus amount? How can we get caught up with others' pay information?
2025-06-2307 min
BusinessLine PodcastsA long innings with a company: The pros and consIn this episode of BL’s people@work, Kamal Karanth, Co-founder, Xpheno, sits down with seasoned senior leader Chetan Garga for a candid conversation on the dynamics of leadership tenures. Drawing parallels between the corporate world and cricket, the duo explores what leaders truly gain from long stints, whether patience pays off in the C-suite journey, and if loyalty still holds value in today’s fast-moving workplaces. From missteps in hiring "rolling stones" to the rising trend of short-tenured site heads in India’s Inc landscape, listen in to know more.
2025-06-0817 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.16 - Greenfields GCCs & Women Site HeadsOnly 9% of the 140 Greenfield GCCs setup in the last 30 month hired a Woman leader for their Site Head position? This episode digs deeper into the Gender Diversity challenge in GCC leadership and the transformation that seems to take longer than expected. What are the issues and drivers behind the diversity challenge that persists?
2025-06-0408 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.15 - GREENFIELD GCCs: The Site HeadsIs it the budget? Time to join? Or greenfield experience... or familiarity with the person that decides your new site head in an unknown country for a GCC? In this episode Kamal Karanth shares his insights from our study of 145 Greenfield GCCs that came to India in the last 30 months.
2025-04-2708 min
BusinessLine PodcastsDisruptive Leadership: When new broom sweeps in!In this episode of the People@Work podcast, hosted by Kamal Karanth, co-founder of specialist staffing firm Xpheno, we explore the dynamics of leadership and what happens when leadership changes occur. Kamal is joined by Prasanth Nair, Chief Human Resources Officer of Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals, to discuss the challenges new leaders face when stepping into established organisations. There's a tendency among some leaders to implement sweeping changes, which can destroy existing teams and disrupt the organisation. Prasanth shares valuable insights on how leaders can navigate periods of disruption and change while preserving the organisation’s core strengths. They ex...
2025-04-1319 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.30 - Hiring delays: Who is to blame?A top reason for candidates dropping out of a recruitment funnel is the time taken for the hiring process. Is it the system or the process of meeting multiple candidates or unusually high number of rounds or something? Irrespective of the technicalities, isnt it the Hiring Manager who is to be blamed for inordinate delays causing candidates to dropout? Can Hiring Managers step forward and own up the control they have in the velocity of a hiring process?
2025-04-0608 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.14 - BIG 4 & GCCs: Takes 2 to tango?If a GCC's talent strategy goes wrong, who do they turn to? Would it be IT services companies, BIG4 consulting or the Recruitment Agencies? Don't miss the correlation between the headcount growth of GCCs and IT headcount growht of BIG4. The year-on-year growth of the TA teams of the BIG4 is also notable in this context. It definitely take 2 to tango!
2025-03-2309 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.29 - Knock! Knock! Are you there?If you send an acknowledgment note to an interviewer, after your interaction... would that look like desperation or seen as someone who takes the initiative or being participative? Has the lack of participation in enterprise initiatives become a common occurence? If yes, why so? Why dont we participate in events, ritual and processes of the enterprise? Why and when do we give things a cold shoulder in the work context? Is there a hack for genuine participation versus the tick-in-the-box participation?
2025-03-1008 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.13 - Greenfield GCCs: Talent Diversity & Hiring for Culture?What influences the Culture you build in a Greenfield GCC? The people you hire or what you do with them after you hire? The oft asked questions from Greenfield GCCs is primarily around our 4SP framework. Do Greenfields just emulate the template from the Global HQ or do they create one of their own? Where people are hired from plays a part in culture setting? What happens if leaders are mandated to avoid hiring their past colleagues from their previous company? Does the ask on these fronts make hiring complicated?
2025-03-0308 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.28 - Would you... mind your own business?What do you do if your peer or counterpart is out of line? Do you let it pass or confront them? What's the forum of expressions of our views or opinions against our peers? Take it up with the boss or share with peers or in a public forum or a one-to-one setup? Is one-to-one the most potent or challenging setting? With no authority over peers does this become complicated?
