Naren Balakrishnan (@naren.bala) is a Partner at Grant Thornton LLP.
He joins Ara on this week’s episode of #TheTamilCreator to discuss his past life being an engineer at IBM, the $3 billion-plus tax credits that are given out in Canada every year, his relationship with money including how he invests, why companies need to consider & take advantage of the SRED program, and more!
Follow Naren:
– LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalakrishnan/)
– Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/naren.bala/)
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00:19 – Ara introduces this week’s guest, Naren Balakrishnan
01:00 – Naren’s upbringing, family life, and path to becoming a software engineer
03:24 – What he liked, and didn’t like, as a software engineer; a passion for problem-solving
05:32 – Making the switch to work in a technology-based role
08:22 – Government Canada’s SRED (Scientific Research and Experimental Development) program
10:46 – Naren explains how Grant Thornton adds value to its customers
15:37 – The types of companies that eligible to apply for SRED
17:31 – How Naren would enhance the SRED program if he had a say in policy
20:38 – The amount of money Canadian companies spend on R&D; what are they spending it on?
24:36 – How Naren’s friends/family reacted to his career change
27:12 – His biggest learning lesson in the last 3-5 years; how to deal with people
29:54 – The personal legacy he wants to be remembered for by his friends and family
32:06 – Advice he would give his 16-year-old self
33:32 – Naren’s relationship with money; saving and investments
34:52 – His favourite ways to consume new information; podcasts, articles, etc.
37:50 – Investments being poured into enhancing space
39:09 – How COVID-19 impacted Naren; physical activity and seizing the moment
41:51 – Creator Confessions
50:00 – The Wrap Up
Intro Music
Produced And Mixed By:
– The Tamil Creator
– Yanchan
Written By:
– Aravinthan Ehamparam
– Yanchan Rajmohan
