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4 episodes · 2 hr 25 min of conversations

  1. 11 Sept 202626 minProf. Sandeep Juneja: IIT, Stanford, COVID Modeling, and AI in MathIn this episode of Decoded, Akshat Bhaskar and Amaira Akbar sit down with Professor Sandeep Juneja, Professor of Computer Science at Ashoka University and Director of the Safexpress Centre for Data, Learning and Decision Sciences, previously Senior Professor and Dean at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai. Sandeep walks us through his journey from a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering at IIT Delhi to a Ph.D. in Operations Research at Stanford, and how that early grounding in applied probability shaped a career spent modeling uncertainty across finance, epidemiology, and climate. We go deep on his time at TIFR Mumbai during COVID, when his epidemiological models were used to track and predict the spread of the virus through one of the world's most densely populated cities. The conversation then turns to the present: what the recent wave of AI progress actually changes, where the hype outruns the substance, and the specific case of AI being used to attack the Navier-Stokes equations, one of the longest-standing unsolved problems in mathematics. A conversation that moves from IIT lecture halls to Stanford seminar rooms to the streets of Mumbai during a pandemic, and lands on the open question of what AI can and cannot yet do. Thank you to Anubhav Bhattacharjee, Vidyanshi Mittal, Akshara Durugkar, Soujanya Banik, and Mohammad Arif Abdullah for their help with research, outreach, and questions for this episode. clarity before consensus.
  2. 01 Sept 202645 minThe Mathematics of Everything: M. Ram Murty on Numbers, Mind, and MeaningIn this episode of Decoded, Akshat Bhaskar and Amaira Akbar sit down with Professor M. Ram Murty, holder of the Queen's Research Chair in Mathematics at Queen's University and one of the most respected names in number theory. Ram Murty walks us through a career spent studying the distribution of prime numbers, the deep and unexplained connection between mathematics and physical reality, and why he believes numbers might be the closest thing we have to a universal language. He talks about growing up on Star Trek, the lecture at MIT that pulled him toward philosophy, and why he still sets aside three hours a day just to think. We also get into artificial intelligence. Ram Murty has used it to help disprove conjectures, but he is direct about its limits and concerned about what constant digital distraction is doing to how students learn. The conversation moves between primes and the Gita, MIT lecture halls and Vedanta, without ever losing the thread. clarity before consensus.
  3. 10 Jun 202550 minFrom Wall Street to Startups: The Journey of Shiv Mohan DuttIn this special episode of Decoded, Akshat Bhaskar, and Amaira Akbar explore the startup space with the incredibly accomplished Shiv Mohan Dutt : Princeton Math '11, Wall Street veteran, serial tech entrepreneur, and former Head Boy of Vasant Valley School (2007). They dive deep into Shiv's journey from the trading floors of Goldman Sachs to launching startups across the U.S. and India. From burning out in finance to building platforms like MeaVana and Yap Media, Shiv shares the real highs and lows of entrepreneurship. The conversation explores his journey from studying at Princeton and working on Wall Street to leaving high finance in pursuit of building something more meaningful. It dives into the realities of launching a startup, including the challenges that founders rarely talk about, and examines how the technology landscape is evolving across India and the West. The discussion also covers practical investing advice for Gen Z, a bold prediction for the future, and reflections on career, money, and making thoughtful life decisions. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to leave a high-paying job to chase a dream, or just want a no-BS view into India’s booming tech world, this episode is for you.
  4. 26 Feb 202525 minGlobal Strategies & Financial Frontiers with Soumitra Mookherjee and Akshat BhaskarIn this episode of Decoded, Akshat Bhaskar and Amaira Akbar explore international marketing, financial planning, and global trade with Soumitra Mookherjee (Cambridge, UCL, and Professor @ ISBF), an industry veteran with deep expertise in strategy and economics. We discuss pivotal moments where marketing strategies had to be restructured due to cultural and regulatory challenges, the balance between global brand consistency and local adaptation, and the role of digital platforms in reshaping traditional marketing. On the financial front, we dive into critical investment decisions, market forecasting, and ESG integration, uncovering how mutual funds, sector analysis, and debt evaluations influence financial strategies. We also tackle export-import complexities, the impact of free trade agreements, and how AI and blockchain are transforming global trade efficiency. Through personal reflections, Soumitra shares insights into career-defining decisions, global economic trends, and lessons learned from decades in business. Join us for a conversation packed with real-world experiences, strategic insights, and financial wisdom, offering valuable takeaways for professionals navigating international markets.