Hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy sit down with Anil Singhal, CEO and Co-founder of NETSCOUT and author of The 5% Rule of Leadership. With 40 years at the helm of a company that has grown from a startup to a billion-dollar enterprise, Anil brings a wealth of wisdom grounded in experience, fairness, and deeply held values.

Anil shares the story behind his book and the powerful leadership framework it introduces: focus early effort on the most impactful decisions—the crucial 5% that drive 95% of outcomes. What begins as a principle becomes a company-wide approach that promotes empathy, trust, retention, and transparency across a global organization.

You’ll Hear:

• The Story Behind the 5% Rule – How Anil developed this concept over decades and why he uses it to mentor the next generation of leaders.
• Fairness as a Leadership Strategy – How fairness leads to better transparency, stronger culture, and better business results.
• The Power of Listening – Why defining problems clearly—before proposing solutions—builds alignment, trust, and efficiency.
• Human-Centered Succession Planning – How NETSCOUT is building its future through policies, alumni networks, and long-term values.
• Storytelling as a Leadership Tool – How shared stories and lived values are the key to knowledge transfer, employee engagement, and long-term success.

Key Takeaways:

• Start with Values – Whether you’re founding a company or leading through change, define and stick to your values—especially in tough times.
• Focus on the First 5% – Strategic preparation early on reduces wasted effort and improves long-term outcomes.
• Trust Multiplies Over Time – Invest in relationships early and avoid transactional behavior (like earn-outs) that can erode long-term commitment.
• Institutionalize What Works – Codify successful practices so they’re scalable and repeatable, even after leadership transitions.
• Prioritize People – Start with happy employees. They create happy customers, which leads to happy shareholders.

This episode is essential listening for any leader—whether you're building a startup or guiding a legacy company into the future.

Resources:

📘 Anil’s Book: The 5% Rule of Leadership
www.5percentrulebook.com

👨‍💼 Connect with Anil Singhal on LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/anil-singhal

🏢 Follow NETSCOU

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

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