10X Growth Strategies

This episode features our host Preethy Padmanabhan in conversation with authors of the book Sail to Scale: Steer Your Startup Clear of Mistakes from Launch to Exit. The book is a practical guide for entrepreneurs, written by Mona Sabet, Heather Jerrehian, and Maria Fernandez Guajardo. The book draws on the authors' collective experience as successful entrepreneurs, executives, and investors to help founders avoid the most common pitfalls that cause startups to fail Sail to Scale is designed for prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs, as well as anyone involved in the startup ecosystem. Its lessons, though often illustrated with SaaS and tech examples, are broadly applicable to a wide range of businesses. The book stands out for its clear organization, visual metaphors, and focus on both what to do and what not to do at each stage of growth Topics: 00:00 Welcome to the 100th Episode of 10X 01:00 Heather's Inspiring Career Journey 02:57 Mona's Multifaceted Career Path 05:43 Maria's AI-Driven Mission 07:19 The Birth of 'Sale to Scale' 12:15 Key Lessons from the Launch Phase 20:18 Navigating the Pivot Wave with Hitch 24:46 Scaling Companies: The 10X Growth Mindset 25:23 Paradoxes of Scaling: Leadership and Focus 29:07 Hiring Strategies for Scaling Companies 29:48 The Importance of Avoiding Single Points of Failure 30:03 Turnover in Scaling Companies: A Necessary Challenge 30:47 The Final Wave: Navigating Exits and Acquisitions 39:05 AI's Impact on Launch Phases and MVPs 42:05 Distribution Fit: The Key to Market Success 44:07 Final Thoughts: Diverse Paths to Success

In this powerful episode of the 10X Growth Strategies podcast, host Saradha Sriram speaks with Naren Shanker — serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Hosted AI — on the transformative power of inner work, mindfulness, and navigating entrepreneurship through intuition. Drawing from his journey and the teachings of The Journey Within by Sri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Naren offers real-world insights on aligning purpose with profession, cultivating resilience, and the true cost (and reward) of self-awareness. If you're seeking clarity, calm, and grounded success in a world of noise — this is the conversation for you.

We are excited to present this live panel moderated by our host Preethy Padmanabhan. "Unleashing AI startups in Climate", features the following successful entrepreneurs with a climate tech background. ​Aimee Gotway Bailey, CEO, Rock Rabbit ​Divya Demato, CEO, GoodOps ​Reetu Gupta, Founder, Pistachio Advisory & Co-Founder Clean Table ​Karan Chopra, Co-Founder, Earthena AI AI startups are uniquely positioned to accelerate climate action, offering scalable, data-driven solutions that can reshape industries and help achieve net-zero goals. By harnessing the power of AI, these startups are not only mitigating climate risks but also unlocking new opportunities for a sustainable future     00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome 00:14 Panelist Introductions 01:03 Panelist Backgrounds and Climate Journeys 04:38 Challenges and Opportunities in Climate Work 13:58 Measuring Impact in Climate Tech 22:06 Energy Efficiency and Modernization 22:42 Climate Tech and AI Integration 23:43 Superpowers in Sustainability 26:34 Entrepreneurial Journeys in Climate Tech 29:54 Fundraising Strategies and Challenges 33:43 Impact of Policy and Economic Conditions on Climate

We are excited to present this live panel moderated by our host Preethy Padmanabhan. In  this live panel "Navigating the Fintech Frontier: VC Insights for 2025 and Beyond", an insightful panel featuring prominent venture capitalists and successful entrepreneurs with a fintech background. ​The fintech landscape is poised for significant transformation in 2025, presenting both challenges and opportunities for venture capitalists. This panel will explore the latest trends, investment strategies, and emerging technologies shaping the future of financial technology. This panel offers a unique opportunity for founders and startup teams to gain insider knowledge from industry leaders guiding the next generation of high-growth fintech ventures. 00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome 00:22 Panelist Introductions 03:57 Journey into Venture Capital 04:58 FinTech Investment Trends and Outlook 12:27 Advice for Entrepreneurs 15:21 Identifying and Supporting Unicorns 20:33 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

The podcast features Saradha Sriram, host of 10X Growth Strategies, interviewing Paul Singh, who is one of the researchers for the book Billions Dollar Lessons, and is the CEO of 1Gen, a social innovation organization with a diverse portfolio. Paul shares his journey into studying business failures and the valuable insights gained from researching colossal business mishaps. Paul emphasizes the relevance of learning from failures and how modern businesses can avoid similar pitfalls. Tune in to discover how the Devil's Advocate approach can stress-test strategies and ensure sustainable business success. Topics: 00:00 Introduction  00:28 Discussing 'Billion Dollar Lessons' 03:22 The Synergy Myth 04:23 Importance of People and Culture in Mergers 06:03 Learning from Market Disruptions 09:24 The Devil's Advocate Approach 14:02 Practical Applications and Modern Context 20:02 Final Thoughts and Future Implications 25:34 Conclusion and Gratitude

