

Code and Capital are the two highest forms of leverage. I use both.

I spent the first half of my career as an Operator: building, scaling, and exiting.

I am spending the second half as an Architect: designing systems that run without me.

Currently building a sovereign ecosystem bridging Private Equity and AI.

The Work:
- Writing: #dhandhekafunda — Deconstructing the algorithms of success.
- Guiding: House of Starts — Funding the next generation of founders.
- Building: Engines of freedom, not just companies.

If you are building at the edge of AI, Finance, or Systems Thinking, follow my linkedin profile. 

Utpal Vaishnav

We often promote people for their Execution (Column 4):

Then we are shocked when they fail because they have zero Self-Mastery (Column 1).

Leadership is not a single skill. It is a "Full Stack" discipline.

If you treat Leadership like an engineering problem, these are the 5 subsystems you need to maintain:

1. Self-Mastery: The Operating System. (EQ, Discipline, Gratitude). If this crashes, the whole server goes down.

2. People & Communication: The Network Layer. (Listening, Feedback, Trust). You cannot lead people you cannot understand.

3. Thinking & Decision Making: The Processor. (Critical Thinking, Problem Solving). The ability to be right when the data is incomplete.

4. Execution & Productivity: The Output. (Delegating, Saying No, Time Management). Vision without execution is hallucination.

5. Growth & Resilience: The Antivirus. (Learning from failure, Combating Imposter Syndrome). How fast do you reboot after a crash?

I mapped out the 50 Essential Skills across these 5 pillars.

Don't try to master all 50 today. Pick one column where you are weak. Focus there for Q1.

Which column is your "bottleneck" right now? (I am doubling down on Column 3 this year.)

~~~
♻️ Repost this #DhandheKaFunda to remind your network that "Soft Skills" are actually the most challenging part.
✔️ Save this Checklist to audit your own performance reviews. 
➕ Follow Utpal Vaishnav for more insights like this.

Founder & Architect • Systems & Models for Builders, Ventures & Capital

50 Skills of a Great Leader: The Complete Executive Skill Stack (2026 Checklist)

by 

Utpal Vaishnav

#DhandheKaFunda

Most smart people know strategy buzzwords.
Very few actually use them when the next move really matters.

They think in quarters, not decades.
They obsess over plans, not failure points.
They protect today, but never place small bets on tomorrow.

This document gives you 10 simple upgrades you can steal before your next big decision.

1. The 10-year horizon. Think in decades. Decide in years. Execute in weeks.

2. SWOT without self-deception. Strengths you can prove. Weaknesses you will pay for.

3. Second-order thinking. Ask. And then what. Twice.

4. Inversion. Design around how this fails.

5. Kaizen plus Kaikaku. Small improvements keep you sharp. Big shifts keep you alive.

6. Game theory. Stop only playing your own game. Start playing theirs back.

7. Category of one. Compete on a new axis, not a crowded leaderboard.

8. Barbell strategy. Protect the base. Place small bets on asymmetric upside.

9. Skill stacking. Top 10 percent in three skills is rare leverage.

10. Regret minimization. If future you will regret it, present you is already late.

Strategy is not knowing.
Strategy is choosing.

Which of these 10 upgrades do you need to use this quarter?

♻️ Repost this #DhandheKaFunda, your network will thank you
✔️ Save this for your next strategy offsite or founder debate
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10 Strategy Upgrades for 2026 (The High-Agency Playbook):

You think you are a rational decision-maker.
You are actually a rationalizing storyteller.

According to Daniel Kahneman (Nobel Prize winner), our brain has two modes:

• System 1 (The Autopilot): Fast, emotional, intuitive. It runs 95% of your life.
• System 2 (The Pilot): Slow, logical, effortful. It only wakes up when you force it to.

The problem? System 1 is terrible at math and statistics. It relies on shortcuts (Heuristics) that create "Cognitive Illusions."

I mapped out the Thinking Fast & Slow Cheat Sheet to help you debug your own brain:

The Top 3 Traps to Watch For:

1. WYSIATI (What You See Is All There Is):
System 1 builds a story based only on the data in front of it. It never asks: "What data am I missing?" This is why we are so confident in bad decisions.

2. The Planning Fallacy:
We always underestimate time and cost. We imagine the "Best Case Scenario" and treat it as the "Most Likely Scenario." (System 1 is an optimist).

3. Loss Aversion:
The pain of losing $100 is 2x stronger than the joy of finding $100. This makes us play "Not to Lose" rather than "Playing to Win."

How to use this sheet:
Whenever you are making a big decision (Hiring, Investing, Strategy), stop.

Ask yourself: "Is this System 1 jumping to a conclusion? Or has System 2 actually reviewed the data?"

Which of these biases is your personal nemesis? (I suffer from the Planning Fallacy every single week).

