Raj Sethuraman

How CEOs Stay Connected and Avoid Disruption: Lessons from Satya Nadella Even for industry giants, disruption can happen quickly. Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, stays ahead by consistently engaging with startups, venture capitalists, and other CEOs. His approach goes beyond typical networking, allowing him to stay informed, adaptable, and strategically positioned. Here’s how he does it: Constant Dialogue with Startup Founders Nadella schedules daily calls with CEOs, particularly startup founders, to understand new trends. His discussions with founders like Aravind Srinivas of Perplexity provide insights into how competitors such as Google are advancing. Example: In 2023, Nadella met with AI startup founders in stealth mode to learn about their small language models. This directly influenced Microsoft’s decision to launch PCs capable of running similar AI models locally. Tapping into Venture Capitalists’ Knowledge Nadella frequently taps into venture capitalists by asking, “What startups are exciting?” and “Who should I meet?” His conversations with investors like Madrona Ventures’ S. Somasegar help him stay ahead of market trends. Example: Nadella’s relationships with venture capitalists led to Microsoft’s $13 billion investment in OpenAI, which is now central to its AI strategy. Networking Beyond Tech Nadella’s connections extend beyond technology. He collaborates with leaders in finance and agriculture, like Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser and Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford, to gather insights for Microsoft’s projects, such as data center infrastructure. Example: Before launching new data centers in Abu Dhabi, Nadella sought advice on sourcing drought-resistant water, which helped Microsoft expand thoughtfully. Learning from Competitors Nadella regularly connects with competitors to learn. His talks with OpenAI’s Sam Altman strengthened Microsoft’s AI partnerships. Similarly, his interactions with Mustafa Suleyman of Inflection led to a $650 million deal and acquiring top AI talent. Example: Nadella’s engagement with Suleyman resulted in Microsoft licensing Inflection’s software and hiring key staff for its Bing and AI efforts. Curiosity as a Leadership Strength Nadella’s curiosity sets him apart. He’s always learning—from dinner party conversations to spontaneous calls with startup founders. This ability to gather insights from diverse sources keeps Microsoft agile and ahead of the competition. Nadella’s proactive networking and constant information gathering are essential to Microsoft’s continued success. His approach serves as a powerful example of how staying connected with visionaries, competitors, and leaders across industries can help a company avoid disruption and stay on top. Where could these strategies benefit your business? #Leadership #Innovation #SatyaNadella #Networking #TechStrategy #AI #StartupEcosystem

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The latest issue of Leading Matters is out. This week discussing a proactive approach to agility, one of the essential capabilities of innovative organizations. Link to article is below. In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, agility is more crucial than ever. But merely reacting to changes is no longer enough - organizations must cultivate proactive agility to anticipate shifts and seize opportunities before they become apparent. This article explores the two types of agility: proactive and reactive. Proactive agility involves developing capabilities like trend analysis, strategic planning, innovation, risk management, and cultural adaptability to foresee and prepare for changes. Reactive agility, on the other hand, focuses on crisis management, operational flexibility, resource reallocation, swift decision-making, and customer responsiveness to address unexpected disruptions. To truly thrive, organizations need to strike a balance between these two approaches. The article proposes a model for becoming a "challenge-setting organization" that continually observes emerging trends, orients itself accordingly, and prioritizes action-based challenges to achieve desired outcomes. By fostering an environment of collaborative risk-taking, experimentation, and rapid execution, companies can cultivate the proactive agility essential for sustainable growth and resilience in an ever-changing world. #innovation #agility #capabilities #leadership #leaders #williamkilmer #transformative

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In the past few years, I have coached many executives and senior leaders to transform their organizations by implementing OKRs. Several patterns have emerged of why these leaders often struggle to understand how OKRs should work. Much of my early time in engagements is spent helping leaders UNLEARN what they think they know about OKRs. ➡️ For example, not all work for teams should be tied directly to an OKR! In this guide, I describe the top patterns of what OKRs are not! #OKR #Leadership #ModernProductivity --------- My name is Steven Granese, and I post daily on Modern Productivity topics like Agile, OKRs, and Product Discovery. If you are ready to dive deeper into OKRs, download my free eBook “Crush Your Goals - An Introduction to OKRs”. To learn more, click on the “Visit my website” link in my profile.