In this episode of the 10X Growth Strategies Podcast, host Arthi Vijayaraghavan introduces Saania Saxena, the young author of 'Teenage Chronicles'. Saania delves into the emotional rollercoaster experienced by teenagers, touching on themes like insecurities, love, and anxiety. 'Teenage Chronicles' has gained significant acclaim, ranking among the top 15 bestsellers in Indian airports. Saania, who has traveled to over 50 countries and is pursuing marketing at the University of Washington, Seattle, shares her journey of writing the book and learning about self-acceptance. She also discusses how interviews with friends from various cultural backgrounds contributed to the book. Arthi and Saania explore the impact of heartfelt quotes and the importance of friendships. Saania recommends two influential books, 'The Forty Rules of Love' and 'The Midnight Library,' which have shaped her philosophical outlook. The episode is a deep dive into the emotional growth and wisdom gained through writing and friendships.   00:00 Introduction 00:37 Saania's Background and Achievements 01:33 The Inspiration Behind Teenage Chronicles 02:53 Exploring Themes in Teenage Chronicles 05:31 Interviewing Friends and Cultural Insights 09:19 Boys vs. Girls: Emotional Expression 16:04 The Importance of Friendships 23:32 Tools for Managing Emotions 24:47 Recommended Books and Closing Remarks

Join host Madhavi Ravanan in the latest episode of the 10x Growth Strategies podcast featuring Anoop Bhaskaran. Anoop shares his fascinating professional journey, his passion for reading, and delves deep into Ed Catmull's 'Creativity Inc.' Discover the intriguing backstories of Pixar's creation, the visionary leadership of Steve Jobs, and the impactful concept of the 'Brain Trust'. A conversation filled with inspiring quotes, personal anecdotes, and actionable insights for both professional and personal growth. Don't miss this engaging episode packed with the secrets behind Pixar's stupendous success! Topics 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:44 Anoop's Background and Career Journey 01:42 Anoop's Reading Habits 05:20 Discussion on 'Creativity Inc.' 07:04 The Pixar Story and Key Figures 21:25 The Brain Trust Concept 26:07 Favorite Quotes and Closing Thoughts

The podcast features Arthi Vijayaraghavan, host of 10X Growth Strategies, interviewing Ms.Laura Dansbury the VP Product & UX at Study.com. They discuss the book “Take back your power” by Ms.Deborah Liu with. The book lays down ten rules for women to take back their power at work. It showcases how women knowingly or unknowingly let got of their power at work and suggests ways to take it back.  Topics: 00:00 Introduction  01:07 Impact of 'Take Back Your Power' 03:03 Defining Power and Personal Reflections 05:45 Revoking Free Passes: Personal Stories 13:34 Building and Acknowledging Support Networks 25:18 Reflecting on Lifelong Friendships 25:40 Building and Defining Your Legacy 28:14 Coaching and Mentoring Aspirations 30:16 Finding and Using Your Voice 41:37 Navigating Career Setbacks 47:48 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

The podcast features Saradha Sriram, host of *10X Health*, interviewing Jaspreet Khokhar an IT Professional in Philadelphia. Join Jaspreet as he shares his transformative journey through organ donation – from confronting life's biggest challenges to embracing a second chance at life. It is a story of courage, hope, and new beginnings. Topic: 00:00 Introduction  01:05 Jaspreet's Initial Diagnosis 02:33 Emotional Journey to Acceptance 06:00 Preparing for Transplant 06:12 Living with Dialysis 18:22 Family and Support System 22:13 Clearing Misconceptions about Organ Donation 27:08 Proactive Steps for Organ Donation 31:33 Life After Transplant 35:24 Conclusion and Gratitude

Our first episode of 2025 will feature the Indian epic "Mahabharata" which is authored by Sage Vedavyasa. Our host, Preethy Padmanabhan guides an inspiring conversation with Tatyana Mamut, Co-founder and CEO of Wayfound. They discuss the concept of Dharma (duty, moral law) that plays a central role in the Mahabharata.  Tatyana was the Board Director and Chair of Comp Committee for UserTesting's IPO on NYSE. She is a leader and builder of successful new products & businesses at Nextdoor, Amazon, Salesforce, IDEO, and Pendo. She has 15 patents & patents pending for technology inventions, including 5 for GenerativeAI innovations. Topics: 00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Time 00:48 Welcome to 10x Growth Strategies Podcast 01:15 Guest Introduction: Tatyana Mamut 01:54 Tatyana's Personal Journey 04:09 Exploring the Mahabharata 07:29 Leadership Lessons from the Mahabharata 10:58 Key Takeaways on Leadership 15:40 Understanding Dharma and Duty 25:07 Lessons from Arjuna 34:11 Self-Awareness and Overcoming Failures 38:40 Final Words of Wisdom Read the book: Amazon - https://a.co/d/gyKPLHi  Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata 

