Why do so many NGOs struggle with visibility, funding, and talent despite doing powerful work on the ground?

In this episode, Girish Balachandran, Founder of On Purpose, shares why he believes the biggest challenge in the social sector isn’t just funding, it’s mindset.

We explore why “good work should speak for itself” is no longer enough, and why communications, storytelling, and founder visibility are critical for nonprofit growth and sustainability.

If you work in the nonprofit sector, CSR, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, or impact consulting, this episode offers practical insights into nonprofit communications strategy, NGO leadership, donor dynamics, and long-term sustainability.

Watch the full episode to understand how NGOs can move from impact to influence and why owning your narrative is essential in today’s digital-first world.

Volunteering in India is evolving and so is what it means to give back.In this episode, we explore why volunteering matters more than ever, especially for young people navigating purpose, identity and community in a rapidly changing world. From moving beyond a survival mindset to building meaningful connections, volunteering today is as much about personal growth as it is about social impact.

Our guests share their journeys, unpack what truly sustains long-term volunteering and reflect on how service shapes leadership, belonging and agency. If you’ve ever asked yourself “Why should I volunteer?”, this episode is a great place to start.

Subscribe to our YouTubechannel and never miss the latest episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPichWEo9gwkwpABT8kgk9Q About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I Trust and Change+. About U&I - U&I is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through education and community engagement. Our two core programs are U&I Teach and U&I Empower. U&I Teach provides after-school tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged children across India, helping bridge the education gap. U&I Empower creates volunteering opportunities for corporate employees, enabling them to give back through meaningful, impact-driven experiences. At the heart of U&I are our core values: #bethechange #bigaudaciousimpact and #inthistogether About Change+ - The organization helps people become the leaders they’re meant to be. The leadership training journeys blend self-awareness, real-world practice, and people-first thinking, helping teams lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. From emerging managers to senior leaders, Change+ designs learning experiences that teach leadership. Follow them on LinkedIn: Ajit Sivaram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit4949/ Satish Manchikanti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-manchikanti/ Visit our Website: https://uandi.org.in/ Volunteer With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/volunteer Partner With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/csr Work With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/hiring Donate to our Cause: https://ui.danamojo.org/ Follow Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uandi.org.in/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/u&i-charity/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/uanditv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/04ZaR7HIvmqL5iG9wAAdV4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-founders-walk-into/id1806002327 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0a5b4559-645c-4b99-a556-adef1fab97c7/two-founders-walk-into Timestamps:00:00 – Intro02:15 – From Survival to Agency03:40 – Rameez's Journey: From Privilege to Purpose06:00 – Suchet’s Journey: When Service Became Identity07:45 – Why Volunteering Sticks 11:30 – The Evolution of Volunteering in India12:00 – Why Volunteers Say Yes12:50 – Making Volunteering Accessible13:30 – Psychological Safety & Support14:05 – Community and Belonging15:00 – Contribution, Connection, Co-Creation18:55 – How Nonprofits Can Start With Volunteers22:00 – I’ve Never Volunteered. Where Do I Start?26:00 – Final Reflections

As the year comes to an end, it’s easy to label it as good, bad, or somewhere in between. But that kind of reflection is often shallow and misleading.In this conversation, we explore a more meaningful way to look back at the year gone by: your relationships.Think of every relationship as an investment account.Did you deposit into it this year or mostly withdraw?This video is for anyone who wants to reflect more honestly, lead better in their personal and professional life, and enter the next year with greater clarity and intention.If you’re looking for a grounded, thoughtful way to review your year beyond goals and achievements this is a good place to start.

Growth isn’t just about moving faster or getting bigger.

At some point, every organisation faces a choice:
Do we keep optimising what already works, or do we take the harder path of reinventing ourselves?

In this conversation, we explore why real growth demands exponential thinking — building systems and people that can scale, creating space for experimentation, and normalising failure as a source of learning rather than fear.

From Apple’s supply chain mastery to Google’s culture of curiosity and SpaceX’s approach to failing well, the common thread is clear: growth lives on the other side of discomfort.

For leaders and teams navigating constant change, the question isn’t whether the river will get rough — it’s whether we’re willing to learn how to ride it.

Strategy isn’t just planning, it’s choosing the right direction and having the courage to change when the world changes.In this episode, we explore how some of the world’s most successful companies stay relevant by understanding their market, knowing their customer, and adapting before they're forced to.

