Alok Sama

Money doesn't give you control — perspective does. Former SoftBank CFO and bestselling author Alok Sharma joins The C-Suite Framework to unpack what really happens inside financial bubbles, how AI is quietly reshaping white-collar work, and why the biggest career breakthroughs often arrive disguised as failure. Drawing on his experience leading multi-billion-dollar deals at SoftBank, overseeing the acquisition of ARM Holdings, and navigating extreme wealth and pressure, Alok reflects on decision-making under uncertainty, operational leadership, and the human cost of success. You'll learn how to: Shift perspective when navigating bubbles and market hype Recognise when leverage, not valuation, creates real risk Understand how AI is already displacing white-collar roles Prepare for career inflection points disguised as setbacks Balance operational execution with long-term vision Make better decisions by knowing your own cognitive limits About Alok: Alok Sama is the author of the bestselling literary memoir The Money Trap: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble. He serves as a Senior Advisor to Warburg Pincus LLC, chairs the Advisory Board for Valhalla Ventures and is a director of Baer Capital Partners. He was formerly President & CFO of SoftBank Group International ("SBGI") and Chief Strategy Officer for SoftBank Group ("SBG"). While at SoftBank, Alok led the $59bn merger of Sprint and T-Mobile, the $34bn acquisition of ARM Holdings Plc, the $10bn disposition of SoftBank's stake in Alibaba Group Holding, among many other deals. Alok has over 30 years of investment banking, capital market and investment experience in New York, London and Hong Kong. Alok was formerly a senior Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. Alok co-founded Baer Capital Partners, an alternative asset management firm. He continues to be a Director of Baer Capital. He is a member of the CNBC Global CFO Council, and a former Chairman of the London Chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO). He also holds an MFA for Creative Writing from NYU. Chapters: 01:15 — Writing The Last Bubble and avoiding "success memoir" clichés 03:44 — Writing, craft, and ego 07:30 — Are we really in a bubble? 09:43 — Valuations vs leverage 13:02 — Technology cycles and timing 16:21 — Operator vs visionary 20:57 — Wealth, control, and walking away 23:28 — Career breaks disguised as failure 25:39 — AI and job displacement 29:59 — What future generations should learn 32:51 — Immigration, identity, and storytelling Resources & Links: C-suite Framework courses & books: https://csuiteframework.co.uk/ Read Jenny's eight lessons from The Money Trap Read about Irish government funding fo the arts - https://www.ft.com/content/15a6d3b9-81c0-46c6-a4b7-f881b5eead

Money doesn’t give you control — perspective does. Former SoftBank CFO and bestselling author Alok Sharma joins The C-Suite Framework...

Alok Sama is an accomplished investor, advisor, and best-selling author with more than 40 years of global experience in the financial industry. Known for his work as the president and chief financial officer at SoftBank Group International, Alok has shaped some of the most significant corporate transactions in recent history—including leading the US$59 billion merger of Sprint and T-Mobile in 2020. Alongside his endless corporate accomplishments, Alok is the author of the best-selling literary memoir The Money Trap: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble , which gives readers unique insight into the world of finance and venture capitalists. In this episode of The Playbook: Conversations With Craig Budner, Alok dives into his upbringing in India, the powerful impact of having a mentor, and what led him to the world of finance—forever changing the trajectory of his life. Craig and Alok discuss Alok's interesting career path, including his time with Masayoshi Son, the Japanese founder of SoftBank and notorious startup investor, his observations on the future of artificial intelligence, and what financial freedom looks like to him.

