INDMoney Podcast
It was my pleasure to feature on the INDmoney podcast on my favourite topic – ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐, in discussion with Shobha Makkar.
This was shot in September 2025, so you can relate. Yes, first time this has been recorded at my residence.
Please note that I am not a financial advisor. I am just sharing my experience.
I have also included a few behind-the-scenes pics along with the crew..!!! Eager to hear your feedback.
The podcast link
BirenParekh InvestorTalk PersonalFinanceIndia WealthCreation FinancialFreedom AssetAllocation MoneyMindset PassiveIncome EarlyRetirement
TMM 2026 – Conquered
They say, โ๐น๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐kar.โ
At ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, that wasnโt just a phraseโit was the spirit.
In a city that never sleeps, ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Proud to complete my 7๏ธโฃth Full Marathon ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธwith:
๐น0 practice
๐น0 coaching
๐น0 supplements (protein, gels)
๐น100% pure vegetarian
๐น200% willpower
Crossing the finish line ๐ was a powerful reminder: ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐.
Seeing the last milestone en route – ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐จ – was one of the most delightful sights of the year for me..
Tata Mumbai Marathon is the largest marathon in Asia as well as the largest mass participation sporting event on the continent. It is the richest race in India with a prize pool of US$405,000 (or more)!!!
With record-breaking 68,000 runners this time, it is the biggest conclave of the fitness enthusiasts, runners, and dreamers in India!!!
This yearโs course was tougher with added elevation due to the Coastal Road inclusion, but also more scenic than ever.
A sunrise like that is a once-a-year privilege.
Grateful for kind weather (lower temperatures, reduced humidity, improved AQI) and for the incredible energy of the crowd, from 80+ year-old supporters to persons with disabilities cheering us on. The warmth and hospitality along the route were truly overwhelming.
The quirky placards along the way helped distract from the pain and brought much-needed smiles.
A special shoutout to the Greater Mumbai Police for their seamless coordination and unwavering support โ exemplary execution in a city that never slows down.
Completing a full marathon feels like an annual health check-up > no lab reports required.
And yes, timing was better than last year’s, although not my personal best, but that is what you get with no practice.!!!
More pics at https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7419223501078880256/
Tired, grateful, and already curiousโฆ
๐ค๐๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐??
HarDilMumbai TMM2026 MumbaiMarathon RunLikeMumbai MarathonFinisher EnduranceMindset MindOverMatter
PersonalExcellence LifelongLearning LeadershipThroughAction
Resilience GrowthMindset
๐๐๐๐ – ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ
Most brands think they have a technology problem.
The data suggests they actually have a clarity problem.
I recently read the 2026 State of Customer Experience Report (The Financial Brand) and one theme stood out sharply:
Customers are not disengaging because brands lack tools, they are disengaging because brands are overwhelming them.
The numbers are hard to ignore:
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70% have stopped caring because of excessive messaging
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59% have stopped buying because of over-communication
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34% have churned altogether
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65% fear missing critical information because they now ignore most brand messages

What surprised me most is the misplaced faith in AI as the solution.
Only 41% find chatbots more effective than humans.
56% are uncomfortable letting AI take actions on their behalf.
Trust still comes before automation.
The real drivers of loyalty are not futuristic:
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Helpful communication
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Appropriate frequency
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Transparent pricing
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Reliable service
This challenges a lot of current enterprise behavior.
More personalization is not the answer.
More automation is not the answer.
More messages are definitely not the answer.
Better judgment is.

The brands that will win in 2026 will not be the ones shouting louder.
They will be the ones that communicate less, but better.
Curious to hear from others working in CX, product, and digital strategy:
Are we designing experiences for customers, or for our dashboards?
CustomerExperience CX DigitalExperience UserExperience CustomerFirst AIinCX ResponsibleAI HumanCenteredAI Automation DigitalTransformation Leadership BusinessStrateg Growth ProductManagement Innovation FutureOfWork Trends2026 TechTrends CXTrends ThoughtLeadership
CEO Desirable Qualities
Many believe AI will take away jobs.
The more nuanced reality is that AI will not take away what makes leaders effective: their humanity.
In his book The CEO Mindset, Shiv Shivakumar interviewed 300 professionals across roles and organizations with a simple question:
โWhat are the top three qualities you look for in your CEO?โ
The findings are telling. A significant portion of what people value most in leaders comes from human capabilities:
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People skills: 25%
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Emotional intelligence: 10%
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Humility: 5%
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Transparency: 3%

Together, these soft skills account for 42% of the attributes respondents value most in a CEO, outweighing technical and functional expertise.
