Kumud Deepali R.

Experience means nothing without empathy.

You can have 20 years in the industry…
You can have titles, awards, and achievements...
But if you don’t know how to treat people with respect, your experience loses its value.

In every workplace, people remember how you made them feel far longer than what you delivered.
👉 Great leaders don’t just manage tasks.
👉 They elevate people.
👉 They create environments where others can grow, contribute, and feel valued.

At the end of the day, culture is built one interaction at a time.

What’s one quality you believe every professional should have?

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Leadership isn’t just about strategy, capital, or innovation, it’s about people.

One lesson I’ve carried throughout my career: an employee never forgets the leader who gave them a chance.

The leaders who believed in me didn’t just shape my career they shaped my confidence, my curiosity, and my willingness to take risks. It’s easy to lead when things are going well.

But true leadership shows up when you see potential in someone before they see it in themselves.

So here’s a thought:
👉 What if every leader measured their success not by the size of their team, but by the number of people who grew because of their trust?

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A friend called me in tears. She quit her job. She worked there for 5 years.

The reason?

Not money. Not benefits.

She left because her new manager tracked her mouse movements and bathroom breaks.

Think about that - A star performer who delivered millions in value... gone because someone cared more about her cursor than her contributions.

Here's what that manager didn't understand:

• The best work happens in bursts, not hours
• Innovation doesn't follow a schedule
• Trust is cheaper than turnover

It made me think about an engineer who came in at 11am and left at 4pm at one of the startups I worked.

Everyone complained.

Until we realized he was solving problems in 5 hours that took others 2 days.

The truth?
⚡️ Results > Hours
⚡️ Impact > Attendance
⚡️ Output > Input

Stop watching the clock.
Start watching the scoreboard.

Because while you're tracking minutes, your competition is tracking milestones.

👉 Follow me for more insights on modern leadership that actually works.
♻️ Share if you're tired of outdated management practices.

Photo credit: Neha K Puri

Someone else can do your job. No one else can be YOU at home.

(Not about prioritizing family over work)

It’s about perspective.

Your job needs your skills.
Your family needs YOU.

Remember this when:
→ An “urgent” email interrupts dinner
→ Your child’s game overlaps a meeting
→ Weekend work encroaches on family time

Success at work is replaceable.
Success at home is irreplaceable.

What boundary are you setting today?

👇 Share in the comments below.

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🔔 Follow me, Kumud Deepali R. for more on balanced living.

**We'll Find Someone Cheaper**

"Just replace her. There are plenty of candidates out there."

That's what they told me when our top performer asked for a raise.

I knew better. But they didn't listen.

Two weeks later:
→ She joined our competitor
→ Four team members followed
→ Two major clients started asking questions
→ Our top project lost its momentum

Six months later:
→ Recruitment fees: $45,000
→ Lost productivity: $180,000
→ Training costs: $30,000
→ Client revenue impact: Priceless

The hire who came in as replacement?
✓ Good skills
✓ Right experience
✓ Perfect references

But missing:
🔺 5 years of client relationships
🔺 Deep product knowledge
🔺 Team trust
🔺 Cultural magic

Here's what my years in recruitment taught me:

Salary isn't an expense
It's an investment in:
→ Stability
→ Innovation
→ Growth
→ Future

The real cost of "saving" $15,000 on salary?
Nearly $300,000 in losses.

🎯 For leaders:
Great talent doesn't cost you money. Losing great talent does. When a top performer asks for a raise, they're also asking: "Do you see my value?". Your answer matters more than you think.

What's the biggest hidden cost of losing great talent that nobody talks about? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

➕ Follow Kumud Deepali R. for leadership & recruitment insights.
♻️ Repost, a replacement request might be reconsidered.

Image Credit: Rob Dance

Best mental reset I’ve learned:
If your mind is loud → Write.
If your mind is empty → Read.
If your mind is racing → Walk.
If your mind is tired → Sleep.
If your mind is sharp → Build.

Most problems aren’t about doing the wrong thing, they’re about doing the right thing at the wrong time.

We often try to push through mental fog or burnout instead of listening to what our mind is asking for.

But energy isn’t something to fight, it’s something to align.
The secret isn’t in more effort.

It’s in better direction.
Get the inputs right, and the rest follows.

What’s your go-to mental reset when you feel out of balance?

Companies aren’t built by processes or products, they’re built by people.

100% of employees are people.
100% of customers are people.
100% of investors are people.

If a company doesn’t understand people, it doesn’t understand what truly drives success.

Behind every decision, innovation, and milestone, it’s people who make it happen.

The companies that win are the ones that lead with empathy, listen deeply, and value human connection as much as performance.

Because when people thrive, companies grow.

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Every workplace has two realities:
The one in company brochures.
And the one that shapes actual careers.

After 15 years in recruiting, here's what I know:
Culture isn't built in town halls.
It's built in everyday moments.

Here's what actually defines great workplaces:

↳ The receptionist who remembers everyone's name
↳ The new hire who stays late to help a struggling colleague
↳ The manager who gives credit instead of taking it
↳ The teammate who defends you in your absence
↳ The mentor who shares opportunities instead of hoarding them

Because workplace excellence isn't about:
❌ Fancy titles
❌ Corner offices
❌ Performance reviews
❌ Company swag
❌ Mission statements

It's about how people treat each other when:
↳ Deadlines are tight
↳ Budgets are cut
↳ Mistakes happen
↳ No one's watching
↳ There's nothing to gain

Truth is:
• Every interaction sets the tone
• Every response shapes the environment
• Every person influences the culture

Whether you're:
→ Day 1 intern
→ Middle manager
→ C-suite executive

Your actions create ripples.
Your behavior sets standards.
Your choices build culture.