~~~
♻️ Repost this #DhandheKaFunda Repost to help your network think slower.
✔️ Save this Cheat Sheet to audit your next big decision.
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Thinking Fast & Slow: A Visual Summary of Daniel Kahneman's Framework (System 1 vs. System 2)

Utpal Vaishnav


The biggest mistake new managers make is trying to be “fair”.

They think fairness means treating everyone the same.

It does not.

Treating a junior with low skill the same as a senior with high skill is not fair.

It is negligent.

The junior drowns from lack of guidance.
The senior quits from micromanagement.

Great leadership is situational.
You must diagnose the person before you prescribe the management style.

I use the Skill / Will Matrix to choose the right tool.

1. High Performer (high skill . high will)
Strategy. Delegate and empower.
Trap. Getting in their way. Give them the goal and get out.

2. Contributor (low skill . high will)
Strategy. Guide and support.
Trap. Assuming enthusiasm equals competence. They need training, not just praise.

3. Potential Detractor (high skill . low will)
Strategy. Excite and engage.
Trap. Ignoring them. They are smart enough to undermine the culture if bored or bitter. Find out why their will is low.

4. Low Performer (low skill . low will)
Strategy. Direct or exit.
Trap. Hoping they will change. Give clear expectations. If they do not execute, make the hard call.

Stop looking for one leadership style.
You need four.

Which quadrant is your most difficult team member in right now.

♻️ Repost this #DhandheKaFunda
✔️ Save this for future reference
➕ Follow Utpal Vaishnav for more insights like this

The Skill / Will Matrix: How to Adjust Your Management Style (Situational Leadership Cheat Sheet)

By Utpal Vaishnav

HarendraSingh R.

Harendrasingh Rajput (Harry) – Top Digital Marketing, Sales & Business Consultant in Ahmedabad

Harendrasingh Rajput, founder of Acanyon Digital, is recognized among the top digital marketing consultants in Ahmedabad, providing sales growth, marketing strategy, and business consulting to startups, IT companies, and enterprises.

With 16+ years of industry experience, Harry has worked with leading companies, including Concetto Labs, iCoderz Solutions, Sourceved, Technobrains, Dolphin Web Solution, eDeltaES, Echo Innovate IT, Bombay Softwares, Moon Technolabs, and Aglowid IT Solutions.

In his corporate career, he worked full-time with Spaceo Technologies, SoluLab, and Excellent Web World, where he achieved the highest levels of sales, marketing, and digital growth milestones.

Recent and ongoing clients include Webtaul Technologies, Ecleva, UCS, and Silver Touch—( big names in Platforms expertise)partnering on SEO, inbound and outbound marketing, sales enablement, and brand visibility projects.

Harry specializes in inbound and outbound marketing strategies that consistently deliver high-quality leads and strong conversion rates. His unique service includes representing companies as an exhibitor or attendee at major industry events—helping businesses generate leads, build connections, and expand their brand presence without having to be physically present themselves.

His consulting charges range from ₹25,000 to ₹1,10,000 per month, based on project scope. His expertise spans SEO, PPC, content marketing, branding, ASO, ORM, lead generation, sales enablement, and global market expansion.

Harry is a trusted growth partner who blends marketing execution, sales strategy, and business transformation to deliver measurable ROI in both domestic and international markets.