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Great article on CEOs building confidence in their leadership! During this time, consistent actions, transparent communication, and demonstrated commitment to company values are key. As leaders navigate challenges and drive strategic initiatives, their ability to earn trust can make or break their success. Trust isn't built overnight; it's earned through a steadfast dedication to fostering a positive, collaborative culture and delivering on promises. Embrace the journey, and trust will follow. #Leadership #TrustBuilding #CEOInsights #BusinessGrowth

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Fostering a Culture of Continuous Improvement: A Blueprint for Success. 🚀 Leadership Commitment: Leaders must walk the talk to inspire the whole organization 💪 Empower Teams: Motivate and equip teams with the right tools and incentives 📊 Transparent Metrics: Democratize data access to align everyone with clear, shared goals 🧪 Embrace Experimentation: Celebrate small wins and foster a learning culture where risk-taking is encouraged Start this week with a commitment to continuous improvement. Align, empower, clarify, and innovate—let’s make progress together! #OperationalEfficiency #MMM #MondayMorningsWithMurali https://lnkd.in/gBT7HKA9

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The underlying 10 principles you need to ensure you focus on if your business is working through any transformation, transition or generally is in business in 2024. As John Cutler rightly states, and also outlined in my Elements of Transformation article (https://lnkd.in/ghiSgnAJ), you need to keep these front and centre in the mindset of the Board, Executive and all teams who are facing into this change. 1/ You treat a transformation as a project. (It has no end date) 2/ You devalue the present. (Learn from the past, present to shape the future) 3/ You don't let your team lead the change. (Do not Tell) 4/ You put "the best" on a pedestal. (Flip what success looks like) 5/ You ignore the continuous improvement muscle. (Kaizen at all times) 6/ You don't (and can't) let go. (Status quo has interia on its side) 7/ You lose sight of customers. (At the centre not at the top or bottom) 8/ You copy/paste frameworks. (All businesses are not created equal) 9/ You ignore architecture. (Business, Data and Technology) 10/ You don't use "working examples" to inspire change. (Show not Tell) #digitaltransformation #organisationaltransformation #changemanagement #transformation #operatingmodel https://lnkd.in/ggbT92HP

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📝 The quality of planning and execution is one of the biggest challenges and contributors to poor results and outcomes at the end of the year. This often stems from an imbalance in maturity across different functions. To address this, it's crucial to find a balance between these functions. 🎬 Learn more about 15 Business Challenges: https://lnkd.in/eiu7VDyR ⭐ Get your free Business Maturity Self-Assessment and guide here: https://lnkd.in/eEB6tmnw 🔔 For more videos, subscribe to our channel: https://lnkd.in/eqi9Sv4q

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Not sure I agree with the three specified priorities, but I do like the definition of organizational resilience and the differentiation between organizational resilience and strategic resilience. I also definitely agree with the need to build resilience thinking into an organization's culture. #managerisk #betterbizculture https://lnkd.in/gtgnmQ-M

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Steer clear of these 3 pitfalls when bridging the gap between strategy and execution of top organizational initiatives: https://ow.ly/mTej30sGouB

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Fantastic panel discussion today on Scaling agile. "Panel Session: Why Scaling Agility So Often Fails (And What to Do About It)" with Dave S., Punita Dave, Donald Patti, Judy Neher CST® - Thank you Ian Carr for moderating and setting the stage. And thanks to Scrum Alliance members and Global Scrum Gathering participants who joined our session with their insightful questions. I got to share my three maxims for Scaling agile (1) Nail it before you scale it (2) Stitch it to flip it (3) Fake it, and you won't make it. https://lnkd.in/gxX5Ssub

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Strategic gaps can be the silent killers of organizational success. Whether it’s a lack of knowledge, misaligned actions, or unexpected outcomes, these gaps can hold organizations back from achieving their goals. Renowned business advisor Stephen Bungay identified three gaps that allow even the best strategies to veer off course: 1. The Knowledge Gap is the difference between the data leadership wants and what teams actually know. This can be bridged by clearly communicating strategic intent rather than demanding endless reporting. 2. The Alignment Gap is the disconnect between day-to-day work and overarching business goals. Empowering teams to adapt plans instead of rigidly following annual roadmaps helps close this gap. 3. The Effects Gap is the mismatch between expected outcomes and actual impact. Leaders who focus on learning and adjusting strategies enable teams to deliver results more effectively. These gaps often arise when strategy is set in stone at the top, leaving teams misaligned and unclear on the "why" behind their work. A broadly defined strategic vision co-created with teams can make all the difference. We’ll cover how to address these gaps by building a strong strategy in our upcoming Mastering Product Strategy course. It launches in Q1 next year, and we’re offering a pre-sale discount until December 31. Use the code HOLIDAY for $200 off. 🔗 Learn more and enroll here: https://lnkd.in/eev8j8UF What strategic gaps have you noticed in your organization? Share your answers in the comments! #productinstitute #productstrategy #leadership #productmanagement #businessgrowth

