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  • Speech: As the Chief Guest – PPEC Inspiron Launch

    Recently, my alma mater, Poorna Prajna Education Centre Indiranagar, invited me as the Chief Guest for the launch of their school magazine. What made it even more special for me personally was that it had been 25 years since I completed my schooling. Being back at school for such an occasion felt truly special.

    I received a request to discuss the increasing use of mobile technology among students, which is becoming a distraction. High school students made up the majority of the audience, but the session also recognized several award winners from various state-level competitions. I had prepared a speech specifically for the students who were about to complete their education.

    Summary of the speech

    In the first part of my talk, I discussed the power that mobile phones wield and the challenges we face when we try to wield this power. Accepting its power and realizing it holds the future is the first step to managing it gracefully.

    The mastery of the power that technology poses begins with a deeper sense of identity that needs to be discovered by all of us. In doing so, we commit to performing at the elite levels and masterly in any field we choose. This requires us to engage in deep work. To engage in deep work, we must develop our own unique style, as structures are not readily available everywhere. Our style helps develop a structure internally for ourselves (I shall elaborate on this in another blog post). Lastly, the uncertainty created by the technology is in essence an opportunity for us to accomplish our goals. The key is in embracing the uncertainty, and seeking our growth in the process.

    You could read the speech below. Feel free to share your thought in the comment section at the end of the post

    Here is a photograph from the event (PC: PPEC).

    Magazine Launch Photo
    Photo credits – PPEC Indiranagar.

  • Am I an atheist?

    A conversation with my sister triggered this thought of writing a blog. She asked me am I an atheist! And that triggered my thoughtful reflection and what it meant to me.I have had an interest in the notion of GOD for a long time… (read this post) I have also oscillated between the beliefs about God and its nature over a long time. Do these oscillating beliefs make me a liar, or just a constantly curious person who is trying to make sense of the notion, and refining the definition in a constant endeavor.

    Let’s begin with definitions of an atheist fist. “The Cambridge Dictionary” definition of atheist available at https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/atheist – which said its “someone who does not believe in God/gods.” So there is a definitional shift from atheist to “GOD,” and I do the same search again and find the definition as “a spirit or being believed to control some part of the universe or life and often worshipped for doing so, or something that represents this spirit or being.”

    When I look at the definition here, I see three components – the form, the role and the rituals/processes of engaging. The term atheist itself could be confusing if one looks at the three aspects different.

    1. What would form mean for me when I consider myself to be an atheist or not?

    If the form is important, it is often the case that we are in the quest of having a form mostly through the perspectives we hold. Is it male, female or others? Is it nature or is it fiction?
    My early notions of being an atheist were pushed by this aspect – I don’t like the form. I don’t see god in a form.
    But do I not believe in what I don’t cognitively explain? I do.
    I began the quest since I found myself believing in the unexplained. My experience has been a useful guide in this. I realize there are moments when my mind is peaceful, happy and undisturbed. A state of bliss, where I seek nothing more. Where I am grateful to be where I am.
    This I believe is the experiences of divinity that each one of us can have. It doesn’t happen at only specific places like temples. I find myself distancing from temple visits where I don’t find peace, where I cannot connect with myself. There are some moments when it’s so easy to connect and be at a place, just soaking in the moment completely – this for me has been the scenario when I get to treks and just sit watching the waterfall and create magic!
    I then began asking if it’s all about nature itself? Is nature God? And as I began observing my daily life – I realize there are more instances when I can choose to experience divinity. Its the feeling that I had begun soaking in, not the divine itself.
    I now know – the existence of the divine in a form isn’t really necessary for us to feel the divinity that is so easy to experience so its not the form.
    So yes, I am an atheist in the requirement of having a form. I don’t believe in a form.

    2. Role

    The notion of God has emerged for multiple reasons – may be for experiencing the divinity that I talked about earlier, or for the reduction of the uncertainty like I mentioned in the earlier blog, or as Harari says for the unifying role and control that myths around these Gods provide to people.
    I see that the role played by the notion of God gives me peace. Whatever the other aspects of the role of ‘God’ maybe I know it simply gives me a simplistic view of life and allows me to move ahead when I am stuck.
    So no, I am not an atheist in this requirement for the role that is played by God. It helps me!

