10X Growth Strategies

In this episode of 10x Growth Strategies, host Preethy Padmanabhan speaks with Vicki Johnson — founder of ProFellow and author of Pitch Your Potential. Vicki shares her proven Match Me formula, a powerful framework for winning competitive jobs, fellowships, awards, and elite opportunities. She opens up about her personal journey, from breaking into top schools to securing globally competitive fellowships, and reveals how anyone can leverage storytelling, clarity of mission, and future-focused narratives to stand out. The conversation covers overcoming mindset challenges, avoiding common mistakes, mastering memorable pitches, and using networks effectively. Vicki also provides insights into her upcoming book, exclusive preorder bonuses, and why pitching your future potential is more powerful than your past accomplishments. This episode is packed with actionable advice for students, professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to win in highly competitive environments. ⸻ Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Guest Welcome 00:46 Meet Vicki Johnson & ProFellow 01:32 Hidden Opportunities & Human-Centered Strategies 03:13 Early Life & Breaking into Top Schools 04:20 Storytelling to Win Cornell & Fellowships 05:44 Why Future Potential Matters More Than the Past 06:01 The Match Me Formula Explained (7 Elements) 08:35 Matching Mission & Defining Your Goals 09:14 Mindset Challenges: Fear, Comparison & Gatekeepers 13:28 Overcoming Negativity & Finding Supportive Voices 14:20 Defining Goals & Personal Mission for Social Impact 16:07 Midlife Crisis & Reinventing Career Paths 18:03 Common Mistakes in Applications & Researching Missions 20:11 Importance of Future-Focused Applications 21:18 Crafting Memorable Pitches & Elevator Stories 22:30 Networking, Referrals & The Power of LinkedIn 24:22 Storytelling with Anecdotes & Emotional Connection 26:21 Structuring Your Application Story (Past, Future & Selectors) 29:42 Building Confidence Through Future Vision 31:12 Success Story: From Shark Tank to Y Combinator 33:28 Book Release, Preorder Bonuses & ProFellow Platform 35:23 Final Advice: Be a Storyteller of the Future 36:06 Closing Remarks

🚀 What does it take to build a truly AI-native startup? In this episode of the 10X Growth Strategies Podcast, host Preethy Padmanabhan speaks with three visionary founders who are redefining the future of enterprise AI: • Kapil Chhabra – Co-Founder & CPO, WisdomAI • Wen Sang – Co-Founder & COO, Genspark.ai • Leila R. Golchehreh – Co-Founder & CSO, Relaynce AI From hyper-growth journeys to ransomware recovery stories, they share insider lessons on scaling AI-native companies, navigating enterprise adoption, embedding governance and compliance, and why solving your own pain point often leads to the best products. If you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or AI enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights you can’t afford to miss. ⏱ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction by Host Preethy Padmanabhan 00:27 – Kapil Chhabra introduces WisdomAI 00:49 – Wen Sang introduces Genspark.ai 01:00 – Leila Golchehreh introduces Relaynce AI 01:52 – Why Leila started Relaynce AI 03:23 – Wen: AI promotes knowledge workers, not replaces them 04:47 – Kapil: The genesis of WisdomAI and BI tool gaps 06:38 – Enterprise adoption challenges & early demand (Kapil) 07:59 – Leila: From prototype to enterprise-ready product 09:20 – What does “AI-native” really mean? (Kapil) 11:53 – Wen: How AI changed his workflow (“throw it at AI first”) 14:40 – Leila: Balancing innovation with compliance and governance 16:53 – Kapil: Governance must be designed from the start 19:12 – Wen: Real estate client story & compliance lessons 20:46 – Leila: Ransomware recovery customer story 22:14 – Kapil: Cisco case study – saving 2800+ hours 25:02 – Founders’ advice to entrepreneurs 28:06 – Leila: Due diligence on VCs and co-founders 30:39 – Kapil: Pricing experiments – outcome vs usage vs seats 33:15 – Competing with Oracle & big tech in AI 35:34 – Build vs Buy: When to integrate vs build in-house 37:01 – Final takeaways from each founder

