How to… escape The Money Trap with Alok Sama
Tue Jan 20 2026
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-f881b5eeadad
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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-f881b5eeadad Enjoying The C-Suite Framework? Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Leave a 5★ rating or quick review Share this episode with a leader navigating uncertainty