Welcome back to another episode of SparX by Mukesh Bansal. Today our host Mukesh, founder of Myntra and Cure.fit is in conversation with Alok Sama, the former President and CFO of SoftBank Group International. In this episode, we dive into the concept of the "money trap" and how one can avoid its pitfalls. Alok discusses his latest book, "The Money Trap", and explores topics such as his inspiration behind the book, Masayoshi Son's investment strategies, SoftBank's investment pitfalls, and more. Resource list - The Money Trap by Alok Sama - https://amzn.in/d/g4Kpx8G Read more about Masayoshi Son - https://www.forbes.com/profile/masayoshi-son/ https://group.softbank/en/about/officer/son SoftBank Vision Fund - https://visionfund.com/in Al Gore won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize - https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2007/gore/facts/ Trump’s Gold Card - https://thedispatch.com/article/trump-gold-card-visa-immigration-explained/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-gold-card-eb5-visa-5-million-immigration-oligarch-cbs-news-explains/ DeepSeek AI - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yv5976z9po https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/american-ai-firms-try-poke-holes-disruptive-deepseek-2025-01-28/ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/is-deepseeks-rise-a-threat-to-american-ai-dominance-here-is-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/117610064.cms?from=mdr Travis Kalanick’s Resignation - https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-40352868 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/technology/uber-ceo-travis-kalanick.html?smid=url-share WeWork’s Downfall - https://accountancycloud.com/blogs/weworks-2-billion-disaster-what-went-wrong#:~:text=Adam%20Neumann%2C%20WeWork's%20founder%20and,fund%20his%20own%20personal%20projects . https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/9/23/20879656/wework-mess-explained-ipo-softbank Sarvam AI - https://www.sarvam.ai/

Send us Fan Mail In this exciting episode, listen to the former president and CFO of SoftBank Group International, Alok Sama, talk about the man behind the legend of Masayoshi Son. Is the iconic founder of SoftBank an iconic visionary who can predict the future or a lucky gambler who bets the house? Sama, the chief dealmaker of the most influential technology investor in the world, SoftBank, tells us the fascinating tale of private jets, 5000-dollar wines, dinners with tech bros, elaborate honey traps, corporate smear campaigns and mega-deals worth billions. Author of the new book “The Money Trap”, a gripping memoir of his years at SoftBank and Morgan Stanley, Sama talks to Sarkar about the high points and low points of a roller coaster career in high finance. How do you value future technology? How much of investing is art, not science? Is growth at all costs worth it? How do you balance ambition and wellness? And what’s a good time to break free from the money trap? Listen to Sama and Sarkar debate all these topics and more in this unmissable episode of Money Majlis. Please visit give.moneymajlis.com to get your free Money Majlis GiveCard that you can redeem to contribute to a charity of your choice. Join our giving movement today. Research by : Shekhar Krishnamurthy Production : Poddster “Giving” partner: Goodworld

Join us for Episode 8 of Season 3 of the Blume Podcast - Winning Beyond Boundaries, featuring Alok Sama, former President and CFO of SoftBank Group International in conversation with Karthik Reddy of Blume Ventures. In this fascinating conversation, Alok shares insights from his remarkable journey across global finance and technology, including orchestrating some of the largest deals in tech history, like the $59B Sprint-T-Mobile merger and SoftBank's $34B acquisition of ARM. Drawing from his recent book "The Money Trap: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble," Alok offers a candid look at working alongside Masayoshi Son during SoftBank's most volatile period, unpacks three decades of experience in investment banking and VC, and shares valuable lessons on navigating complex global deals. From his early days in Delhi to shaping Morgan Stanley's TMT practice in Asia-Pac and eventually becoming one of Masa Son's closest advisors, Alok's story is a masterclass in understanding global markets and tech ambition. Currently a senior advisor at Warburg Pincus, he continues to influence the intersection of technology and finance. Key topics discussed: The journey from Delhi to global finance ⁠Behind-the-scenes of major tech deals Working with Masayoshi Son The future of technology and AI India's evolving tech ecosystem Lessons from a career in global dealmaking Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction and early SoftBank days 1:05 - Welcome and guest introduction 2:54 - Growing up in Delhi and early influences 6:42 - Indian influences and cricket passion 9:46 - Journey into mathematics and finance 15:33 - Serendipity in career choices 20:57 - Writing "The Money Trap" 24:01 - Morgan Stanley years and global deals 31:05 - Understanding mega-deals 38:40 - Masayoshi Son's unique qualities 41:49 - Vision Fund and investment strategy 47:57 - Future of technology and AI 54:19 - India's startup ecosystem 1:03:12 - Current role at Warburg Pincus 1:05:03 - Rapid fire questions This episode is brought to you by IDFC First Bank, a committed partner to India's startup community. IDFC First Bank continues to foster innovation and support entrepreneurship, playing a crucial role in the growth journey of numerous startups, including many Blume portfolio companies. #BlumePodcast #TechInvestment #StartupIndia #VentureCapital #SoftBank #GlobalFinance #Leadership #MasayoshiSon #TechDeals #InvestmentBanking #IndianStartups #GlobalTech #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #BusinessLeadership #VCFunding #TechnologyInvestment #DigitalTransformation #StartupGrowth #MergersAndAcquisitions #TechIndustry #BusinessStrategy #InvestorInsights #FutureOfTech #AITechnology #IndianTech