The podcast features Saradha Sriram, host of *10X Growth Strategies*, interviewing Sujatha Jayagopal, MD Strategic Sales, Accenture. They discuss Behavioral personality types, communication strategies, leadership and management, and personal growth. Topics: 00:00 Introduction  00:23 First Impressions of 'Surrounded by Idiots' 01:07 Sujata's Journey and Career Background 03:37 Personality Types and Workplace Dynamics 07:59 Humor and Misunderstandings in Professional Settings 17:14 Women in Sales and Stand-Up Comedy 22:40 Empathy and Listening in Human Behavior 25:08 Conclusion and Gratitude

This episode features Madhavi Ravanan, a guest host of “10X Growth Strategies” in conversation with Kush Kochgaway - R&D Head for Enterprise Products at Nokia about the book The Psychology of Money. “The Psychology of Money” explores the psychological factors influencing our financial decisions. The podcast delves into Kush's insights, experiences and lessons on personal finance around the themes shared in the book.  Topics: 00:00 Introduction  00:49 Discussing 'The Psychology of Money' 02:39 The Power of Compounding 03:32 Personal Financial Journey 11:07 Key Takeaways from the Book 14:33 Impact of Market Crashes 19:07 Advice for the Younger Generation 21:11 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

Our VC panelists connect trailblazing, underrepresented and underserved founders with essential capital and access to world-class executives and industry leaders to unlock the exponential growth potential of their startup.The panel will also discuss the bestselling book "Love and Whiskey" by Fawn Weaver. This book is a vibrant exploration set in the present day, delving into the life and legacy of Nearest Green, the African American distilling genius who played a pivotal role in the creation of the whiskey that bears Jack Daniel's name. ❤️"Love & Whiskey" is an epic, true story about Jack Daniel and the distillery's first master distiller Nathan "Nearest" Green; at its center, is a story about business, friendship and history. But it's also about the extraordinary Fawn Weaver; her pursuit for truth and her rise to being the first Black woman to found and lead a company worth over a billion dollars. Topics: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:39 Unveiling 'Love and Whiskey' 02:02 Meet the Panelists 02:53 The Story Behind Untapped Investing 04:20 Parallels Between 'Love and Whiskey' and Untapped Investing 09:57 Principles and Values in Investing 17:29 Short-term Goals vs. Long-term Legacy 21:35 The Role of Resilience 25:28 Diversifying Investments for Lasting Success 30:36 Aha Moments and Final Words of Wisdom Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Whiskey-Remarkable-Distiller-Improbable/dp/1595911340 Explore Untapped Investing: https://www.untappedinvesting.co/

The podcast features Saradha Sriram, host of 10X Growth Strategies, interviewing Jonathan Sorenson, who advises and invests in early-stage startups, with a focus on AI and also focuses on coaching engineers and leaders to cultivate 10x engineers. Together, they explore how "The Culture Map" guides communication, leadership, trust, and decision-making across different cultures. Topics: 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:13 Meet Jonathan Sorenson 01:30 Defining Culture in Business 03:12 Communication Styles in Leadership 04:52 Challenges in Global Team Communication 06:41 Decision Making Across Cultures 10:04 Navigating Feedback Across Boundaries 14:31 Case Study: Automation Project Failure 18:35 Impact of Remote Work and Generational Changes 21:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The podcast features Preethy Padmanabhan, host of *10X Growth Strategies*, in conversation with Mercedes Bankston, Program Director at Founder Institute to discuss the book "Secrets of Sand Hill Road" by Scott Kupor. The book covers how venture capital firms operate, what investors look for in startups, and how to navigate the funding process. The podcast delves into these key insights, offering practical advice for those looking to grow their businesses with venture capital support.   Topics: 00:00 Introduction to Venture Investing 01:01 Meet Our Guest: Mercedes Bankston 01:51 Mercedes' Journey in the Startup World 03:12 Insights from 'Secrets of Sand Hill Road' 05:06 Understanding Venture Capital Dynamics 07:11 Global Perspectives on Startups 11:11 Impact of Venture Investing on Employment 15:16 Current VC Landscape in 2024 17:11 Market Trends and Political Factors 18:30 The Role of Founder Institute and VC Lab 20:52 Success Stories and Unique Funds 24:01 Future Outlook for Venture Investments 27:34 Advice for Entrepreneurs 28:42 Common Pitch Deck Mistakes 31:39 Final Thoughts and Resources

