This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviours, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Bala Kamallakharan is the Founder of Startup Iceland and Managing Director at Iceland Venture Studio. He is also a startup coach, speaker, and 8 time marathon runner.  

Step into the world of Bala as he shares his journey and insights on leadership challenges. His story began when he made a life-changing decision to move from the US to Iceland, seeking a closer connection to family. 

After the Icelandic financial collapse, he took the leap to start his own venture and support founders in building companies. His leadership style is rooted in the idea of servant leadership, where leaders work alongside their team, clearing obstacles and inspiring others to walk the right path. 

As an investor, He emphasizes aligning with founders’ visions and providing support without imposing his own agenda. He values genuine authenticity and aims to build trust with the founders he works with. 

He recognizes that leadership traits are shaped by culture, yet he believes in inspiring others to act and encouraging their growth, regardless of their background. His vision is driven by the joy of seeing the teams he mentors succeed in the marketplace, grow as leaders themselves, and contribute to the betterment of humanity. 

Join Bala on his mission to empower and uplift founders as they navigate the challenging yet rewarding world of entrepreneurship.

You can find Bala at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/balakamallakharan/
• http://startupiceland.com/

In the interview, Bala shares

• “I moved to Iceland, not doing what I do now. I used to work for one of the Icelandic banks. And then the Icelandic financial collapse happened, and then I decided to start my own thing.”
• “Technology will be a huge leverage, just like capital was. And I felt that, at least to my mind, it was very clear that technology will be a huge leverage.”
• “Leadership is always about standing in front, inspiring others to walk the way you are walking, or inspiring them to walk the way that you think is right for whatever the context.”
• “I’m a big fan of the servant leader model. That means you serve them by actually working, not just giving directions.”
• “Leadership is about inspiring people to volunteer their heart and their mind, and that takes trust and building a genuine relationship.”
• “In Iceland, captains are not just standing up and giving orders. They actually work with everybody because when you are on the boat in the ocean, you can’t just stand and give orders.”
• “Leadership is about absorbing a lot of things, pushing forward, and inspiring people to act and move forward. You can’t do that with fear.”
• “The first rule of investing in venture is you need to have an open mind. There are certain things you know, and there are certain things you don’t know.”
• “We only work with founders who are mission-driven and are working on hard problems. Our job is to find them, back them, and help them achieve those things.”
• “What gives me the most joy and satisfaction at the end of the day is to see the teams we work with win in the marketplace and make progress as leaders, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviours, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Francisco Badia is the Managing Partner at Grow Venture Partners and the author of “Meaningful Entrepreneurship”. he enjoys helping Founders create and grow their companies especially in their early stages.

Step into the fascinating world of venture capital with an insightful interview featuring a seasoned leader, discussing the importance of purpose-driven entrepreneurship and meaningful leadership. 

Meet the charismatic founder of Grow Venture Partners, a Barcelona-based VC firm specializing in tech transfer. With a focus on helping scientists transition from academia to entrepreneurs, their purpose lies in shaping better founders who create both wealth and jobs with a positive impact. 

As you delve deeper, discover the pivotal role of purpose in startup success and failure. Explore the power of listening, bringing people together, and embracing resilience on the entrepreneurial journey. Uncover the unexpected link between meditation, gratitude, and building meaningful companies. 

Gain a glimpse into the investment criteria of Grow Venture Partners, emphasizing deep tech, sustainability, and MedTech. Finally, find out how to reach out to this passionate leader and explore potential collaborations. 

Embark on this captivating interview and gain valuable insights for your own leadership challenges in a friendly and engaging tone.

You can find Francisco at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciscobadia/
• http://www.growventurepartners.com/

In the interview, Francisco shares

• “Our purpose is to shape better founders, helping scientists transition from academia to entrepreneurs, creating wealth and jobs with a positive impact in our world.”
• “Good leaders have a clear purpose and the ability to transmit that meaningfulness to their team, fostering a collective sense of purpose.”
• “Leadership is about listening, bringing people together, and empowering those who can do things better than you.”
• “Startups driven by meaningfulness and purpose exhibit resilience in the face of challenges, setting them apart from those solely motivated by financial gain.”
• “Understanding an entrepreneur’s why is crucial in discerning whether they are driven by purpose or material success.”
• “Encouraging founders to write down the purpose of their company and regularly revisit it helps align decision-making and navigate challenging situations.”
• “Meditation and finding meaning can be transformative for entrepreneurs, providing clarity, resilience, and gratitude.”
• “Living with thankfulness and adopting a service-oriented mindset is crucial for effective leadership.”
• “Our venture capital firm invests in deep tech, sustainability energy, and MedTech companies with a focus on impact investing and positive societal change.”
• “Real transformation requires emotional engagement and action, going beyond intellectual understanding and reading alone.”

This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviours, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Paulina Jansch is the Founding Partner at Leanox Impact Capital and one of the TOP 100 most influential women in the European VC and startup space. 

