Work Stew Podcast

Listen to the interview by clicking the arrow on the audio player below.

I’m always drawn to stories that involve connecting a job to a childhood passion. In this interview, entrepreneur Wilfred Martis told me about his “jobby”—the first role he’s had that  melds his professional pursuits with his life-long passion for cars.

About Wilfred Martis: Wilfred is the founder of CHARIOTZ.com, a photo-based storytelling site for the custom and classic automobile markets. CHARIOTZ helps auto enthusiasts get inspired, discover new ideas, and then connect with modification/restoration businesses that can turn their dreams into reality.

Prior to founding CHARIOTZ, Martis was the Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Soraa Inc., a leading developer of LED lighting products. Martis also spent 13 years at Intel, in several engineering, business and management roles, primarily focused on the consumer electronics and embedded markets. Most recently, he was the General Manager of Retail Consumer Electronics, where he was responsible for Intel’s Digital TV and Blu-ray business. Martis also founded and ran Vistify, an Internet Appliance start-up incubated by Panasonic.

Martis holds a BSEE from Bangalore University, India, an MSEE from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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Listen to the interview by clicking the arrow on the audio player below.

Today I connected with Indira Nair, a friend and former colleague based in Kuala Lumpur. Indira is a seasoned communications professional who used to work for Malaysia Airlines.

Ever since Flight 370 went missing on March 8, I’ve found myself wanting to speak with Indira, not to speculate on what happened (there’s been plenty of that already) and not to dissect the airline’s handling of the crisis (it’s far too soon for a considered analysis). Instead, I hoped simply that Indira might share her perspective on this long, strange month—as a Malaysian, as a former employee of the airline, and as a veteran communications counselor. She did, and I’m grateful to her for sharing her views. 

About Indira Nair: Indira Nair, has more than 30 years of experience as a communications professional. Prior to founding her current firm, Influence 360, Nair served as Director, Communications for the Malaysian government’s economic transformation program (PEMANDU). Prior to that, she worked for Malaysia Airlines, where she played a key role in the airline’s turnaround as a member of the senior leadership team.

In the course of her career, Nair has also worked with a number of global communications agencies, including Edelman Worldwide, Burson-Marstellar, and Ogilvy Public Relations.  

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