2025-02-2308 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.12 - Leadership Hiring: Bear or Bull Market?1300 leaders hired by the Top 125 GCCs in India. Is the dropoff rates in leadership hiring in GCCs on the rise? How many of the leadership movements triggered due to the entry of new GCCs every year? The scale and action in the Leadership Hiring in Indian GCCs is too big to ignore and makes one wonder if we are witnessing a Bull market in leadership hiring space in India.
2025-02-0908 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.27 - Taking on the Boss? Think twice!Have you complained to your super bosses, about your immediate boss? What are the consequences of taking on the bosses? Did you have the resilience to handle the consequences of taking on your boss head-on?
Can performance be the shield... always? Without performance can one get away with just logical arguments? How can one balance standing up for oneself versus switching jobs eternally?
2025-02-0308 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.11 - Rebadging @ GCCs: The Pros and ConsIn the Build-Buy-Borrow model of talent consumption, are GCCs at a disadvantage when they start borrowing talent at the greenfield stage? This episode explores the Pros and Cons of rebadging talent at GCCs.
2025-01-2808 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.26 - Attrition? Not my fault!Have you heard of leaders being let go because they had high attrition in their team? What matters... is it WHO left or HOW MANY left? If performing leaders have high attrition, would you punish them? Is there a balance between high performance and talent retention? Is it prudent to look away, if high attrition teams are also the best performing ones?
2025-01-2007 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.25 - Walls have ears... and eyes too?How safe should one feel at workplaces, especially when it comes to being candid with your colleagues? Is hyper-caution increasingly needed in a highly digitally intruded space? Is it a thin line between the within and without of the organization? How safe is your internal townhall video from being posted on a public social media platform? Are we heading towards paranoid organizations asking employees to leave phones outside the meeting room? Don't be surprised... as walls dont just have ears, but also eyes now.
2025-01-1207 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.24 - Fighting IrrelevanceIf you are not the top performer this year, what would you do? Play victim, quit or fight back? Have you experienced lean patches of performance and the connected feeling of irrelevance at work? What did the organization do to make you or your team feel irrelevant? How did you or would you fight the situation?
2024-12-1608 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.10 - GCCs in Tier-2 Cities: A bridge too far?Didn’t all 1700+ GCCs which came to India so far, came in for talent diversity, scale and cost arbitrage? Yes they did, and they went to the 6 big cities where physical and social infrastructure is almost a given. So... do our tier-2 cities have a chance to become and be the next hotspots for GCCs...? Would narrative around mounting costs and crumbling infrastructure of tier-1 locations be enough? Is there more to make a compelling pitch to get GCCs to expand or set foot into Tier-2 locations?
2024-12-0911 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.23 - Classy .vs. Scrappy PromotersDo you want to work with larger than life promoters, but dont want the downside of working with the eccentric or scrappy side of them? Have you worked with founders or leaders with the unique balance of being classy when they have to be and agile enough to switch to be scrappy without feeling uncomfortable about it? I've seen this unique trait mostly among promoters... do you think otherwise? If you answered yes to any of the questions, this episode is for you!
2024-12-0108 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.22 - Change .vs. StabilityYou love your boss and maybe the organisation and the role is boring... yet you don't want to look for another job? What are the typical dilemmas around our work... do we want more excitement in a role or stability in the job? Are you one who has long tenures or do you switch job frequently? What does the choice tell about us? What do you vote for... change and excitement or stability and predictability?
2024-11-2507 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.9 - Greenfield Scaleup: A Reality CheckClose to 100 Global MNCs came to India over the last two years to set up their greenfield GCCs in India. Any idea how they are faring on scaling up their talent ?
In this episode of Xpheno’s GCC Talent Podcast, Kamal Karanth co-founder of Xpheno, deciphers the talent scale scorecard on the Greenfield GCCs that have been set up in India over the previous 24 months. And what are the frictions and challenges in play that impact the volume and velocity of a greenfield's scale up?
2024-11-1809 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.21 - The Unsaid @ WorkHow many things have you learnt at work by getting a rap on the knuckle? Were you reprimanded at work for some instinctive behaviour of yours?