In this engaging conversation, she shares her journey and the organic growth of Leanox, a startup consultancy turned venture capital firm. With a background in finance and project management, Paulina brings people together, organizes processes, and evaluates companies based on facts and figures. 

Paulina’s drive to make a difference comes from her involvement in female empowerment, having worked with human trafficked women. The realization that female founders were not getting equal opportunities led her to establish Leanox’s vision of a balanced ecosystem where both male and female founders thrive. 

She emphasizes the importance of education, dialogue, and unlearning biases to achieve equality. The challenges they face include creating a mindset shift and navigating cultural differences when giving feedback. 

Join this insightful interview to gain valuable insights on leadership challenges, impact investing, gender parity, and fostering a culture of open communication. Get inspired to make a difference and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable world. 

You can find Paulina at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulinajaensch/
• http://www.leanox.eu/

In the interview, Paulina shares

• “We started Leanox because we wanted to become founders again and support startups with financial planning, fundraising strategies, and valuations.”
• “At Leanox, we invest in early-stage startups that have impact at their core.”
• “Our vision at Leanox is to achieve gender parity in the startup ecosystem by investing 50% in female founders and raising capital from 50% female investors.”
• “We believe in educating people about discrimination and biases to create a more inclusive society.”
• “Supporting each other and seeking mentorship is crucial in fighting against gender inequality and empowering women.”
• “We support our founders both financially and through our expertise in impact investing.”
• “Navigating difficult conversations with founders requires cultural sensitivity and adapting feedback styles.”
• “We create a feedback culture that focuses on highlighting successes and providing constructive feedback for growth.”
• “Building relationships based on listening and understanding is key to effective communication and collaboration.”
• “The joy and satisfaction come from working with courageous individuals who strive to make a positive change in the world and seeing our company grow from scratch.”

This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviors, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Rajiv Vaishnav is the co-founder and Managing Partner at Cornerstone Venture Partners Fund. He is the Honorary Executive Chairman of Start-ups council of India, and was an integral part of NASSCOM’s senior management team for 13+ years. 

From humble beginnings to working with renowned organizations like Reliance and NASSCOM, Raji’s career has been defined by seizing opportunities and making a difference. With an entrepreneurial spirit, he co-founded Thai, an organization that empowered entrepreneurs in India. 

Rajiv’s leadership evolved through the challenges of working with both small startups and big conglomerates, giving him a unique perspective on leadership. His experiences have shaped his approach to working with founders, emphasizing the importance of self-monitoring, accountability, and taking ownership. 

His management style is rooted in storytelling, using anecdotes and experiences to inspire and guide others. He believes in the power of faith, confidence, and trusting mentors to navigate the unpredictable path of success. 

With a focus on passion, problem-solving, and societal impact, he encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to embark on an inside-out journey, where fulfillment comes hand-in-hand with financial success.

You can find Rajiv at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivvaishnav/
• rajiv@csvpfund.com

In the interview, Rajiv shares

• “I had a very humble beginning coming from a middle-class background, and I always wanted to do some business of my own.”
• “I have gone with the flow and have no regrets. I was at the right time with the right set of people, and those people have really changed my life.”
• “Every job I’ve done, I was either the first person in that organization or my boss was not sitting in the next cabin.”
• “Confidence in yourself and belief in yourself are key factors in leadership and personal growth.”
• “Leadership and mentorship may sound pompous, but for me, it’s about taking ownership, being self-monitoring, and being accountable for your actions.”
• “Having faith and trusting your mentors’ advice, even when it seems unconventional, can lead to unexpected opportunities.”
• “Management by storytelling is my style. I love sharing anecdotes and experiences of life to inspire and guide others.”
• “The difference between an entrepreneur and an employee lies in the mindset. An entrepreneur is driven by passion to solve societal problems, while an employee’s focus is often on money and fulfillment.”
• “Success doesn’t come from rushing. It requires balance, faith, and the ability to adapt to unexpected situations.”
• “The entrepreneurial journey involves co-creating, building products, working with people, and finding solutions that customers are willing to pay for.”

This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviours, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Bryony Cooper  is a startup enthusiast and serial founder-turned-investor. She has led a few tech startups, a venture builder, an accelerator program, and is now a Managing Partner at Arkley Brinc VC. 

Get ready to be inspired by Bryony Cooper, with a background as a tech startup founder and experience in helping startups go from concept to commercialization, she brings a unique perspective to the table. 

Her unconventional journey, rooted in a creative background as a professional singer and writer, sets her apart in the world of venture capitalists.

Drawing from her own experiences and observations, Bryony underscores the significance of broad skill sets in founders and the value of interpersonal skills in addition to technical expertise. Mapping out a clear framework for growth, maintaining open communication, and aligning on company values are key aspects she highlights.