Founder | Digital Marketing Consultant

As a Digital Marketing Consultant I have been worked for Following IT Companies:

- www.concettolabs.com
- www.icoderzsolutions.com
- www.sourceved.com
- www.technobrains.io
- www.dolphinwebsolution.com
-  www.edeltaes.com
-  www.echoinnovateit.com

Currently working for many other IT Companies like Aglowid IT Solutions, Upsquare

As a Digital Marketing Consultant, I Plan and implement digital Marketing roadmap, vision for products and offerings.

Drive engagement and increase overall digital capability with growth Squads (Portfolio Marketers, Content Marketers and Performance Campaign Managers).

Design and drive development of digital customer journeys for clients

Evaluate and draw insights from digital analytics (web and paid media), working closely with Performance Campaign Managers and Portfolio Marketers to apply recommended actions.

Optimize FREE and paid media and web pages.

Design and implement Digital Marketing testing plans aligned to strategic improvement of performance and customer experience.

Work day-to-day with teams to ensure activities are optimised and aligned to the company strategies.


As A Digital marketing Consultant, Harendrasingh Rajput (Harry) is responsible for creating and executing a Inbound & Outbound marketing, Branding, Lead Generation, Social media & Search Engine Optimization 

Has 16+ years of experience in Digital Marketing (SEO, Social Media & Paid Marketing) in Multiple Domains including B2B, B2C, IT Sector, Embedded, Mobile and Web Development. 

My skill set comprises of 

👉Lead Generation
👉Branding
👉SEO Friendly website Redesign
👉Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
👉Search Engine Marketing (SEM & PPC)
👉Blog Setup & Traffic Creation
👉Blogging & Marketing
👉Content Creation and Marketing
👉Reputation Management
👉App Store Optimization
👉Web analytics and Reporting.
👉Team Management

The teaser is now live!!

In our upcoming podcast episode, Sandeepsingh Sisodiya, Founder & CEO of Appsrow - India's #1 Webflow Agency#1 Webflow Agency, shares a compelling perspective on how AI is reshaping sales, service models, and the future of Indian IT companies.

From outcome-based pricing and vertical AI to community-led growth and sales strategy, this conversation addresses the real questions founders are asking today.

A highly relevant discussion for IT leaders, agency founders, and CXOs navigating the AI transition.

Episode releasing soon. 
Stay tuned.

 #LeadershipInsights #AITransformation #SalesStrategy #ITServices #FounderJourney #AppsrowSolutions #ChitChatWithHarry #FutureOfWork #ComingSoon

Episode 9 is live.

In this episode, Sandeepsingh Sisodiya Founder and CEO of Appsrow - India's #1 Webflow Agency#1 shares valuable insights on why Gujarat’s IT ecosystem must move beyond a coding-first approach and focus on sales, vision, and outcome-driven growth.

The discussion covers community building, AI-driven business models, GIFT City’s role, and why regional ecosystems can thrive without copying Bangalore’s playbook.

A relevant conversation for IT founders, agency leaders, and ecosystem builders focused on long-term value creation.

Watch now https://lnkd.in/duS3utqS


#Episode9 #LeadershipInsights #ITServices #GujaratEcosystem #SalesStrategy #AITransformation #FounderVision #PodcastEpisode #ChitChatWithHarry

🎙️ New episode releasing soon.

In this upcoming podcast episode, Vivek Shah, Founder of Capermint Technologies, shares thoughtful insights into the gaming industry, from the realities of game development and intellectual property to the growing role of gamification across industries.

The conversation explores product thinking, team building, and the long-term mindset required to build sustainable gaming businesses in an evolving technology landscape.

A valuable discussion for founders, product leaders, and professionals interested in gaming, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Teaser now live. 

Full episode coming soon.


[Gaming Industry, Game Development, Gamification, AR VR XR, IP Creation, Product Thinking, Startup Leadership, Tech Entrepreneurship, Founder Insights]

#GamingIndustry #GameDevelopment #Gamification #GamingStartup #ARVRXR #FounderTalk #TechEntrepreneur #StartupJourney #CapermintTechnologies #VivekShah #PodcastTeaser #ComingSoon #ChitChatWithHarry

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