Have you tried texting your boss at 11a.m saying you took an unplanned leave? If yes... how was your boss' response the next time you wanted a leave?
Workplaces have many unsaid things that college didnt teach us. What are these various unsaid nuances of organisations or industry or roles that you need to work with?
Can every single nuance be put on a policy? On...
2024-11-0307 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.20 - Losing TouchHave you ever told anyone they weren't as good as they used to be? ...Or... if you are unable to do certain things you seamlessly did in the past, what does it tell about you?
When do you know you've lost touch? Or your reportee or boss has lost that skill or touch? Is it performance, feedback from colleagues or showing up with zeal & energy?
When was the last time you genuinely felt you've lost touch? And if you did... check out this episode on the context of feeling irrelevant.
2024-10-2707 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.19 - Intent vs CapabilityDo you struggle with some of your team members who don't scale up? Do you constantly wonder if they fit in? Can you spot your reportees who have great intent? Join in as we look at some of our reportees who are capable but dont intent, and vice versa.
2024-10-2008 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.18 - New Boss? Not Again!Is your organization asking you to report to a new boss every year? Is it because they like to change or because the bosses don't stay? If your answer is YES... this episode is for you.
2024-10-1307 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.17 - Toxic @work. Part 3 - The CompanyDo you work hard without feeling tired or checking your watch, does it mean you are enjoying work? What kind of policies, practices or functions create stressful workplaces? Or is it on the leaders and context of the organization that make its working toxic and stress inducing?
Catch up... the closing part of the trilogy on toxic workplaces.
2024-10-0609 min
One Thing Today in TechWhat’s driving the modest IT hiring pickup? Hint: not the IT companiesIn this episode, Kamal Karanth, co-founder and CEO of Xpheno, a staffing firm in Bengaluru, explains the modest increase in open IT positions in recent times. Consider that in FY22, the IT sector alone hired some 2,30,000 people, net, according to the industry lobby Nasscom. That fell to 60,000 in FY23 and FY24 was about the same. Not much has changed yet for the IT giants, but non-tech companies rooted in India’s economy, as well as a new wave of global capability centres are hiring, Karanth says.
2024-10-0115 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.16 - Toxic @work. Part 2 - TeamsIs it easy to determine if you are surrounded by a toxic team? How do toxic teams look like? Is there a team that you dreaded working with in the past? This episode is not to bring back memories of some not so good past... but to share my experiences with team level toxicities and discuss if there are signs to spot a toxic team?
2024-09-2909 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.15 - Toxic @work. Part 1 - The Bosses!If you've been blessed to work at great companies with inspirational bosses and teams with great vibes... this episode is not for you! In this 3 part series, this one is about Bosses... yes the ones that stress us out with their toxic ways!
2024-09-2206 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.14 - Hikes... to be or not to be!Is your current salary directly propotional to the number of job changes you've had? How many times have you quit as the new employer accelerated your CTC by a few years? Have you been a rolling stone to reach your current compensation? Are you at below market level salary because you stayed too long on a job?
Listen on...
2024-09-0808 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.13 - Trash Talking CompetitionIs it double standards when we go out to hire talent from competition, but belittle the same competition when a colleague joins them? Is there a classier way to raise our brand without putting down a competitor? When competition hires talent from our teams, can we consider it a compliment rather than feeling betrayed?
2024-09-0107 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.8 - GCC Leaders: Hyderabad Calling!In this episode of GCC Talent, Co-founder, Kamal Karanth, and Head of Xpheno Executive Search, Siddharth Verma, sit down to discuss all things Hyderabad.What is motivating senior talent to migrate to the city? What are the deciding factors in favour of Hyderabad when attracting talent?All this, and more on the City of Pearls in the episode.Tune in to find out more.
2024-08-3021 min
Top of the MorningWill you get more time to buy an imported laptop?Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Tuesday, 27 August 2024. My name is Nelson John. Let's get started. The Indian stock market saw solid gains on Monday, with the Nifty and the Sensex climbing nearly 1 per cent each. India is setting the stage to enhance its local manufacturing with a new initiative called 'Rapid', which stands for Research, Analysis, Programme Implementation and Data Intelligence. Mint’s Shouvik Das and Mihir Mishra write that the mission aims to boos...