For individuals struggling with confidence, Bryony encourages deliberate practice and stepping outside comfort zones. Understanding one’s worth, believing in oneself, and exuding confidence while remaining humble are crucial factors she advises.

Join Bryony Cooper on her remarkable journey and gain valuable insights to overcome leadership challenges, foster company culture, navigate success and failure, and embrace your own creativity in the ever-evolving startup landscape.

You can find Bryony at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryonycooper/
• https://www.bryonycooper.com/

In the interview,  Bryony shares

• “I ran three tech companies by the age of 30 as CEO, and in between, I also ran a venture builder program helping other early-stage startups.” 
• “In the tech startup world, you can grow very quickly, and it’s important to establish a company culture early on.” – Bryony Cooper
• “Having open communication and shared vision with co-founders or management is crucial for the growth and success of a company.” 
• “Failing makes you learn much faster, and experienced founders who have learned from failure are valuable in the startup ecosystem.” 
• “Success can be more challenging than failure because it brings new responsibilities and expectations.” – Bryony Cooper
• “Knowing your own worth, believing in yourself, and carrying confidence into the room are essential for leadership.” 
• “Practicing pitching, presenting, and public speaking builds confidence and improves communication skills.” 
• “Humility is just as important as confidence, especially when seeking investments or support for your company.” 
• “Creativity can be an outlet and a source of energy replenishment for leaders in the business world.” 
• “Body language plays a significant role in effective communication, and power poses can boost confidence and presence.” 

This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviors, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Anil Joshi is the Managing Partner at Unicorn India Ventures. Previously, he was heading operations at Mumbai Angels and Bangalore Angels, leading Angel Investment forums in India as President. He is also a mentor with various incubation centres and a speaker on startups and early stage investment.

In this insightful interview, we delve into the extraordinary journey of our guest, who stumbled into the world of startups and strategic investments by accident, only to discover a deep passion for supporting and nurturing innovative ventures. 

From working in India’s largest engine network to collaborating with thought leaders and assisting international businesses in entering the Indian market, their wealth of experience brings invaluable lessons for leaders facing diverse challenges. 

Discover the contrasting leadership styles required in large organizations versus startups, as well as the unique qualities that founders bring to the table, whether they’re seasoned professionals or fresh graduates. 

Get ready to be inspired as we explore the accidental path to success and the joy found in navigating the dynamic startup ecosystem. 

Tune in for a friendly and engaging conversation that will leave you motivated and armed with practical insights for your own leadership journey.

You can find Anil at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniljoshi74/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/unicornivc/

In the interview, Anil shares

• “My journey to where I am today was unplanned and accidental, transitioning from a successful corporate career to strategic investments and becoming part of Mumbai Angels.”
• “I’ve had a diverse professional background, ranging from working in India’s largest engine network to being a consultant and eventually finding my passion in the startup world.”
• “I had the opportunity to interact with thought leaders and assist international businesses in establishing their presence in India, which provided invaluable learning experiences.”
• “I was exposed to the startup ecosystem in India even before it gained significant momentum, giving me a unique perspective on its growth and development.”
• “As an investor, I’ve witnessed the contrasting leadership styles required in large organizations versus startups, and understand the challenges faced by founders in building effective leadership teams.”
• “In startups, founders often play multiple roles, taking on responsibilities from CEO and CMO to HR and finance, until the organization matures and a proper leadership structure can be established.”
• “Supporting young founders, who may lack experience but possess great potential, is a crucial aspect of my role as an investor. Providing guidance and acting as a sounding board helps them navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.”
• “Every founder brings unique qualities to the table, whether they have years of industry experience or are fresh out of college. Both groups benefit from learning, making mistakes, and developing their leadership skills over time.”
• “My current role in strategic investment and being part of Mumbai Angels was never planned, but it has become my passion. The accidental nature of my journey has allowed me to thrive in identifying promising ventures and working with them.”
• “Being exposed to the startup world and witnessing the growth and success of innovative companies brings me immense joy and a sense of gratitude. It’s a reminder that when you love what you do, excellence follows naturally.”

This is the Investor’s Lens series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviours, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Suresh Narasimha is an idea-stage investor in student startups. He helps student entrepreneurs with funding, resources, and connections; and believes in co-creating rather than mentoring or advising.

Join us in this captivating interview as we dive deep into the remarkable journey of an entrepreneur turned investor, who has paved a unique path in the world of startups. Discover how this visionary leader, with a strong sense of purpose, has dedicated himself to nurturing the brightest minds of the next generation. 

From motivating college students to become entrepreneurs while pursuing their education, his approach challenges the traditional norms of leadership. Uncover the power of purpose, flexibility, and emotional balance in driving teams towards success. 

Explore the intriguing dynamics of gender diversity and how having women in leadership positions has proven to be a game-changer. With thought-provoking anecdotes and practical wisdom, this interview will inspire and empower you on your own leadership journey. 

