Afleveringen
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"Once you overcome one challenge, you know you can face the next one. That's when I stopped being afraid!" โ Nancy Aboushakra, Head of Messaging & Digital Sales at Bayobab, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From a ten-year-old girl in Lebanon who heard that engineering is for menโฆ
to building messaging businesses from scratch across three companiesโฆ
to closing landmark deals with the world's biggest hyperscalers โ
Nancy's journey is one of defiance, determination, and dazzling impact!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Nancy opens up about:
โ๏ธ How an internship at Monty Mobile turned into a full-time offer โ because she took every task more seriously than anyone expected
๐ The accidental pivot from engineering to sales โ and how she grew the wholesale business by 20-30% before anyone even gave her the title
๐ Winning the Capacity Award for Best Innovative Deals with Hyperscalers โ and what it felt like when all the hard work finally came together in one room
๐ฏ Breaking an arrow with her throat at the Millionaire Mind Intensive โ because limits, as she discovered, only exist in the mind!
๐จ Seven years of living in serviced apartments in Dubai โ because why not give Nancy the lifestyle she deserves?
๐ Why Surrounded by Idiots is the book that changed how she reads people โ and how she applies it every single day at work
๐ The girl who could have gone into fashion โ and still brings that same eye for excellence into everything she does
โค๏ธ Her powerful LinkedIn voice โ speaking up for women in STEM, salary equality, and the self-doubt that quietly holds so many back
๐ก And her core belief โ do good to people when no one is watching, don't hurt others to climb the ladder, and never judge what you don't fully understand!
From Beirut to Dubai, from engineering school to the boardroom โ
Nancy is proof that when a young girl decides to break barriers, the industry had better pay attention!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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"We didn't start a company and decide to give back. We decided to give back โ and so we started a company!"
โ Wade & Koddi Dunn, Co-Founders of Love Mobile, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
A single mom. A single dad. A nine-hour online conversation that lasted until sunrise
Eighteen years of marriage, seven children, two companies, and one powerful idea โ
What if your monthly phone bill could change the world?
That's the story of Wade and Koddi Dunn!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Wade and Koddi open up about:
๐ How they met online before DMs were even a thing โ and talked through the night until the sun came up
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Building a blended family of seven children spanning two decades โ and why their favourite destination is the family group chat
๐ฑ Love Mobile โ the cell phone company built entirely on the belief that every phone bill should give back to the community
๐ซ Four pillars of giving: education, the environment, community services, and pet adoption โ hyper local, hyper meaningful
๐ A first date at the aquarium โ because when you've talked online for weeks across 600 miles, you make the first meeting count
๐ฌ A national TV appearance on House Hunters on Vacation โ six kids, matching outfits across three days of filming, and memories they still laugh about today
๐ Wonder trips โ no destination, just a full tank of gas, an open road, and a conversation that solves the world's problems before they get back home
๐บ Koddi's secret passion โ international dramas watched only in their native language, subtitles and all, with their nine-year-old locked in right beside her
โค๏ธ And their shared philosophy โ don't just build a business, build a legacy that your children can point to and say, my parents saw a problem and tackled it head on!
From a kitchen table conversation about the state of the worldโฆ
to a telecom company that turns every subscriber's bill into an act of love โ
Wade and Koddi are proof that the most powerful businesses are built not on strategy, but on purpose, partnership, and an unshakeable belief that people come first!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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โLife is an Adventure. Jump out of a Plane. Live your Ikigai. Find your Happy Place!โ โ Veni Folta, Chief Happiness Officer at The Inspired Action Group, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From Portuguese Macau to British Hong Kong to the United Statesโฆ
from a Category 5 hurricane that wiped out her dream job in a single dayโฆ
to nearly three decades in telecom, two of them in international roamingโฆ
to becoming the Chief Happiness Officer helping leaders reclaim their lives โ
Veni's journey is unlike anything you've heard on this show before!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Veni opens up about:
๐ A life that began in Macau, moved through Hong Kong, and eventually landed in Seattle โ shaped by colonial history, cultural richness, and remarkable resilience
๐ Her bestselling book "I QUIT: How To Lose Your Job and Find Your Dream Career" โ and why losing your job might just be the best thing that ever happens to you!
๐ง How a decade of studying neuroscience and cognitive positive psychology became her second calling โ and ultimately her life's purpose
โ๏ธ The pandemic that stopped all roaming traffic โ and paradoxically launched the most meaningful chapter of her career
๐ช Skydiving at 14,000 feet over a coral reef in Saipan at sunset โ as a team building exercise โ because why not?
๐ Snorkeling between two tectonic plates in freezing Icelandic waters โ and accidentally meeting the former president of Iceland, who had quietly become a park ranger
๐ถ Walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and the Kumano Kodo in Japan โ because some journeys are meant for the soul, not the schedule
๐ The health crises โ cancer, depression, a brain bleed from a concussion โ that taught her the most important lesson of all: you cannot serve others from an empty cup
โค๏ธ And her life's mission โ helping people break old patterns, rewire their brains, reclaim their power, and finally come alive
From roaming partnerships to the science of happiness โ
Veni is proof that sometimes the most extraordinary career pivots begin not with a plan, but with a crisis, a curiosity, and the courage to begin again!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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"I would tell my younger self โ stop playing it safe. Be braver. Be bolder. And believe, really believe, that you are capable of more than you think!" โ Mike Mills, Managing Director (Service Providers) at Gamma, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From handing out free internet CDs at a PC World store in the north of Englandโฆ
to discovering the company that built all the infrastructure behind those very CDsโฆ
to joining them and building a career that has spanned 25 extraordinary years โ
Mike's journey into telecom is fascinatingly brilliant!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Mike opens up about:
๐ป How a single day spent at an internet company during university changed the entire direction of his life
๐ Inheriting a declining, unloved division at Gamma โ and growing it from ยฃ12M to ยฃ96M almost entirely through organic growth
๐ Three consecutive wins at the Global Comms Awards for Best Sales Team โ a feat that very few teams anywhere in the world can claim!
๐ฏ The world of 'twincidents' โ life with an identical twin brother Steve, who also works at Gamma, and the endless cases of mistaken identity that keep the industry on its toes!
๐ Three Hungarian Vizslas who have made countryside walks a non-negotiable part of his daily life โ and he wouldn't have it any other way
๐ The 13-year-old who cleared over five metres in long jump and represented his county โ until fate had other plans at 14
๐ช Six Tough Mudders completed, electrocution and all โ before finally drawing a very firm line in the mud
โฝ A lifelong Newcastle United fan โ more heartbreak than glory, but last season gave him just enough reason to keep believing
โค๏ธ And his quiet but powerful north star โ be a good person, treat people with kindness, and invest genuinely in the success of others!
