In this conversation, originally recorded as an episode for Simplifying Life with Kashira, Gaurav shares his journey from a successful corporate career to founding Venturis. He discusses the importance of mindset, the concept of Ikigai, and how overcoming personal adversity, such as his stroke, has shaped his perspective on life and work. Gaurav emphasizes the significance of authenticity, user-centricity, and building a people-centric business culture while navigating the challenges of office politics and entrepreneurship. His insights provide valuable lessons on finding purpose, embracing setbacks as learning opportunities, and the power of community in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings.

Link to Simplifying Life with Kashira: www.youtube.com/@SimplifyingLifewithKashira

Takeaways

Namrata (Nam) Sarmah, Chief Product and Technology Officer, and the Founder of Women in Product, UK and CPO Track Communities discusses her career journey and the importance of building great products and strong teams. She emphasizes the need for products that solve real human problems and shares her experience with TransferWise as an example. Nam also highlights the value of building communities and the changing dynamics of leadership in the digital age. She recommends books like 'Ride of a Lifetime' by Bob Iger and 'Discover Your True North' by Bill George for leadership insights.

Chapters/Timestamps:

Introduction to Building Great Products (00:00:05)
Discussion on the Venturis mindset combining product thinking, adaptability, and engagement.

Guest Introduction (00:00:37)
Namrata Sarmah introduced as a diverse expert in product management and community building.

Namrata's Career Journey (00:02:06)
Nam shares her transition from engineering to product management and her educational background.

Early Career Experiences (00:03:39)
Nam recounts her formative years at Wipro and her early career opportunities in Boston.

Transition to Product Management (00:04:55)
Nam discusses her shift to product management during its nascent stages in the UK.

Defining a Great Product (00:08:30)
Nam explains that a great product solves real human problems, using TransferWise as an example.

User Experience Importance (00:11:59)
Discussion on user experience and its critical role in product design and community building.

AI and Human Skills (00:14:24)
Nam emphasizes the growing importance of human skills in an AI-driven world and community relevance.

Corporate Culture Changes (00:16:16)
Nam reflects on the decline of corporate culture post-COVID and the need for community connections.

Building Relationships in Communities (00:18:12)
Nam highlights the importance of relationships in professional communities for personal and business growth.

Creating a Culture of Leadership (20:06)
Discussion on the importance of hands-on leadership in building a strong community and product.

Hyperscale vs. Organic Growth (20:30)
The advantages of scaling a product organically versus hyperscaling with a large team.

Leadership Philosophy and Values (22:06)
Exploration of the Venturis mindset emphasizing focus, adaptability, and engagement in leadership.

The Reality of Leadership Quality (23:08)
Commentary on the prevalence of poor leadership and the ease of becoming a good leader.

Impact of COVID on Leadership Dynamics (24:02)
How the pandemic transformed corporate relationships and communication methods.

Generational Expectations in Leadership (26:01)
Discussion on how different generations, especially Gen Z, have unique leadership expectations.

Balancing Technology and Product Management (27:59)
Insights on managing the intersection of technology and product delivery effectively.

The Importance of Skills in Leadership Roles (29:53)
The necessity of having the right skills for leadership roles in today’s market dynamics.

Influential Leadership Books (32:24)
Recommendations for impactful books on leadership, including insights from personal experiences.

Using Adversity for Growth (35:50)
Discussion on how personal challenges can shape effective leadership and resilience.

Summary

Rajeev Shah and Puneet Shetty, CEO and Head of Product respectively at Celona, discuss product thinking, mindset, and entrepreneurship. They emphasize the importance of user centricity and deep empathy for end users in the early stages of a product. They also highlight the unique skill set of product managers, who must be able to think about P&L, communicate effectively, and shift between different functions. The guests discuss the challenges of building a winning team and the need for adaptability and emotional maturity. They also share the story behind the name Celona.