You can find Suresh at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/cocreator/
• https://www.cocreate.ventures/

In the interview, Suresh shares

• “I started as a deep tech entrepreneur and built several startups before transitioning to becoming an investor with a purpose.”
• “I believe the best thing for the country and the world is when bright youngsters become entrepreneurs and solve real problems.”
• “My role is to motivate and support young college students to become entrepreneurs while continuing their education.”
• “In the past two years, we have invested in around 45 startups, with 60% of them being led by female entrepreneurs.”
• “Leadership requires a strong vision and purpose to drive change in the world.”
• “I emphasize the importance of sticking to purpose rather than being fixated on specific solutions.”
• “When working with young and inexperienced individuals, I focus on co-creating rather than just mentoring them.”
• “I trust in the capabilities of youngsters and believe there is much to learn from them.”
• “In my investment decisions, I look for disciplined and innovative students who are deeply committed to solving complex problems.”
• “Having female leaders in startups has proven to be beneficial, as teams with women in leadership positions tend to perform exceptionally well.”

This is the Can’t Stay Silent series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

For most of my life, I have kept my voice buried beneath layers of fear and insecurity. In each episode of this series, I will find the strength to express myself from the bottom of my heart.

These short episodes will be filled with honest reflections, simple stories and metaphors, and some gentle provocations – all to help you Deploy Yourself in your own life.

Together, we’ll discover how we can create a world where all of us can show up as leaders. So, if you are ready to allow the leader in you to bravely listen to my call of leadership, join me on Can’t Stay Silent.

You can find more about me & the Deploy Yourself School of Leadership

• https://www.deployyourself.com/
• https://www.deployyourself.com/podcast/
• https://deployyourself.com/newsletter
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumit4all/
• https://twitter.com/sumitgupta4all
• https://www.youtube.com/@leadership-sumit
• https://www.tiktok.com/@sumitguptacoach

Show Notes

• How being smart and intelligent leads you to never having enough time?
• He said that my biggest challenge is time. Or my biggest enemy is time. He said that I am super ambitious. I have this drive, this energy. I’m very smart. I know what to do, but I never have enough time. 
• What if being smart and very good with planning leads you to never having enough time?
• normally we see time as a horizontal time shift. Like we see time as something which is coming from the past and going to the future. We see time on the calendar. We see time as a minutes, we see time as hours and  seconds. And we also, we always see time on this dimension right. That it is running out. 
• as long as we have this mindset about time. It only means that there is limited time. That’s one. Naturally. way for dealing with time horizontally. That there is only limited time.
• They will never be enough time. In fact,  there cannot ever be enough time For your dreams for your potential, for your leadership, which are infinite as they should be. 
• What if there’s also a vertical dimension to time, which is not finite, which is infinite. And which is always available to us. And which is a never-ending.
• It’s a choice that we always have. To continue operating the way that we have been in the horizontal dimension of time driving. Thinking overthinking with our brains. And always ending up with time as an enemy, with never having enough time. 
• Or we can slow down. We can stop. We can sense we can listen. We can go deep and we can see what is an oppurtunity, which is here. What is an opportunity that can lead to those big exponential results.
• it is very important to recognize when your strengths are becoming a liability. Any strength. Even of being. Super smart or having an . High IQ. If you cannot choose to when to use it. And when not to use it. It becomes a liability.
• you’re totally missing out on playing some shots. which can give exponential results, but which are only accessible when you access the vertical dimension of time. 
• It requires you to be present. It requires you to slow down the rush.
• When you get this, your life will never be the same again.  

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In this interview, Abdul shares how he took inspiration and lessons from his father and became an entrepreneur. He trusts people and believes in giving them full responsibility, and he also shared the importance of prayer, meditation, and journaling to his leadership and day to day activities as an entrepreneur.

You can find Abdul at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdul-salim-83413015/

In the interview, Abdul shares

• my father was a very successful entrepreneur. So as a kid, I’ve tagged along with him, wherever he has done business, be it a small business or he was doing multiple businesses, right?
• I was always with him and just to see his his persistence and passion, the way he used to work. It always inspired me, right? My father is my motivation and I’m following his footstep.
• I worked in large companies where people would want to give their arms and legs to be in companies like infosys, HP or even Target, but I was never content there. I always wanted to be entrepreneur. 
• I start very early, right? Like, I typically wake up by six o’clock every day. So first three hours is for myself, right? So that’s completely divided for myself. It could be my mind. It could be my body, it could be my learning, right? This three hours is completely, I will work out, I will do meditation
• It helped me schedule my day pretty well. And then I don’t react for every little thing, right? because of meditation. It’s helped me for sure.
• I’ve hired some smart people and then we have completely given them the freedom, where they can manage their work.
• Whenever I think of a idea or anybody in my team, comes up with the idea and I feel that this is a good idea. We implement immediately so that freedom I’ve got being an entrepreneur we’ve seen a lot of ups and down, but then somehow manage to survive in this 10 years.
• Everybody deserves respect and when you do that, the team members always perform  

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In this conversation, Tom shares how he started his company while still in college and how that has been an advantage – when it comes to culture, leadership, and working remotely. He reflects about the difficult times he faced early on and the important role of transparency in organisations.  