    3. The process of engaging.

    Rituals and processes are effective to enable to execute their tasks with little cognitive overload. They also allow us to take benefits of the clarity that emerges with the connecting with the feeling of divinity and the reduction in uncertainty. So practices help connect with God and so should make me someone who believes in God ain’t it?
    Here I look at the implications of the rituals to me and my push on others to follow the rituals. I find myself only interested in finding the peace, the flow I experience through following the rituals, but I don’t want others to simply follow what I do. I am pretty sure they have their ways of finding the divine feeling – be it through music, dance or simply our work. We call these as “Aradhana” too, just as we call “praying” in front of God – the worship itself is flexible and just a means.
    So I see as following rituals are never going to be indicative of the belief in god itself. It’s only indicative of being in the moment, doing it for its own sake. The state of flow!
    With this, I guess I realize now that god is a very personal notion. The rituals are simply so customizable to suit our state of mind — that which makes us feel the bliss, the peace, the happiness, the flow.

    So am I an atheist? I don’t know. I do believe I am one in some ways and not one in many ways. Maybe I am agnostic, but simply do what I do.
    My views here are personal. May not be strictly adhering to the notions of anyone else, but you have to find your answers.

  • Zero to One – Peter Thiel

    I just finished an extremely interesting book on entrepreneurship by Peter Thiel – Zero to One, and thought of sharing what I look as take away from the same.

    For me the books sheds light on some of the subtle but important factors that would compose a high impact tech ventures. The essence of the following questions is what the book really delivers.

    1. The Engineering Question – Can you create breakthrough technology instead of incremental improvements?
    2. The Timing Question – Is now the right time to start your particular business?
    3. The Monopoly Question  – Are you starting with a big share of a small market?
    4. The People Question – Do you have the right team?
    5. The Distribution Question – Do you have a way to not just create but deliver your product?
    6. The Durability Question – Will your market position be defensible 10 and 20 years into the future?
    7. The Secret Question – Have you identified a unique opportunity that others don’t see?
    I would recommend this book to every one who is thinking of starting a tech venture, and may be re-read it!

  • “ಪುನರಪಿ”: ಕಾವ್ಯ ಕಡಮೆ ನಾಗರಕಟ್ಟೆ

    Image of cover page of Punarapi book
    ಇತ್ತೀಚಿಗಷ್ಟೇ ನಾನು ಕಾವ್ಯ ಕಡಮೆ ನಾಗರಕಟ್ಟೆ ಬರೆದ “ಪುನರಪಿ” ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯನ್ನು ಓದಿ ಮುಗಿಸಿದೆ. ಇದು ನಾನು ಓದಿದ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ. ಇದರ ಮುಂಚೆ ಲಲಿತ ಪ್ರಬಂಧಗಳ ಸಂಕಲನಗಳಷ್ಟೇ ಒಡ್ಡಿದ್ದೇ. ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಗೂ ನಾನು ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆ. ನನ್ನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತನಾದ ಸಂತೋಷ ನಾಗರಕಟ್ಟೆಯ ಜೀವನ ಸಂಗಾತಿಯಾದ ಕಾವ್ಯಳ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಯಾಗಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಈ ಸಂತಸದ ಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗಿಯಾಗಬೇಕೆನಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಇದರಂತೆ ಅವರಿಬ್ಬರೂ ನನಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಆಮಂತ್ರಣ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಆಗಷ್ಟೇ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯಾದ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಪ್ರತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಹಿಯನ್ನು ಸಹ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದರು. 
     
    ಈ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾವ್ಯ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮೂಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾಳೆ. ವೃಧ್ದಪ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಸಲಿಂಗ ಕಾಮದ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ಕೈಗೆತ್ತುಕೊಂಡು ಸುಲಲಿತವಾಗಿ ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ಮೂಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾಳೆ. ಕಥೆಯ ನಿರೂಪಣೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಅಚ್ಚುಕಟ್ಟಾಗಿದ್ದು ಕುರ್ಚಿಯ ಅಂಚಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂತು ಕುತೂಹಲ ಕೆರಳಿಸುವಂತೆ ರಚಿಸಿದ್ದಾಳೆ. ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವ ಎಲ್ಲ ಪಾರ್ತ್ರಗಳು ತಮ್ಮ ತಮ್ಮ ಛಾಪುಗಳನ್ನು ಮನಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ರೂಪಿಸುತ್ತ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತವೆ. ನನಗೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಕುತೂಹಲ ಕೆರಳಿಸಿದ ಪಾತ್ರವೆಂದರೆ ಸಂಜೀವಿನಿಯದ್ದು. ಪ್ರಾಯಶಃ ಆ ಪಾತ್ರದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪವೇ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಇರುವುದರಿಂದಾಗಿ ನನ್ನ ಮನಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಕುತೂಹಲವಿದ್ದರೂ ಇರಬಹುದು. ಇದೇ ಕಥೆಯ ಸಂಚನ್ನು ಮುಂದುವರೆಸಿ ಇನ್ನೂ ಬೆಳೆಸಬಹುದು ಅನ್ನುವುದು ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಅನಿಸಿಕೆ. ಅಥವಾ, ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯ ಕೊನೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ವಿಭಿನ್ನವಾಗಿರಬಹುದಿತ್ತು ಅಂತಲೂ ಆನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಪ್ರಾಯಶಃ ಈ ಅಂತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯಾಗಿ ಮೂಡಿಸಬಹುದು. 
     