Keywords

product thinking, mindset, entrepreneurship, user centricity, empathy, product managers, P&L, winning team, adaptability, emotional maturity, Celona

Takeaways

Sound Bites

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Background of Salona

05:14The Winning Ingredients for Startups

11:51The Role of Conviction and Stand-Up Comedy in Product Management

16:30Defining Product Thinking and User Centricity

19:37The Holistic Approach of Product Thinking

22:03Balancing Strategy and Execution in Product Leadership

22:32The Importance of Flexibility and Creativity in Product Management

22:47The Challenges of Product Management and Hiring Good Product Leaders

23:41The Importance of Adaptability in Building a Winning Team

26:29Working as a Product Person for a CEO Who is Also a Product Person

32:54The Story Behind the Name 'Celona'

The ICC T20 cricket world cup just concluded and Team India emerged as the champions. So, this gives us the perfect backdrop to talk about our favorite topic - applying lessons from the world of sports to building great products. And that’s not all - to talk about this, we have a very special guest joining us today. We are thrilled to be joined by Palash Somani, a Product Leader at Dream11 for this conversation. The occasion demanded that we do something special So, here we are - we are bringing you a conversation straight from the heart. Whether you are a cricket fan or a product person, looking to pick up some lessons on what it takes to build great products, we promise you that there is going to be something in this conversation for you.

Timestamps:

The venturis mindset (00:00:05) Defines the mindset encompassing focus, adaptability, mojo, and engagement required for building great products.

Introduction of Palash Somani (00:02:33) Palash Somani, the Director of Product at Dream11, shares his unconventional journey to product management and his focus on growth and hustle mindset.

Indian cricket team's adaptability (00:04:38) Discussion on the adaptability of the Indian cricket team and its parallels to the adaptability required in product management.

Building great products and innovation (00:08:25) Emphasizes the importance of strategy, vision, and irrational belief in the potential of products for successful innovation.

Understanding user needs (00:13:49) Importance of understanding the underlying user needs and innovating beyond what users explicitly request.

Adaptability in product management (00:16:15) The need for product managers to wear many hats and constantly evolve with user needs and market trends.

Practice and preparation (00:19:32) The importance of practice and preparation in achieving collective goals, drawing parallels to the dedication and hunger of the Indian cricket team.

Being Reliable (00:21:19) Importance of reliability in product management, drawing parallels with the Indian cricket team's consistency.

Clarity of Role (00:21:39) Emphasizing the need for clarity of roles, inspired by the Chennai Super Kings, and its relevance in product management.

Conflict Management (00:22:14) The significance of effective conflict management in fostering healthy debates and decision-making in product teams.

Celebrating Small Wins (00:23:01) Highlighting the value of celebrating smaller wins and their impact on team morale and engagement.

Belief in Everybody (00:23:21) The importance of fostering a belief in the impact of individual contributions on the team's success.

Future of AI in Product Management (00:24:33) Discussion on the role of AI in the future of product management, focusing on its potential as a tool for efficiency and user experience enhancement.

Data and Context in AI Product Management (00:25:53) Exploring the relationship between data and context in AI product management and the potential for co-creation of a new framework.

Conclusion and Gratitude (00:26:56) Closing remarks, expressing gratitude for the conversation and the opportunity to share insights and perspectives.

This is a replay of a conversation, originally aired on the podcast “Charleh With Friends”. Gaurav was a guest on this show and shared his personal life journey, how a life changing incident became the driving factor around finding our Ikigai and the driving force behind Venturis. We ofcourse also talked about our frameworks and the secret of building great products. Charleh is a seasoned Marketing leader, a skilled podcast host and also a crossfit athlete. For more of such authentic conversations, do subscribe to her show.