What if one of the world’s most iconic innovations wasn’t sparked by a lone genius but by a team learning to collaborate?In the early 2000s, Steve Jobs brought hardware, software, and design teams together under a secret mission called Project Purple. They clashed, they debated, and they pushed each other — until they created something the world had never seen before: the iPhone.This episode dives into:• Why cross-functional collaboration isn’t optional in innovation• How teams move from zero-sum thinking to shared success• The untold story behind Project PurpleSubscribe to our channel and never miss the latest episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPichWEo9gwkwpABT8kgk9Q About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I Trust and Change+. About U&I - U&I is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through education and community engagement. Our two core programs are U&I Teach and U&I Empower. U&I Teach provides after-school tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged children across India, helping bridge the education gap. U&I Empower creates volunteering opportunities for corporate employees, enabling them to give back through meaningful, impact-driven experiences. At the heart of U&I are our core values: #bethechange #bigaudaciousimpact and #inthistogether About Change+ - The organization helps people become the leaders they’re meant to be. The leadership training journeys blend self-awareness, real-world practice, and people-first thinking, helping teams lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. From emerging managers to senior leaders, Change+ designs learning experiences that teach leadership. Follow them on LinkedIn: Ajit Sivaram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit4949/ Satish Manchikanti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-manchikanti/ Visit our Website: https://uandi.org.in/ Volunteer With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/volunteer Partner With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/csr Work With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/hiring Donate to our Cause: https://ui.danamojo.org/ Follow Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uandi.org.in/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/u&i-charity/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/uanditv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/04ZaR7HIvmqL5iG9wAAdV4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-founders-walk-into/id1806002327 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0a5b4559-645c-4b99-a556-adef1fab97c7/two-founders-walk-into #podcast #genz #leadership #ngo #entrepreneur #managementTimestamps00:20 – Shifting from competition to collaboration00:45 – The birth of Project Purple01:05 – Why the iPhone was a team win, not a solo genius act01:30 – The hidden lesson behind iconic innovation#podcast #genz #leadership #ngo #entrepreneur #management

This episode dives into what it truly means to lead people not through authority, pressure, or targets, but through responsibility, care and clarity.Drawing inspiration from Simon Sinek’s well-known idea that leaders aren’t responsible for the results themselves, but for the people who produce those results, the conversation explores the shift from “command and conquer” to “support and empower.”It has reflections on:• Why leaders must create environments where teams can thrive• How clarity, safety, and trust drive performance• The difference between managing tasks and developing people• What it takes to guide a team through uncertainty• Why true leadership is measured by who your team becomes, not just what they deliverIf you’re thinking about leadership in a changing world or you’re simply trying to bring out the best in your people, this episode offers a thoughtful, grounded perspective on leading with intention and empathy.Subscribe to our channel and never miss the latest episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPichWEo9gwkwpABT8kgk9Q About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I Trust and Change+. About U&I - U&I is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through education and community engagement. Our two core programs are U&I Teach and U&I Empower. U&I Teach provides after-school tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged children across India, helping bridge the education gap. U&I Empower creates volunteering opportunities for corporate employees, enabling them to give back through meaningful, impact-driven experiences. At the heart of U&I are our core values: #bethechange #bigaudaciousimpact and #inthistogether About Change+ - The organization helps people become the leaders they’re meant to be. The leadership training journeys blend self-awareness, real-world practice, and people-first thinking, helping teams lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. From emerging managers to senior leaders, Change+ designs learning experiences that teach leadership. Follow them on LinkedIn: Ajit Sivaram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit4949/ Satish Manchikanti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-manchikanti/ Visit our Website: https://uandi.org.in/ Volunteer With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/volunteer Partner With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/csr Work With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/hiring Donate to our Cause: https://ui.danamojo.org/ Follow Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uandi.org.in/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/u&i-charity/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/uanditv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/04ZaR7HIvmqL5iG9wAAdV4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-founders-walk-into/id1806002327 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0a5b4559-645c-4b99-a556-adef1fab97c7/two-founders-walk-into Time Stamps:00:36–01:12 - Breaking the myths of leadership01:48–02:22 - Trust as the foundation of leadership02:50–03:18 - Project Aristotle: Google’s psychological safety03:36–04:05 - Why leaders must show vulnerability