In this episode of the 10x Growth Strategies podcast, host Aarti Vijayaragavan converses with Urvashi Tyagi, CTO of Resmed, focusing on the pivotal role of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in personal and professional growth. This conversation features the book " Emotional Intelligence" by Dr.Travis Bradberry and Dr.Jean Greaves. They explore how EQ helps in self-management and introspection, and its influence in organizational leadership. Urvashi shares personal anecdotes, illustrating the impact of EQ on her career and personal life, while highlighting vital skills like self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship management. The discussion touches upon Urvashi's learnings from the book 'Emotional Intelligence' and its companion read 'Power' by Jeffrey Pfeffer, emphasizing that empathetic leadership fosters influence and empowerment.  Topics: 00:00 Introduction to Emotional Intelligence 01:23 Meet Urvashi Thyagi: A Leader in Digital Transformation 02:21 The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Personal and Professional Life 02:48 Understanding and Developing EQ Skills 04:55 The Role of Self-Awareness in Emotional Intelligence 15:21 Strategies for Self-Management and Introspection 19:15 The Power of Influence and Empathetic Leadership 25:30 Building and Maintaining Relationships 30:37 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the 10x Growth Strategies Podcast, host Preethy Padmanabhan discusses the book "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown with Amanda Heyman, Managing Partner at Tundra Ventures. They delve into the key ideas from the book exploring the importance of living by design rather than by default. Amanda shares her personal journey and career highlights, emphasizing the need to focus on what truly matters. They discuss the four steps to developing an essentialist mindset: explore, eliminate, and execute, and how to make effective trade-offs in life. Amanda provides practical insights on managing cognitive load, protecting personal energy, and creating intentional systems for success. 00:00 Introduction to Essentialism 01:25 Meet Amanda Heyman: Career Journey 04:03 Amanda's Venture into Startups 06:20 Founding Tundra Ventures 09:12 Discussing the Book 'Essentialism' 13:15 Applying Essentialism in Life 21:40 Personal Systems and Adaptability 24:36 Balancing Multiple Interests 25:31 The Paradox of Success 28:46 Developing Essentialism 35:24 Making Trade-Offs 40:22 Embracing Boredom and Reflection 44:06 Final Insights and Conclusion

In this episode, host Saradha Sriram interviews Guayente Sanmartin, the Division President for Commercial Systems and Displaced Solutions Business at HP Inc. They delve into Guayente's journey through various global leadership roles at HP, discussing how the book 'The Practice of Adaptive Leadership' has influenced her approach to leadership. Key concepts from the book such as distinguishing between technical and adaptive problems, and the 'balcony and dance floor' analogy are explored. Guayente also shares personal experiences and offers advice for young women in STEM and business, emphasizing the importance of resilience, self-awareness, and communication. The discussion provides insights into the future of adaptive leadership, especially in the context of AI and remote work. 00:00 Introduction to Adaptive Leadership 01:00 Meet Guayente Sanmartin 02:05 Guayente's Journey and Inspiration 03:44 Concepts from The Practice of Adaptive Leadership 06:39 Challenges in Implementing Adaptive Leadership 09:02 Balancing Stability and Change 11:49 Empowering Women in Leadership 15:04 Future of Adaptive Leadership 17:39 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

In this episode, host Preethy Padmanabhan features the book 'Masters of Corporate Venture Capital' with its author, Andrew Romans. Andrew, a seasoned venture capitalist and General Partner at 7BC Venture Capital, shares insights from his extensive career in Silicon Valley and corporate venture capital. The discussion dives into the motivations behind writing the book, key takeaways, and common challenges faced by CVCs. Andrew also highlights notable differences between corporate and financial VCs and offers practical advice for startups looking to raise from CVCs. The episode is packed with invaluable knowledge on navigating the fast-changing world of technology and innovation in corporate ventures.   Topics: 00:00 Introduction and Author Background 02:06 Career Journey and Venture Capital Experience 05:22 Motivation Behind Writing the Book 12:21 Key Takeaways from the Book 20:40 Common Challenges in Corporate Venture Capital 30:39 Differences Between VCs and CVCs 36:40 Tips for Startups Raising from CVCs 45:31 Final Insights and Conclusion   ----more----   Links: Connect with Andrew - https://www.linkedin.com/in/romans/ Buy Andrew's book here - Masters of Corporate Venture Capital You can also Download or Stream Free Chapter 1 from Masters of Corporate Venture Capital HERE. Andrew's Author profile - Amazon author page. Check out Andrew's podcast YouTube - Andrew Romans Spotify - Fireside with a VC

In this episode, our host Saradha Sriram features the book Biased by Jennifer L. Eberhardt. Our guest Gayathri Radhakrishnan has over two decades of multi-disciplinary experience across domains such as product management, product marketing, corporate strategy, M&A and venture investments. She is currently a Partner at Hitachi Ventures and in her role actively invests in technology startups that are enabling digital transformation. We explore: Gayathri's role in Venture investments and her insights from the book and her decision making process around unconscious bias. How do we talk about biases in the workplace, family etc. Need for institutional change and training and Gayathri's experiences on this

We feature the book “The rise of meritocracy by Michael Young '' with our guest Zoe Samuel and host Arthi Vijayaraghavan. The book is a satire on how the creation of the so-called merit based ruling class will reshape our society in the future. Our guest Zoe is a Venture partner at Starshot capital and she has previously worked at Google. At Google she co-created Anthropocene which supports Google Climate projects such as Project sunroof, Anthro Krishi and many more.  The book presents a historical context of how the merit based society has been shaped through the last century and its impact on the future as well.

In this episode, our host Saradha Sriram features the book The Steve Jobs Way by Jay Elliot and William L. Simon. Our guest, Sriram Krishnan, a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, has over 25 years of experience developing products and solutions leveraging advanced analytics and AI in life sciences and healthcare. He is the Chief R&D officer of Carenostics, a mission-driven startup focused on underdiagnosed and undertreated patients and getting them to Guideline Driven Therapy. We explore Steve Jobs': Leadership Style and Innovation Decision Making Process Impact on Technology and Culture This book provides not only a portrait of a visionary leader and practical insights and principles that can inspire the current and future generations.

