Ep #7 | Who is Kiran Mazumdar Shaw Really? And WTF is Biotech?

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the brilliant founder of Biocon and a true trailblazer in the biotech industry. We talked for two hours straight, diving into her 40-year journey in biotech and her life beyond business.

In my eyes she is testament to woman entrepreneur in India, no one else comes close.

Kiran is not just an inspiration to me professionally, but also a dear friend and neighbour. Our bond has grown over the years and I can't help but look up to her in so many ways. Her passion for transforming healthcare and giving back to society is incredible. It's a story that can't be missed, told in a more candid manner than ever before.

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#nikhilkamath #WTFiswithNikhilKamath #biocon #kiranmazumdarshaw #biotechnology #biopharmaceutics #pharma #medicine #women #dna #technology #enzymes #biology #brewing #beer #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #startup

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro
00:54 Did you know Kiran was a football fan?
02:20 Humble beginnings and the way of life
04:35 How Kiran became a brewmaster
7:24 Kiran's favourite beers as a pro taster
08:30 Kiran's take on friend Vijay Mallya
11:40 Lessons to learn from Vijay Mally’s story
14:15 Kiran’s challenges as a female brewmaster
16:40 Irish encounter: Serendipity in Kiran's entrepreneurial tale
20:20 The untold story: What held Kiran back from entrepreneurship
23:40 Enzyme technology - A deep dive
25:35 Ways to make enzymes
27:00 Greening effluents: A revolutionary treatment approach
30:14 Biocon: Garage days and a brave banker who bet on Kiran
34:29 Building a dream team: How Kiran attracted top talent
38:38 Empowering over 100 entrepreneurs
40:45 Golden entrepreneurial insight
42:40 What Kiran might have done differently
44:40 1998: IP, Unilever, global benchmarks - The turning point
48:10 How John charmed Kiran
50:50 AIG's incredible bet: How they got the best ROI!
53:12 Conquering global markets: How Biocon became the largest producer of statins
57:20 Pioneering anti-cancer and immunosuppressants
58:18 Transforming the insulin market: Biocon's groundbreaking role
1:00:40 Entrepreneurial pivots: Valuable insights for success
1:02:10 IPO: The launchpad to Kiran's billionaire status
1:05:20 How money defines Kiran
1:09:15 Nikhil & Kiran's personal journey: Kids & family
1:11:06 Demographic dynamics: India vs China fertility rates
1:12:00 The power of giving back: Nikhil’s & Kiran's philanthropy; the Giving Pledge
1:14:43 The purpose behind this podcast
1:19:15 India's policies and pharma climate
1:22:10 Empowering India to lead, not follow!
1:23:15 Kiran's view on retirement at 70
1:24:42 Virtue signalling unmasked: A candid look at today's world
1:28:51 3 changes India needs
1:31:37 Empowering women in the workforce: Challenges and ESG perspectives
1:36:03 Women's roles across sectors at Biocon
1:38:05 IP ownership: The key to long-term profitability
1:40:45 How Biocon became the world's No. 1 biosimilar company
1:44:47 Unraveling Biocon: Is it a holding company?
1:45:43 Biotech startup guide: How to venture into the field
1:47:30 Bio-revolution: From cloning to designer babies
1:49:16 Biotech startups to watch out for
1:51:07 Hottest biotech sectors right now
1:53:31 An emotional tribute, Nikhil thanks Kiran
1:54:37 Kiran's secret to overcoming challenges
1:57:54 Pick the charity of your choice and be part of something incredible!
1:59:04 Outro

[siddhantpardeshi]

i truly admire how Nikhil asks questions within questions to the guests, making it easier for the average audience to grasp the topic they're talking about. it's incredibly enlightening

[shubhamraj]

Nikhil Kamath teaches us that you should not hesitate when you're asking question.

[tiya_jain]

I thought she was younger. Looking at how passionate she is about her work and is still so driven even at 70. Must take great courage to be who she is. Thank you for the show ❤

[XxExternalBleedin]

Finally a high-quality Indian podcast!! There is a massive gap in the Indian podcast space, and I hope this one bridges that gap as Nikhil has the connections & finances to put out valuable content. Thank you.

[vineethshetty]

I initially thought it would be slightly boring going just by the no of guests. But what an episode and what a woman !
Very inspiring and thoughtful. Cheers for creating this !!!

[sarathtech]

Our country produces many incredible entrepreneurs, but it doesn't often produce pioneers who develop technology that transcends globally.
A very powerful moment is when she says she went to Ireland, 'not because I didn't understand the technology, but to see how it works.' We need a series on Kiran's life that could inspire a new generation of biotech engineers and entrepreneurs.

[NarendraKumar-rqlq]

What an amazing personality, Mrs. Shaw. Her clarity of thoughts and articulation are truly remarkable

[kirababe]

I am doing btech in biotechnology and this video has helped me a lot in knowing more about how we can be an entrepreneur in fields such as biotech... I have always loved biocon and wanted to know more about it and how it started... Kiran Mazumdar has always inspired me and this video has given me a strong base for my inspiration towards biotech..thank you

[priyankamandal]

What an episode! Bringing someone like Kiran to spend 2 hours talking about her workz her motivations, how she build her company while life went on. This was 2 hours of sheer brilliance. Thank you Nikhil and thank you Kiran maam. ❤

[NainaAgarwal]

She is the First Lady/ women entrepreneur who was my inspiration even when in all honesty I did not understand what career is and what I would like to do! But today listening to her, I feel truly inspired by the well rounded person she is. Her approach is so balanced!

[sukantchakraborty]

Nikhil - you are one of such rare people that I have seen to have the profoundness of depth at such young age on life as a whole. You are for sure an old soul! God bless you always ! Not to forget what a pleasure it has been to hear the inspiring stories of Kiran ! Love and respect to both of you ❤❤

[anirudhtv]

Petition for Nikhil for WTF FinTech?
Ig you know whom to call

[akshaysi]

Thank you, Nikhil. This episode alone is a service to the nation. Absolutely love your podcasts.

[abidchris]

I am glad to have come across WTF and Nikhils podcasts. The guests Nikhil is able to host, the manner in which he is able to engage with them, and the knowledge that the audience is gaining is tremendous. Congratulations to Nikhil and the entire team for producing such high-quality episodes.

[bhumija]

Kiran Ma'am is a true inspiration a gem in real sense. This is a real podcast by definition should be not bluffing around throwing nonsense pretending something else which is seen by other people and podcasts channel.
Something worthy on podcast path.
Kudos to team members 👏

[Kuhoochandra]

I was oblivious to a woman of this caliber existing living and breathing today, in the same world as me. I am seeing new heights of intelligence and success through her. Great episode!

[rangrezz.a]

Absolutely cherished this episode! ✨ Every-time she speaks about her late husband or late mother, you can see the sparkle of love and warmth for them in her eyes. ❤️

[PREMKUMAR-lurh]

Not opting for ad sense shows how serious you are.

[sarathtech]

Surprised this video hasn't blown up. There is so much wisdom and info to kickstart research here. Biotech has incredible potential for the future and it is literally Life Saving.

[ravindersyal]

This by far was one of the best interactions. Kieran was just astounding but nikhil was at his best on his curiosity. One on one.