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Giving away three short & simple questions that can easily replace long & tedious certifications, role plays and simulations when applied at the right time !!!! I have used them in my past roles to identify sales readiness and GTM gaps, I am sharing them now to enable others to identify performance hiccups faster and more effectively. Answers to these questions can serve as warning signs or confirmation to what you may already know... Test yourself and observe possible areas that might require brushing up. Ready? Here we go.... Question #1 - How easy it is to buy your solution? This one simple question entails many challenges and friction points , that sometimes get ignored or simply put on hold because we've got other top priorities to attend first, or simply don't have what it takes to resolve them. Still not sure? try answering these questions instead - 🔹 How long does a prospect need to wait for a PQ? 🔹 How long does it take you to create one? 🔹 Who do you need to speak to before sending a PQ? 🔹 Are you confusing your prospects with complicated pricing calculations? 🔹 Are you scarifying selling time articulating your T&Cs? Question #2 - How easy it is to use your solution? Not sure? try answering these questions instead - 🔹 What does it take for YOU to demo a tailored demo? 🔹 What does it take for prospects to try your solution? 🔹 How long does it take to onboard a new customer? 🔹 Is there a ping-pong of communication between users and Support/CSM? Why? 🔹 Are your customers seeing the expected ROI? Question #3 - What problems are you solving for your customers? 🔹Most reps confuse PROBLEMS with NEEDS. 🔹Park aside BANT, MEDDIC, ANUM etc., and focus first on the problem(s). 🔹"I need a better CRM" - that's not a problem. 🔹"My current CRM requires too much admin and wiring to get the job done - I can't scale my business and meet my targets, I'm going to lose my job!" - that's a problem ! Remember this one simple rule: Buyer Confusion = Inaction. Follow Project Moneyball for more insights on GTM, Enablement and the gap between. #salesenablement #revenueenablement #revenueoperations #projectmoneyball

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🚀 In today's fast-paced economy, the pressure to do more with less is relentless. As a business leader, you must enhance productivity, cut costs, and improve customer satisfaction—all while staying agile. Lean processes can be your game-changer. 🌟 Lean processes form the cornerstone of my FLINT framework: Flexible workforce, Lean processes, Innovative business models, New negotiation between humans and machinery, and Technology-driven backend. Why Lean Processes Matter Lean processes focus on creating value by eliminating waste—activities that consume resources without adding value. Think overproduction, waiting times, unnecessary transportation, and more. By systematically identifying and eliminating these wastes, you can streamline operations and deliver more excellent value to customers with fewer resources. From Lean Management to Lean Thinking Adopting lean is more than just using tools—it's a mindset shift. Lean thinking prioritises customer value and views waste as the primary barrier. Your commitment as a leader is crucial. Promote transparency, encourage open communication, and acknowledge contributions to lean initiatives. Practical Applications and Benefits Lean methodologies can transform your operations across various sectors: Manufacturing, Service Industry, Office Environments, IT and Software Development. The Future is Lean and Digital Integrating digital technologies with lean methodologies unlocks new efficiency and innovation levels. Predictive analytics, AI, and IoT enhance lean initiatives by providing real-time data, automating tasks, and optimising processes. 🔗 Ready to transform your business with lean processes? Click the link below for Part II in this ongoing series, where I break down a new mantra -- albeit a new philosophy -- for how the future of work will evolve in the days to come. 👉 https://bit.ly/3L800ej #LeanProcesses #BusinessEfficiency #ContinuousImprovement #Innovation #FLINTFramework #FutureOfWork #DigitalTransformation #Agile #LeanThinking #Productivity #CostReduction #CustomerSatisfaction Sunil Mehta Neha Saxena Romy Chopra Chetan Chopra Prithwi Dasgupta Arnab Chatterjee Rejith Krishnan Dr. Anil Kumar Rajagopal Nair Kundana K Lal Shalu Wasu Pranith Akula Luke Rajkumar

