Growth Collective

Growth Collective is your catalyst for leadership excellence specializing in high-impact immersive learning experiences — from dynamic workshops to tailored executive coaching journeys. We enable organizations, teams, and individuals to unlock their full potential and drive meaningful growth.

Our human-centred approach, paired with a focus on measurable outcomes, ensures that every engagement delivers real, tangible results. With a diverse network of expert coaches, learning architects, and industry specialists, we bring real-world insights and proven strategies that drive sustainable growth.

As we continue to provide exceptional services, we're also evolving—developing innovative solutions like our leadership assessment and gamified development platform to accelerate growth.

At Growth Collective, we don’t just shape leaders—we build ecosystems of growth, performance and long-term success.

Founder & Principal

StealthMode

Learning fuels the journey to our best selves!

Currently crafting the future of leadership through AI-driven gamification experiences blending innovation and engagement to fuel effective learning journeys.

Founder 

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

Strategic Advisor

Mad Street Den

---  	Owned the product roadmap and work closely with the executive team to create strategy, vision and delivery model. Maintain, monitor and publish progress to leadership on product goals for maintenance (SLA) and milestones (KPI). 
---  	Lead a team of product/program managers with close collaboration with engineering and AI teams by streamlining agile based development practices. Enforced best engineering practices, competitive analysis, and product usage analytics to enable improved metrics.  
---  	Optimized search results and increased product discoverability on customer websites by consistently increasing accuracy (90% +) of AI based product data predictions. Also, reduced time to market employing data segmentation and automation.
---  	Scouted and managed vendor relationships to fuel product implementation processes.

Head of Product

Odessa

--- Spearheaded an agile transformation for a product team of 150+ and successfully setup & led the Devops practice for CICD enablement & implementation of core engineering practices for the product team.
---  Skillfully increased the utilization of the team from 17% to 80% in 4 months to establish a profitable P&L practice. 
---  	Took the product through a full upgrade to adhere to the latest regulatory Financial Accounting Standards as established by the US government and ensured compliance for all customers.
---  	Enabled an enterprise wise test automation program, to maintain a regression suite  to reduce turnaround time, improve quality & enhance code coverage.

AVP - Strategic Product Management/Engineering

OneShield

Senior Product Manager (Core Platform)

Implementation Manager

Technical Team Lead

Senior Java J2EE Developer 

Wells Fargo Bank

Lead Design Analyst

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC)

Senior Java/J2EE Developer

Harbinger Pvt. Ltd

Java/J2EE Developer

Zensar Technologies

Java/ VB Developer

As larger than life it may seem, I’m often torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. 

Enabling people, products & processes on their growth journey, through my work at Growth Collective, has helped me achieve the strife, to make the world a better place, while enjoying the process of doing it. 

-- I bring an overall industry experience of 24 years, focused on product, technology, coaching & entrepreneurship. Across domains of insurance, BFSI & ecommerce. 

-- My experience & passion lies in working with individuals, academia  & organizations, enabling career growth, process transformations & product innovations to maximize potential.

-- I'm a Harvard Business School, PLD graduate & an Erickson & Gallup coach.

-- I'm passionate about Leadership Development & performance coaching. I use a strengths focused approach to convert ideas into actions. 

-- I have skillfully built cross-functional teams across geographies & coached leaders with a focus on progress & productivity leading to profitability.

-- My extensive global experience enables me to understand various cultural nuances enabling organizational transformations & strategically developing partnerships & business relations. 

-- I leverage my technology & product experience, to enable teams to develop best engineering practices, agile methodologies & human centered design thinking for innovative product building.  

-- My startup experience enables me to bring order to chaos & enable leaders to navigate cross-functional teams through ever changing landscapes

-- I have spearheaded agile transformations for organizations, enhancing predictability, productivity, quality of products/services & agile mindsets with teams. 

-- I am an enthusiastic contributor to various industry and academia events for design thinking, career counselling, women in technology, diversity championing, leadership development etc.

Reach out to me for  - 
1-1 or team coaching for
      -- Leadership Development 
      -- Performance Coaching
      -- Personal Branding
Enabling teams for 
       -- Design Thinking
       -- Agile & other team enablement
       -- Growth mindset, socio-emotional skills
       -- Product management
Business Coaching
        -- Enabling Entrepreneurs & their teams make traction on their product journey.

Some of my clients- Microsoft, Cisco, Zetwerk, Target, OneSheild, Odessa, Grundfos, IIM, Indian Oil, Meredith & others.

When not working I can be found exploring -  places, books, cafes, people, technologies & many other interesting things the world offers.

At Boeing, the disaster didn’t begin with a crash.
It began with an engineer hesitating in a meeting.

The 737 MAX had a software flaw. But the real issue?

People saw it. They stayed silent.

Because 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Only when two aircrafts went down, killing 346 people, the investigations were brutal.

Emails showed engineers raising red flags internally.

But they were overruled.

There was no space for “what if.”

This story stays with me. Because I’ve seen it in teams, in product reviews, in leadership huddles.

𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
Sometimes, it’s survival.

As leaders, we have to ask: Are we creating silence?