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan had a candid and insightful discussion about the book “The Startup of You”, with Preetha Ram, Managing Partner at Pier70 Ventures. Check out the episode and gain valuable tips on how to 10X your career.  "The Startup of You" by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha is a guidebook for adapting the principles of entrepreneurship to personal career development. It emphasizes treating your career as a dynamic, ever-evolving startup. The authors advocate taking calculated risks, building valuable relationships, and continuously investing in your skills and adaptability. They stress the significance of embracing uncertainty and seizing opportunities for growth and innovation. Ultimately, the book encourages readers to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset to thrive in today's rapidly changing professional landscape.

In this episode, our host Arthi Vijayaraghavan discusses the book “The Triumph Framework" with author Ms.Talila Millman. Talila shares the framework which helps C-suite execs in startups, scale-ups to transform organizations through change management. Talila  is a leadership expert and growth catalyst. Through her advisory service, MillmanTech, she is the secret weapon CEOs and C-suite executives of scaleups and mid-market companies rely on to fuel profit and expansion. Tune in to listen to anecdotes shared by the author through her work and learnings. The framework will help you to drive your team towards growth and transformation.

In this episode, our host Saradha Sriram will feature the book ”Power Score“ by Geoff Smart, Randy Street, and Alan Foster. Our guest Bhaskar Kende is an accomplished professional who has successfully transitioned from engineering to entrepreneurship. As the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Prana Life Sciences, Bhaskar is pivotal in steering the company's strategic direction and operations, Prana Life Sciences is a technology consulting firm located in the Greater Philadelphia area that predominantly serves clients in the Pharma, Biotechnology, and Medical Devices sectors throughout the United States. In this episode, we will explore how the Power Score can be applied to various professional contexts. Focus on understanding the formula for Power Score PWR – Priorities, Who, and Relationships. Discuss the challenges of implementation, the role of leadership, and measuring success.  

In this episode our host Preethy Padmanabhan will feature the book "Multipliers" by Liz Wiseman. Our guest today is Lucie Newcomb, the CEO and Founder of The NewComm Global Group, a leading international Advisory and Training firm specializing in Global Business Development and Global Leadership. She holds a Master's degree in Leadership and 2 related certifications. She specializes in go-to-market strategies internationally and global leadership development "Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter" by Liz Wiseman explores the characteristics and behaviors of leaders who amplify the intelligence and capabilities of their teams. Through extensive research and real-world examples, Wiseman identifies two contrasting leadership styles: multipliers and diminishers. Multipliers are leaders who inspire and empower their teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. In contrast, diminishers often unknowingly inhibit the potential of those around them through micromanagement and control. The book provides valuable insights and practical strategies for aspiring leaders to adopt a multiplier mindset and maximize the talents of their organizations.

In the episode our host Preethy Padmanabhan has a thought provoking discussion with Diane Yu,  Co-founder & CEO of TidalWave.ai on the book  “The Worlds I See" by Fei-Fei Li.  The book serves as a call to action for creating compassionate and inclusive technologies that address real-world challenges and foster a deeper connection among people.  Diane shares her journey as a serial entrepreneur and reflects on similarities of her experience to what Fei-Fei shares in her book. Diane's current company TidalWave is on a mission to build the first ever generative AI application for mortgages. Before TidalWave, Diane held past roles as the CTO for Better, a digital mortgage lender and CTO for Comcast Advertising. Diane came to Comcast via Comcast's acquisition of FreeWheel, a company she co-founded and built from the ground up. 

In this episode our host Saradha Sriram discusses the book “The Moonballer” with the author Nirupama Vaidyanathan. Nirupama is a former professional tennis player, a respected media commentator, an accomplished author, and an influential coach. They explore the multifaceted world of tennis through the experiences and insights of a true veteran of the game and talk about Nirupama's maiden book ‘The Moonballer'. Her story of perseverance and excellence Passion for the sport of tennis Her comeback trail Dive deep into the heart of the story with our podcast, where you'll hear directly from the author. It's your chance to experience the narrative in its most authentic form, unfiltered and raw, as intended by its creator.

In this episode, our host Arthi Vijayaraghavan discusses the book “The Art of Strategic Execution” with the author Ms.Priyanka Shinde. The Art of Strategic Execution dives into the intricate world of Technical Program Management (TPM) and shares the insights and wisdom she has gained through her personal journey from an introverted individual to a successful Silicon Valley TPM leader. From actionable strategies to inspiring stories, she explores the intangible aspects— mindset, communication, influence, and leadership— that set exceptional TPMs apart. Tune in to learn more about strategic program management, the art and science behind it through this engaging discussion.