You can find Tom at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomcoburn/
• tom@jebbit.com

In the interview, Tom shares

• So this has been my only real job to date. I was not one of those kids growing up that like always knew I was gonna be an entrepreneur.
•  I always wanted to be a doctor. My grandfather’s a doctor. He’s 82 years old and still practices in his small town outside of Boston where he grew up. And I always loved science and school.
• I went to college in Boston, at Boston College. I got there in 2009 and I was, I, pre-med major, working in the lab, getting ready to take the MCATs. All of those things you’ve gotta do to go become a doctor in the US.
• my roommates were in the business school, and our business school had a business plan competition. You could pitch a Shark Tank style pitch in front of judges and you could win $10,000 for your business idea. And so I decided to do that competition with my friends just for fun
•  freshman year, we submitted our first year of college, we submitted an idea to the business bank competition, and we didn’t make it past the first round. Our second year, we came back with a new idea, which ended up being the start of the idea for Jebbit, although we changed the idea a lot and we ended up winning the competition with that idea. 
• I was mentally ready to drop outta school after that summer and go do the business full-time. And the thing that made it an easy decision for me was I talked to both my dean at my college and I talked to the dean I was gonna have at the medical. And I just asked them both for a one year leave of absence and they both said, sure 
• My current challenge is everything around culture and communication and getting everyone internally at Jebbit g rowing in the same direction, fully in sync with each other.
• One of the things I hear a lot from new employees when I get their feedback is they’re shocked at how transparent me and my management team are.
• We spend a lot of time trying to get people in person and getting the right combos of people in person. So we get the whole company together twice a year now for a three day offsite. Once in January and once in July. 

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In this interview, Abhijit opens up about how lonely it can get as a founder and the toll it can take on your wellbeing and health. He also  shared his decision making process – and how every decision in the company depends on how it impacts the bottom line, the top line, and the company’s reputation. He also shared how he plans his day, stays productive, and how gardening teaches him patience and tenacity.  

You can find Abhijit at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/abanand/
• abhi@zindagi.tech

In the interview, Abhijit shares

•  I’m a first generation entrepreneur. My dad is a doctor, he’s been a government servant. And my mom’s been a teacher all her life. 
• one thing I’ve realized is that cash is king. The moment cash disappears, the company will cease to exist. 
• my number one priority is to make sure that there is enough cash in the company to keep us liquid for at least the next three quarters. That is the number one priority. Number two I’ve, both me and my wife, we’ve decided. that Every single decision that we take in our company will have a three-pronged approach. That decision will be a yes or a no, depending upon how well it improves the company’s top line. How well it improves the company’s bottom line, and does it impact the company’s reputation in a positive way or a negative way?
• From a sales point of view, I’ve realized that, a small customer and a large customer, They’ll take the same amount of time. They demand the same kind of attention. So I’ve decided to focus on some very large customers who, from whom we keep getting big projects
• one key thing that we did was we kept on we kept our focus on customer satisfaction. Number two, we’ve managed our finances very tightly. And number three, I think We’ve tried to make sure that we treat our employees with the same respect as what we would do to our customers and to our vendors.
•  Richard Branson’s book, losing my virginity, somebody asked him a question that you look like a quintessential entrepreneur, in your opinion, how would you define a business? And his response was, I’m paraphrasing, but his response was, A business is nothing else but an idea that will improve people’s lives. So that’s how the name Zindagi, which is Hindi the way of life. That’s how the name started. 
• one key mission statement that we have is to ensure that we leave this earth better than the, where, how we found it.
• from a personal point of view, I can tell you that It becomes hard sometimes because I feel that there is nobody to talk to.
• I think one thing that, that I’m trying to learn even now is, Don’t dilute responsibility. Give one task to one person, let him make it his baby and let him own it completely end to end. 

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In this heartfelt conversation, Paddy shares his passion for startups and how he moved from technology to entrepreneurship. He shared the powerful yet simple lesson of “nishkama karma” or detached action – and how he applies that in his role as the CEO. He shares how he had to take a big risk and pledge his property to pay salaries in his previous startup.   

You can find Paddy at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyraghavan/

In the interview, Paddy shares

• I don’t know, somewhere in my life somewhere I got this entrepreneurial, bug it’s something that I’ve had right from my college days. Multipl is my third StartUp
• I always wanted to build something on my own that was on the cards, but it wasn’t, I wasn’t really desperate or I wasn’t, not every day that I wake up that I start thinking about, or I should be starting something. 
• I mean it’s always especially when you’re actually interacting with someone who’s fairly successful, which I would call myself and you would only see the positive side of it. And people tend to think that, yeah it’s a nice journey. It’s good we should become entrepreneurs. But I’ve definitely had my fair share of challenges.
• I literally had to pledge my property and to pay the salaries in the previous startup it was at a point where we had very difficult situation in terms of you know, raising capital and paying the salary 
•  I must be grateful to a lot of people. You know, my family has been very supportive. My wife has been very supportive throughout because that is very important. You can’t have a you know, if you have a family you need the support because that could definitely take away a lot of your Focus if it is not in the right frame. 

