In this episode of The Indianness Podcast, host Sanjay Puri sits down with Dr. Soumitra Dutta, Founding Dean of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and creator of the Global Innovation Index and Network Readiness Index. Dr. Dutta’s journey from academia to global leadership has been defined by innovation, impact, and a vision for digital transformation. Together, they explore how India’s global diaspora is shaping the future of innovation, governance, and AI policy — one transformative idea at a time. 

5 Key Takeaways 

• 🌍 How Dr. Dutta’s work on the Global Innovation Index became a global benchmark for over 100 countries. 
• 🧠 Insights into the intersection of AI, policy, and culture — and why “sovereign AI” matters for the Global South. 
• 🎓 Lessons from leading global institutions like Oxford and Cornell, and the mindset behind transformative academic leadership. 
• 🤝 Why collaboration between policymakers, technologists, and educators is key to ensuring responsible AI adoption. 
• 💡 Dr. Dutta’s reflections on Indianness — how values, resilience, and curiosity shape the Indian global identity. 

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe to The Indianness Podcast for more inspiring conversations with global changemakers. 🌏✨ 

Resources Mentioned: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/soumitra-dutta/