Link to the original episode on Charleh's show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQvVOj7PeUs

Original LinkedIn post about appearance on Charleh's show: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gaurav-vaid-product-thinker_businesspodcast-entrepreneur-smallbusiness-activity-7209940176960147456-VvWD?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

In this heartfelt episode of "Venturis Stories," Gaurav and Arjun explore the intersection of sports, innovation, and business through their talent and mindset framework. Drawing inspiration from recent events like Roger Federer's Dartmouth Commencement speech, the Roger and Rafa interview for Louis Vuitton, the French Open, and the T20 Cricket World Cup, they discuss how the mindset required for sports success parallels business innovation. They emphasize the importance of feedback, continuous iteration, and a growth mindset. Highlighting their two-by-two matrix framework, they stress the need for both high talent and a strong mindset to achieve success in any field.

Roger Federer Speech Highlights: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gaurav-vaid-product-thinker_rogerfedrer-leeadership-attitude-activity-7206254210185654272-LUn0?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Luis Vitton , Roger

Venturis Talent x

Roger Federer Full

Timestamps:

The secret to unlocking innovation (00:00:05) Discussion on the combination of product thinking and mindset for achieving innovation in both startups and mature companies.

Introduction to the episode (00:00:42) Acknowledgment of feedback on previous episodes and a preview of the sports and innovation discussion.

Sports events and talent mindset framework (00:01:18) Reflection on the French Open and T20 cricket matches, introduction of the talent mindset framework developed by Gaurav, and the parallel between sporting mindsets and business innovation.

Application of sporting mindset to business (00:02:41) Discussion of the alignment between the mindset of sports champions and the Venturi mindset, emphasizing the importance of mindset in addition to core product skills.

Talent and mindset framework explanation (00:04:39) Explanation of the two by two matrix of talent and mindset, and its application to successful businesses and sports champions.

Defining the quadrants in the matrix (00:06:37) Explanation of the four quadrants in the talent and mindset matrix, defining the top right quadrant as where champions reside and discussing the bottom right quadrant.

Transition from veterans to champions (00:09:44) Discussion on transitioning from a high talent fixed mindset environment to the champions quadrant in the business context, referencing a previous framework for entrepreneurs in a similar situation.

Rising stars and consistent champions (00:11:03) Exploration of the playbook for transforming rising stars with motivation/mindset into consistent champions in business, emphasizing the importance of mindset and guidance.

Market focus on large tech companies (00:13:19) Emphasis on large tech companies' success in creating the right talent and providing a mindset and ecosystem for growth, and the need to apply the methodology to more companies.

Continuous iteration and feedback (00:14:18) Encouragement for continuous iteration, feedback, and questions from companies and individuals, highlighting the importance of feedback in refining frameworks and advising companies.

Carol Dweck's growth mindset and feedback request (00:14:53) Reference to Carol Dweck's growth mindset and its impact on the Microsoft turnaround, with a request for feedback and questions from listeners.

Conclusion and call to action (00:14:56) Summary of the discussion on talent and mindset framework, encouragement for entrepreneurs to reach out for partnership, and a call to action for feedback and questions.

In this episode of the Venturis Stories podcast, hosts Arjun and Gaurav delve into the their journey and illustrate the application of the Venturis Product Market Fit Framework - P-M Squared, applied to the Venturis Inc. The P-M Squared framework is about Purpose - Product - Market and Money. Gaurav and Arjun discuss the Purpose and starting with the Why, framed around this concept of Ikigai and the deeply personal story of how Gaurav has used that concept to guide his recovery from a stroke that he suffered in 2020 (you can read about the details in a linked in post - link below). The Product Journey is set in the context of a High Agency Mindset and inspired a post by Shreyas Doshi on this topic (Link to his post below which is highly recommend reading). The Market story is based on anecdotes of customer and market discussions that the hosts have had over the last 12 months and finally it is about "Show Me the Money" set in the context of a journey of "Productizing the services" that is captured as the 5 ways to engage Venturis Inc on the Services page of the website (Link below):

Timestamps:

Purpose (00:01:21)

Gaurav shares his personal journey and the concept of Ikigai, emphasizing the importance of finding purpose in life and work.