From Newcastle to Surrey, from dial-up internet to UCaaS and beyond โ
Mike is living proof that staying curious, staying loyal, and daring to be bold can take you further than any shortcut ever will!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
#HumansOfTelecom #Podcast #Telecom #HumanStories
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"I have never once walked into a room and thought โ I wonder if I belong here. And I want every woman in this industry to feel exactly the same way!" โ Stephanie Lashley, VP Messaging Strategic Alliances & Infrastructure at Bandwidth, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From a mother who came home and talked about telecom at the dinner tableโฆ
to a young girl who grew up fascinated by the industryโฆ
to someone who has spent over two decades helping shape how the world messages โ
Stephanie's story is one of roots, reinvention, and remarkable impact!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Stephanie opens up about:
๐ฑ Working on RCS back in 2012 โ over a decade before the world caught up โ and what it feels like to finally see it come to fruition
๐ Joining Bandwidth when messaging was barely a side project โ and helping build it into a full-blown AI-powered RCS platform over seven years
๐ Her lifelong love for interior design โ from repainting walls on a whim to refinishing hardwood floors with nothing but determination and YouTube
๐ฆ A little garden that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds โ because some of the best recharging happens close to the earth
๐บ๏ธ Visiting all 50 US states โ with just three left to go โ and a travelogue that the world is waiting to read
๐งฌ 98% Sicilian DNA, ancestry traced back to the 14th century, and a salt mine in Trapani named after her family
โ๏ธ A book written in the fifth grade that won recognition at the Young Authors Convention โ the first chapter of a lifelong love for writing
๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ง And the Women in Messaging initiative โ born as a dinner for five, now growing to 50 and beyond โ because every woman deserves a seat at the table
From Kansas City to Palermo to the global messaging stage โ
Stephanie is proof that when you lead with inclusion, show up with empathy, and never stop creating, the industry takes notice!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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"I stumbled into sales. I stumbled into Facebook. I stumbled into Singapore and met my wife. And somehow, every stumble took me somewhere better!" โ Deepesh Trivedi, CEO at UIB.ai, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From a small town in North London called Watfordโฆ
to employee number 20 at Facebook's London officeโฆ
to the front row of WhatsApp's global expansionโฆ
to now leading a conversational AI company in Singapore โ
Deepesh's journey is one of instinct, courage, and beautiful timing!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Deepesh opens up about:
๐ How a recruiter's phone call in 2008 changed everything โ and why joining Facebook was the best career decision he ever made
๐ฌ What it was really like working at WhatsApp before it made a single dollar โ and helping shape how it monetized for the first time
๐ธ The teenage band that almost made it โ and the guitar he's been playing since he was eight years old
๐ How moving to Singapore for a year turned into 15 years โ all because of one person he met in the office on week three
โฝ Sundays with his almost-three-year-old son at football โ and why fatherhood has been the most rewarding pivot of his life
๐ A 5 to 7k run around Singapore when the mind gets too loud โ and how movement brings him clarity like nothing else can
โค๏ธ And his core belief as a leader โ invest in people, do the right thing, and the rest will follow
From Watford to WhatsApp to the world โ
Deepesh is proof that the best decisions in life and career are often the ones you stumble into with an open mind and a willing heart!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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"I've worked in telecom, in modeling, in hairdressing. Every single one taught me the same thing โ show up, stay calm, and finish the job!"
โ Natalia Derkach, Director of Carrier Relations & Sales at Nuetech Stack, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From the snow-covered streets of Novosibirsk, Siberiaโฆ
to the neon-lit corridors of Seoul, South Koreaโฆ
to the fast-moving world of carrier relations and CPaaS โ
Natalia's journey is one of courage, curiosity, and quiet power!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Natalia opens up about:
๐ How she accidentally walked into telecom 15 years ago โ and never once looked back
๐ก The bold move of building an international department from scratch โ with nothing but LinkedIn, good English, and sheer determination
๐ฎ Her secret life as a rune reader โ the ancient art of predicting the future, with a 90% accuracy rate to back it up
๐ The runway fall that taught her the most important lesson of her modelling career โ and of her life
โ๏ธ The hairdressing practice session that ended with a cut ear โ and a very important lesson in staying calm under pressure
๐ฑ The rescue cat she gave a home to when no one else would โ because that's just who she is
๐ง How yoga, meditation, and travel keep her grounded in a world that never stops moving
โค๏ธ And her life philosophy โ connecting business and humanity, logic and intuition, strength and empathy
From Siberia to Seoul to the global telecom stage โ
Natalia is proof that when you lead with integrity and follow your truth, the world has a way of finding you!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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"I want to learn early to slow down and enjoy the journey. Sometimes we spend many years focused on moving forward โ and only later do you realize how important it is to pause, appreciate the process, and enjoy the moment." โ Santiago Marquez, CEO at Wholesale Congress Series, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From selling ad space in a telecom magazineโฆ
to attending his first wholesale industry event with wide eyes and a curious mindโฆ
to building the world's largest gathering for the global messaging ecosystem โ
Santiago's journey is one of vision, patience, and people!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Santiago opens up about:
๐ How a chance encounter with the wholesale telecom world in 2006 sparked an idea that would take years to become reality
๐ค The story behind Wholesale World Congress โ from dreaming of 500 attendees, to welcoming over 2,000 today
๐ค Why his customers literally convinced him to take over a struggling event โ and how that became LAWC in Buenos Aires
๐ฅ His deep love for whiskey โ not just the taste, but the craft, the tradition, and the storytelling behind every bottle
๐ฆ And yes โ over 1,000 unopened bottles in his collection. Yes, you read that right!