In this episode of the 10X Growth Strategies podcast, host Saradha interviews Dr. Edie Goldberg, a renowned talent management expert and co-author of 'The Inside Gig.' With over 20 years of experience in industrial organizational psychology, Dr. Goldberg discusses how companies can unlock untapped talent within their existing workforce. The conversation explores how the concept of 'inside gigs' can transform traditional job postings into dynamic, project-based opportunities. The episode underscores the evolving landscape of work, especially in light of remote work and technological advancements, advocating for a flexible and skills-based approach to talent management. Topics: 00:00 Introduction  00:13 Meet Dr. Edie Goldberg: Talent Management Expert 00:55 The Concept of the Inside Gig 03:46 Implementing the Inside Gig in Organizations 10:56 Real-World Success Stories 16:01 Overcoming Challenges in Talent Mobility 23:51 Future of Internal Talent Mobility 26:26 Actionable Steps for HR Leaders 32:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Preethy, interviews Anupam, the managing partner and co-founder of Emergent Ventures. Anupam shares his firm's focus on pre-seed and seed-stage investments in enterprise AI, highlighting their strategy against market trends and founder qualities they seek. The discussion delves into the hype versus reality of AI, the importance of orchestration in enterprise applications, and the promising future of various AI-driven sectors. Additionally, the conversation covers due diligence, red flags, and the evolving venture capital landscape amid market corrections. Anupam offers practical advice on raising capital, emphasizes the role of human elements in investment decisions, and reveals the firm's thorough approach to identifying the next big opportunities in AI. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:36 Emergent Ventures and Enterprise AI 02:02 The Hype and Reality of Agent AI 05:57 Selecting the Right Entrepreneurs 11:38 Current State of Venture Capital 16:00 Audience Q&A 22:09 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

The podcast features Saradha Sriram, host of *10X Growth Strategies*, interviewing Sonia Hunt, Co-Founder & CEO at Zentāra Ventures | #1 Best-Selling Author | Global Wellness Speaker  Sonia Hunt, author of the transformative book "Nut Job" and a globally recognized speaker who's helping leaders worldwide unlock peak performance through health and wellness strategies. In this episode of the 10 X Growth Strategies podcast, host Shahara interviews Sonya Hunt, an author and globally recognized speaker, who shares her transformative journey from a childhood fraught with severe food allergies to becoming a wellness authority. Sonya discusses her early diagnosis, the challenges she faced, and the holistic, integrative healthcare approach that led to her eventual remission. She details the development of her 3-2-B method (Be Safe, Be Healthy, Be Well), and talks about the significant role of gut health in her recovery. This conversation highlights the importance of a comprehensive wellness strategy that encompasses physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, aiming to inspire others facing similar challenges. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:38 Sonya's Early Life and Health Challenges 04:18 The Turning Point: 2008 Anaphylaxis Incident 07:30 Developing the 3-2-B Method 10:13 Holistic Health and Healing Journey 18:52 Achieving Remission and Medical Miracles 27:04 Thriving Beyond Allergies 31:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This episode features our host Preethy Padmanabhan in conversation with Matthew E. Polimeno, the author of the book Inflate your chance for success and the foreword contributor Praveen Sahay, Managing Director, WAVE Equity Partners Inflate Your Chances for Success is a practical handbook aimed at startups and entrepreneurs, authored by Matthew E. Polimeno, an experienced operating partner and expert in operational excellence. This book serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating the due diligence process during fundraising and positioning startups for long-term success. Chapters of the conversation -  - Introduction  00:06 Highlights from career journey  05:30 What you don’t know you don’t know  - Key takeaways for startup fund raising 7:30 The purpose of due diligence 11:30 Startup survival to scale  16:30 Mentoring for startup leaders - Setting up for success 18:30 Thinking outside-in  19:00 Examples of successful startups  28:30 Final Insights