    ಈ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯು ಕಾವ್ಯಳ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಎಂಬ ಯೋಚಿಸಿದರೆ ಇದು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಒಂದು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ. ಇನ್ನೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚೆಚ್ಚು ಉತ್ತಮ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಲಿ ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಇಂತದ್ದೇ ಪ್ರಯೋಗಗಳು ಮುಂದುವರೆಯಲಿ ಎನ್ನುವುದೇ ನನ್ನ ಆಶಯ.

  • Crossing the Chasm – Geoffrey Moore

    One the classics that most mentors ask their technologically enthusiastic proteges to read through is “Crossing the Chasm”. Moore through his years of experience working with numerous technology startups focuses on the very specific challenge faces by early stage entrepreneurs – “The Chasm.”

    The Chasm refers to the phase when the business has to make a transitions from its early adopters (called the technology enthusiasts and visionaries) to the larger mass market (including pragmatists, conservatives and laggards).

    The challenge of this transition phases requires the entrepreneur to take tough calls and show the necessary tenacity to be able move past the Chasm Phase. Crossing the chasm is an essential phase for the venture to be able to really become a market leader and a force to recon. Moore doesn’t stop by highlighting the characteristics of the chasm, but also provides a few tactics for these early stage startups are extremely handy for those who are facing the challenge of this transition.While I find the book extremely relevant, there are however nuances one would need to develop for the Indian market scenario where the B2B market scenario is not yet well established. Some of the startups have been able to make the leap and generate a sustainable business venture or create an exit for themselves have been able to do it through interesting tactics and focus shifts. I shall possibly write about these in another blog, and keep this short.

    Recommendation: I would just follow the numerous wisemen ahead of me and make a recommendation for all aspiring entrepreneurs to read through this book. This book is best read with other handy books which talk about the startup challenges- “The Lean Startup”, “Running Lean”.

    More about the book at the following Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_the_Chasm

  • Inventing Medical Devices: A Perspective from India – Dr Jagdish Chaturvedi

    I just finished reading this book by my friend – Dr Jagdish Chaturvedi around a week back. I found the book well written and easy to read, specifically targeting the aspiring entrepreneur in India interested in MedTech innovation.

    I met Jagdish in 2011 when he was working on his first innovation for the Indian market. He then went to the Stanford Biotech program and joined InnAccel which where he has been doing impactful work.

    The book though written by his experience, seems has a strong academic underpinning (given that I am student of innovation and entrepreneurship, I could relate the recommendations to the strong academic underpinning). The MedTech process suggested by Jagdish reflects close resemblance to the user driven innovation that Von Hippen has been talking and debating about.

    Jagdish in the book has not just shared his experience, but has compiled a very good resource that aspiring entrepreneurs can refer to and seek guidance from. The simplistic writing and the case studies which help the reader relate to the context of the discussion and highlight the issue discussed in the chapters well. Though there are some spelling errors, this is a handy guide to aspiring MedTech entrepreneurs. I would recommend reading this book before starting in the MedTech space.

    You can purchase the book at: http://www.amazon.in/Inventing-Medical-Devices-Perspective-India/dp/1519467184

  • Regional Advantage: Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley and Route 128 – AnnaLee Saxenian

    I just finished reading this book by AnnaLee Saxenian! This was the first time I was reading a book that compares two of the regions I have been reading about in my coursework as part of the PhD program. Annalee builds an interesting argument which I could relate with closely to the time frame she has described in the book with the shift in the perspective in academics too.

