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

WTF is with Nikhil Kamath

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 a testament to woman entrepreneurs 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. Follow #NikhilKamath here: Twitter https://twitter.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/ Koo https://www.kooapp.com/profile/Nikhilkamath Follow #KiranMazumdarShaw here: Twitter https://twitter.com/kiranshaw Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kiranmazumdar_shaw/?hl=en Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmazumdarshaw/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KiranShaw1/#nikhilkamath #WTFiswithNikhilKamath #biocon #kiranmazumdarshaw #biotechnology #biopharmaceutics #pharma #medicine #women #dna #technology #enzymes #biology #brewing #beer #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #startup 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