2024-08-2706 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.12 - The Fault in our SuccessionThis sequel to Episode 11 is all about things we get wrong in carrying out successions. The fault-lines, heartburns and conflicts behind how we end up choosing successors. Failed succession plans are not a rarity, and its these failures that have driven the whole Executive Search industry.
2024-08-2506 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.11 - Succession - The credit goes to...If your successor does better than you, would you claim the credit and give the successor the credit? Who would you credit or blame for a succession gone bad? The management, or the outgoing leader or the new incumbent?
2024-08-1807 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.10 - Guts & GloryAre there roles you would like to just for the thrills of it? Or because you want to be a Hero? Have you felt used for stretch roles at work? Have you been lucky to bask in the glory of a role because someone else laid the foundation? If you answered Yes to one or more of the questions... then this episode is just for you!
2024-08-0407 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.9 - SeeSaws @ C-Suite InterviewsNo two C-Suite interviews are the same... even if it's the same candidate and at times even if it's the same interviewer! There are no playbooks for these high-stake exchanges where the company and the candidate are courting each other. Should one be aggressive or cautious about promises to deliver? If things do not work out, should the engagement always end bitter or sour? Is there a way to be prepared for the seesaws that C-Suite interviews are?
2024-07-2808 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.8 - Getting FiredGetting fired from work is unfortunate irrespective of how and when it happens? No one has immunity against it, when the need and conditions for it arise in an enterprise. Is there a way to spot the signs of a firing or layoff coming up? Warning signals that one can pick up? In today's uncertain economic conditions, to have a playbook for responding to a layoff?
2024-07-2107 min
The First Two YearsThinking about an MBA? Here's how to hide your plans from your current employerThe first two years are the foundation of one's career. But for many, it is just a stepping stone to an MBA. Our listener this week, Priyanksha, knew she didn’t like her first job within three months of joining the company. An MBA was her escape route. She stayed at the company for two reasons a) to gain work experience which is a pre-requisite for an MBA b) to support herself financially during her MBA preparation. Right from the beginning, she knew the company would not support her future plans. So, she kept it a secret till she cr...
2024-07-1625 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.7 - Achilles' HeelHow do our skills and persona make a deadly combination? We all have that one Achilles' Heel that acts up at the wrong moment and creates unexpected tripping moments and undesirable outcome. All that skill and experience built over a career-span comes down to that point where our persona takes over. Which is your most irritating trait of yours that trips your colleagues, bosses and peers? Can it be fixed?
2024-07-0708 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.6 - Why Celebrate?Do we go all out to Celebrate at work? Or do we underplay and always keep it a shade lower than personal celebrations? Does celebrating at work create a bond or set wrong precedence? Why should we celebrate and what's the sustainable guilt-free way to Celebrate at Work?
2024-07-0207 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.5 - Do you respond?When do you feel the most frustrated with your boss, colleagues or team at work? Would it make a difference if all of us were more responsive and no one had to ever follow-up with anyone for anything? Imagine if responses to emails, messages and calls were immediate across the organization... would your workplace be different? If not anything else, all that time that we collectively spend on follow-ups can be put to better use.
2024-06-2308 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.7 - Build, Buy or Borrow TalentWhat are the build-buy-borrow models of talent consumption that enterprises use? Do GCCs tend to borrow talent more than either building or buying talent? Is there a clear advantage that one of the models has over the others in case of GCCs?
Co-founder, Kamal Karanth, delves into these and other questions along with Xpheno’s Business Head of IT Staffing, Sundar Eshwar.
2024-06-2015 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.4 - I'm Tenured. I'm Special!Do we like to glorify the stretches we had in our past lives and previous jobs? And do it to an extent that it loses relevance? With long tenure in a company does entitlement also come along and do we expect to be treated Special? Does tenure along become a qualifier to deserve special treatment?