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In the interview, Pavel shared how his journey as an entrepreneur has evolved over the years. We talk about the importance of believing in ourselves, and how he has established teams in different countries that can work independently without his direct involvement. He also shares his love for flying and how he experiences freedom when in flight.   

You can find Pavel at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/vspavel/
• http://solar-staff.com/

In the interview, Pavel shares

• I was interested in technical issues and legal issues and both together helped me to open the private legal practice for the internet companies in Ukraine.
• I decided to move to international law and international taxation and help Russian based internet companies to move abroad to open the subsidiary companies anywhere in the world. 
• I went to the chief of the office I was working in and told him of the future of internet business. He listened to me but didn’t believe that was a good solution. I was invented by that Idea and I took on that step and just followed my idea and my dream.
• When I was a child I read a book written by the Russian famous authors. And there was a phrase, if you want to pass through the wall, you need only two things. You need to believe in yourself and do not look at the barrier. If you do not look at the barrier and look through that if you can, and if you believe in you, in yourself, you can go through the world. 
• The first five years I worked really hard in Solar Staff and I almost had no time to have any kind of hobbies maybe except swimming in a pool or some kind of sports. 
• I’m starting piloting. I will start my career as a private pilot next year in Oakland. I feel very excited about flying. Flying is like having freedom.  
• I’ll also start my first art project. I’ll work together with a team of AIs to create an art. An abstract art, abstract portraits of the personalities. 
• I allow my company and my team to make mistakes and and to learn from their own experience on those mistakes.
• Now I’m focused on the human and AI collaboration and sometimes it scares me. I start to learn A lot of subjects, a lot of terms about the philosophy of AI systems, and I start to know a bit more about that.

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In the interview, Brian shares how his world turned upside down when a drunk driver hit him in 2016, and how he turned that into a positive by creating companies that can continue to operate without him. He shares that if he doesn’t feel a connection with somebody at a grounded level, he doesn’t do business with that person.  

You can find Brian at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjesposito/
• https://twitter.com/brianjesposito

In the interview, Brian shares

• I get invited into startups, even up the Fortune 500 companies and help these companies succeed, grow, and become profitable.
• when I work with these startups, or even failing large corporations, it gets really fun and exciting to look at what am I holding that can make them more valuable
• So in the late nineties, I built the first B2B B2C eCommerce platform for the beauty. I was first to build a website basically to distribute beauty products and personal care products.
• I had to quickly learn that life is very difficult and we want to try to do great things sometimes. Whether it’s universe or jealous, people want to try to harm you and prohibit that from happening.
• I learned from that experience, it turned problems into potential opportunities. So anybody that was potentially suing me, like it was a, if it was a brand, for example, or a retailer, well, I was very open and communicative with them.  
• So I always try to look at problems or negativity and turn in and say there’s always a solution or an upside here.
• when they had a liquidity event or a larger company bought them out, not only did I have no connection to the upside or equity ownership, I also lost the brand and the distribution because those other companies have their own distribution.
• biggest turbulent time in my history was in 2016, a drunk driver hit me head on and outside of Nashville, Tennessee, I had 30 or so companies in my holdings doing what I felt was quite well and That was the first domino where I began to lose everything. So my whole world turned upside down. I realized I was the glue for everything. 
• I’m definitely love old movies and old western types of shows, so that’s my escape. I do that every night. I’ll watch, I’ll flip on YouTube and start going through old Johnny Carson shows, and that’s my therapy, that’s my escape. 

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In the interview, Luis spoke about the importance of organizational structure and having a strategy – especially for content and sales – for first-time entrepreneurs. He also shares how he is experimenting with Reiki and meditation and is obsessed with personal development. He is learning to be more patient and deal with rejection on his entrepreneurial journey. 

You can find Luis at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismsg/
• https://evolution4all.com/

In the interview, Luis shares

• I started my career almost 20 years ago. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. So 20 years ago I left Portugal in direction of Finland.
• I was lucky enough to work in Nokia that time. Nokia was still a really big company 
• I’m an Amazon best seller, so I have four books published. The last one is coming in couple of weeks.
• From the leadership point of view, if you’re a leader in the company software de delivery is the core. But if you don’t really look at organizational structure, the strategy, the operations
• I was lucky enough to start as a software developer, but then I moved a little bit for more to, into team leadership and then a little bit more into organizational design. 
• when people know me and they ask me what’s my background? And I say, I’m a software engineer, everyone, wow. How is it possible? Because I’m very outgoing. So I’m not shy at all, so I’m very social person
• My first book in 2015, if I remember correctly, was about a job retrospectives. So it was exactly a book on that topic.
• So what I do is usually I have an idea, I create a brochure, I create a brochure of that idea, and then I send to a bunch of people and ask for feedback 
• then as hobbies I do water polo I play football as any Portuguese guy, I go to gym. I’m trying now as well. 

