10X Growth Strategies

E103 - Inflate your chance for success

This episode features our host Preethy Padmanabhan in conversation with Matthew E. Polimeno, the author of the book Inflate your chance for success and the foreword contributor Praveen Sahay, Managing Director, WAVE Equity Partners
Inflate Your Chances for Success is a practical handbook aimed at startups and entrepreneurs, authored by Matthew E. Polimeno, an experienced operating partner and expert in operational excellence. This book serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating the due diligence process during fundraising and positioning startups for long-term success.

Chapters of the conversation - 
- Introduction 
00:06 Highlights from career journey 
05:30 What you don’t know you don’t know 
- Key takeaways for startup fund raising
7:30 The purpose of due diligence
11:30 Startup survival to scale 
16:30 Mentoring for startup leaders
- Setting up for success
18:30 Thinking outside-in 
19:00 Examples of successful startups 
28:30 Final Insights

E102 - The Body Keeps the Score: Brain Mind and Body in the healing of trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk

The podcast features Saradha Sriram, host of 10X Growth Strategies, interviewing Vlad Moskovski , CEO | Executive Coach and Culture Designer

Vlad Moskovski transforms conscious leaders into visionary architects of growth as their organizations evolve and transform. A 3x founder and leadership development expert with 15+ years of experience, he uniquely blends hands-on operational expertise with deep psychological insight through both coaching and strategic consulting.

- Taking a holistic approach, Vlad works simultaneously at three levels:
- The leader's mindset, executive presence, somatic & emotional intelligence
- The leadership team's alignment and collective effectiveness
- The organization's systems, culture, and strategic execution

His frameworks have empowered 30+ organizations through programs like The Circulars Accelerator, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Alchemist Accelerator, and HAAS Business School

Topics:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:43 Discovering 'The Body Keeps the Score'
01:47 Trauma's Impact on Leadership
06:10 Somatic Awareness in Coaching
12:41 Psychological Safety in Teams
19:47 Navigating Vulnerability in Leadership
25:46 Practical Advice for Emerging Leaders
28:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

E101 - Pause with Author Rachael O’Meara

The podcast features Arthi Vijayaraghavan, host of *10X Growth Strategies*, interviewing Ms.Rachael O’Meara author of the book “pause”. The book Pause: Harnessing the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break by Rachael O’Meara is about the transformative value of intentionally stepping back—pausing—to reflect, realign, and reset your personal and professional life.

“A pause is not just time off. It’s time in. It’s your opportunity to reflect, regroup, and rediscover what really matters.” – Rachael O’Meara

Topics:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:55 Rachel O'Mara's Journey to Discovering the Power of Pause
07:21 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence
10:38 Practical Tips for Implementing Pauses
20:04 Emotional Intelligence and Leadership
25:01 Free Resources and Conclusion

E100 - Sail to Scale With Mona, Maria and Heather

This episode features our host Preethy Padmanabhan in conversation with authors of the book Sail to Scale: Steer Your Startup Clear of Mistakes from Launch to Exit. The book is a practical guide for entrepreneurs, written by Mona Sabet, Heather Jerrehian, and Maria Fernandez Guajardo. The book draws on the authors’ collective experience as successful entrepreneurs, executives, and investors to help founders avoid the most common pitfalls that cause startups to fail
Sail to Scale is designed for prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs, as well as anyone involved in the startup ecosystem. Its lessons, though often illustrated with SaaS and tech examples, are broadly applicable to a wide range of businesses. The book stands out for its clear organization, visual metaphors, and focus on both what to do and what not to do at each stage of growth

Topics:
00:00 Welcome to the 100th Episode of 10X
01:00 Heather's Inspiring Career Journey
02:57 Mona's Multifaceted Career Path
05:43 Maria's AI-Driven Mission
07:19 The Birth of 'Sale to Scale'
12:15 Key Lessons from the Launch Phase
20:18 Navigating the Pivot Wave with Hitch
24:46 Scaling Companies: The 10X Growth Mindset
25:23 Paradoxes of Scaling: Leadership and Focus
29:07 Hiring Strategies for Scaling Companies
29:48 The Importance of Avoiding Single Points of Failure
30:03 Turnover in Scaling Companies: A Necessary Challenge
30:47 The Final Wave: Navigating Exits and Acquisitions
39:05 AI's Impact on Launch Phases and MVPs
42:05 Distribution Fit: The Key to Market Success
44:07 Final Thoughts: Diverse Paths to Success

E99 - The Journey Within : “Essentials of the Art of Living”by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

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

If you’re seeking clarity, calm, and grounded success in a world of noise — this is the conversation for you.

📌 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & Guest Welcome
01:02 – Naren's Leap into Entrepreneurship
03:30 – Freedom vs. Structure in Startup Life
04:45 – The Reality of Founding: 80/20 Days
06:10 – Discovering The Journey Within
07:20 – The Immediate Impact of Breathwork
08:55 – Inner Work and Human Potential
11:15 – “iPOD” – Inner Peace, Outer Dynamism
12:50 – The Scientist & Boatman Story
15:00 – When Work Misaligns with Values
17:35 – Impulsive vs. Intuitive Decisions
19:00 – Developing Mental Hygiene
20:30 – The Role of Intuition in Innovation
23:45 – Gut Decisions in Reen’s Career
25:40 – Measuring Social & Ethical Impact
27:20 – Structured Purpose vs. Impulse
30:10 – Volunteering with Intention
32:00 – Live Reading from The Journey Within
35:20 – The Myth of Rest and Overwork
38:00 – Daily Stress & the Mental Dents We Ignore
41:30 – Three Pillars: Clarity, Purity, Sincerity
42:50 – Final Reflections & Takeaways

E98 - Unleashing AI startups in Climate

We are excited to present this live panel moderated by our host Preethy Padmanabhan. "Unleashing AI startups in Climate", features the following successful entrepreneurs with a climate tech background.