As AI continues to advance, the premium on human leadership will only increase.
For anyone aspiring to leadership roles, this is a timely reminder of where to invest their development.
Curious to hear your perspective:
What is the one quality you value most in your CEO?
HumanLeadership CEOPowerSkills SoftSkills LeadershipDevelopment EmotionalIntelligence TransformationalLeadership PeopleFirst ExecutiveCoaching WorkplaceCulture LeadershipExcellence #ShivShivaKumar
Indian Banking and Finance report 2025
Just went through the latest ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ (Indian Banking and Finance report 2025), and here are key points:
No doubt that – Indiaโs financial sector is evolving faster than ever – and the next decade will belong to those who can navigate disruption with resilience and imagination.
๐ India stays the worldโs ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ-๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ with GDP of 8.2 for Q3 2025 – with strong fundamentals and steady financial markets, despite global trade headwinds.
๐๏ธ Urban India needs ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ – municipal bonds are poised to become a game-changer for sustainable city infrastructure.
๐ฑ ๐๐๐ = ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ – banks with stronger disclosures & climate performance show stronger profitability. Climate finance is now a core strategy, not just CSR.
โ ๏ธ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฉ๐๐ซ – penalties hit market valuations, reinforcing that governance is a competitive advantage. RBI & SEBI on roll!!!
๐ฆ NBFCs face rising ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ & ๐ฅ๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐s – demanding stronger stress testing and ALM discipline.
๐ค AI is moving from โ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญโ to โ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฒโ – from customer engagement to HR, LLMs are reshaping how banks operate and compete.
๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ – convenience, UI, and brand trust now drive cross-buying more than just traditional levers.
๐ฉโ๐ผ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง-๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ฌ & ๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌs – a powerful insight into leadership impact.
๐ฉ๐ญ๐บ๐ฐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
DM me for the full report.
Banking BFSI Finance FinancialServices InvestmentBanking Fintech WealthManagement RiskManagement DigitalBanking Bankingreport FinancialLiteracy
Project v/s Product Organization
In discussions, the debate often centers on which is better: a project or a product organization.
This nice infographic, prepared by Dandy People contrasts project and product organizations, highlighting their strategic objectives, governance, execution, and cultural differences. It’s quite easy and gives a bird’s eye view.
๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฏ๐ฌ. ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
——————————————
๐ธ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ณ๐บ ๐๐ฃ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ: Projects focus on delivering defined solutions within set parameters, while product organizations emphasize continuous value creation and adaptability.
๐ธ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ด: Projects prioritize predictability and efficiency, whereas products value learning and long-term growth.
๐ธ๐๐ธ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ฉ๐ช๐ฑ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ฃ๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ: Project Managers oversee delivery, while Product Owners are responsible for overall product success and strategy.
๐ธ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ญ: Projects receive one-time funding based on business cases, while product organizations benefit from ongoing funding linked to performance.
๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฒ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
————————————–
๐ธ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ณ๐ถ๐ค๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ: Project teams are temporary and often lack cohesion, while product teams are long-lasting, collaborative, and self-managing.
๐ธ๐๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ: Knowledge may dissipate after project completion, whereas product teams accumulate and retain knowledge over time.
๐ธ๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐น๐ช๐ฃ๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฑ๐ต๐ข๐ฃ๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ: Product organizations adapt their roadmaps based on customer feedback, while project organizations adhere strictly to initial plans.
๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
———————————————-
๐ธ๐๐ถ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐๐ฐ๐ค๐ถ๐ด: Projects may compromise quality for speed, leading to technical debt, while product teams prioritize quality and actively manage ongoing maintenance.
๐ธ๐๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ: Project decisions are made by steering committees, while product decisions are driven by user needs and strategic hypotheses.
—
This summary encapsulates the fundamental distinctions between project and product organizations, emphasizing their differing approaches to strategy, team dynamics, and quality management.
#ProjectManagement #ProductStrategy #ExecutionExcellence #DeliverySuccess #TeamCulture #AgileMethodology #StrategicPlanning #LeadershipDevelopment #InnovationInExecution #CollaborationMatters
Leadership Excellence Award
I was surprised and humbled to receive the Top 1% Leader โ Excellence in Leadership Award ๐
from Flexi Roundtables : Top 1% Leaders during the recent award ceremony.
My heartfelt thanks to Flexi Roundtables : Top 1% Leaders and OpsTree Global for the recognition and for inviting me to be part of this leadership felicitation event.
