Vani Kola

Love her smile and her confidence - backflip in a saree! I would have never dared.

#Talent in #India.
#WeekendMusings
Video Credits: Mili Sarkar

Each time I have met Mr. Tata, I have been deeply inspired. I know many feel the same way about him.   
 
It was deeply motivating. After a highly impactful life in his late 70s, he started new innings encouraging young entrepreneurs and supporting the startup ecosystem. He always brought curiosity and was fully prepped for founder interactions.  
  
Here are some learnings from him:

1) Preparedness for meetings: He always came with insightful questions for founder meetings. His attention to detail, curiosity, and calm, as well as his intellect and ability to think rationally, have inspired me no end.

2) Empathetic approach to feedback: he was not only approachable, but genuinely interested in being engaged. He was always eager to listen to ideas and engage with young entrepreneurs.

3) Graciousness, humility, and marked lack of pretentiousness: He never had any airs about him. He is a perfect picture on how an authentic leader should be.

4) Eagerness to contribute towards making the world a better place: Ideas that could make a positive difference genuinely excite him. He is an ideal role model for founders who are about to begin as well as entrepreneurs who are leading some of the biggest startups. 
  
I wish you a very happy birthday Sir Ratan Tata. May you inspire many more to live life uplifting and inspiring others. 

#Learnings #Leadership #WhatInspiresMe

Mr. Ratan Tata and Mr. Narayana Murthy may have been business rivals at one stage, but it is great to see the respect that they continue to have for each other.

Video via Ratan Tata, TiEMumbai

Goosebumps listening to this rare archive. I admire Sarojini Naidu, the nightingale of India, a nickname she earned for her evocative poetry. Her confidence and charm are inspiring. She says in her speech, women have always been pivotal in Indian culture. I wish we remembered this more in modern #India.

#Womenleadership #inspiration

Video Credit: Brut.

Eric Garcetti is the U.S. Ambassador to India. A fact that is not in mind for most of us.

And, what do ambassadors do anyway? I imagine their days shuttled between endless long meetings in diplomacy. I could imagine myself as a teacher, maybe a chef, an architect, and many other alternative careers. But Ambassador? Hmmm….Not for me.

But Eric, through this video, has shown the role an ambassador can create to embrace local culture and create positive good will.

Eric Garcetti I thoroughly enjoyed this video. You missed a calling in the entertainment industry. This is flawless — great humor and great message, with the chai and chole bhature winning the heart!

Video source: U.S. Embassy India, YouTube.

#IndoUS #India #Trade #Inspiring #culture

What a pivotal moment for women entrepreneurs in India. In Falguni, we have our own Whitney Wolfe moment - Founder and CEO of a $13B company! A proud moment indeed, congratulations Falguni Nayar and team Nykaa!
 
Nykaa created a splash on the stock markets yesterday when it listed for trading, touching nearly double their issue price on the National Stock Exchange. The company is the first female-led unicorn to launch an IPO in India, and one of the rare profitable startups in the country. With this, Falguni is now India’s wealthiest self-made female billionaire.

In her IPO address, Falguni said she started Nykaa at the age of 50 without having the right background. Falguni is an outlier in every sense. She has not only proven that age is just a number, but also shown how resilience, grit, and passion can take you to the pinnacle of success. She is a beacon of inspiration to legions of entrepreneurs who doubt themselves. Pedigree, gender, age, background - the right entrepreneur transcends all hurdles. 
 
Today we have one female-led startup going public, tomorrow we will see more. The journey to #leveltheplayingfield has just started and it’s only onwards from here!

Image source: Getty Images

CXXO #ProfessionalWomen #WomenInTech #Entrepreneurship #Startups

Sirimavo Bandaranaike was elected the modern world's first female head of government in 1960 when she became prime minister of Sri Lanka, or Ceylon as it was known then.

We are sometimes thrust into unexpected circumstances and asked to rise to the occasion altering the course of our life. Such people accept life as it comes. They believe in accepting the intricacies with grace and consider them an #opportunity.

This story is of a woman who shed her shyness and reluctance to deal with extraordinary circumstances – a mother to three children and no background or intention of getting into politics, yet finding her bearing to guide her country at a critical time.

#Leadership #womenleadership #professionalwomen

Video Source: BBC News

The other day, I landed at Bangalore airport at 2 am and could not reach my driver on the phone. Perhaps he was fast asleep in the car. With no immediate alternative, I went to the taxi stand. There was a cab with a woman driver, and she was confident and courteous. As we rode along the next 30 mins, we got chatting.