In this episode, our host Saradha Sriram discusses the book ‘The Untethered Soul' by Michael A. Singer with Donna Yates Ferris. Donna is an MBA and CFA by designation with a yoga teaching and therapy certification. The Untethered Soul is a thought-provoking book that delves into the nature of consciousness and the pursuit of inner freedom. Donna talks about her journey and how the practical wisdom and guidance from the book helped her during difficult times, helped with her personal growth, and built a deeper connection with her true self.  Letting Go Living in the present moment Cultivating inner peace By applying its teachings in daily life, readers can experience a profound shift in perspective and cultivate greater inner peace and happiness.

In this episode our host Arthi Vijayaraghavan, VP of Products at OJO and Lakshmi Bhaskaran, VP of Engineering at Metadata, discuss the book Think Faster, Talk Smarter by Matt Abrahams. The book is a testament to the critical skill of decoding the after intimidating world of spontaneous communication and coaching us to approach it with less fear and more empathy. Check out this engaging discussion sharing nuggets from the book, real life experiences and how we use or intend to use the frameworks. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on spontaneous communication with Ms.Lakshmi Bhaskaran.

In this episode our host Saradha Sriram has an insightful discussion with Akila Agrawal, a leading M&A lawyer from New Delhi, about the book “The Subtle art of not giving a f*ck” by Mark Manson. Akila shared her journey of how she chose the speciality of M&A in private practice. Akila talks about how she  has acquired the  art of embracing life's challenges and, believe it or not, learning to let go of the things that just don't matter. The book offers a pragmatic and individualistic approach to embrace and approach life's challenges in the pursuit of a meaningful life. Taking control Solving problems Changing your identity as needed The book challenges the notion of always seeking more and encourages contentment with what you have.

In this episode our host Preethy Padmanabhan had a thought provoking discussion with Divya Raghavan, an early stage VC at NGP Capital. Divya shared insights on passion and perseverance among startup entrepreneurs she meets, how to cultivate grit in the workplace and learning lessons that helped her to become a successful VC. So, grab your headphones, get comfortable, and join us on this audio adventure! Your thoughts and feedback are always welcome "Grit" by Angela Duckworth explores the concept of grit and its significance in achieving success. Duckworth argues that passion and perseverance, rather than talent alone, are the key factors in reaching long-term goals. Drawing on extensive research, she presents compelling anecdotes and case studies to support her claim that individuals who exhibit grit are more likely to overcome challenges and excel in their pursuits. Duckworth also emphasizes the importance of cultivating grit in children and fostering a growth mindset. Ultimately, "Grit" provides readers with valuable insights into the qualities that contribute to exceptional achievement and offers practical advice on how to develop and apply grit in various aspects of life.

When we iterate without a clear vision or strategy, our products become bloated, fragmented and driven by irrelevant metrics. They catch “product diseases” that often kill innovation. The book “Radical Product Thinking : The new mindset for innovating smarter” offers refreshing solutions that go against conventional wisdom. It offers a framework for building vision driven products that create impact to society at large. In today's episode, Arthi Vijayaraghavan, VP of Products at OJO had the pleasure of discussing the book with the author Ms.Radhika Dutt. Radhika is an entrepreneur and product leader who has participated in five acquisitions, two of which were companies that she founded. She advises organizations from high-tech startups to government agencies on building radical products that create a fundamental change. Tune in to listen to learn how to build vision driven products using the radical product thinking framework.

In this episode I had a thought provoking and humorous conversation with Roshan Cariappa, VP of Marketing for Vymo. We discussed the book “Skin in the Game” and the Incerto series of books by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Roshan is a host for “The Startup Operator” podcast. Check out our conversation to hear valuable insights from Roshan on:  How to deal with uncertainty Take risks to amplify rewards Make your message grandmother proof Have soul in the game  Look for the genius within and more.. "Skin in the Game" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb explores the importance of personal accountability and risk-taking in decision-making. Taleb argues that individuals, especially leaders, should have a tangible stake in the outcomes of their choices to ensure responsible and informed decision-making. He critiques systems where decision-makers do not bear the consequences of their actions, emphasizing the need for a connection between decision-makers and the risks involved. Taleb's book delves into the concept of "skin in the game" as a fundamental principle for a robust and resilient society, urging for a more accountable and ethical approach to decision-making in various fields.

The 21 Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell insights learned from Maxwell's 30-plus years of leadership successes and mistakes with observations from the worlds of business, politics, sports, religion, and military conflict. In the book the author explains the different laws with real world examples, takeaways. One of the advise in the book for leaders to learn about leadership is to practice by leading a voluntary organization.  In today's episode Arthi Vijayaraghavan, VP of Products at OJO had the pleasure of discussing it with Ms.Saraswathi Padmanaban the founder and head of DiyaGhar. Diyaghar is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide early childhood education to the children of migrant laborers. The organization currently runs in Bangalore, India and supports over 1000 children. Tune in to listen to great leadership takeaways from the humble and passionate leader of DiyaGhar, Ms.Saraswathi Padmanaban.