It was great to meet industry leaders & stalwarts like Shiv Kumar Bhasin, Manju Dalvi and several others. It was a privilege to be among such accomplished industry leaders.
Grateful for the continued support of my colleagues, seniors, and mentors for the wonderful professional journey.
Thanks to Gaurav Sharma, Ishi Tripathi for the wonderfully organized event and recognition.
OpsTree Global leads the industry with high-performance DevOps, DevSecOps, cloud engineering, and platform reliability.

To my surprise, it was also covered by media – https://www.financialexpress.com/events/leadership-excellence-awards-2025
#Leadership #Top1PercentLeader #Recognition #EngineeringLeadership #OpsTree #FlexiRoundtables #Sonatype #TechLeadership
Invite a Financial Speaker to Discuss Strategic Innovation for Business Growth
Businesses need more than traditional financial planning to grow sustainably. Strategic innovation in finance plays a critical role in shaping smarter decisions, scalable systems, and long-term profitability. One of the most effective ways to introduce this mindset into your organization or event is to invite a financial speaker who specializes in strategic innovation.
Why Strategic Financial Innovation Matters for Businesses
Financial innovation goes beyond budgeting and forecasting. It focuses on aligning financial strategy with technology, operations, and business goals. Companies that adopt innovative financial thinking are better prepared to manage risk, improve efficiency, and identify new growth opportunities.
A financial speaker with expertise in strategic innovation helps organizations understand how modern financial frameworks support digital transformation, automation, and data-driven decision-making.
How a Financial Speaker Adds Value to Business Growth
Inviting a financial speaker to your conference, leadership session, or corporate workshop brings real-world insights that inspire action. These speakers combine experience, case studies, and practical strategies that leaders can apply immediately.
Key benefits include:
- Clear understanding of financial strategy alignment
- Smarter investment and cost-optimization decisions
- Improved business scalability and performance
- Stronger collaboration between finance, technology, and leadership teams
Strategic Innovation Drives Smarter Decision-Making
Businesses often struggle with fragmented systems and outdated financial models. A strategic financial speaker explains how innovative approaches streamline processes, improve transparency, and support faster decision-making. This clarity helps organizations respond quickly to market changes and customer demands.
By learning from industry experts, businesses gain a roadmap to modernize financial systems while maintaining control and compliance.
Ideal Events to Invite a Financial Speaker
A financial speaker focused on strategic innovation is ideal for:
- Business conferences and leadership summits
- Corporate strategy meetings
- Financial transformation workshops
- Startup and scale-up events
- Executive training programs
These sessions create meaningful discussions around growth, sustainability, and future-ready financial planning.
Choosing the Right Financial Speaker
When selecting a financial speaker, look for experience in digital transformation, strategic planning, and innovation-driven growth. A strong speaker connects financial insights with real business challenges, making complex concepts easy to understand and apply.
The right expert doesnโt just share theoryโthey provide actionable strategies that help businesses grow with confidence.
To stay competitive, businesses must rethink how finance supports growth and innovation. Inviting a financial speaker to discuss strategic innovation empowers leaders with insights that drive smarter decisions, stronger systems, and measurable business growth. Whether for a corporate event or industry conference, a strategic financial speaker can be the catalyst for long-term success.
Ready to Bring Strategic Financial Innovation to Your Event?
If youโre planning a conference, leadership session, or corporate workshop and want expert insights on financial strategy, digital transformation, and sustainable business growth, invite Biren Parekh to speak. With decades of experience guiding organizations through strategic innovation, Biren delivers practical, future-focused perspectives that drive real business impact.
Learn more about Biren Parekh and invite him as a financial speaker:
https://www.birenparekh.com/about-me/
Businesses Evolve Faster with Strategic Financial Innovation Leaders Shaping Digital Systems and Growth Pathways
The Role of Financial Innovation in Modern Business Growth
Financial innovation acts as a catalyst for business transformation. By integrating advanced digital tools with strategic thinking, innovation leaders help organizations adapt quickly to market changes.
Key outcomes of financial innovation include:
- Improved operational efficiency
- Faster go-to-market strategies
- Data-driven financial decision-making
- Scalable and secure digital infrastructures
Businesses that embrace strategic financial leadership are better equipped to handle disruption, regulatory changes, and evolving customer expectations.
Why Strategic Financial Innovation Leaders Matter
Strategic financial innovation leaders bridge the gap between technology and business growth. They donโt just implement systems they design financial strategies that support scalability and resilience.