Product Agency and Talent (00:08:06)

The hosts discusses the concept of product agency and talent, highlighting the importance of creating a high agency environment to foster innovation and success.

Market Segmentation and Creating New Markets (00:14:49)

The hosts discuss the challenges of creating and exploiting markets, including scaling existing businesses, exploiting adjacencies, and creating new markets.

Revenue Generation (00:20:34)

The hosts explore how they plan to create revenue for their venture, emphasizing the importance of aligning the team's purpose with the business goals.

Product Market Fit Framework (00:23:53)

Gaurav discusses the framework's application to their services and offers a discovery call to demonstrate its relevance to different situations.

Problem-Centric Innovation (00:23:53)

Gaurav emphasizes the importance of starting from the problem and iterating, rather than creating a solution looking for a problem.

Opportunities to Innovate (00:23:53)

Gaurav mentions the abundance of ideas and opportunities for innovation, highlighting the need to align solutions with real problems.

In this episode of Venturis Stories, Gaurav and Arjun chat with Chris Paterson, an Innovation Champion and a seasoned Product Leader, who shares our passion for demystifying Product Management. Chris focuses on helping organizations develop a corporate/product strategy and executive Coaching Services. Chris is a believer in Structured Creativity (sounds like an oxymoron? Well, it is the critical product management skill -learn more about it in the episode).

Timestamps:

**Introduction to Product Management (00:00:05)**

Discussion on the combination of product thinking and mindset in product management.

**Chris Paterson's Career Journey (00:01:33)**

Chris Paterson's career progression and experiences in product management and strategy.

**Design Thinking and Product Roadmaps (00:06:58)**

Discussion on the importance of design thinking and its integration into product roadmaps.

**Mentorship and Career Influence (00:14:33)**

The impact of mentors on career development and the role of mentorship in giving back.

**Private Equity and Innovation (00:18:22)**

Exploring the role of private equity in driving innovation and its impact on companies.

**Strategy and Execution in Product Management (00:22:44)**

The importance of aligning strategy with execution and its impact on successful product management.

**Strategy and Execution (00:23:39)**

Discussion about the book "Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done" and its importance in aligning strategy and execution.

**Iterative Strategy Planning (00:25:32)**

Importance of iterative long-range strategy planning exercises and being ready for events and pivoting as needed.

**Misunderstood Discipline (00:26:48)**

Discussion on the blog "Zen and the Art of Product Management," highlighting the challenges and evolving nature of the product management role.

**Evolution of Product Management (00:28:40)**

Comparison of the evolution of product management to the evolution of industrial design, emphasizing the role's consumer focus and leadership requirements.

**Product Manager's Role (00:30:41)**

Explanation of the product manager's role, focusing on understanding market variables, distilling insights into a roadmap, and leading collaboratively.

**Yin and Yang of Product Management (00:34:52)**

Emphasizing the importance of marrying analytics with narratives and the need for a venturis mindset in product management.

In this episode of Venturis Stories, Gaurav and Arjun chat with Jim Verquist, founder of Engine 2 Innovation, about fostering innovation in large, established companies. Jim shares his experience, ranging from U.S Marine Corps, to 3 silicon valley startups to large mature companies and stresses that innovation isn't just for startups. He discusses the common failure of internal venture teams, the importance of trusting experts, and the need for an environment that supports unfiltered experimentation. The concept of swarm intelligence is explored, highlighting how any employee can spark innovation. Jim also outlines a playbook for creating new growth curves within big companies, advocating for a dual focus on current operations and exploring new, scalable business models.

Jim Verquist, LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verquist/

Engine2 Innovation: https://engine2.us/

Timestamps:

The secret to unlocking innovation (00:00:05)

Discussion on why startups succeed in innovation and the challenges faced by mature companies.

Introduction to Jim Verquist (00:01:29)

Gaurav introduces Jim Verquist, founder at Engine 2 Innovation, and his passion for innovation.