In the episode our host Preethy Padmanabhan had an insightful discussion on the book Play Bigger with Maryanne Morrow, Chairman, Founder and CEO of 9th Gear. Maryanne shared how she is creating a new category within the Fintech space.  "Play Bigger" is a business book by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, and Kevin Maney that explores the concept of category design as a strategic approach for companies to achieve long-term success. The book argues that companies should aim to create and dominate their own product category rather than competing within existing ones. It emphasizes the importance of defining a unique and compelling category narrative that sets a company apart in the market. The authors provide numerous case studies and real-world examples of companies that successfully implemented category design, such as Uber and Salesforce, to illustrate their principles. Ultimately, "Play Bigger" offers a strategic framework for businesses to become category kings and disrupt their industries.

The book Tribes will make you think (really think) about the opportunities for leading your fellow employees, customers, investors…etc. It is not easy, but it's easier than you imagine.  In today's episode, I had the chance to talk to Nidhi Gupta, CEO and Co-Founder of SheTO.org.  Nidhi is committed to addressing the vast gender gap in engineering and spends all her time furthering this cause and that is the motivation behind starting the “Tribe” of SheTO.org. Tune in to listen to an engaging discussion on forming and growing tribes. Lot of anecdotes from her journey, aha moments and learnings from the book.    

In the book “Built To Sell” author John Warrillow provides specific steps to entrepreneurs to build a valuable company which is sellable. Warrillow shows exactly what it takes to create a solid business that can thrive long into the future. In this episode our host Preethy Padmanabhan discusses the book “Built to sell” with our guest Catherine Montgomery. She is the founder and CEO of Better Together, a communications agency that galvanizes positive change for purpose-driven organizations through creative strategies, messaging, and branding. She focuses on social impact businesses, where being upfront about your values is essential. Tune in to listen to great takeaways and key insights from our guest Catherine and the book.

The book “The Power Law” is an astonishingly frank and intimate story of Silicon Valley's dominant venture capital firms. How their strategies and fates have shaped the path of innovation and the global economy.  In today's episode, Arthi Vijayaraghavan, VP of Products at OJO had the chance to talk to Ashmeet Sidana, Chief Engineer at Engineering Capital, a VC firm investing in startups founded on the basis of technical insight. Tune in to listen to an engaging discussion on VC investing, journey of the firms, the evolution of the industry. Lot of insights shared from Ashmeet's personal journey, firms he has mentored and managed over the years.

In this episode our host Preethy Padmanabhan discusses the classic management book “The Goal” with Andy MacMillan, CEO of UserTesting. Andy shares valuable insights on how to apply concepts from the book to a modern SaaS business. Check out the podcast to gain time tested knowledge on how to effectively identify and reduce bottlenecks in your business and successfully achieve your goal. "The Goal" is a management-oriented novel written by Eliyahu M. Goldratt, published in 1984. The story follows Alex Rogo, a plant manager who faces numerous challenges at his struggling manufacturing company. Faced with the threat of closure, Alex embarks on a journey of discovery guided by a mentor named Jonah, who introduces him to the Theory of Constraints (TOC). Through various real-world scenarios and insights, Alex learns to identify and prioritize bottlenecks in his production process, leading to improved efficiency and profitability. By focusing on the core principles of TOC, Alex successfully transforms his factory and gains valuable lessons applicable to other areas of business and life.

How do you turn around a failing project, team, or even an organization? That is the main focus of the book Turnaround. Arthi Vijayaraghavan, VP of Products at Ojo had pleasure of hosting the author of the book Lisa Gable in our podcast today. Lisa Gable is a former U.S. ambassador, United Nations delegate, and CEO of several organizations. She has orchestrated the successful turnarounds of a number of private and public entities across a number of industry sectors.  Change is the only thing that is constant and in the current climate you might find yourself in a scenario to “Turnaround” your team, company. Tune in to listen to understand the methodology along with great anecdotes from the author.

In this episode our host Preethy Padmanabhan has a thought-provoking conversation with Kay Sarathy, SVP Insurance Applications, Berkley Technology Services about the book Subtract:The Untapped Science of Less by Leidy Klotz. Kay Sarathy shares her experiences deploying some of the techniques from the book in the digital transformation journey she is leading.  In the book Subtract, the author draws our attention to the hard truth that biological, cultural, and economic forces around us encourage us to do more, not less. Our failure to subtract is a root cause for our cluttered calendars, closets, and inboxes. Klotz's pioneering research shows us what is true whether we're building Lego models, cities, grilled-cheese sandwiches, or strategic plans: Our minds tend to add before taking away, and this is holding us back.

The book Thinking fast and slow by Daniel Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind. System 1 of our mind is fast, intuitive and emotional. System 2 is slower, more deliberative and more logical. The impact of overconfidence on corporate strategies, the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future, the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything can be understood by knowing how the two systems shape our judgements and decisions.  In today's episode, Arthi Vijayaraghavan, VP of Products at OJO had the chance to talk to VT Bhardwaj, a General Partner at A91 Partners. He is a very well known investor in the Indian Startup ecosystem. It was a very valuable discussion around how he used learnings from the book on decision making, intuitions and judgements.  Tune in to understand decision making, judgements from an investor and learn from it.

