S2 E92: Govind Iyer: From Global Boardrooms to Giving Forward

What does it mean to give forward? In this deeply reflective episode of xMonks Drive, Govind Iyer—Independent Director at Infosys, Chairperson of Social Venture Partners India, and board member at Give India and Karmayogi Bharat—joins Gaurav Arora for a conversation that bridges corporate clarity with soulful leadership. Govind shares the philosophy that guides his life today: don’t give back… give forward. Together, they explore the culture of leadership without hierarchy, the power of authentic relationships, and what it truly means to lead with love. From his early days at Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola, to 23 years at Egon Zehnder, to pledging half his wealth toward social impact, Govind opens up about the choices, mentors, and moments that have shaped him. This episode is an invitation—to slow down, reflect, and reimagine the relationship between success and service. ⏱️ Episode Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 02:10 – Govind’s farewell story 04:20 – Early family influences 06:00 – A turning point at Mobius 07:45 – “Give forward” vs. “give back” 09:00 – Staying 23 years at Egon Zehnder 12:30 – A firm with no bosses or competition 15:45 – Fulfillment vs. performance 20:00 – Leadership culture at Unilever, McKinsey, and Teach For India 21:15 – What fulfilled leaders have in common 23:00 – Learning calmness from Nithya Shanti 24:45 – Why CEOs fail: EQ over IQ 26:30 – Shrinking CEO tenures 29:30 – Integration in work and life 30:30 – Shifting from corporate to social sector 33:00 – The discipline of deep listening 35:30 – Lessons from early philanthropic mistakes 40:30 – What Govind is learning from Gen Z 41:30 – Why SVP India feels different 43:00 – Philanthropy as leadership development 45:00 – Capacity vs. capability in NGOs 47:00 – The value of time over money 48:20 – Final reflections on presence and love  🔗 Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334 Website: https://xmonks.com