Or are we building a culture where even junior voices feel safe saying, “This could go wrong?"

𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘇𝘇𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆.

Let’s start treating it like one.

#Leadership #Culture #Boeing #PsychologicalSafety #ProductLeadership

Janet Rajan

No alternative text description for this image

Two decades ago, Netflix took a bold step that no organization had imagined yet 👉 an unlimited leave policy.

Yes, you read that right!

In 2003, amidst the heated Netflix vs. Blockbuster race, an employee posed a thought-provoking question to Reed Hastings:

'We work online some weekends, respond to emails at odd hours, and take afternoons off for personal time. 

We don’t track hours worked per day or week. Why are we tracking vacation days per year?'

Reed did not have an answer then, but he realized that it was time for a change.

With the introduction of the unlimited leave policy, Netflix put their employees in charge of deciding when to work and when to take a break.

And it was a blockbuster at Netflix (no pun intended), fostering productivity and satisfaction among their teams.

However, it didn’t gain much traction elsewhere. Why?

Because in many organizations, employees feared judgment from colleagues or superiors for taking vacation.

At Netflix, leaders actively encouraged frequent breaks, leading to higher productivity and well-being.

The success of this stems from creating a high trust environment.

When we give our teams the freedom to choose how they work, we encourage them to behave more responsibly.

So, what do you think about the unlimited leave policy?

#workplaceculture #team #management

Activity | Janet Rajan | LinkedIn

li_at

JSESSIONID

Most great products don’t fail because of features. They fail because their 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱.
 
In my 20 years of product building, that’s a skill I have never taken for granted. 
 
It’s the tool that:
– Wins alignment when the data is messy
– Defends a bet in a roadmap review
– Turns tension into buy-in across the boardroom, sprint room, or customer call
 
That’s exactly what Flip the SCALE is all about.
 
This event isn’t a panel. It isn’t a lecture.
It's a 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗯 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗷𝗮𝗺 and part 𝗔𝗜-𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱.

- You’ll hear arcs from product leaders as they unpack the stories behind their boldest bets.
- You’ll explore story frames that turn messy product moments into narratives that stick.
- And you’ll roll up your sleeves to shape and share your own.
- Oh, and also expect good food, a cold pint, and conversations worth staying for.
 
So, if you are a product builder – whether an engineer, product manager, designer, or marketer. Come join us as we sharpen the one skill AI can’t replace.
 
Following an overwhelming response from the Chennai folks (forever grateful), we’re excited to bring it to Bangalore!
 
(Limited to 30 participants)
 
Pre-register here →  https://lnkd.in/g5ASR5m2

AI may be inevitable. But storytelling?
That’s what makes you unforgettable.
 
#productmanagement #productbuilding #productstorytelling

I go back to this movie scene every time I feel at my lowest.

And it reminds me who I really am. 

It’s funny that for our whole lives, we are made to believe that our worth is the sum of our wins.

"Get into a good college, and you'll be sorted."
"Get a good job, and you won't have to struggle."
"Just get this promotion, and the rest will be smooth."

Every milestone is like a receipt that says, "𝗬𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴".

And when that happens? You’re not chasing your next win out of joy, but actually fear.

If I could tell 24-year-old Janet that it’s okay to fail, to pause, to not have it all figured out…
I would.

Wins will come and go.
𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵? That never leaves.

That’s the magic of a good story. 

It doesn’t just inspire you in the moment; 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.

It has helped me understand what truly matters, take bolder risks, and build products that make a difference.

And that’s exactly why we’re hosting 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘, an evening in Chennai on 20th September, where we get together to jam and build narratives and stories that fuel our careers and products.

It’s not a panel.
It’s not a keynote.
It’s a jam session.

If you’re curious about building narratives that sell, come join us. You can register through here: https://lnkd.in/gNPBpbpa

We’d love to see you there.

#motivation #life #success #growth

We’ve coached, built, and facilitated 40+ leadership and product sessions this past year with 250+ leaders across PM, design, engineering, marketing, growth and others.
 
And across all these rooms, one skill kept showing up.
Not as a soft skill.
But as a strategic advantage.

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴.
 
The kind that:
– Wins cross-functional alignment when the data is muddy
– Moves ideas from “nice” to “necessary” in a roadmap review
– Enables meaningful articulation of why this product, now
– Turns tension into buy-in across the boardroom, sprint room, or sales call
 
Studies show that stories are 𝟮𝟮𝘅 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀.
And products that evoke emotion build 𝟮𝘅 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆.
 
We don’t just facilitate storytelling at Growth Collective. We embed it into every strategic session we run from design thinking to pricing labs, from change leadership to customer influence.

Because in a world racing to automate, 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗮𝘁.
 
And as we scale our products, our teams, and ourselves, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱.

Sometimes, to truly scale, you need to 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘.
 
That’s why we’re bringing together a small group of product leaders for something different - A strategy jam meets story lab meets AI-powered improv playground.
 
𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘: With a dash of AI and a whole lot of human.
 
Because AI may be inevitable, but 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻.
It's how we build clarity, shape conviction, and influence across functions.
 