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In the interview, Rosemarie shared her interesting journey from being a lawyer to a tech startup co-founder. She has just joined the Founder’s Pledge to give a percentage of her proceeds to charity. She shares her love for working together in person and adds that we are denying us something if we do not work physically together.

You can find Rosemarie at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdiegnan/
• https://twitter.com/rdiegnan

In the interview, Rosemarie shares

• started out in the tech world as a technical I’d always had an intent to go to law school. So after doing that for a little while, I went to law school worked as  a lawyer in the US for about five years.
• Decided I did not wanna be a lawyer and tried a bunch of different things. Actually, I I thought I wanted to go. I was looking into going into the charity sector and worked for about two years between being a lawyer and getting full-time employment 
•  did various things including working as a volunteer attorney for an organization addressing women and children’s issues. 
• after about a year of doing HR consulting I’m was at an event and I met someone who was the c e o of an HR software company, and I convinced him to hire me as their first product manager without actually really knowing what a product manager was.
• But so started that, did that for a while. I was involved with a couple of startups in the US and about 10 and a half, 11 years ago made the decision to, I was able to get my Irish citizenship through my heritage. My grandparents were born in Ireland, so I decided now’s the time to take advantage, and I came to the UK to check out the startup scene here.   
• like giving back has always been a big motivator for you, like when you started as a lawyer also, can you share a bit about. ultimately it’s something that is important to me and hopefully in the future I’ll be able to do it more effectively. But particularly children and opportunities for children have always been really important to me 
• when I was in California, I joined an organization called casa, which is court appointed special advocates. And basically what it is they train volunteers. So  I happen to be a lawyer, but you don’t have to be one to do this. They train volunteers to represent the interests of children who are in the foster care system.
• And I’ve just joined an organization called Founder’s Pledge where essentially what you do is you pledge to give a percentage of the proceeds from your. Your startup, your scale up once you have an exit and then it can be, it gets given to charities. 
• I think that one of the biggest things that hold people back is fear.

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In the interview, Akhil shares how he traveled as a child to protected rainforests, and how that has shaped his vision and what he does today. He also talks about the importance of having mentors for any entrepreneur, and how he loves to go on long walks without any direction. 

You can find Akhil at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhilsivanandan/

In the interview, Akhil shares

• Green Story. So what we do at Green Story is we work with fashion brands to calculate the footprint of their products in a very credible manner through a scientific methodology, and allow them to make improvements in their supply chain, offset their footprint, and most importantly, show it to consumers at point of sale. 
•  I never thought I’d want to wind up being an entrepreneur. I grew up in India and very typically I did engineering in India in computer science. I didn’t have want anything to do with it in my career so I ran away screaming and ended up working In a space that I was very interested in since I was a child, and that was in the environmental space. 
•  Then I moved to Canada in 2011. The intent was to build out a career in the renewable energy and sustainability space in Canada That’s also where I met my co-founder, Nav. He and I were one of five people in the entire batch who were into sustainability.
• I do want to point to my father as one key component of that. I was very fortunate in the sense that he had a job in the government of India, which involved a lot of work in rural communities. And a lot of his work was in charge sometimes of the development of these regions in India. 
• gradually I grew a love for nature and my parents also instilled that in me by purchasing a lot of books about it. For me I was a voracious reader, so I read a lot of books on natural history and used to watch a lot of documentaries    
• what I learned to do was learn to identify. Whom I could go to for what, . So if I needed different levels of support, if I needed different levels of push sometimes to get to that next level, I used to find different mentors who could help me for those specific things and just or just generic like mental health in a way. 
• I’m myself very bad at taking breaks. , which is a weakness that I have, but I do think that’s important though. 
• What I like doing in my downtime is really what people call rambling. So it’s probably the most boring. What I find the most rewarding hobby in the world is like really going in a long walk with no direction. , and that’s how my wife and I Spend quality time together There’s so many beautiful parks and forests where you can get lost in
• My wife’s a professional artist. I’m very much part-time, so . I do like drawing and sketching and painting as a way to relax and also express myself.
• I used to actually do a lot of Tai Chi as a relaxation mechanism. I don’t practice as much anymore, unfortunately. And I do want to get back into it. It’s something I learned from my master in India.
• Be mindful of your body, and recharge your batteries cuz that’s when you can present the best version of yourself.