๐จ๏ธ The night shift at a printing press that taught him more about design and detail than any classroom ever could
๐จโ๐งโ๐ฆ Two sons, Felipe and Vicente โ his other world, his greatest anchor
โค๏ธ And his simple but powerful life philosophy: treat others the way you'd like to be treated!
From Uruguay to Madrid to Buenos Aires to every corner of the telecom world โ
Santiago is proof that when you build with humility and lead with heart, an entire industry shows up for you!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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"I consider myself an artist! And early in my career, I realized โ art and strategy have a lot in common. Both are about creativity, solving problems, conveying a vision, and making something interesting... or even beautiful!" โ Gina Perini, Chair of the Board and CEO at SOMOS, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
What happens when a sharp intellectual property lawyerโฆ
gets handed a "boring" project nobody wantedโฆ
and ends up building a company that protects the trust and integrity of communications for millions?
You get a story like Gina's!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Gina opens up about:
โ๏ธ How a circuitous path from corporate law led her to reimagine how phone numbers are managed as digital identities
๐จ The secret artist in her โ oil painting, gardening, and why she brings a creative eye to everything, including strategy!
๐ด That time she cycled over 4,000 miles across the United States โ with the man who would become her husband of 25+ years
๐ Life in a 200-year-old home she and her husband have lovingly restored โ because old things deserve to be made new again!
๐ช Why weight training and Pilates aren't just about fitness โ they're about feeling grounded and ready to take on the world
๐ A life-changing trip to rural Tanzania, and a phrase on a classroom wall that stopped her in her tracks: "I am because we are"
๐ Her agile approach to life โ running personal retros, staying in continuous improvement mode, and learning to focus outward
โค๏ธ And why the greatest shift of her career wasn't a promotion or an award โ it was moving from 'me' to 'we'!
From Boston to the boardroom to the back roads of America โ Gina's journey is a masterclass in reinvention, purpose, and the quiet power of showing up with both heart and conviction!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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โSometimes your greatest journey begins with no plan โ just curiosity, courage, and a leap of faith.โ
โ Andrey Anikin, CEO at Alaris Labs, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
What happens when a linguistโฆ
becomes a schoolteacherโฆ
accidentally lands in technical supportโฆ
and ends up building one of the most trusted telecom software companies in the world?
You get a story like no other!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Andrey shares:
โก How a random job interview became the spark for a 22-year telecom journey
๐ The guts it took to leave a stable salary and build Alaris Labs from scratch
๐ธ The hidden musician with 10 guitars and a love for creating and performing
๐ฅ Why he believes amateur boxing is โmore chess than aggressionโ
๐โโ๏ธ How running long distances keeps his mind clear, focused, and creative
๐ His lifelong love for reading โ from Pushkin and Bulgakov to Ray Bradbury
๐จโ๐งโ๐ฆ What fatherhood has taught him about leadership, patience, and purpose
โค๏ธ And the one belief that guides his entire philosophy of life and work:
โThe greatest things are built on love.โ
From Russia to Singapore to Dubai to every telecom conference around the world โ
Andreyโs journey is a masterclass in resilience, discipline, humility, and heart!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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โI didnโt chase telecom out of passion โ I chased it out of necessity... But somehow, telecom became the nicest devil I could have sold my soul to!โ โจ
โ Polina Gardo, Roaming Wholesale Manager at Rakuten Mobile, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From studying analytical philosophy, logic, and existential risksโฆ
To navigating roaming wholesale at Rakuten Mobileโฆ
To finding grounding through nature, running, and the intimacy of Argentine tangoโฆ
Polinaโs journey is anything but ordinary!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Polina opens up about:
๐ง How game theory, moral calculus, and long-term risk analysis unexpectedly shaped her telco mindset
๐ Her global, nomadic life across Latvia, the UK, Vienna, Venice, Cape Town & Georgia
๐ฅ Why her first telecom event became a crash course in courage, honesty, and wearing the right shoes
๐ The experience of burnout โ and the power of a team that gives you space to heal
๐ถ Her secret life as a trained musician, logic nerd, and former national-level wakeboarding athlete
