In this episode of Insights with Shekhar Thakur, I sit down with Suman Joshi, Executive Director at White Lotus Power Limited, for an insightful conversation about Nepal’s hydropower sector.

We explore hydropower from a developer’s perspective—from investment, project development and financial viability to the challenges of transmission, grid connectivity, government policies and the evolving power market.

We also discuss **Take-or-Pay vs. Take-and-Pay**, the role of IPPAN, post-RCOD challenges, the future of Nepal’s electricity exports, private-sector participation, and what it will take for Nepal to realise its enormous hydropower potential.

Most importantly, Suman shares her personal experiences, leadership perspective, and vision for the future of Nepal’s energy sector.

🎙️Watch & listen to the full episode:
https://insightswshekharthakur.com

🎧 **Also available on Spotify and Apple Music.**
Details and links to all platforms are available on the website.

If you found the conversation valuable, please like, share, and subscribe/follownInsights with Shekhar Thakur for more conversations with leaders and experts across Nepal.

#Hydropower #Nepal #Energy #RenewableEnergy #PowerSector #HydropowerNepal #Leadership #Podcast #InsightsWithShekharThakur #sumanjoshi

In this episode of Insights with Shekhar Thakur, I’m joined by Er. Ashok G.M., Associate Professor, Computer Engineer and IT Consultant at Himalaya College of Engineering.

We have a practical and Nepal-focused conversation about Computer Engineering, college admission, student skills, IT jobs and the future of technology.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 🎓 Computer Engineering admission and what students should know before choosing a college

• 🏫 The current condition of engineering education and colleges in Nepal

• 💻 What skills Computer Engineering students should develop beyond the syllabus

• 🤖 AI and its impact on software development and future jobs

• 💼 The reality of IT employment for fresh graduates in Nepal

• 🌏 Nepal vs. global opportunities for Computer Engineers

• 🔬 Research, innovation and industry-academia collaboration

• 🚀 What students should do during their engineering journey to become job-ready

• 🔮 The future of Computer Engineering and Nepal’s IT industry

This episode is especially useful for **+2 graduates, students planning to study Computer Engineering, current engineering students, parents, educators and anyone interested in Nepal’s technology sector**.

🌐 Website: https://insightswshekharthakur.com
📧 Email: connect@insightswshekharthakur.com

If you found the conversation useful, like, comment, share and subscribe to Insights with Shekhar Thakur for more conversations on technology, education,
careers, business and digital transformation.

#ComputerEngineering #Nepal #EngineeringEducation #AI #ITJobs #ComputerEngineeringNepal #HimalayaCollegeOfEngineering #Students #Technology #InsightsWithShekharThakur #Podcast

In this episode of Insights with Shekhar Thakur, I had the opportunity to sit down with Er. Suvarna Singh Raut, Head of the Civil Engineering Department at Himalaya College of Engineering, for an insightful conversation about Civil Engineering education, career opportunities, and the mindset students need to succeed.

We discuss what students actually study in Civil Engineering, the opportunities available to graduates in Nepal, industry expectations, career choices, and how students can better prepare themselves for the professional world.

In this episode:

🎓 Civil Engineering education at Himalaya College of Engineering
💼 Career opportunities for Civil Engineering graduates
🧠 Student mindset and career decisions
📚 Course structure and what students learn
🏗️ Industry expectations and practical skills
🚀 Preparing students for future opportunities in Civil Engineering

A big thank you to Er. Suvarna Singh Raut for sharing her experience, practical insights, and valuable advice for aspiring engineers.

If you are a Civil Engineering student, aspiring engineer, graduate, or someone considering Civil Engineering as a career, this conversation is for you.

#CivilEngineering #CivilEngineeringNepal #EngineeringEducation #EngineeringStudents #EngineeringCareer #Nepal #CareerGuidance #StudentMindset #HimalayaCollegeOfEngineering #Podcast #InsightsWithShekharThakur

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern—it affects businesses, governments, and every individual connected to the internet.

In this episode of Insights with Shekhar Thakur, I sit down with Bijay Limbu Senihang, Founder of Vairav Tech, to discuss the realities of cybersecurity, cyberattacks, artificial intelligence and Nepal's evolving digital landscape.

We explore:

* Cyberattacks and the biggest cyber threats today
* AI's impact on cybersecurity
* Digital banking, QR payments, and fintech security
* The dark web and common cybersecurity myths
* Passwords, phishing, and online safety
* Cloud security and Zero Trust
* Building a global cybersecurity company from Nepal
* The future of cybersecurity careers and Nepal's potential as a cybersecurity hub

Whether you're a business owner, technology professional, student, or simply someone who uses the internet every day, this episode offers practical insights into staying secure in an increasingly digital world.

🌐 Website: https://insightswshekharthakur.com

🔔 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed this conversation.

#CyberSecurity #CyberAttacks #AI #Fintech #DigitalBanking #DarkWeb #CyberSecurityNepal #Nepal #Podcast #InsightsWithShekharThakur #podcastnepal #Bijaylimbusenihang

🐶 How is Nepal's pet care industry evolving, and what does it take to build a trusted brand from scratch?

In this episode of Insights with Shekhar Thakur, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nikita Jalan, Co-Founder & CEO of
@PetMama Nepal.

From turning a personal loss into a purpose-driven business to building one of Nepal's leading pet care brands, Nikita shares her entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of creating a new market, and her vision for the future of pet care in Nepal.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:
• Nikita's entrepreneurial journey
• The story behind PetMama Nepal
• Responsible pet ownership
• Dog behaviour and training
• Grooming and preventive pet care
• Common mistakes dog owners make
• Nepal's growing pet care industry
• Building a consumer brand in Nepal
• Future opportunities in the pet ecosystem

Whether you're an entrepreneur, startup founder, pet owner or simply curious about Nepal's evolving pet care industry, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiring stories.