Culture shock in big companies (00:02:25)

Jim shares his experience transitioning from startups to big companies and his mission to energize and innovate large companies.

The playbook for building new S-curves (00:17:44)

Discussion on the challenges faced by GMs and product managers in mature companies and the playbook for building and launching new S-curves.

Implementing swarm intelligence (00:14:55)

Jim explains the concept of swarm intelligence and how to unleash the innovation potential of regular employees.

Balancing innovation access and risk (00:08:24)

Discussion on balancing swarm intelligence with risk appetite and the resentment created by innovation access disparities.

Laws of innovation (00:04:10)

Jim explains the laws of innovation and the differences in approach between startups and big companies.

Mimicking Silicon Valley in large companies (00:18:31)

Jim presents a playbook that mimics the exploration and exploitation phases of startups within successful companies.

Bureaucracy and Innovation (00:22:44)

Discussion on the role of bureaucracy and the challenge of balancing innovation in large companies.

Steve Jobs' Approach (00:24:21)

Exploration of Steve Jobs' perspective on innovation and the importance of focusing on content and the big picture.

Career Journeys and Innovation (00:25:13)

Speakers' personal experiences in large companies and the challenges and opportunities for innovation.

Innovation in the US Marine Corps (00:27:12)

Insights into innovation in the US Marine Corps and the experience of driving change in a large organization.

Shrinking Portfolio and Innovation (00:30:46)

Discussion on the journey from working in large companies to startups and the catalyst for innovation.

Framework for Innovation (00:32:17)

Reflection on the potential for innovation in various organizational settings and the importance of a basic framework for mature companies.

Contact Information (00:33:04)

Information on how to connect with Jim Verquist and Engine 2 Innovation.

In this episode of Venturis Stories, hosts Gaurav and Arjun interview Kaitki Agarwal, co-founder and president of A5G Networks. They discuss the integration of AI and autonomous systems in telecom, as highlighted at the Mobile World Congress. Kaitki shares her journey in the industry, the challenges she faced, and the significance of self-motivation. The conversation covers the necessity of open networks, data management, and the use of AI for network optimization. Kaitki stresses the iterative process of product thinking to solve customer issues and the continuous learning mindset, drawing inspiration from authors like Clayton Christensen and Michael Dell. The episode wraps up with Kaitki expressing enthusiasm about Intel's startup program and the potential for future collaborations.

The secret to building great products (00:00:05)

Introduction to the podcast theme and the significance of product management in building great products.

Kaitki Agarwal's career journey and background (00:02:03)

Kaitki Agarwal discusses her career journey, upbringing, and early experiences that shaped her as a self-learner and entrepreneur.

Challenges and learnings in Kaitki Agarwal's career journey (00:04:01)

Kaitki Agarwal shares her experiences, challenges, and learnings, emphasizing the value of practical experience and networking.

Transition to discussing autonomous networks and AI in telecom (00:07:08)

Transition from personal background to discussing the concept of a network of networks and the potential of autonomous networks and AI in telecom.

Challenges and opportunities in current networks (00:08:00)

Discussion about the limitations of current closed networks and the need for open networks to drive innovation and efficiency.

Demonstrating AI in telecom at MWC (00:12:52)

Kaitki Agarwal shares insights into the demonstrations and functionality of AI in telecom showcased at the Mobile World Congress.

Product thinking and addressing customer problems (00:16:06)

Discussion on addressing customer problems, creating new business value, and the iterative process of product thinking.

Recommendations for reading and learning (00:19:52)

Kaitki Agarwal shares her favorite books and the impact they had on her entrepreneurial journey and learning.

Adaptability and contextual intelligence (00:22:35)

Insights into the importance of adaptability and contextual intelligence, emphasizing the value of asking good questions and maintaining an open mind.

Kaitki Agarwal and A5G's inclusion in Intel's startup program (00:25:27)

Discussion about Kaitki Agarwal and A5G's inclusion in Intel's startup program, highlighting the significance and benefits for her startup and team.