๐ And why Argentine tango teaches more about vulnerability, trust, and human connection than any classroom ever could!
Polinaโs story is a reminder that telecom isnโt just about roaming agreements or routing tables โ itโs about resilience, curiosity, community, and the courage to keep trying, even when life gets overwhelming!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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โLearn to be a great teammate! Iโve played on teams where I was the best, and teams where I clearly wasnโt โ and I learned a lot from both!โ ๐
โ Craig Lennon, Global Partnerships Lead at Google, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From growing up on the Jersey Shore surrounded by the telecom greatsโฆ
To shaping the way phone numbers are administered in the U.S.โฆ
To leading Googleโs global partnerships in voice and messaging โ
Craigโs story is one of grit, gratitude, and grounded leadership!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Craig reflects on:
๐ How a chance first job at Lucent Technologies launched a lifelong telecom journey
๐ค The human lessons behind managing billion-dollar partnerships at Google
๐ก Why taking chances (and even failing) early is key to growth
โค๏ธ The discipline of saying โnoโ and the art of leading with empathy
๐งญ His philosophy of service โ as a leader, teammate, and parent
โณ And why golf, family, and reflection keep him grounded amidst global chaos!
Craigโs journey reminds us that true success isnโt found in power, but in purpose โ
in serving others, building teams, and believing in yourself before the world does!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
#HumansOfTelecom #Podcast #Telecom #HumanStories #Google
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"I want to live to 150, and make every year to count โ full of passion, gratitude, and laughter!โ โค๏ธ
โ Carla Oliveira, Head of Sales (Wholesale) at Go4Mobility, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From being born in Angola and raised in Portugalโฆ
To finding her calling in telecom โ first in retail, then wholesaleโฆ
From interning at Portugal Telecom to leading global sales at Go4Mobilityโฆ
To becoming one of the top three women leaders in the telco industry โ
this is the story of Carla Oliveira, a woman whose energy, authenticity, and zest for life light up every room she walks into!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Carla opens up about:
๐ซ How telco โfound herโ and why she fell in love with connecting people
๐ The role of teamwork and purpose in creating lasting impact
๐ The deeply personal story of losing her mother mid-conference โ and honoring her legacy through strength and professionalism
๐ The power of dance, discipline, and daily joy
๐๏ธโโ๏ธ Why her 7 a.m. gym routine keeps her grounded and sane
๐ฐ That one time she won โฌ10,000 on a TV contest
โค๏ธ And her lifeโs mission โ to live to 150 with passion, gratitude, and purpose!
Carlaโs story reminds us that success is not only about achievement โ itโs about authenticity, empathy, and the courage to keep dancing through lifeโs highs and lows!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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โScale sensibly to sustain โ thatโs the only way to build a lasting company!โ ๐
โ Rajdip Gupta, Founder & Managing Director at Route Mobile Limited, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From bootstrapping Route Mobile in 2004 with just $2,000 and a second-hand PCโฆ
To building a $1.2 billion publicly listed global 'proficorn' (profitable unicorn) that is proudly 'Made in India, Built for the World'โฆ
To leading one of the largest CPaaS exits ever, and now steering the company within Proximus Group, along with Telesign and BICS as the newly formed Proximus Globalโฆ
Rajdipโs journey is a rare story of vision, resilience, and people-first leadership!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Rajdip opens up about:
๐ป The early days of coding Route Mobile on a 486 second-hand PC
๐ The rollercoaster ride from bootstrapped startup to IPO on Bombay Stock Exchange in 2020
๐ Scaling globally while staying rooted in values of profitability & sustainability
๐ His unreal cricket story โ from being denied a chance to play for lack of $30 spike shoes, to today owning Route Mobileโs professional cricket team
โค๏ธ His most emotional moment: when office boys and drivers became shareholders and cried seeing life-changing money in their accounts
๐ฟ And - along with his brother Sandip - diversifying through Sanraj Family Ventures which spans across telecom, hospitality, renewable energy, sports, and even a 350-bed charitable cancer hospital in Mumbai
Rajdipโs story reminds us that success isnโt just about creating enterprises, but about empowering people, creating opportunities, and giving back to society!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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โEven when life strips you of everything familiar, you still carry the power to rise again!โ ๐
โ Vimal Odedra, Founder & Director at LiYF Limited, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From being born in Uganda and forced to flee as a child during Idi Aminโs expulsionโฆ
To starting over in England with nothing but resilience and hopeโฆ
From building an IT career at British American Tobaccoโฆ
To venturing into telecoms with Annecto, launching innovative companies, and now embracing World Mobile Groupโs mission to connect the unconnectedโฆ
This is the story of Vimal Odedra โ a journey of grit, reinvention, and purpose!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Vimal opens up about:
๐ข His familyโs steamboat voyage from Uganda to the UK
๐ฌ His brother Vj Odedra - one of the worldโs leading breathwork masters โ pioneering the use of COโ science to help unlock peak performance through the power of breath
๐ฑ The moment a woman begging with two mobile phones made him see telecom as a life-changing force
๐ก Why innovation is his constant north star
๐ Launching a fashion label at London Fashion Week and producing his first dance album
๐ฟ His grounding practices in Reiki, nature, and energy alignment
โค How his company LIYF supports womenโs health โ tackling PCOS, endometriosis, menopause, and more
Vimalโs story is proof that technology is at its best when it serves humanity.
Itโs about balancing ambition with empathy, finding harmony in chaos, and choosing courage โ every single time!
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices shaping the industry and inspiring the human spirit!
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"My wow moment hasnโt happened yet โ and thatโs what keeps me moving!" ๐
โ Mila Budylo, Chief Commercial Officer at BSG, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From lecturing in linguistics to leading one of the industryโs most prominent A2P hubsโฆ
From juggling three jobs in Ukraine just to make ends meetโฆ
To stepping โ almost by accident โ into telecom, and never looking backโฆ
This is the story of Mila Budylo: fearless, vibrant, and impossible to miss (just look for the brightest hair in the room ๐๐๐)!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Mila opens up about:
๐ Growing up and working in Western Ukraine during wartime, and the resilience it takes to keep building
๐ก Navigating 19 years in telecom โ from branded content to SMS, alternative messaging, AI voice & beyond
๐ก Why her most โwowโ career moment is still to come
๐ Finding calm in mountain walks with her three quirky Chinese-crested dogs
๐ฌ Her second life as a movie blogger with 80k followers
๐ And why she embraces color, rebellion, and a little irreverence in everything she does
Milaโs journey is a reminder that telecom isnโt just about connections between devices โ itโs about courage, joy, humor, and the human drive to keep showing up.
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that shape the industry and inspire the human spirit!
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"Curiosity, courage and listening โ that's what being human is to me!" ๐
โ Eva Gildum, Managing Director at Yaana Solutions, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From a chance internship at Telia during Denmarkโs GSM revolutionโฆ
To learning the ropes in data & financial clearing at Dan Netโฆ
From employee #1 at NeuString (building analytics where none existed)โฆ
To today leading Yaana Solutions โ supporting 130+ mobile operators worldwide.
This is the story of Eva Gildum โ a people-first leader who turned questions into products, and products into impact.
In this candid episode of Humans of Telecom, Eva explains how she:
๐ Challenged the status quo by putting autonomy and real decision-making back in the hands of telecom professionals
๐ Built analytics that translate complex roaming data into actionable value (and proved customers would pay for it)
๐ก Gained her masterclass in customer experience from none other than Disney!
