10X Growth Strategies

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’. 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. 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. 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: "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, Arthi Vijayaraghavan, VP of Products at OJO 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 Bharadwaj, 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.