    When O. Williamson was building his theory of the transaction cost economics early in the 1970, the world around him was speaking about the large monolithic organization. The question asked was thus – which activities would the venture internalize (vertically integrated) and which of these activities would not be integrated. When the dominance of these large firms in the upcoming technology sectors, was challenges – the question that Annalee raises is gains prominence. What has lead the Route 128 based firms to loose their predominance, while the firms in the silicon valley successfully adapted to the change in the situation around them.

    She theorizes the role of the network form of organization, the role played by the underlying social network which helped manage the interdependencies and accelerated movement of relevant information from learning that the members in the network developed.

    I love this book not just for the insights it generated from the evolution of the two regions, but also for the underlying mechanisms that were she gets to the fore.
    If you are interested in understanding the evolution of these innovation clusters this is a good book to start with. Read it!

  • Good Strategy Bad Strategy – Richard Rumelt


     
    Strategy is loosely used by every other person who intends to communicate the possibility of an underlying plan or something they find hard to understand! This is a generally held notion and often I engage into a debate saying that is not strategy! They then ask what  is strategy and used to wonder how do I communicate in precise terms. I think I found my answer with this book.

    Strategy is not vision, its not possessing an audacious goal. If someone attributes these piece-meal to be indicative of some strategy rest assured this is an incomplete understanding. A good strategy consist of a kernel (composed of three parts – A good diagnosis, A good guiding policy and finally coherent action). Rumelt goes on to show why a good understanding of strategy is important and essential to gain an advantage in business.

    To all those people who ask me if there was one book which could help them understand what strategy really stands for here is a classic by Richard Rumelt. Rumelt compresses the rich academic scholarship into this book buttressed with real life situations that he came across as part of this life as a faculty and a consultant.

    If you haven’t read it yet and want to understand the essence of strategy, this is one book you have to have in your library. 

    There is a website that you might like to access built based on this book:

  • “Move on …None the less…”


    An ant began its journey in search of food…
    It wasn’t clear it would get a cube of sugar or a sour pie…
    It decided to move on …none the less…

    Training its little legs to climb, Letting its nose drive the way…
    Looking at the sky, leaving a train behind…
    Climbing mountains, getting down the valleys…
    Some times Seen by predators, hidden from foes in the rest…
    It let go of its old guard, to find a new way…
    It moved on …none the less…

    Sensing from the gut, letting go of that daily rut…
    Bombarded by Long journeys and Strong winds…
    Straining its tiny eyes – Some times it asked Why…
    Unsure of its next turn, looking at what was here and now,
    Not knowing if this would ever hurt, it decided to move on …none the less…

    As it looked back at the journey it had traveled,
    A few friends followed the trail it carved, the journey it began…
    Uncertain if it would ever find a crumb of food,
    I was almost as if it was lost in the wood…
    Not sure if it would every make a difference, it decided to move on …none the less…

    Rains drenched it, the sun fried it, the winds gave it a flight…
    It thought of asking others why this plight!
    With no food yet in sight,
    It decided to persist and move on …none the less…

    After days of unimaginable ups and downs,
    And nights with feeling of defeat and self-doubt…
    The ant finally realized… its the journey itself that mattered…
    Not the few friends that followed, nor the foe who hated…
    Shedding the past, It was to live its life a fresh every morning…
    It had to simply move on… None the less…

    –  ಚಿ (Chi)

  • The Writing Workshop by Anoop Madhok

    As part of the doctoral training, we today had a “writing workshop” today at IIMB conducted by Prof Anoop Madhok. He had come down to Bangalore for the AIB conference and it was pretty entrepreneurial of Prof Suresh and Prof K Kumar to have leveraged the chance to organize the workshop for us doctoral students.

    Writing is a key skill for us strategy researchers and it is a tough skill to master. Any amount of writing and rewriting without clear learning so as to improve in the subsequent iterations of the draft is extremely essential. Clearly a conscious pursuit of this is important so as to improve the skills through the deliberate practice.

    As a pre-reading, we had to read three papers which would be discussed in the workshop. The workshop presumed that we already had a good research design and the problem was primarily on the writing front.

    Anoop took us through the three reading and analyzed the structure in the introduction and discussion section to show how we can be extremely precise and effective in our argument.

    The Producer-Consumer mindset was extremely interesting and helped understand why the introduction and the discussion section was extremely essential for one to improve the chance of presenting the research to the world at large.

    Here are some key take-away from the session:

    1. Understand the Life-cycle of the field you are in.
    2. Identify the conversation you are getting into
    3. Focus on how you are going to extend the existing understanding in the area you are researching on.
    4. Link back the discussion to the introduction – work iteratively on this aspect.