• ​Aimee Gotway Bailey, CEO, Rock Rabbit
• ​Divya Demato, CEO, GoodOps
• ​Reetu Gupta, Founder, Pistachio Advisory & Co-Founder Clean Table
• ​Karan Chopra, Co-Founder, Earthena AI

AI startups are uniquely positioned to accelerate climate action, offering scalable, data-driven solutions that can reshape industries and help achieve net-zero goals. By harnessing the power of AI, these startups are not only mitigating climate risks but also unlocking new opportunities for a sustainable future

 

 

00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome
00:14 Panelist Introductions
01:03 Panelist Backgrounds and Climate Journeys
04:38 Challenges and Opportunities in Climate Work
13:58 Measuring Impact in Climate Tech
22:06 Energy Efficiency and Modernization
22:42 Climate Tech and AI Integration
23:43 Superpowers in Sustainability
26:34 Entrepreneurial Journeys in Climate Tech
29:54 Fundraising Strategies and Challenges
33:43 Impact of Policy and Economic Conditions on Climate

E97: Insights From Leading VCs on the Next Era of Startup Investment with Schwark & Bhargavi

We are excited to present this live panel moderated by our host Preethy Padmanabhan. In  this live panel "Navigating the Fintech Frontier: VC Insights for 2025 and Beyond", an insightful panel featuring prominent venture capitalists and successful entrepreneurs with a fintech background.
​The fintech landscape is poised for significant transformation in 2025, presenting both challenges and opportunities for venture capitalists. This panel will explore the latest trends, investment strategies, and emerging technologies shaping the future of financial technology. This panel offers a unique opportunity for founders and startup teams to gain insider knowledge from industry leaders guiding the next generation of high-growth fintech ventures.

00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome
00:22 Panelist Introductions
03:57 Journey into Venture Capital
04:58 FinTech Investment Trends and Outlook
12:27 Advice for Entrepreneurs
15:21 Identifying and Supporting Unicorns
20:33 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

E96: Billion-Dollar Lessons: Avoiding Costly Corporate Mistakes with Paul Singh Oberoi

The podcast features Saradha Sriram, host of 10X Growth Strategies, interviewing Paul Singh, who is one of the researchers for the book Billions Dollar Lessons, and is the CEO of 1Gen, a social innovation organization with a diverse portfolio.

Paul shares his journey into studying business failures and the valuable insights gained from researching colossal business mishaps. Paul emphasizes the relevance of learning from failures and how modern businesses can avoid similar pitfalls. Tune in to discover how the Devil's Advocate approach can stress-test strategies and ensure sustainable business success.

Topics:
00:00 Introduction 
00:28 Discussing 'Billion Dollar Lessons'
03:22 The Synergy Myth
04:23 Importance of People and Culture in Mergers
06:03 Learning from Market Disruptions
09:24 The Devil's Advocate Approach
14:02 Practical Applications and Modern Context
20:02 Final Thoughts and Future Implications
25:34 Conclusion and Gratitude

E95: Teenage Chronicles - The Emotional Rollercoaster of Teenage Life—And How to Handle It

In this episode of the 10X Growth Strategies Podcast, host Arthi Vijayaraghavan introduces Saania Saxena, the young author of 'Teenage Chronicles'. Saania delves into the emotional rollercoaster experienced by teenagers, touching on themes like insecurities, love, and anxiety. 'Teenage Chronicles' has gained significant acclaim, ranking among the top 15 bestsellers in Indian airports. Saania, who has traveled to over 50 countries and is pursuing marketing at the University of Washington, Seattle, shares her journey of writing the book and learning about self-acceptance. She also discusses how interviews with friends from various cultural backgrounds contributed to the book. Arthi and Saania explore the impact of heartfelt quotes and the importance of friendships. Saania recommends two influential books, 'The Forty Rules of Love' and 'The Midnight Library,' which have shaped her philosophical outlook. The episode is a deep dive into the emotional growth and wisdom gained through writing and friendships.

 

00:00 Introduction
00:37 Saania's Background and Achievements
01:33 The Inspiration Behind Teenage Chronicles
02:53 Exploring Themes in Teenage Chronicles
05:31 Interviewing Friends and Cultural Insights
09:19 Boys vs. Girls: Emotional Expression
16:04 The Importance of Friendships
23:32 Tools for Managing Emotions
24:47 Recommended Books and Closing Remarks

E94: Creativity Inc.: The Book That Shaped Pixar with Anoop Bhaskaran

Join host Madhavi Ravanan in the latest episode of the 10x Growth Strategies podcast featuring Anoop Bhaskaran. Anoop shares his fascinating professional journey, his passion for reading, and delves deep into Ed Catmull's 'Creativity Inc.' Discover the intriguing backstories of Pixar’s creation, the visionary leadership of Steve Jobs, and the impactful concept of the 'Brain Trust'. A conversation filled with inspiring quotes, personal anecdotes, and actionable insights for both professional and personal growth. Don't miss this engaging episode packed with the secrets behind Pixar's stupendous success!

Topics
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:44 Anoop's Background and Career Journey
01:42 Anoop's Reading Habits
05:20 Discussion on 'Creativity Inc.'
07:04 The Pixar Story and Key Figures
21:25 The Brain Trust Concept
26:07 Favorite Quotes and Closing Thoughts