Discussion on the Book
Friday, 07 Feb 2025
06:00-07:30 PM
MMA Management Centre
Deepak
Jayaraman
Bama Balakrishnan Dr. Sathya Sriram
Event Partner
SYNOPSIS
Play to Potential by Deepak Jayaraman offers a nuanced exploration of how to unlock our human potential (not just on the professional front) by embracing both the highs and lows of life. Grounded in the insights from his popular Play to Potential Podcast and his experiences as a coach, Deepak introduces a framework (FLAVOUR) to guide readers through the complex interplay of family, aspirations, values, and relationships.
The book aspires to be a guide for people through the long and messy mid-life (phase between 30s and 50s). We are pulled in different directions across work, home, health, friends, hobbies and so on. Adopting a FLAVOUR-ful approach, we all could find a multidimensional approach that works for our unique context.
The book emphasizes that life is a team sport, with family as an essential support system. Deepak argues that personal growth and achievement are not solitary pursuits but deeply tied to the family contexts in which we live. This perspective, especially relevant in cultures where family plays a central role, is often overlooked in self-help literature.
Another key insight is the recognition that life unfolds in seasons, marked by transitions some chosen, others imposed. Deepak uses several examples and case studies to illustrate how navigating these transitions thoughtfully is critical to playing to our full potential
Through the book, Deepak also challenges the romanticized ideals of traditional self-help books, which often present a "North Star" approach. Instead, his book strives to be a practical "torchlight" that can guide readers through life’s messiness. Passion and purpose, he argues, are often discovered along the journey rather than predetermined.
By blending personal anecdotes, podcast insights, and stories from his coaching journey, Play to Potential offers a compassionate, practical approach to help readers navigate life’s complexities and take small, meaningful steps toward realizing their potential.
Programme
5:15 PM
Registration & Hi-Tea
6:00 PM
Welcome Address
Gp. Capt. R Vijayakumar (Retd), VSM
Executive Director, Madras Management Association
Launch of the Book “Play to Potential: Lead a full life, become the best you” & Address by the Author
Mr. Deepak Jayaraman
Author & Leadership Coach
Author in conversation with Special Invitees
Ms. Bama Balakrishnan
SVP Finance, Sundaram Finance & Director, Dvara Research Foundation
Dr. Sathya Sriram Independent Advisor
Q&A
7:25 PM Vote of Thanks
7:30 PM End of the program
PROFILE
Mr. Deepak Jayaraman
Author & Leadership Coach
Deepak Jayaraman’s mission is to help people with a growth mindset play to their full potential. He does this in three ways.
Firstly, he works with a few growth-minded leaders and teams and helps them play to their full potential (not restricting to the professional domain). He does that by immersing himself in the full context of their lives (professional and personal), by building trust and by being a sounding board on their long journey of transformation and choices. The journey of building context and trust and unlocking the potential is often slow and organic. Deepak strives to engage in long journeys and be the guide on the ride (rather than being the sage on the stage or an occasional guide on the side)
Secondly, he likes to create content that can provoke reflection and get people to play to their full potential. This includes the Play to Potential Podcast and his eponymously titled book. He realises that his advisory approach is deeply immersive. Hence it can touch only a few lives. The content he creates hopefully makes a difference to a wider set of people that are looking to unlock their full potential.
Thirdly, he occasionally conducts short tailored sessions to leadership teams on different elements of Playing to Potential where he distils some of the insights he has gleaned from the podcast, his coaching journey and his life.
Deepak Jayaraman is an alumnus of IIT Madras, IIM Ahmedabad and London Business School. In his work with clients, Deepak tries to weave in his understanding of business and first principles problem solving from McKinsey, appreciation of the link between business and leadership from EgonZehnder and a nuanced understanding of human behavior, motivations and change from his work in Coaching and Leadership Development. Deepak is a certified CEO Coach (from Coaching Foundation of India based in Chennai).
PROFILE
Ms. Bama Balakrishnan SVP Finance, Sundaram Finance & Director, Dvara Research Foundation
Ms. Bama has more than two decades of experience in Financial Services and is currently SVP Finance with Sundaram Finance. She serves as Director for Dvara Research Foundation and Advisor to the Board of Swadha Foundation. She belongs to the Chennai chapter of SVP India, a non-profit network. She previously played multiple senior roles for over a decade with Northern Arc, a pioneer in the ecosystem of impact investing and financial inclusion. She started her career with a decade at ICICI Bank, across multiple roles both in India and abroad. She is an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and a CFA® charter holder.
PROFILE
Dr. Sathya Sriram Independent Advisor
Sathya Sriram is an independent advisor specialising in healthcare strategy, preventive care, and leadership development. Most recently, she served as the CEO of Preventive Health at Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, where she led the organisation’s mission to shift consumer focus from curative to preventive care. During her tenure, she scaled Apollo ProHealth, a flagship preventive healthcare program, leveraging technology to deliver personalized and predictive care pathways.
Sathya spent over a decade at McKinsey & Company, consulting globally for healthcare, public, and social sector organisations. She also led strategy and marketing at The Hindu Group, driving innovation in digital subscriptions, consumer insights, and advertising solutions.
In addition to her advisory work, Sathya is a visiting faculty member at IIT Madras, where she teaches courses on leadership and personal growth, preparing students to live to their full potential.
Sathya holds a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from Johns Hopkins University, which informs her insights into consumer behavior and leadership, enabling her to blend scientific insights with practical strategies for impact.