2024-06-1810 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.6 - Diversity at the TopIn today’s episode, co-founder Kamal Karanth unpacks the lay of the land when it comes to Diversity in GCC Leadership with Siddharth Verma, Head of Xpheno Executive Search.Does India’s leadership talent pool complement the diversity aspirations that global brands bring here? Is there a play book that GCCs can use to boost gender diversity in leadership?
2024-06-1318 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.3 - Meltdown MomentsHave you been in the middle of Meltdown Moments at work? You would agree that they are not entirely avoidable... but are they signs or signals to spot one coming? Warning signs of a meltdown approaching you or a colleague or boss or peer? Catchup this episode as I explore this topic.
2024-06-0909 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.2 - Career FavoursHave you been in situations where you recommended someone for a job and felt the person should be indebted to you for life? Do these patronising beliefs fade or increase with age and experience? Why do we build this strange sense of entitlement? Listen in and lets discuss.
2024-06-0307 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.5 - Banking GCCs: From Scale to Niche?In this episode, we explore the talent dynamics of Banking GCCs and their journey from Scale to Niche.Co-founder, Kamal Karanth, explores the unique talent demands of banking GCCs with our GCC Specialist, Kedar Pathak.They discuss the growing focus on tech-savvy talent, the evolving role of automation, and the impact of regulations on workforce structures.
2024-05-3017 min
Workplace Dynamics with Kamal KaranthWorkplace Dynamics Ep.1 - Rebel StarsAre you the one to ask the uncomfortable but pertinent question in meetings? If you are that Rebel, what drives you to be one? And are you just a Rebel or a Rebel Star?
2024-05-2609 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.4 - GCC Head: Who & WhyIn today's episode, we dive deep into the ever-evolving definition of the GCC Head in India. Co-founder Kamal Karanth sits down with Siddharth Verma, Head of Xpheno Executive Search. Together, they dissect the latest trends when it comes to hiring the GCC Head. From the influx of expat leaders to the rise of Gen Z talent, this episode explores the who, what, why, and how much behind recruiting the perfect GCC Head.
2024-05-2316 min
BusinessLine PodcastsPeople @ Work podcast: The job search playbook for a CXO roleThis episode of our monthly podcast People@Work hosted by Kamal Karanth, co-founder of specialist staffing firm Xpheno, looks at the dynamics involved in leadership hiring. There has been a lot of movement in CXO roles over the past 12 months. For a senior executive looking for a change, are there any hacks to follow when searching for a leadership role? Monica Jasuja, Chief Growth Product Officer of Twid and a LinkedIn Top Voice feels projecting your authentic persona on social media platforms and building meaningful professional relationships help.(Host: Kamal Karanth, Producer: Anjana PV)
2024-05-1920 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.3 - Why GCCs?In this episode, we explore a topic that's been generating a lot of buzz: the evolving relationship between GCCs and IT service providers.Co-founder Kamal Karanth sits down with Xpheno’s in-house GCC Specialist, Kedar Pathak. They unpack the recent surge in GCC growth, the changing talent landscape, and whether GCCs are poised to become a true competitor to the established IT service provider model.
2024-05-1713 min
GCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.2 - Hiring GCC LeadershipThe GCCs boom in India opened a whole new cohort of opportunities in close proximity to global marquee brands and bellwethers. GCCs have a high appetite for Senior and Leadership talent and they go out to pick Top Talent. In return Top Talent is also seen aspiring for GCC roles. Its a great cusp to be at.
In this episode of GCC Talent, Siddharth Verma, Head of Xpheno Executive Search joins Co-founder Kamal Karanth to talk about leadership hiring in GCCs.
2024-05-0914 minGCC Talent - An Xpheno PodcastGCC Talent - Ep.1 - Pune Talent for GCCs
In this inaugural episode, our co-founder Kamal Karanth sits down with our in-house GCC Specialist, Kedar Pathak. We have set our sights on Pune – a city brimming with talent. We'll analyse its strengths, competitiveness, and how emerging technologies are transforming its workforce.
