10X Growth Strategies

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

E93: Take Back Your Power by Deborah Liu with Laura Dansbury

The podcast features Arthi Vijayaraghavan, host of 10X Growth Strategies, interviewing Ms.Laura Dansbury the VP Product & UX at Study.com. They discuss the book “Take back your power” by Ms.Deborah Liu with. The book lays down ten rules for women to take back their power at work. It showcases how women knowingly or unknowingly let got of their power at work and suggests ways to take it back. 

Topics:
00:00 Introduction 
01:07 Impact of 'Take Back Your Power'
03:03 Defining Power and Personal Reflections
05:45 Revoking Free Passes: Personal Stories
13:34 Building and Acknowledging Support Networks
25:18 Reflecting on Lifelong Friendships
25:40 Building and Defining Your Legacy
28:14 Coaching and Mentoring Aspirations
30:16 Finding and Using Your Voice
41:37 Navigating Career Setbacks
47:48 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

E92: Transplant Tales: Hope, Healing, and New Beginnings with Jaspreet Khokhar

The podcast features Saradha Sriram, host of *10X Health*, interviewing Jaspreet Khokhar an IT Professional in Philadelphia. Join Jaspreet as he shares his transformative journey through organ donation – from confronting life's biggest challenges to embracing a second chance at life. It is a story of courage, hope, and new beginnings.

Topic:
00:00 Introduction 
01:05 Jaspreet's Initial Diagnosis
02:33 Emotional Journey to Acceptance
06:00 Preparing for Transplant
06:12 Living with Dialysis
18:22 Family and Support System
22:13 Clearing Misconceptions about Organ Donation
27:08 Proactive Steps for Organ Donation
31:33 Life After Transplant
35:24 Conclusion and Gratitude

E91 - Leadership Wisdom from the Mahabharata with Tatyana Mamut

Our first episode of 2025 will feature the Indian epic "Mahabharata" which is authored by Sage Vedavyasa. Our host, Preethy Padmanabhan guides an inspiring conversation with Tatyana Mamut, Co-founder and CEO of Wayfound. They discuss the concept of Dharma (duty, moral law) that plays a central role in the Mahabharata. 

Tatyana was the Board Director and Chair of Comp Committee for UserTesting's IPO on NYSE. She is a leader and builder of successful new products & businesses at Nextdoor, Amazon, Salesforce, IDEO, and Pendo. She has 15 patents & patents pending for technology inventions, including 5 for GenerativeAI innovations.

Topics:
00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Time
00:48 Welcome to 10x Growth Strategies Podcast
01:15 Guest Introduction: Tatyana Mamut
01:54 Tatyana's Personal Journey
04:09 Exploring the Mahabharata
07:29 Leadership Lessons from the Mahabharata
10:58 Key Takeaways on Leadership
15:40 Understanding Dharma and Duty
25:07 Lessons from Arjuna
34:11 Self-Awareness and Overcoming Failures
38:40 Final Words of Wisdom

Read the book:
Amazon - https://a.co/d/gyKPLHi 
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata