Ep145 – Ashik Ahmed (Co-founder & CEO – Deputy) on COVID, conviction and customer obsession
Apr 1, 2021
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Guest Ashik Ahmed, Co-founder & CEO of Deputy, discusses the challenges and opportunities during COVID-19, the process of unlearning and approaching things in a new way, and the importance of balancing vision and execution. They also touch on fundraising success and building investor relationships.
The three critical responsibilities of a CEO are to hold the vision, set the culture, and engage with customers.
It is important for founders to prioritize customer problem-solving, adaptability, and learning from feedback for growth.
Deep dives
The Importance of Vision, Culture, and Customer Focus for CEOs
The CEO plays three key roles: holder of the vision, yardstick of culture, and the person customers want to engage with. These three responsibilities are critical for a CEO's success, while everything else can be delegated. It is important for CEOs to prioritize these areas and build a strong team around them. The podcast episode highlights the significance of these three roles and offers insights into how CEOs can effectively fulfill them.
The Journey of Deputy and CEO Ashik Ahmed
The podcast features an interview with Ashik Ahmed, the co-founder and CEO of Deputy. The episode discusses Ashik's journey from being a software developer to becoming the CEO of Deputy. It covers the challenges and successes that Deputy has experienced throughout its existence. Ashik shares insights into how Deputy managed the impact of COVID-19, the importance of customer obsession, and the company's approach to fundraising and building relationships with investors.
Lessons in Unlearning and Adapting
Ashik Ahmed shares the early days of Deputy and the challenges of transitioning from a complex business to building a new product. He emphasizes the importance of unlearning and adapting to the real world. Ashik explains that it's crucial for founders to put themselves in the shoes of the customer and focus on solving their problems effectively. He also highlights the power of listening and learning from customer feedback as a key driver of growth and improvement.
Navigating Challenges and Building Culture
The podcast episode delves into how Deputy managed the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the importance of maintaining a customer-centric culture during difficult times. Ashik Ahmed discusses the significance of empathy, communication, and adaptability in the face of adversity. The episode also explores how Deputy built and nurtured its culture, emphasizing values such as listening to learn, clocking for the customer, and maintaining a strong team spirit.
My guest for Ep145 of The Startup Playbook Podcast was the Co-founder & CEO of Deputy, Ashik Ahmed. Ashik launched Deputy in 2008, initially as the co-founder and CTO of the business. He transitioned to the CEO role after Deputy raised there Series A funding round in 2017. Deputy has since gone on to being […]