Business
The first hire at both WhatsApp and OpenAI in India and a founder straight out of college, meet Pragya Misra.
She hasn't just had a front-row seat to the rise of our generation's most consequential companies. She's helped lay the blueprint for them in India.
Pragya brings a calm, insightful presence to the conversation, shaped by years of meditation and competitive golf, as we get into what it takes to be the first with no playbook to follow, AI sovereignty and access, and the personal philosophy that anchors her.
She also reflects on the opportunities and realities for women building careers in AI and technology, and why greater representation will be critical to shaping the industry's future.
00:00 - Precap
01:07 - Episode Introduction
01:52 - From WhatsApp's First Hire to OpenAI's First Hire
06:03 - Women in AI & Big Tech Representation
08:07 - Is AI Egalitarian? Addressing Inequality in India
10:29 - Relationship between India, OpenAI & Data Sovereignty
13:05 - Golf, Grit & Growing Up
16:50 - Career Choices, Corporate Life & Finding Your Path
19:39 - The Entrepreneurial Journey: Lessons & Challenges
21:24 - Looking Inward: Meditation & Self-Reflection
23:35 - The Reality of Being a Woman Athlete
25:36 - India's Place in the Global AI Landscape
28:59 - What “Alpha” Means to Pragya Misra
30:47 - Conclusion
In partnership with Spotify | Media partner: Outlook Business
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