#185 CEO & Founder Netskope, Sanjay Beri: The Trenches
Apr 8, 2024
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CEO and Founder of Netskope, Sanjay Beri, shares his entrepreneurial journey, discussing topics like stress, raising capital, hiring for grit, and navigating internal politics. Reflects on the importance of resilience, personal sales engagement, and building a legacy in data security innovation.
Entrepreneurial success requires embracing challenges and enjoying overcoming obstacles.
Building a lasting professional legacy involves empowering others and making a positive impact.
Recognizing the need for evolving team dynamics and leadership skills as a company scales is essential for growth.
Deep dives
Values and Mindset for Entrepreneurship
In entrepreneurship, it is crucial to have a mindset that embraces challenges, appreciates resilience, and finds enjoyment in overcoming obstacles. It is about being wired to thrive in high-stress situations, being adaptive, and relishing the unpredictable nature of business ventures. Not everyone may be suited for this path, and recognizing one's inclination towards this mindset is vital before embarking on entrepreneurial endeavors.
Building a Legacy through Professional Impact
The desire to build and innovate while leaving a lasting professional legacy is a driving force for many entrepreneurs. The goal is not merely to achieve personal success but to transform and impact the lives of employees and stakeholders positively. Creating an environment where individuals feel empowered, impactful, and part of a significant industry revolution contributes to building a lasting, meaningful legacy in the business world.
Navigating the Challenges of Scaling a Company
As a company grows, the dynamics of team composition, leadership requirements, and external influences evolve. Each stage demands a different set of skills and perspectives from the individuals leading the organization. Recognizing that the people who propel a company at one stage may not be the best fit for future stages is a critical aspect of navigating the complexities of scaling a business.
Recognizing the Significance of Integrity in Business
Integrity plays a crucial role in solidifying long-term relationships, building trust with clients, and fostering a culture of transparency and honesty within a company. Prioritizing ethical conduct and doing business with integrity not only reinforces credibility but also ensures sustainable growth and lasting success in the business world. Upholding integrity over expediency is a foundational pillar for enduring business relationships and reputation.
Embracing the Challenge of Overcoming Adversity
Facing challenges with resilience and determination is a fundamental aspect of entrepreneurship. The ability to stay focused, adapt to unforeseen circumstances, and maintain a competitive spirit in the face of adversity defines the grit required to succeed in the business world. Harnessing setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning cultivates a mindset that thrives on overcoming obstacles and thriving amidst uncertainty.
“You can be waiting your whole life to do something, and then your life’s over,” says Sanjay Beri. After nine years at Juniper Networks, he left his comfortable job, moved his family to a house with a pricier mortgage, and launched the cloud security firm Netskope. His entrepreneurial story would make anyone stressed, he acknowledges, but “at some level, you have to be wired to enjoy it… that's why I tell everybody who joins, ‘It's not for the faint of heart.’”
In this episode, Sanjay and Joubin discuss Reddit, banker friends, professional legacies, the wrong way to raise capital, authenticity, Ponzi schemes, “fool’s gold,” high-risk hiring, hitting pause, your “other family,” and changing roles.