These leaders focus on:
- Aligning financial technology with business objectives
- Optimizing digital transformation investments
- Reducing risk while enabling innovation
- Building agile financial frameworks for long-term growth
Their expertise ensures that digital initiatives deliver measurable business value rather than becoming costly experiments.
Shaping Digital Systems for Sustainable Growth
Modern digital systems form the backbone of business operations. Financial innovation leaders play a critical role in shaping these systems to support scalability, security, and performance.
Key Digital Systems They Influence
- FinTech platforms and digital payments
- Enterprise financial management systems
- Data analytics and AI-driven insights
- Cloud-based financial infrastructures
By designing integrated digital ecosystems, businesses gain better visibility into finances, improve compliance, and enable faster strategic decisions.
Unlocking New Growth Pathways Through Financial Strategy
Growth today is driven by smart financial strategy, not just increased spending. Strategic leaders identify new revenue opportunities by leveraging digital tools and financial insights.
They help businesses:
- Expand into new markets with confidence
- Monetize digital products and services
- Optimize pricing and revenue models
- Improve customer lifetime value
With the right financial innovation strategy, businesses can scale efficiently while maintaining profitability.
Financial Innovation and Digital Transformation Go Hand in Hand
Digital transformation without financial strategy often leads to misalignment and inefficiency. Financial innovation leaders ensure that transformation efforts are strategically planned, financially viable, and outcome-driven.
This integrated approach results in:
- Higher ROI on digital investments
- Reduced operational risks
- Faster adoption of emerging technologies
- Stronger competitive positioning
Businesses that combine digital transformation with strategic financial leadership evolve faster and more sustainably.
The Competitive Advantage of Financial Innovation Leadership
Organizations led by financial innovation experts consistently outperform competitors. They are more agile, data-driven, and prepared for future challenges.
Competitive advantages include:
- Faster response to market changes
- Smarter capital allocation
- Enhanced digital customer experiences
- Stronger long-term growth potential
In a digital-first world, financial innovation leadership is no longer optionalโitโs essential.
Businesses evolve faster when guided by strategic financial innovation leaders who shape digital systems and create scalable growth pathways. By aligning finance, technology, and business strategy, organizations can navigate complexity, accelerate transformation, and achieve sustainable success.
As digital ecosystems continue to evolve, companies that invest in financial innovation leadership today will define the future of business growth tomorrow.
How Digital Innovation Experts and Keynote Speakers Guide Modern Business Strategy
Businesses across every industry are going through rapid digital change. New tools, customer expectations, and market demands keep evolving, and companies often struggle to understand which direction to take. This is why many leaders rely on digital innovation experts and keynote speakers to help them make sense of the changes and guide them toward smarter business strategies. These experts bring a mix of industry knowledge, practical experience, and future-focused insight that helps organizations move forward with clarity and confidence.
Digital innovation experts play an important role in simplifying complex technologies. Instead of overwhelming leaders with jargon, they explain trends, tools, and digital opportunities in a straightforward and relatable way. Their goal is to help businesses understand what actually matters, what to invest in, what to avoid, and how to align digital tools with long-term goals. By translating complex ideas into simple, actionable steps, they make technology easier to implement across the organization.
Another powerful contribution these speakers make is helping companies build a future-ready strategy. Modern business success depends on how effectively companies can adopt digital processes, improve customer experience, automate repetitive work, use data for smarter decision-making, and stay prepared for upcoming market shifts. A digital innovation keynote speaker brings examples from real companies, shares lessons learned, and provides practical guidance on how businesses can stay competitive and agile. Their insight is shaped by years of working closely with industries that have already faced major digital changes.
Along with strategic guidance, these experts also bring inspiration. Digital transformation is not just about using new tools it requires a shift in mindset. Employees often resist change because they fear technology or worry about their roles. A strong keynote speaker motivates teams, builds confidence, and encourages a culture that welcomes innovation. When people feel inspired and supported, the transformation becomes smoother and more meaningful.
Businesses that learn from digital innovation experts often see real impact. They make faster decisions, reduce inefficiencies, improve customer loyalty, and discover new opportunities for growth. The combination of practical advice and forward-thinking vision helps companies stay ahead instead of reacting late to market changes.
If youโre looking to strengthen your business strategy with expert insight, Biren Parekh is a trusted voice in digital innovation and financial transformation. His experience, knowledge, and strategic thinking help businesses understand whatโs changing and how to adapt with confidence.
To get expert guidance on digital innovation and modern business strategy, connect with Biren Parekh at https://www.birenparekh.com/. He brings clear insight, real-world experience, and practical ideas to help your business prepare for the future.