2024-05-0212 min
The First Two YearsHow to make your manager look forward to 1:1 meetings with youNvidia CEO Jensen Huang wants to completely do away with 1:1 meetings. “They (1:1s) are really not necessary. If there is a strategic direction, why do you tell one person? You tell everybody,” he said. Most 1:1s meetings are ineffective, inconsistent, and often futile. In companies that mandate it, it is simply a check in the box. Employees use it to lobby for promotion, crib about annoying co-workers, or overshare personal details. So, managers hijack these meetings and turn them into monologues. But 1:1 can be a gamechanger, if used well. It makes the workplace more democratic, especi...
2024-04-3023 min
BusinessLine PodcastsSummer of AppraisalsElections and cricket matches dominate the public discourse these days, while within companies, a different kind of evaluation is underway. It's the season of appraisals, where both employers and employees scrutinise each other's "say-do" ratios – the balance between promises made and promises kept.Join Kamal Karanth, Co-Founder, Xpheno in a candid conversation with Krish Shankar, former group head of HR at Infosys and the insightful author of "Catalyze: A Playbook to Unlock People." on Appraisal season and more.Is there a common thread of discontent running through them all? And most importantly, do we...
2024-04-2121 min
BusinessLine PodcastsWhy Gen - Z prefers learning and growth opportunities over salary packagesIn this podcast, businessline’s Anjana PV and Kamal Karanth, Co-founder of Xpheno, a specialist staffing company, discuss the priorities of Gen-Z while applying for jobs. The discussion is based on a report by Internshala Jobs, titled, "Navigating GenZ Workplace Expectations in 2024: Insights for HR Professionals.” One striking finding is that 67 per cent of Gen Z job seekers prioritise learning and growth opportunities over hefty salary packages. Karanth attributes this shift to the saturated job market that Gen Z individuals have entered, emphasising the need for regular upskilling to remain relevant in their roles. He notes that despi...
2024-04-0523 min
The First Two YearsHow to quit consciouslyMost fresh graduates quit their first job within the next six to twelve months of joining, according to a survey by The Ken. The top three reasons were toxic managers, disagreements with the workplace culture, and most interestingly, a want for more challenging work. More and more young, ambitious, and curious professionals prefer shorter stints not because they are unhappy, but because they realised they could be happier.And it may not be such a bad thing. But only if it is done so....consciously.Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks with Prasadh MS, head of workforce...
2024-03-2616 min
BusinessLine PodcastsWorkplace ToxicityMost of us at sometime or the other would have either faced or been spectators to harassment and abuse at the workplace. Being shouted at, being sidelined or ignored at meetings, called casteist names and so on. In this episode of People@Work host Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno chats with leadership Coach Aparna Jain, author of Own It, to explore how organisations can check such behaviour .
2024-03-2422 min
BusinessLine PodcastsA new friction in the job market as companies scale down fresher hiringWith many of the IT services firms scaling down on recruitment, there's understandably a lot of concern in engineering and be school campuses. So what should they do? As for organisations, what has changed?Kamal Karanth, head of staffing firm Xpheno, speaks with Rajkamal Vempati, President & Head- Human Resources, Axis Bank, to know more about the hiring market and the challenges that lie ahead for freshers.Listen in!
2024-02-2619 min
BusinessLine PodcastsPeople@Work: What drives employers to rehire top talent?The return of Hardik Pandya to Mumbai Indians and Sam Altman to Open AI has put the spotlight on returning leaders. Was it an error of judgement to let them go in the first place? Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, a specialist staffing firm discusses this with Raghavendra Vaidya, MD &CEO of Daimler Truck Innovation Centre India.
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2023-12-0220 min
BusinessLine PodcastsUnderstanding the generational shift: Efforts vs. outcomes in the modern workplaceThe most debated topic this fortnight has been a 70-hour work week triggered by Infosys co-founder NR Narayan Murthy's remark, should we measure work in hours or productivity? Is the outrage a justified response of employees?
Kamal Karanth, founder of staffing firm Xpheno, chats with Shyamala Deshpande, Chief Human Resources Officer at Wildcraft, to find out what the enterprise view of this is, especially given the huge pushback from employees.
