Karuna Nundy on the Pursuit of Excellence | Alpha Women Ep. 2 x Salone Sehgal

Most people know Karuna Nundy from the outcomes. This conversation is about the thinking behind them. In Episode 2 of Alpha Women, Karuna Nundy speaks with Salone Sehgal about why litigation feels like “living or dying,” why hard work creates brilliance, and how power, incentives and political economy shape justice itself. The conversation moves from courtrooms to institutions, from feminism to AI, and from public perception to the emotional discipline required to operate in systems where the stakes are consistently high. Karuna reflects on excellence, endurance, structural inequality, and why becoming “undeniable” is often the price women pay to be heard. A sharp conversation on law, ambition, technology and what it takes to sustain conviction over decades. 00:00 - Precap 01:20 - Introducing Karuna Nundy 02:57 - Episode Introduction 03:36 - Karuna Nundy on Her Career & Love for Litigation 06:38 - Lessons from Losses & the Fight for Justice 11:56 - Excellence, High Standards & Uncertain Outcomes 14:39 - Patriarchy, Gender Bias & Women in Law 27:02 - Navigating a Male-Dominated Profession 31:34 - Gender Constructs, Biology & Workplace Balance 42:16 - Family, Money & Generational Shifts 48:24 - Balancing Corporate Law with Human Rights Work 51:32 - Winning the Paytm Telecom Case 53:05 - Criminal Law & Exploring Different Specialisations 55:32 - AI, Technology & the Future of Legal Work 1:01:58 - From Girlhood to Womanhood: The Idea of Alpha Women 1:06:08 - What “Alpha” Means to Karuna Nundy 1:07:05 - Outro Subscribe to Alpha Women for conversations with women shaping business, law, capital and culture in India. In partnership with Spotify | Media Partner: Outlook Business #KarunaNundy #AlphaWomen #IndianLaw #LeadershipPodcast #WomenInLaw #AI