Stratospheric Leaders #12 Sandeep Sahai: Put Your Hand Up – Infectious Passion, Perspective & Building Clearwater Analytics
In this episode, I’m joined by Sandeep Sahai, CEO of Clearwater Analytics (NYSE: CWAN) - a truly disruptive force shaping the future of financial technology. Clearwater operates on the cloud, providing clients with a comprehensive, real-time view of their portfolios and enabling global execution - processing and reporting on an extraordinary $8.8 trillion in assets daily as of December 31, 2024.
What makes this conversation special isn’t just the scale of Clearwater’s innovation - it’s the heart behind the leadership. From his grandmother teaching him chess at nine years old, Sandeep learned to think about others - to understand what drives people and why. That early lesson became a cornerstone of his leadership philosophy: If your employees are happy and engaged, they’ll build great products. They’ll take care of clients. And when clients succeed, shareholders succeed.
Throughout his journey, Sandeep has been driven by curiosity, hard work, and humility - and yes, he credits a touch of luck too. In our discussion, we explore the golden threads of his career, his fascination with technology, and how Generative AI is set to transform the way we live, work, and connect - just as every great technological leap before it has done throughout history.
This is a conversation that blends humanity, innovation, and vision - a masterclass in what it means to lead with care, courage, and conviction.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the global perspective is crucial for success.
- There are many versions of truth; perspective matters.
- Curiosity and open-mindedness lead to better conversations.
- Put your hand up for opportunities, even if uncertain.
- Success is defined by personal happiness and family well-being.
- Infectious passion is essential for effective leadership.
- Work-life balance is challenging but necessary for fulfillment.
- Generative AI will transform how we work and interact.
- Transparency in communication fosters trust and engagement.