I was really inspired by her independence and professional pride.

Women drivers form only a tiny segment of India's 1.7 million drivers. Women own only about 1% of the commercial driving licences issued in India.

These women drivers are the pioneers in a nascent industry, but as I researched, I found out that India's first woman auto-rickshaw drivers started in 1988.

When we didn't have fancy apps and no location-tracking. At a time when 'good families' didn't think it wise to have their daughters roaming around in taxis.

But one woman broke all these barriers.

Shila Dawre is known as India's woman auto-rickshaw driver. Born in Parbhani in Maharashtra, Shila left home at 18 with Rs 12 in her pocket and decided to become a rickshaw driver. Getting a rickshaw driving permit itself was an achievement. Shila used to drive for 14 hours every day, often sleeping in the rickshaw.

The human spirit! How much we can endure and still persevere! In those days when most women had to be back home before dark, here was a woman who flung those barriers aside to make a living.

Shila worked relentlessly and says she even contemplated suicide when her husband defaulted on loans - yet something in her never gave in.

Shila continued to drive her rickshaw until 2001, then a cab, and had a fleet before setting up a travel business. That business, too, struggled with Covid-19's assault. But this woman never quits and continues to work on reviving the business.

Her dreams don't quit either. Shila wants to open an academy for women drivers.

Breaking stereotypes wasn't on her mind when she took the wheels in 1988. Making a living was.

The thing is, driving isn't a gendered skill. It's a life skill.

And women like Shila have shown that.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢'𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘰𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘴?

Image source: femina

#gender #india #women #feminism #inspiring

#IndianAirForce saluting all healthcare workers with flower petal showers at Delhi Hospitals. What a heartwarming gesture.

Thank you healthcare #professionals for keeping us safe!

#WeekendMusings

Apple Market cap, Approximately $2.5 Trillion. Only 7 countries in the world have a higher GDP. Apple went public in 1980 at a valuation of $1.8B, one of the biggest IPOs of that time.
 
Tracking their ads over time, is a great way to understand the evolution of Apple. The ads are also a way to track the cultural changes over the last decade.
 
Building a tribe that felt a strong belonging has been their hallmark throughout. These ads are iconic, etched into our collective memories.
 
“Think Different” campaign, invokes nostalgia from my time in Silicon Valley and resurgence of Apple. The company continues to inspire generations in so many ways.
 
Source: Josue Valles
 
#Apple #Advertising #Marketing

Today is International Yoga Day.

Yoga has taught me a lot about myself. 

I try and do at least 10 Surya Namaskaras a day, even if I have no time for anything else. I usually practice Ashtanga Yoga when I have a full hour and 15 minutes at my disposal. It's a practice that has been part of my life - an intrinsic movement that calms me in moments of stress and is a pillar of strength most of the time. Yoga is more than a physical practice; it offers a reflective space to deepen our inner connection.

Yoga leaves me feeling centered. 

Yoga + Heartfulness meditation gives me a new perspective every day. No Surya Namaskara is ever the same. Every time I practice, I learn something about my body and myself. I might have done thousands of the same asanas by now, but I find new alignment in the body and infinite scope for improvement each time. It has become a metaphor for everything in life. No matter how much we know, there is room for improvement.

Yoga teaches me that life is about hope. 

Performing a headstand had been a long-standing fear for me. Somehow, I would only try it grudgingly when my teacher insisted, and then too, I had the irrational fear of being upside down. But I kept making minor improvements each day, hardly noticeable, until one day, it just happened!

After almost 7 years of practice, there it was: a perfect headstand. 

It's through this that I learned the art of trusting to let go and allow someone to catch me and the power of patience and practice. And that there are no instant results, just the knowledge that persistence pays off. 

Yoga has shown me the importance of honoring the process, of recognizing that the journey can sometimes be more powerful than the destination. 

I started my day with Yoga today in recognition of International Yoga Day. 

Happy International Yoga Day!

#India #InternationalYogaDay #Motivation #whatinspiresme #meditation #heartfulness

Google

I am an early morning person. I can't stay awake too late. Generally, 11 pm is late for me.

The early morning stillness is a good time to deeply reflect on the wonderful things that we have been bestowed with. Morning silence and solitude are luxury and come with no substitutes.

It also helps me focus on what’s important and letting go of what I have no control over.

Mornings are also when I can think about what I want out of my day. In fact, for me, mornings have always been synonymous with hope and positivity, and not a day goes by when I don’t start my day with deep gratitude to God for a new morning!

#Wellbeing #Happiness #MentalHealth

I have had dogs for a long time. I wish mine were so well trained. I am not good at establishing authority 😊 but really I think the dogs enjoy showing me how much they can control me.

A small puddle of water is enough for a kid to enjoy and be happy. We need to keep in touch with our #puddleofjoy and simple pleasures of #life.

Most of you would have probably watched the movie 12th Fail. If you have not, I highly recommend that you do.

The movie holds up a mirror of our shared experiences - the struggles and victories, the influences that shape us, and the difference during adversities.

There are so many facets of the story that were profound for me. But I will pick 4 that intrigued me the most:

1️⃣ The power of role models: How one honest police officer Dushyant Singh inspires Manoj Kumar Sharma with just a small conversation! That inspiration served as the fodder for Manoj to pull himself with self-effort, and to throw himself into a completely different orbit where Manoj finally overcomes poverty and corruption to crack the toughest exam in the country.

Role models ignite a spark within us – a few encouraging words or inspiring actions can set others on a path to remarkable change. We all have the power to transform lives - knowingly or unknowingly.

2️⃣ The role of kindness: From Pandey paying for Manoj’s meal at the train station to taking him to Delhi to Gauri Bhaiyya so he could study better – how strangers show him exemplary kindness throughout his journey. They reaffirm the faith that there is good in the universe. Random acts of kindness go a long way!

Today, especially in urban areas, we live self-absorbed lives. We are also reluctant to trust strangers. If a person approached us and said I am hungry, how likely are we to believe them? In our insular lives, the probability that we will come across people with urgent need for help is quite small. It is not that most people don't want to help, but we have denied ourselves the lifestyles that enable random acts of kindness that can alter someone's life.

3️⃣ The role of believers: Manoj’s grandmother had this naive belief to give her entire life savings so that he could pursue his dreams. And even though he loses that money, that belief keeps him going. Shraddha, as a partner, and other friends - do everything in their capacity to support Manoj because of their faith in him and his potential.

I believe it is important to surround ourselves with people who believe in us. And be that ‘believer’ for others too.

4️⃣ The role of non-believers: We need the non-believers, though that might sound counter intuitive. They have a very important, perhaps the most critical role to play. Characters like Deep Mohan challenge Manoj Kumar, fueling his determination to defy the odds.

The role of non-believers struck a chord - a conundrum that resonated with me on a deeper level.

I have heard plenty of “You can’t”s in my life – “You can’t be an engineer”, “You can’t be an entrepreneur”, “You can’t be a venture capitalist” and so on.

We shouldn’t underestimate the role of non-believers. Sometimes, it's the very thing that fuels our fire to prove to them otherwise. Keep your believers close and your non-believers closer.

What did you pick up from the movie?

#motivation #growth #success #kindness #movie

When we help others, we learn how to help ourselves! While this is cute and child's play, I see a deeper insight.

Is teaching actually about becoming a student? You can push the child, instead if you let the child push you the learning is deep. Show, don’t tell.

Keep your inner child alive. Rediscover the joy and excitement of experiencing the world around us. What can be more fun than whooshing down a slide with a child?

Let go, do the irrational and crazy. That is how kids learn, and why adults stop learning...

Video Source: @/GavingBraman (on instagram)

#Learnings #BestAdvice

If we open the door of #opportunity for each other, we can create a more equitable society. Just like our personal #success stands on the shoulders of those who created opportunities for us, it is our responsibility to pay it forward and open the doors for others.

Video Source: Brut India

#SmallBusiness #WomenInBusiness #Inspiration

I saw this image posted recently. Very relevant in the context of today’s funding environment. Companies who can succeed in a bear market will emerge with massive value creation. Founders who focus on fundamentals now is the chance to shine...

Image source: Michael Hutchens

#Markets #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

The mindset exists, Indian #entrepreneurs just need more guidance and support. Inspiring conversation between Mukesh Ambani and Satya Nadella-

“Every small business & entrepreneur in India has the potential and opportunity to become a Dhirubhai Ambani or a Bill Gates. That is the #power - that is what differentiates India from the rest of the World. The entrepreneurial power that we have at the grassroots is enormous... ”

We have all seen innumerable posts and videos on how #nature has a chance to #regenerate when we are in #lockdown. Here is one on turtles that I found beautiful. #WeekendMusings

Ayudha Puja – typically celebrated on the ninth day of Navratri – revolves around veneration of the tools and equipment used in daily life or for your livelihood.