The podcast features Saradha Sriram, host of 10X Growth Strategies, interviewing Vlad Moskovski , CEO | Executive Coach and Culture Designer Vlad Moskovski transforms conscious leaders into visionary architects of growth as their organizations evolve and transform. A 3x founder and leadership development expert with 15+ years of experience, he uniquely blends hands-on operational expertise with deep psychological insight through both coaching and strategic consulting. - Taking a holistic approach, Vlad works simultaneously at three levels: - The leader's mindset, executive presence, somatic & emotional intelligence - The leadership team's alignment and collective effectiveness - The organization's systems, culture, and strategic execution His frameworks have empowered 30+ organizations through programs like The Circulars Accelerator, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Alchemist Accelerator, and HAAS Business School Topics: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:43 Discovering 'The Body Keeps the Score' 01:47 Trauma's Impact on Leadership 06:10 Somatic Awareness in Coaching 12:41 Psychological Safety in Teams 19:47 Navigating Vulnerability in Leadership 25:46 Practical Advice for Emerging Leaders 28:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The podcast features Arthi Vijayaraghavan, host of *10X Growth Strategies*, interviewing Ms.Rachael O’Meara author of the book “pause”. The book Pause: Harnessing the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break by Rachael O’Meara is about the transformative value of intentionally stepping back—pausing—to reflect, realign, and reset your personal and professional life. “A pause is not just time off. It’s time in. It’s your opportunity to reflect, regroup, and rediscover what really matters.” – Rachael O’Meara Topics: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:55 Rachel O'Mara's Journey to Discovering the Power of Pause 07:21 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence 10:38 Practical Tips for Implementing Pauses 20:04 Emotional Intelligence and Leadership 25:01 Free Resources and Conclusion

This episode features our host Preethy Padmanabhan in conversation with authors of the book Sail to Scale: Steer Your Startup Clear of Mistakes from Launch to Exit. The book is a practical guide for entrepreneurs, written by Mona Sabet, Heather Jerrehian, and Maria Fernandez Guajardo. The book draws on the authors’ collective experience as successful entrepreneurs, executives, and investors to help founders avoid the most common pitfalls that cause startups to fail Sail to Scale is designed for prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs, as well as anyone involved in the startup ecosystem. Its lessons, though often illustrated with SaaS and tech examples, are broadly applicable to a wide range of businesses. The book stands out for its clear organization, visual metaphors, and focus on both what to do and what not to do at each stage of growth Topics: 00:00 Welcome to the 100th Episode of 10X 01:00 Heather's Inspiring Career Journey 02:57 Mona's Multifaceted Career Path 05:43 Maria's AI-Driven Mission 07:19 The Birth of 'Sale to Scale' 12:15 Key Lessons from the Launch Phase 20:18 Navigating the Pivot Wave with Hitch 24:46 Scaling Companies: The 10X Growth Mindset 25:23 Paradoxes of Scaling: Leadership and Focus 29:07 Hiring Strategies for Scaling Companies 29:48 The Importance of Avoiding Single Points of Failure 30:03 Turnover in Scaling Companies: A Necessary Challenge 30:47 The Final Wave: Navigating Exits and Acquisitions 39:05 AI's Impact on Launch Phases and MVPs 42:05 Distribution Fit: The Key to Market Success 44:07 Final Thoughts: Diverse Paths to Success

In this powerful episode of the 10X Growth Strategies podcast, host Saradha Sriram speaks with Naren Shanker — serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Hosted AI — on the transformative power of inner work, mindfulness, and navigating entrepreneurship through intuition. Drawing from his journey and the teachings of The Journey Within by Sri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Naren offers real-world insights on aligning purpose with profession, cultivating resilience, and the true cost (and reward) of self-awareness. If you’re seeking clarity, calm, and grounded success in a world of noise — this is the conversation for you. 📌 Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Guest Welcome 01:02 – Naren's Leap into Entrepreneurship 03:30 – Freedom vs. Structure in Startup Life 04:45 – The Reality of Founding: 80/20 Days 06:10 – Discovering The Journey Within 07:20 – The Immediate Impact of Breathwork 08:55 – Inner Work and Human Potential 11:15 – “iPOD” – Inner Peace, Outer Dynamism 12:50 – The Scientist & Boatman Story 15:00 – When Work Misaligns with Values 17:35 – Impulsive vs. Intuitive Decisions 19:00 – Developing Mental Hygiene 20:30 – The Role of Intuition in Innovation 23:45 – Gut Decisions in Reen’s Career 25:40 – Measuring Social & Ethical Impact 27:20 – Structured Purpose vs. Impulse 30:10 – Volunteering with Intention 32:00 – Live Reading from The Journey Within 35:20 – The Myth of Rest and Overwork 38:00 – Daily Stress & the Mental Dents We Ignore 41:30 – Three Pillars: Clarity, Purity, Sincerity 42:50 – Final Reflections & Takeaways