In this episode of 101 Talks, I sit down with Jenn Lederer, a communication strategist, award-winning comedian, and someone who lives right at the intersection of humor, leadership, and clarity.

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever thought:

“I said it clearly… so why didn’t it land?”
“How do I sound confident without sounding robotic?”
“Can AI help me communicate better without killing my voice?”

Jenn works with leaders, founders, and high-performing teams across industries,
and what stood out to me is this:
👉 She doesn’t help people talk more. She helps them be heard.

We talk about why smart leaders struggle with communication, why storytelling beats slides every single time, and how AI should support leadership, not replace the human behind it.

If you’re a student, early-career professional, manager, or founder, this episode will seriously change how you think about communication.

If this conversation made you rethink how you communicate- or how you’re using AI—share it with someone who’s building, leading, or finding their voice.

This is 101 Talks with Sachin Menon.
See you in the next episode. 🎙️✨

Embracing Emotional Intelligence - a short clip

Can AI be trusted with our most sensitive financial data?

Most of us use AI by typing a prompt into ChatGPT and hoping for the best. But when you’re a wealth manager or a global bank, "hoping for the best" isn't an option. You can't just upload confidential client data into a public model, and you definitely can’t afford an AI "hallucination" when millions are on the line.

In this episode, I sit down with Suvrat Bansal, the founder and CEO of Clarista. Suvrat shares his journey from the databases of Citigroup to becoming the Chief Data Officer at UBS, and eventually launching a startup that is fundamentally changing how enterprises interact with their data.

We dive into the "Netflix moment" that sparked the idea for Clarista, why Suvrat decided to throw away nine months of work to get the technology right, and his "zero data footprint" philosophy that allows AI to talk to data without ever copying it.

Timestamp:
01:16 — Welcome & introducing Suvrat Bansal
02:07 – Suvrat’s journey: From Citigroup databases to Wall Street leadership.
04:10 – The leap from Chief Data Officer at UBS to Founder.
08:05 – Why ChatGPT doesn't work for Finance (and what Clarista does differently).
11:10 – Data Sovereignty: The importance of "going to the data" instead of copying it.
14:32 – Why a startup should pursue patents early on.
16:40 – The hardest moment: Throwing away nine months of investment to build it right.
19:45 – Advice for aspiring founders: Don't wait for the "right moment.

🔗 Referenced in this episode

Columbia Business School — Where Suvrat pursued his MBA → business.columbia.edu

🤝 Connect with Suvrat Bansal

🌐 Clarista: clarista.ai
💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/suvrat-bansal-b45651


🎙 Connect with Sachin & 101 Talks

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zLUooX...
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
💼 LinkedIn – Sachin Menon: https://linkedin.com/in/sachin-menon-techsigma-technology
🌐 Website: https://www.techsigmaglobal.com

If this made you think differently, share it with a leader who needs to hear it. 🙏

🎙 About 101 Talks
Hosted by Sachin Menon, 101 Talks brings together thinkers, builders & leaders shaping the future. We don't chase trends. We chase clarity. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation that matters.

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