Plus โ the human side youโll love:
๐โโ๏ธ A โmeditative runnerโ who clears her head on the road
๐ท A saxophone player who learned to perform for hundreds (and survived the stage nerves)
๐งฉ Quiet moments: puzzles, knitting and the introvert who also lights up the after-party
Evaโs story is a reminder that innovation is equal parts tech and trust โ and that curiosity + courage + listening make the best product teams.
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that shape the industry and inspire the human spirit!
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"You can sell a company โ but you canโt sell the heart youโve poured into it!" โค๏ธ
โ Andreas Felke, Board Advisor at IDM and AnyMessage, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal.
From a chance encounter with mobile messaging in a CocaโCola sweepstakeโฆ to building IDM into one of Europeโs largest telecom aggregators!
From selling it to a global playerโฆ to the rare moment of buying it back years later!
This is the story of Andreas Felke โ a journey of vision, grit, and coming full circle!
In this episode of Humans of Telecom, Andreas shares how a nonโtech founder built a global telecom business from scratch, navigated the highs of acquisition, endured the lows of watching his vision fade, and seized the onceโinโaโlifetime chance to take back what he started!
Beyond work, Andreas opens up about his unconventional adventures and passions:
โพ Surviving a nearโfatal baseball accident during his university days
๐ Kiteโsurfing as his ultimate escape and source of energy
๐ค Building businesses where respect outweighs titles every single time
Andreasโs story is a reminder that business is never just business โ itโs deeply human. Itโs about protecting what youโve built, staying true to your values, and finding the courage to return to where it all began.
๐ง Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that shape the industry and inspire the human spirit.
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"Life is not a race. There is always time to grow, and always a chance to start again." ๐ซ
โ Simona Maga, Head of Sales and Operations at Sparkle, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal
From a small Italian town near the French borderโฆ
To Brazil, Switzerland, the U.S., and back to Rome...
From dreams of being a painterโฆ
To leading global telecom strategy at one of the most respected names in the businessโฆ
This is the story of Simona Maga โ and it's anything but ordinary.
In this deeply personal episode of Humans of Telecom, Simona opens up about her journey across continents, cultures, and career pivots. ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ โ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ,โ ๐๐ต๐ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ต๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐บ โ ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐น๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ. ๐ชโค
๐จ From brushstrokes to business strategy
๐โโ From the gym to the global stage
๐ From Rome with curiosity and courage
Simonaโs story is a beautiful blend of strength, creativity, and self-kindness โ a reminder that being human means being strong yet soft, driven yet gentle, and above all, true to yourself.
๐ง Tune in to this unforgettable episode on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that move the industry forward and remind us what it means to be human!
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โMentor someone so one day they can be your boss!โ
โ Sam Evans, Senior Managing Director at FTI Delta, in conversation with Anurag Aggarwal, Founder of Humans of Telecom
๐ Featured two years in a row in the Capacity Power 100 List, Sam isnโt just shaping telecom strategy โ heโs shaping people, communities, and careers.
In this new Humans of Telecom episode, we go beyond the polished boardrooms and industry roundtables to meet the rock band member turned marathon runner, the introvert who commands stages, and the father who jams to Taylor Swift with his daughters on weekends.
From the corridors of GSMA to the global influence of the ITW Leaders Forum, Sam takes us through the surprising stops along his journey โ
๐ก His first brush with media through free CDs and university radio
๐บ His TV moment on The Weakest Link
๐ Breakfast in the staff canteen of the U.S. Supreme Court
๐ฅ A quick foray into amateur boxing
๐ง And the mentors who helped shape the leader he is today
๐ฌ Honest, reflective, and full of insight โ Sam reminds us that passion and people always come before PowerPoint.
๐ง Tune in to this unforgettable episode on your favorite podcast platform, and follow Humans of Telecom for more extraordinary voices that move the industry forward and remind us what it means to be human!
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