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In the interview, Nicole shares how she grew up as a small business daughter and that led her to develop a powerful work ethic. She reveals her fun side in the interview, and how she builds a culture of accountability and fun in her company. She also mentioned how she is running a remote company, but never misses on opportunities to bring people together and connect in person. 

You can find Nicole at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-grinnell-b6190515/
• http://bosunsolutions.com/

In the interview, Nicole shares

• I had a unique perspective of being able to work alongside my parents’ employees and hear the complaints and needs that they had, as well as understanding the management and leadership that’s needed to have employees. 
• Having a background of being a small business daughter, I think I have an unbelievable work ethic and really, Resilience and ability to hop into any role. And I think that in my corporate life, that was really what made me succeed. 
•  Having to let go of a team member is probably one of the toughest.
• when you have a creative space and bouncing ideas off of each other, even though our team is remote, we like to be able to get together in person. There is a human to human connection that is really needed.
• Most people don’t know that I have two polar opposite personalities. When I’m at work I just wanna be productive and I’m a complete goofball outside of work.   
• We definitely love to have a good time internally and, keep things light and we celebrate wins like crazy. That is our biggest thing. 
• It is so easy as an entrepreneur to go high as a kite and like to the bottom of despair. And just when those experiences happen, whether it’s the loss of a client or a situation that happened, we have like a three step process where we look back and say, what could we have done differently.
• Find a mentor and it doesn’t have to be this exclusive program that you enroll in, but just find someone who has already done what you are doing. 
• We actually have a mentorship program internally. We do open forums where our other contractors are able to meet with the current contractors and do different topics every quarter.

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In the interview, Shikha shares her vision and how she started out in her own unique way. She started an edtech consultancy based in Africa and serving the African continent when she saw that nobody was serving Africa. She shares how she drew inspiration from her mother and grandfather early on and that led her to becoming the first engineer in her family.

You can find Shikha at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/shikha2020/
• shikha@etraverse.com

In the interview, Shikha shares

• I completed my engineering in computer science 2012, and I started working with one of the companies as software developer just out of curiosity
• when I actually thought of starting my own company, that was one major curiosity that hit me was why not Africa? So why are the companies not reaching out to the African market?
• She’s the first engineer, and a woman working and owning a business on her parents side. 
• Her mother was always encouraged her become something and how both her brother and her are the only engineers in the family.
• The people she met have been respectful of the position and very curious to know her journey.
• How recently they were shortlisted by New Chip Accelerator, which is a accelerator program in Texas based in USA because they are concentrated on the Western world and also trying to make a change in the African continent.  
• She feels that she has, as an individual, achieved whatever she has to. From starting working in six different companies in a corporate world, starting her own company, not just in one country, but two countries in two different continents
• She says that the only thing left is just going to the moon. 
• She wants to strike a good balance between developing high-tech projects for the Western world and trying to make something substantial for the African continent.
• There’s more that comes to being a leader than just having the knowledge. The most important skill that a leader should have is empathy.
• I feel that in the next three years of time when it comes to me as transitioning, who I want to be, to what I want to create is also this one important fact that I want a table where everyone gets the opportunity to speak. 
• So the only advice that I can give is you need to work on how to conquer that fear, because once you are over that stage of being fearful, the world is all yours and I really feel you take one step and then the world will help you take the next 10 steps.

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In this heartfelt conversation, Sanjay shares his story of starting out as an entrepreneur 27 years ago and the challenges he faced. He shared how he has grown and evolved as a person along the way, and his vision of contribution and serving the agricultural world through technology. He also shares the powerful but often invisible role our co-founders and families play in our success. 

You can find Sanjay at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjayborkar/
• sanborkar@rediffmail.com

In the interview, Sanjay shares

• We were first-generation entrepreneurs when we founded our company, and I would say that the toughest part is we did not have any experience working anywhere. 
• Santosh and I, came from agricultural families but studied computer engineering in the University and we felt we should marry agriculture and IT so software. 
• We were offered to go and work in Brazil by our first client. However, Santosh and I didn’t find it very attractive. He even offered to come to our houses and speak to our parents.
• We approached the Department of Agriculture to see if we could work with the and we fortunately got the opportunity to develop design and develop a multimedia content for them. 
• We learnt that information has to be always given free but the services are to be charged or sold. 
• You have to involve your stakeholders, employees, customers, vendors, your banks or financial partners etc in your dreams and vision so that you can all be in the same page. 
• You need to learn how to communicate with everyone successfully so you can get your work done through a very right way of communication.
• for next three to five years, definitely we want to be one of the top five companies in the world who are serving agriculture typically as a smart platform. 
• Secondly, we want to add value to all our customers not just by providing them with technical solutions, but also helping them practice regenerative agriculture. 
• So internally in the organization we inculcate a lot of leadership trainings and behavior to create more leaders. 
• We most importantly try to hand over the entire responsibility to a leader and give them complete freedom to work on the project
• I’m very grateful For my friend and co-founder Santosh together with my family and his family and definitely not forgetting our employees.