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Outcomes that you want to maximize, requires different prioritization and attitude from outcomes you just need to satisfy. And most, you should just satisfy. (You don’t have time for anything else.) How to think about this:

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From Technical Pursuit to the Importance of Team Civility Recently, I read "Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace" by Professor Christine Porath, which emphasizes the importance of civility in enhancing workplace relationships and overall success. Dr. Porath discusses how incivility can harm both individual performance and organizational dynamics. This book has been incredibly impactful for me, and I'd like to share some insights from my own development experience. As a developer in the rapidly evolving data science field, staying competitive can be challenging, with today’s cutting-edge models potentially outdated in just weeks. To keep up, we continuously learn and seek top talent. However, the relentless focus on competitiveness can sometimes overshadow the importance of fundamental principles over sheer capability. We risk valuing impressive resumes over personality fit for team collaboration, and may grant "privileges" based on temporary performance, compromising team morale and productivity in the process. As Dr. Porath mentions in her book, the legendary Coach Wooden chose to pass up on a talented player who was disrespectful to his mother. Wooden believed that the potential harm to the team's morale and culture could outweigh the contributions the player might bring. In software development, nothing is accomplished alone. From data acquisition and cleaning to model training and integration with front-end and back-end systems, everything is the result of the contributions of each team member. A good development team is like a soccer team where forwards, midfielders, and defenders each have their roles and responsibilities, and every attack is the result of coordinated teamwork. While there may be exceptional individuals like Shohei Ohtani or Lionel Messi, who can seemingly decide games with their skills, however, we must not forget how humbly such top-level talents treat their teammates and earn their respect. Five or six years ago, I might not have understood the concepts in this book. However, after transitioning from a purely development to a one involving management and facing various challenges, I now recognize that workplace civility represents not just manners or kindness but a professional attitude. Anyone who can't cooperate civilly with others can hardly be considered a professional. To build a good team culture, it's crucial to recognize that culture isn't just something a manager or HR talks about; it's the result of what is practiced, much like cooking a good dish where each ingredient must enhance the others, and unsuitable ones, no matter how rare or precious, must be left out. #civility #kindness #coaching #Teamwork #WorkplaceCulture #BusinessBooks #ProfessionalDevelopment #Leadership

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The latest edition of "Things With Paul Ippolito" covers the issue of whether you can truly ever be sad eating a gelato, and much much more. #professionals #management #leadership #worklifebalance #timemanagement #productivity

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Agile funding methods for product teams, emphasizing strategic investments over traditional project budgets. Key points 👇 🔄 Transitioning to Outcome-Based Funding 🎯 Align investments with strategic needs, not just project outputs. 🌱 Venture Capital Approach for Complex Domains 🚀 Fund teams like startups: seed money first, more as they deliver value. 🔄 Shift from Project to Product Focus 🛠️ Empower teams to prioritize and adapt to changing goals. 🤝 Trust and Accountability in Team Autonomy 💪 Teams manage their budgets to achieve business outcomes effectively. 🔍 Real-time Adjustments to Funding 🔄 Regularly assess and realign investments based on current business needs. For a deeper dive into agile IT leadership strategies, read more in Scott Millett's article on Medium! Read Scott's full article 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dPUcdvW8 #ITFunding #StrategicInvestment #BusinessAgility

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Ep. 111: Flowing into Efficiency: Transforming Business Foundations with Renee Cohen In this episode, we sit down with Renee Cohen, President of Flow AI to explore how organizations can achieve peak performance through systematic and algorithmic approaches. Renee shares insights from her extensive experience optimizing processes, driving efficiency, and fostering cross-departmental alignment. Discover how Flow AI Consulting builds and strengthens organizational foundations, ensuring data accuracy and leveraging cutting-edge technology to maximize effectiveness across diverse industries. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or a curious learner, this conversation offers invaluable strategies for enhancing your business’s performance and success. Murray Mike Von Eper Dennis Davison Jillian Thompson Prescriptive Data Solutions John Parker John Harris Allison Parker Rowdy Hayday Syya Yasotornrat Dalton Spivey Fortinet #leadership #technology #cybersecurity #sales #informationtechnology #efficiency #operations

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