The colleague you support today?
They remember. They reciprocate. They refer.
That's how real workplace reputations are built.

Have you noticed who makes your workplace better through small acts of respect? Share in the comments below.

👉 Like this perspective? Follow for more insights on people, culture, and recruiting.
🔁 Repost to share this reminder: real leadership starts with respect.

When looking for a job, it’s not about any door opening, it’s about the right door opening.

I recently heard from a candidate navigating multiple offers.

One role came with a bigger paycheck but didn’t feel aligned with their values.

Another offered mentorship, growth, and a team that truly appreciated their skills.

They chose the second. Months later, they shared:
“For the first time, I wake up excited. I don’t just have a job, I have peace of mind.”

That’s the power of the right door.

A door that leads to:
✔ Peace of mind
✔ Growth opportunities
✔ People who truly see your worth

Sometimes that means being patient.

Sometimes it means saying “no” to what doesn’t align. But the right door always leads you closer to purpose, not just a paycheck.

If you’re in the middle of a career transition, remember: don’t just ask for an open door, ask for the right one. 🚪

💬 What’s one sign you’ve found the “right door” in your career? Share in the comments below.

Image Credit: Joseph Rudd

How to Start Over (Even When You Feel Like You’ve Failed):
Pause before reacting.
↳ Most mistakes look worse in the moment than they really are.
Detach from the outcome.
↳ Your identity isn’t tied to one bad meeting, project, or decision.
Reframe the story.
↳ “I failed” becomes “I learned something I couldn’t have otherwise.”
Take one small action.
↳ Momentum > motivation. Start with the tiniest next step.
Forgive yourself quickly.
↳ Guilt is heavy and it slows progress more than failure ever could.
Ask: what’s still within my control?
↳ Power returns the moment you focus on what you can do next.
Reset your expectations.
↳ Fresh starts don’t need fireworks, just consistency.
Breathe.
↳ You’re not behind. You’re just beginning again.

You can start over at any moment.
Your day isn’t ruined. Your world isn’t over.
Take a deep breath.
Start again.

Which of these reminders hit home for you today? Drop a “reset” in the comments if you’re starting fresh this week.

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Stop normalizing the idea that only loud = leadership.
We’ve all seen it, the ones who speak the most in meetings often get the spotlight. But visibility doesn’t always equal value.
Some of the best thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators are the quiet ones; observing, processing, and delivering excellence behind the scenes.
Leaders: it’s time to broaden how we define impact.
👉 Recognize the steady contributors.
👉 Celebrate the doers who don’t seek attention.
👉 Create spaces where different communication styles thrive.
Because when recognition only goes to the loudest voices, we miss out on the brilliance of many others.
How do you make sure quiet achievers get noticed in your team?
If you agree, hit 👍 and repost; let’s normalize recognizing every kind of contributor.

Want to learn AI for free? Here are 9 incredible courses to get you started!

AI is transforming every industry, and gaining the right skills can open new career opportunities. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to advance your knowledge, these free courses from top institutions have got you covered!

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📌 A beginner-friendly course covering AI basics & real-world applications.
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📌 A 12-week curriculum with hands-on lessons, quizzes & labs.
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📌 Hands-on deep learning course for those with Python knowledge.
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📌 Free AI courses from top institutions on machine learning, AI ethics & more.
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📌 AI & deep learning courses with certificate opportunities.
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🔹 8️⃣ Introduction to AI with Python (Harvard University)
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AI is the future, why not start learning today? Which course are you excited to take? Let me know in the comments! ⬇️

Follow for more learning resources & share/repost to help others explore AI!

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The difference between managing and leading isn’t about authority, it’s about impact.
A boss focuses on output.
A leader focuses on growth.

Early in my career, I had a manager who saw something in me I hadn’t yet seen in myself.

Instead of just assigning more work, they gave me a challenge, leading a team project for the first time.
I was nervous, unsure, and almost said no.

But that opportunity stretched me, taught me, and ultimately shaped who I became as a professional.

That’s what real leadership looks like
- Creating space for others to rise
- Investing in potential, not just performance
- Measuring success by how others grow

If you’re in a leadership role today, take a moment to reflect:
➡️ Are people growing because of you or just working for you?

Because true leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about being the reason others thrive.

Who’s a leader who helped you grow and how did they do it?

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Last week I asked my digital assistant to help me during a chaotic day. Ten minutes later I had clarity. If you’re busy, AI isn’t a threat, it’s a high-quality sidekick. Here’s a simple framework to start.

🌍 The Startup Shift: Why Building in 2025 Feels Like Magic

Every week, another AI startup launches.

New demos. New funding rounds. New promises.

It almost feels too easy to build something right now.

So… are we in a breakthrough or a bubble?

After working with early-stage founders for years, I’ve never seen momentum like this.

AI hasn’t just changed how startups are built, it’s changed who gets to build them.

In my latest newsletter, I break down:
⚙️ How startup building has evolved
⚡ The 2025 founder stack
💡 Why this might be a bubble (and why that’s not bad)
🧭 The mindset that will outlast the hype

👉 Read the full piece here:

Every chapter of their journey reminds me that love can be both fierce and gentle at once. Watching Viraat and Vibha grow has been my greatest lesson in patience, faith, and the quiet power of unconditional love. Thanks my friend Ligia Chacón Hernández for sharing my story! 🩷 Give her a follow!!

🪔 Happy Diwali to all! Let the festival of lights inspire you to shine brighter every day. 🪔