Read the full story here
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2023-11-0616 min
Forbes India - Tech ConversationsKamal Karanth at Xpheno on IT services hiring, the rise of GCCs and other notes on staffingIn this episode, Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, a staffing specialist in Bengaluru, talks about the current state of recruitment in the IT services industry in India. Kamal talks about the next wave of global capability centres rising in India and why software job seekers should consider these opportunities. He also talks about some 14,000 vacancies in the Indian startup ecosystem that still need to be filled while a funding winter is on, and finally, on whether generative AI is a meaningful opportunity from a staffing company’s perspective.
2023-07-2049 min
BusinessLine PodcastsFair or Foul: Winning at all costsIn this episode of People at Work, our monthly podcast on workplace dynamics, host Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno looks at the phenomenon of competitiveness at work.
Is it leading to inequity? Joining him is serial entrepreneur Hitesh Dhingra, founder of the successful The Man Company who takes these questions head on.
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2023-07-1521 min
BusinessLine PodcastsAcceptable Workplace ConversationsSmall talk at work could cost you friends, and sometimes even your job. Increasingly, a lot of conversations – around politics, religion, elections and even marriage – are becoming taboo topics at work as they are polarising and lead to acrimony. As for money, it can lead to misunderstandings between team members. So what are acceptable conversations?
This episode of People@Work , hosted by Kamal Karanth, co- founder of Xpheno, explores how we can negotiate small talk at work. Joining him is Divya Khanna, author of The Company We Keep : Insights into Indian Corporate Culture.
Read the full...
2023-05-2115 min
One Thing Today in TechEarly-stage startup funding shored up deal volume in India in 2022, but funding fell 33 pct – Bain-IVCA reportVenture capital funding for India’s startups fell from $38.5 billion in 2021 to $25.7 billion in 2022, according to the latest report on the sector by Bain and Company, a consultancy, and Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association. However, more early-stage deals were struck in 2022, helping the overall deal volume to be marginally higher, according to the report, released yesterday. Also in this brief, the Indian IT services sector has become a less significant recruiter, according to a staffing company.
Notes:
Venture capital funding for India’s startups and other ventures in the country fell from $38 billion in 2021 to $...
2023-03-1605 min
BusinessLine PodcastsTeam Dynamics on the Cricket field versus the Corporate workplaceHow often have we heard excuses of ill health or personal problems for a delayed report or mediocre work? But the corporate manager does not have the luxury of replacing the employee reporting in sick frequently – unlike cricket, where you have standbys, and where excuses for poor performance just don’t wash. Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from the Indian squad or David Warner missing out on the rest of the Australia-India series due to injury cannot be used by the respective teams to explain away any weakness in performance.
In this episode of our regular workplace series People...
2023-02-2521 min
BusinessLine PodcastsIT sector hiring: How is the sector likely to weather the next few quartersIT major Wipro offered fresh recruits a revised salary package of ₹3.5 lakh per annum (LPA) from its previous offer of ₹6.5 LPA. This comes as the company has delayed the onboarding of freshers amidst the macroeconomic headwinds being faced by the industry at large.
With Wipro slashing freshers' salary packages citing global recessionary crosswinds. Is the IT Industry preparing for the worst with a recession looming abroad and how does the sector look at present?
Kamal Karanth, co-founder at Xpheno, a specialist staffing company gives us insights into hiring patterns and the playbook that companies look to w...
2023-02-2311 min
BusinessLine PodcastsA closer look at layoffsWith layoffs and recession fears, one would imagine employees settling for less during salary negotiations. But that’s not the case. They are asking for more. As of January, the IT engineers were still expecting a 50 per cent hike for any job change. Moreover, less than 70 per cent of them accepted the offers they negotiated. Which means they declined offers because they expected more. Job insecurity is on the rise. Most of us know that 95 per cent of start-ups fail. Employees are trying to mitigate the risk associated with joining start-ups, especially at a time like this, by asking fo...
2023-01-3020 min
The Times Of India PodcastIT hiring outlook rosy but office makeovers on holdXpheno's co-founder Kamal Karanth explains why the big changes promised in work and workplaces never came and why the recession isn't a big worry for India's tech sector.