Join Michelle Martin on a special edition of Money and Me , with guest Alok Sama, the former insider at Softbank turned bestselling author of The Money Trap: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble . Alok offers a behind-the-scenes look at SoftBank’s bold bets on companies like WeWork, Alibaba, and Nvidia. Discover insights into Masayoshi Son’s visionary approach, what Sama thinks of SoftBank’s $500 million OpenAI investment, and the pitfalls of inflated tech valuations. Alok shares lessons on identifying sustainable growth and navigating common money traps in the venture capital world. Michelle describes the book as a riveting must-read for anyone curious about the intersection of finance, tech, and AI, reinventing oneself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this first edition of The Core Report: Business Books, Financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj interviews Alok Sama, author of The Money Trap, discussing his experiences at SoftBank and Morgan Stanley. Sama's book reflects on the allure and pitfalls of wealth accumulation within the tech industry, using anecdotes from his career. The conversation explores the complexities of influential figures like Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's founder and Sama also shares his personal journey, explaining his departure from high-powered finance and his transition into writing. Finally, he offers insights into market cycles and the nature of risk-taking in the investment world. The pursuit of money can be a trap. Sama uses the phrase "money trap" to describe the allure of money and the difficulty of breaking free from the pursuit of it. He argues that there's always something more to buy, a bigger play, a bigger home, leading individuals to become trapped in a cycle of wanting more. Sama portrays high-stakes finance personalities not as good or bad but as complex individuals with a mixture of admirable qualities and potentially reckless tendencies. For example, Sama describes Masayoshi Son, the founder of SoftBank, as a "futurist visionary" with a remarkable ability to foresee and invest in disruptive technologies, such as the smartphone revolution, the internet, and AI. Alok’s background in investment banking and finance informs his analysis of investment trends and the psychology of risk-taking. He brings a critical and analytical lens to his examination of the tech industry and the decisions made by investors, drawing on his understanding of financial markets, valuation methods, and risk assessment. (00:00) - Introduction (03:16) - Early Career and Influences (08:46) - Adapting to Change and Taking Risks (13:56) - The Importance of Perspective in Business (18:11) - Lessons from Masa and Technology Investing (24:16) - Investing in India and Beyond (25:40) - The Psychology of Risk-Taking (28:18) - Reflections on Investment Successes and Failures (31:16) - The Story Behind the Book (36:05) - Conclusion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listeners! We await your feedback....⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirements. For more of our coverage check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecore.in⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join and Interact anonymously on our whatsapp channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube

Today on Equity, Former SoftBank Group International President Alok Sama joins Rebecca Bellan ahead of the launch of his new book THE MONEY TRAP: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble. Here's what the pair got into: What Apple's AI announcements could mean for startup innovation and companies like ARM and Nvidia Concerns about the circularity of investments and unusual follow-on rounds led by VCs. IPO alternatives in a slow public market High valuations, the risk of over-investment and how to know when a bubble is going to pop. Equity will be back on Friday, so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes over at Simplecast . Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices