My Favourite Failure: Lessons from a Dot-Com Crash Survivor - Sharath Jeevan OBE
Feb 15, 2024
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Sharath Jeevan, a dot-com crash survivor, discusses the importance of staying true to one's vision, seeking advice while maintaining authenticity, and navigating uncertainty as a founder. He reflects on the dot-com crash, the pillars of authenticity, connection, and excellence for founders, and the need to embrace uncertainty for long-term success.
The case of a company suffering immense losses due to insider threats highlights the importance of robust security measures in cybersecurity.
The cautionary tale of a founder during the dot-com bubble emphasizes the need for founders to stay true to their vision and consider alternative approaches to mitigate risks.
Deep dives
Importance of Insider Risk in Cybersecurity
The podcast episode emphasizes the significance of considering insider risk in cybersecurity. It highlights the case of a company that suffered immense losses when a disgruntled staff member was deceived by a state actor into stealing their flagship software. This incident clearly demonstrates the potential vulnerabilities that can arise from insider threats, warranting the need for robust security measures.
The Perils of Following Outside Influence
The episode features the cautionary tale of the founder Sharath, who was pushed by investors to prioritize rapid growth in the midst of the dot-com bubble. Despite initially pitching a B2C model and securing substantial funding, the NASDAQ crash led to the company's demise. This story highlights the importance of founders staying true to their own vision and considering alternative approaches, such as diversification or focusing on a B2B model, to mitigate risks associated with external factors.
Founders as Pillars of Authenticity, Connection, and Excellence
Sharath reflects on the pillars of authenticity, connection, and excellence as crucial elements for founders. He emphasizes their role in setting direction, ensuring self-awareness, and resisting external pressures. The episode emphasizes the significance of founders staying connected to the problem they aim to solve, building a supportive culture that aligns with their intrinsic motivations, and fostering a culture of excellence through feedback and high expectations.
In the midst of the dot-com bubble, Sharath Jeevan OBE, Founder of Intrinsic Labs, was convinced by investors to pursue rapid growth and prioritise the consumer market.
However, after the dot-com bubble popped; he realised that as a leader, he had to learn to follow his internal compass not just the funding market
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