2023-01-0415 min
BusinessLine PodcastsA realistic way to look at layoffsMany marquee companies have announced a series of layoffs. Even as the labour market uncertainty sets up an atmosphere of gloom, now maybe a good time to destigmatise layoffs. Companies typically lay off people due to business restructuring reasons more than on the grounds of performance. Still, employees experience a certain degree of shame while being let go. Setting the right tone for layoffs can help people adopt a more optimistic attitude while looking for the next job without losing face.
In this episode, Kamal Karanth, host of the people@work series, discusses the cyclicity of hiring b...
2022-11-2116 min
The Times Of India PodcastHow companies should let people goAs Twitter muddles through layoffs and an employment winter looms, a person who was laid off and specialist staffing firm Xpheno's Kamal Karanth explain what companies should ideally do when letting people go
2022-11-0923 min
BusinessLine PodcastsDiwali gifts: A perk or priority?Now that many employees are remote or hybrid, sending home sweets and gifts is even more important. As the entire family judges you? The idea of gifts, goodies, and giveaways during the festive season always gets polarising reactions. While some argue that it boosts engagement and productivity at the workplace, others say it unwittingly ends up creating an entitlement mindset. In this episode, Kamal Karanth, host of the people@work podcast series, discusses both sides of the coin with Kartik Rao, Group Chief People Officer, Good Glamm group.
People@work is a special series from BusinessLine. Each...
2022-10-2315 min
BusinessLine PodcastsIs moonlighting ethical?Introducing a brand new podcast series People@Work. As the name suggests, it will look at trending human resource issues and is hosted by our regular columnist Kamal Karanth.
Kamal is a veteran talent specialist, and co-founder of Xpheno, a staffing solutions firm. In the first episode, we have as our guest leading management thinker Shiv Shivakumar, Group Executive President, Corporate Strategy at Aditya Birla Group.
In their conversation, the two touch upon the biggest workplace flashpoint in recent weeks – the issue of moonlighting. A related issue is the mismatch in how employees and employers pe...
2022-09-2614 min
My Worst Investment Ever PodcastKamal Karanth – Work on Improving Your RelationshipsBIO: Kamal Karanth is the co-founder of Xpheno, a specialist staffing company he has been building since 2017. He also co-founded the Indian Staffing Federation, a prominent voice for labor reforms in India.STORY: Kamal was thriving as a sales rep, but he wanted more, so he put himself up for promotion. He got promoted to area manager. All he did was work, but his performance didn’t match up. Eventually, everyone noticed, including Kamal’s boss. After a year and a half, he had to quit.LEARNING: Nurture your relationships. Always anticipate the risks of a ne...
2022-02-1422 min
The Morning BriefIT's Party TimeWhile most service sectors are struggling to recover from the pandemic, IT companies are expanding like never before. How is this pivotal sector seemingly thriving in an economy hit by Covid-19? Listen to anecdotes from IT professional Pallavi Thakur, while staffing firm Xpheno Founder Kamal Karanth and ET's Ayan Pramanik dive deeper into the jobs boom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2021-03-3021 min
DeTox with dToks | Rejuvenation Routinely - Mental HealthWriting Stories and Watching Movies | Kamal KaranthThe 55th episode of dToks features Kamal Karanth, Cofounder of Xpheno as he discusses how movies and writing help him stay at peace
2021-03-2421 min
The Chords of Life - Vineet TandonIn Conversation with Kamal Karanth: Co-Founder XphenoHumble beginnings and playing the right bets - is how I would describe the phenomenal journey of Kamal Karanth, Co-Founder, Xpheno (Extend Your Expression). A Post Graduate in Microbiology, Kamal started his career as a sales trainee in a pharmaceutical company and rose to phenomenal heights where he lead leadership positions for two of the largest staffing companies worldwide including MaFoi and Kelly Services.
Born and brought up in in a middle-class family in Karnataka, Kamal family followed cricket and movies very seriously. The challenges he faced in the early days of life armed him with right p...
2020-07-1921 min