While growing up we placed our books, backpack, pencil cases, etc. Now, in our household, it is the laptop, phone and airpods.

But the most colorful aspect of the day is decking up our cars.

Our driver goes to great length to decorate the car and leading the Puja.

Driving over lemons to crush them, aarti to the car with a fresh ash gourd and camphor, breaking the gourd, placing the broken pieces at the entrance – all part of the ritual.

The cars are his livelihood, and this is important to him. On the roads on this day, we see the lorries, autos, taxis, and the buses decorate them with great pride because it is the livelihood of the drivers.

And Vijayadashami, the final and tenth day.

There are regional variations to how it is celebrated.

In my childhood, we typically had the burning of the Ravana effigy in the night to signify triumph of Rama on this day.

We had Gombe or Gollu, a great display of our collection of dolls. Each of the dolls has a story and history of how they made it to the collection. The display is a unique representation of each household and their creativity.

I remember one year; I had my collection of Binaca toothpaste animals (anyone else who collected them?) placed proudly in my forest – the forest being wheat grass – just right for these miniatures!

The other important tradition is to meet your Guru. This was usually in the realm of teachers of performing arts. We go and pay respect to guru and offer Dakshina and receive their blessings.

For years, going and meeting our teachers with gratitude was embedded into our life, and I still feel the genuine encouragement and love I received from them on Vijayadashami.

What are the highlights and remembrances of your Navratri celebrations?

#Dussehra #Navratri #Ravana #Celebration #Festival

Delhi to London on a bus! That sounds like an #adventure that I would have loved to do.
Imagine a #travel through 18 countries in 70 days. More than 40,000 people have already signed up for this!

Would you take it? #WeekendMusings

The Pursuit of Happyness is about Chris Gardner, once a homeless man, and now a successful business person and motivational speaker.

People ask me, what has helped me in my life. Our mind is our most powerful tool. You can’t change others' opinion of you, but don't let others change your opinion of yourself. You must know your self-worth and take charge of your dreams.

#WhatInspiresMe #PersonalDevelopment #Motivation

“It is important to be well rounded, follow your passions a little bit more, get out there in the real world,“ Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google Inc.

Nuggets of wisdom for the youth.

Video Source: BiscootTV

#BestAdvice #PersonalDevelopment

Collaboration and bonding at #Thub. What is in a name - Harsh Jain and Sriharsha M.! And a table with 2 awesome women - Shweta Rajpal Kohli and Dr. Garima Sawhney. KTR Garu and his hospitality winning hearts for Telangana!

T-Hub #TrailblazingTelangana #Startups #Entrepreneurship

Questions you should ask yourself before taking the plunge into #entrepreneurship:

1. 'How passionate am I to solve this problem? Why do I want to solve it? What are my unique insights?'

2. 'What am I willing to risk? How long can I sustain without pay, revenue, funding?'

3. 'Am I expecting my family to support - financial constraints, lack of my time and availability?' You are doing what you want. 'Are they aligned; if they are not, are you prepared for the consequences?'

This clarity will make the foundation of your entrepreneurial journey strong.

It is such a privilege to hear JRD. He was well-liked and respected. I remember clearly when I read 'Beyond the Last Blue Mountain'. I highly recommend reading it. In fact, I want to go back and re-read it. His magnanimity, humanness and humbleness are an #inspiration and resonate deeply with me.

Interesting insights he offers on leadership:
1. A true leader is someone whose #leadership is respected by his team.
2. A true leader takes decisions by consensus, whenever possible.
3. S/he humanly looks at things.

#Entrepreneurship
Video Credits: Astaabrata India Foundation

Smallest of things can have the biggest impact in our lives. Even the biggest banyan tree grows from a small seed. Start with something small.

Matt Mullenweg, WordPress

Beautifully played on a Santoor by this 12-year-old child prodigy from #Iran.
 
Video Credits: Global Child Prodigy Awards

#Music #Culture #IndependenceDay #India

“Lift as you climb. Make it easier for those who come after you.”

This quote by Leena Nair is so apt for the responsibility we can each take to make a difference. Leena’s appointment as the CEO of CHANEL is special because she is the first female and a rare outsider in the fashion industry to lead a global fashion house. She was also the first female and youngest-ever Chief Human Resources Officer at Unilever.

From Kolhapur to leading one of the leading fashion houses, Leena has proven that when you have a clear vision for yourself, everything is possible.

Congratulations, Leena. Wishing you the best in this endeavour and may you continue to pave the way for the next generation of female leaders.

#LevelThePlayingField #WomenInBusiness #Inspiration #Leadership

Einstein's famous equation in a different context.

Boost was the secret of Sachin Tendulkar's energy! But for me and many others out there, #coffee is our #productivity drug.

I like my filter coffee South #India style with no sugar, more milk.

How do you like your coffee? What is that secret ingredient that gives you energy?

#Wisdom is in knowing when you do need help. And a strong individual is unafraid to ask for help when s/he needs it.

1. Seek out #mentors who can push you to think
differently.

2. If you are curious, then you will find something to learn from everyone.

3. Be confident to work with those who complement your weaknesses.

4. Create strong support structures around you.

5. When you want something, the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. May the universe be with you!

#StartupLife #entrepreneurship

“Security is mostly a superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” - Helen Keller

At our office, celebrating festive occasions with #KalaariFamily is a tradition. A sumptuous sadya, a fragrant Pookalam (flower rangoli), and lots of smiles all around as we celebrated Onam!

Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy Onam!

Kalaari Capital #Onam #Celebrations #Festival

Lakshman Narasimhan. The new CEO of the iconic company, Starbucks. He follows other Indian-origin CEOs of legendary companies, Google, Adobe, Microsoft, IBM, and Chanel, to name a few. With over 30,000 stores and revenue of over $30B, what an honour to see an Indian CEO at the helm. So Proud.

So many great memes, made me smile. And yes, I would love to see them introduce South Indian filter coffee served in a davara to the world.

#India #Leadership #Global

Work-Life balance. Is it a dirty word in the fast paced tech startup world? Much as I admire Tesla, Elon Musk aversion to work-life balance I do not embrace. There must be time in our lives for family, hobbies, self-care, friends and community.

What do you think?

Embarrassment is the cost of entry. If you aren’t willing to look like a foolish beginner, you’ll never look like a graceful master.

Conditioned to a structured #learning environment, that is the modern #education system, we are often unprepared to learn that learning never stops. We have to be lifelong learners. I immersed myself in a writing workshop recently for a weekend. It was fun and I learned something new. I recently also started learning Bonsai. Be on a quest to learn something new whether it pays to do so or not. Take pride in being a seeker, no shame in that.

What are some of the things you have given time to learn recently?

#PersonalDevelopment #Productivity

At Kalaari, we are big fans of Cure.Fit. Of course, we are an investor in them, and we love the opportunity to journey with them as they make #fitness and wellness essential and accessible in everyone's lives. Many members of our team are a proof of that. They love working out at Cult. Most of us enjoy the Dance Fitness sessions.

We introduced our new batch of Fellows to Cult. What better way to onboard them than to do shared activities we love together! We had fun, and bonded over some serious dancing. Glad Cure.fit is now open and safe to use.

#teamwork #KalaariFamily

Setbacks are our path to progress. The power of #faith.

Inspiring words by John Read.

#WhatInspiresMe #PersonalDevelopment #Motivation

Tesla recently announced their plans to setup a sales outlet and an R&D centre in Bangalore, #India as part of its global expansion, that is great news to develop local EV talent further. Would you buy a Tesla in India? Another question, how much would you be willing to pay?

The company's investor presentation from 2011 is a good deep dive to understand how the EV mobility market was in 2011 and how it has evolved over the last decade.
#Technology #Innovation

https://lnkd.in/eJ34XSc

Our abilities and actions define who we are. Self-belief makes all the difference. It exceeds our own expectations. It is the only thing that matters.

#MondayMotivation #PersonalDevelopment #Life

Steve #Jobs parting note was a masterclass.
This is how it is done even when others wrong you. I would wish any parting to be both amicable and dignified.

#Management #Entrepreneurship

Thank you for your support in following me. Your comments and the insights you share encourage me to continue to share my thoughts and experiences with you.

Every Monday, I post quotes that I'm inspired by. I am sharing a short compilation of quotes that you have liked and engaged with this year.


#Motivation #Inspiration #BestAdvice #Learning

#Startups are like a team sport, with distinct skills to play the game. A few roles that need to be clearly defined :

1. The Visionary - The one who will set the direction for the startup with a clear vision of the mission
2. The Doer - Can translate the vision into go-to-market strategy and disciplined processes to build the business
3. The Innovator - The one who can convert vision into product and make something outstanding and not average
4. The Communicator - The one who can convince key stakeholders to believe in the vision.

As a founder, you will likely fit a combination of 1 or more of these roles. Never be afraid to be self-critical about what you lack. Bring people together who can complement you and fill the gaps.

#Innovation #Management #Leadership