When we try new, innovative things we are going to fail. If we put ourselves out there and love with our whole hearts, we are going to get hurt. In the book “Rising Strong”, author Brené Brown says that when we own our story and feel through these experiences of failure, we then write our own brave endings. Truth is falling hurts,  and the dare is to keep being brave, face our emotions and feel our way back up. In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan had the pleasure of speaking with Amritha Prasad, VP of Product Design and Research at Calm on their experiences in Rising Strong from failure. Tune in to hear insightful and wholehearted stories of courage, compassion and connection.

Networks and network effects are fascinating in this era and their economic value is augmented by technology. Andrew Chen who led the “Rider Growth” program at Uber has a fascinating insider view on companies who have leveraged network effects in recent years. The book “The Cold Start Problem” provides an in depth view of how to understand and build networks, the various items which are at play in a marketplace design and the process of building economic value from these networks. In today's episode, Arthi Vijayaraghavan, VP of Products at OJO had the chance to talk with Bobby Burns, VP of Product and Engineering at Indeed.com. Bobby and Arthi explored different aspects of networks, marketplaces, interesting problems and products built to manage networks. He shared various anecdotes from his own product journey and how he leveraged ideas from this book to build and scale networks. Tune in to understand networks, network effects, marketplace design and scaling.

In this episode, our host Preethy Padmanabhan had a thought provoking discussion with Prith Banerjee about his book “Innovation Factory”. Prith is Chief Technology Officer at ANSYS, a leader in engineering simulation. He has a rich career journey as a successful serial entrepreneur, senior executive in large companies. Prior to working in the industry he held distinguished roles in academia. He was listed as FastCompany top 100 business leader in 2009 and has won several awards from IEEE, ASEE and NSF. In "Innovation Factory: Creating and Sustaining High-Performance Innovation," Prith explores the key factors that contribute to building and sustaining a successful innovation ecosystem within a company. Drawing on his experience as the former CTO of HP, Banerjee provides a roadmap for leaders seeking to foster innovation in their organizations. He stresses the importance of a clear innovation strategy, a supportive culture, effective talent management, and collaboration with external partners. He also examines the role of technology in driving innovation, highlighting the potential of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the internet of things. Overall, Innovation Factory offers a comprehensive guide to building a culture of innovation that can drive sustained growth and success.

In this episode Madhavi Ravanan, Service Deliver Head, Nokia had an insightful discussion with Anusha Vaidyanathan, Director Product Line Management, Zscaler about the book "What Got You Here Won't Get You There". "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" is a self-help book by Marshall Goldsmith that explores how successful people can continue to grow and achieve even greater success. Goldsmith argues that many successful individuals develop bad habits and behaviors that hold them back from achieving even greater success. He identifies twenty common behaviors that successful people often exhibit, such as the need to win at all costs or the tendency to blame others for problems. Goldsmith offers practical advice on how to identify and change these behaviors to improve one's leadership skills, work relationships, and overall success. The book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to continue growing and achieving success.

"Your promotion is not just about you; it's about everyone around you who has supported you and everyone who will follow in your footsteps." - Stacy Mayer Promotions Made Easy doesn't just talk about how you move up the corporate ladder. It is a guide on how you can enjoy your job more, build relationships, and support other people to succeed in their careers. And there is no better person to talk to about this book than Shari Begun. Recently made VP of Sales, Consumer, and IoT at Renesas Electronics, Shari talks about how the book inspired her and helped her develop her leadership style. She cites examples from her career, and her 3Xing vision. Further, she shares insights on how to not just do what you are good at and the importance of building trust with 15-min Ally meetings.  Tune in to listen to our recent episode and get inspired to grow into the leader you want to become.  

The general advice usually given and something you will often hear is to specialize and specialize early in your chosen field in order to reap success. But David Epstein says otherwise. In his book, Range, WHY GENERALISTS TRIUMPH IN A SPECIALIZED WORLD, he asserts that in most fields—especially those that are complex and unpredictable—generalists are primed to excel.  In today's episode, I had the chance to talk to Mita Gupta about this very book. Mita boldly explored many interests as a generalist, taking on different challenging roles (Co-founder, VP, and Board Advisor, to name a few) allowing her to successfully start and build multiple B2B businesses.. She spoke about why she believed in this particular notion and discussed some examples from her own life and career that supported it.  This is an episode you don't want to miss. Tune in to understand why a breadth of experience is invaluable as compared to narrow specialization.

What is Blitzscaling? How do you use it to grow and scale your business? Discover the secret sauce of silicon valley startups. Learn how companies like AirBnB, LinkedIn, Zara and several others embrace Blitzscaling to achieve massive scale in a short time.  We are excited to feature the book Blitzscaling authored by Chris Yeh and Reid Hoffman. A writer, investor, and entrepreneur, Chris has had a ringside seat in the world of startups and scaleups since 1995. Hundreds of companies, from garage-dwelling startups to Fortune 50 titans have tapped his knowledge and insights to accelerate and transform their businesses. Chris co-teaches the course "Technology enabled Blitzscaling" at Stanford University focusing on how Silicon Valley companies navigate rapid scaling, from dorm room to global giants.