💬 Which insight resonated with you the most? Let us know in the comments!

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe and turn on notifications for more conversations with entrepreneurs, innovators and industry leaders.

🌐 Website: https://insightswshekharthakur.com
📺 YouTube: @InsightsWithShekharThakur
📘 Facebook: @InsightsWithShekharThakur
📸 Instagram: @insightswshekharthakur
🎵 TikTok: @insightswshekharthakur

📧 Business Enquiries & Collaborations:
[connect@insightswshekharthakur.com]

#InsightsWithShekharThakur #NikitaJalan #PetMamaNepal #PetCare #DogBehaviour #DogTraining #Entrepreneurship #StartupNepal #Leadership #Podcast #Nepal #podcastnepal

Timestamps:
00:00 - Highlights
01:15 - Guest Intro and Journey
03:47 - Petcare Data in Nepal
12:02 - Did Nikita do pet training
14:06 - Petmama Nepal started Pet Hotel
15:40 - Petcare market Potential & Customer Trust
18:29 - How do different dogs react
23:33 - What Petmama do
34:20 - Is owning a pet just a trend
41:40 - Can the Pet Care Industry Grow Beyond Urban Areas
50:55 - Is there any policies for pet care industry
01:02:38 - What kinds of pets does PetMama cater to
01:08:04 - How easy or difficult it is for female Entrepreneur

Hydropower is often seen as Nepal's greatest opportunity for clean energy and sustainable economic growth. But as we build more projects, an important question remains: How can we develop responsibly while protecting the environment?

In this episode, Pranav Acharya shares valuable insights into the environmental aspects of hydropower development in Nepal. From Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and public hearings to river ecosystems, forests, and aquatic biodiversity, this conversation explores the challenges of balancing infrastructure development with environmental conservation.

In this episode, we discuss:

🌿 The environmental impact of hydropower projects
💧 How hydropower affects rivers and environmental flows
🐟 The importance of protecting aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity
🌲 The role of forests in sustainable development
📋 Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and their effectiveness
🗣️ Why public hearings matter and how communities can participate
🌍 Global best practices Nepal can learn from for sustainable hydropower development

This conversation is for engineers, environmental professionals, students, policymakers and anyone interested in Nepal's energy future and environmental sustainability.

💬 What do you think? Can Nepal achieve rapid hydropower development while protecting its rivers and natural ecosystems? Share your thoughts in the comments.

👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, like the video, subscribe to the channel and share it with others who care about Nepal's sustainable future.

Insights with Shekhar Thakur
Conversations that inform, inspire and create impact.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Highlights
01:27 - what is environment for you
03:06 - Guest Introduction and Journey
15:20 - Hydropower impact on environment
22:18 - EIA on Hydropower
28:00 - How Hydro impact the aquatic lives
32:15 - Does assessment done after project completion
51:18 - Flood Assessment in Hydro
01:05:10 - Do Investor take interest on environment
01:12:08 - Do solar impact environment
01:16:42 - is impact on environment is considered if dam has to be removed
01:23:10 - what policy you would change
01:28:51 - What is hydropower sustainability alliance
01:33:52 - Thanks

#Hydropower #Environment #Nepal #PranavAcharya #Sustainability #EnvironmentalImpact #Rivers #AquaticLife #Biodiversity #podcastnepal #RenewableEnergy #EnvironmentalImpactAssessment #Podcast #InsightswithShekharThakur

Nepal's fintech ecosystem has evolved rapidly over the past decade—but what does it take to build and scale digital financial services in a changing regulatory landscape?

In this episode of Insights with Shekhar Thakur, Amit Agrawal, Cofounder & Director of IME Khalti Limited, to discuss the evolution of fintech in Nepal, digital payments, government policies, AI and the role of innovation in shaping the country's digital economy.

In this episode, we cover:
• The growth of Nepal's fintech ecosystem
• Digital wallets and the future of digital payments
• Government policies and their impact on innovation
• The relevance of SMS in today's digital world
• AI and its role in financial services
• The biggest misconception people have about Amit Agrawal

If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to *Like, Share, and Subscribe* for more insightful discussions with leaders from diverse industries.

Connect with me:
🌐 https://insightswshekharthakur.com

#InsightswithShekharThakur #FinTech #DigitalPayments #AI #GovernmentPolicy #Nepal #Innovation #Leadership #Podcast

How is data transforming healthcare? What opportunities does Healthcare Analytics offer? And how do you find purpose while building a meaningful career?

In this episode of Insights with Shekhar Thakur, Bidha Rimal shares her insights on the rapidly evolving field of Healthcare Analytics, the career opportunities it offers and the skills needed to thrive in this data-driven era.

The conversation goes beyond technology and careers to explore personal growth, the importance of meaningful work and Bidha’s perspective on finding purpose while creating impact.
In this episode we talked about:

What Healthcare Analytics is and why it matters
Career opportunities and future trends in the industry
Essential skills for aspiring professionals
The role of data and technology in improving healthcare
Bidha’s professional journey and key learnings
Finding purpose and creating meaningful impact

A thoughtful conversation on healthcare, technology, careers, and life—packed with insights for anyone looking to learn, grow and make a difference.

🎧 Watch the full episode and share your thoughts in the comments.

👍 Like, Share & Subscribe for more conversations with leaders and professionals from diverse industries.

Insights with Shekhar Thakur
Exploring ideas, careers and stories that inspire growth.