This won’t be a keynote. Or a panel.
It’s part 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, part 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗷𝗮𝗺, and part 𝗔𝗜-𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱.
 
We'll have industry leaders share their raw and real stories, we'll have a mini-masterclass, and then you share your stories too.
 
You’ll dabble with how to:
– Build stories that don't just describe a product but 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁
– Use AI as a co-creator, not a crutch
– Narrate decisions in ways that inspire clarity, conviction, and followership

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝟐𝟎 – 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐢
𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝟐𝟓 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲

Pre-register here → https://lnkd.in/gNPBpbpa
 
Because AI may be inevitable. But how you tell the story?
That’s what makes you unforgettable.
 
#productleadership #FlipTheSCALE #pmleadership #GrowthCollective #productjam

Flip The SCALE

Finances are one of those things many of us avoid until we’re forced to face them. 

Definitely true for me. 


And then I found these books which made the process a lot less overwhelming. 👉

1. 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 – Lavanya Mohan
What felt special about this book is how Lavanya manages to unpack personal finance in a way that doesn’t feel like a lecture or a chore. She breaks down complex ideas into digestible, relatable stories and also dives into how money affects our emotions, our relationships, and even how we see ourselves. She balances practical tips (like decoding your first insurance plan or planning without giving up the fun) with reflections on why money feels heavy for many of us.

2. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗻 – 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗦. 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻
It’s old-school, but the stories hit hard. Simple ideas like “pay yourself first” sound obvious, but they stick in your head and change how you handle money.

3. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 – 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗹
This one made me pause a lot. It’s about why we behave the way we do with money, and how our decisions are shaped by emotions and experiences rather than logic alone. Helped me catch my own blind spots.

4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 – 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺
Not the easiest read, but worth the patience. It taught me that real investing is more about discipline and less about chasing trends.

5. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 – 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
This one felt like the guide I wish every founder got on day one. It makes financial statements feel less intimidating and helps you see how the numbers actually connect to the decisions you make every day. It’s practical, clear, and something you can immediately put into action.
Thank you, Senthilkumar Rajendran for   this one!

Still a long way to go, but these books have been a great foundation for me to build my financial acumen on!

If you’ve read anything that shaped your money mindset, I’d love to hear your recommendations too.

#finance #entrepreneurship #learning

𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀: “My role is to build the code.”
𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀: “My role is to sell the product.”
𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: “My role is to make the product look and feel right.”

And when I first became a PM, I believed my role was to get and translate business requirements. 

Storytelling?? Well, it was just a “𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲-𝘁𝗼-𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲.” Maybe something for pitch decks.

But I quickly realised if I wanted people to believe in what we were building...
𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹. 

Because whether you're pushing code, selling solutions, or designing screens. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲.
The question is: 𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴?

It’s only when a good story lands well that you:

➡️ Align your teams on what matters
➡️ Rally your stakeholders to back your roadmap
➡️ Help your customer feel the product, not just use it
➡️ Give meaning to what you’re building

Which is why I am bullish on storytelling as a skill - 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗠𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀. 

Whether you realize it or not, every function in a product team is telling a story.

→ When an engineer explains why a feature had to be killed → 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.
→ When a sales rep connects the product to a customer’s workflow → 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.
→ When a designer chooses the flow of a screen → 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.

So, the question isn’t: “Do I need storytelling in my role?”
It’s: “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗺 𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴?”

Storytelling is the glue that connects what we build, how we align, how we pitch, and how customers experience.

That’s what turns a product team into a force. 

That’s why we’re running a storytelling jam session:

𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘. A hands-on, high-energy session on product storytelling with a dash of AI.
📍 Sept 20 – Chennai
🎟️ Pre-register here → https://lnkd.in/gNPBpbpa

It’s part improv night, part product playground, leaders sharing stories and all about flipping how we lead, build, and influence through story.

Let’s flip the SCALE and tell better stories together.
PS – Bangalore folks, dates coming soon!

#productstorytelling #productdevelopment #storytelling #growth

I'm not a fan of getting myself clicked.
Which is probably why I kept avoiding the one thing LinkedIn always reminds me of… updating my profile picture.

Every time I thought about it, I’d say, “𝗘𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄.”
Recently, I finally tried to do something about it.

But me being me, I tried finding an 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 :P

And thanks to Anjana Manavalan's super recommendation, I tried Superrshots.com.

I uploaded a few selfies and got back multiple professional, brand-matched headshots.
This is one of them!

For someone like me who will happily procrastinate on tasks like this, it was a 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲-𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿. 
It feels like one of those small hacks that saves time, money(and excuses in my case).

That’s the kind of AI I want more of, one that 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

And friction can be different for all of us.
The kind that reduces our time stressing over things, and gives us more time for things we actually enjoy and want to do!

Have you ever tried getting your AI headshots? I am curious.


#ai #automation #aiheadshots

Apple didn't want to lose to Google, so it shipped its own Maps to millions of iPhone users overnight.
What followed was disastrous. 

Within days of launch, users reported wrong turn-by-turn directions in major cities.

Landmarks were misplaced (𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆).
Entire towns were shifted miles away.

In Australia, the police even warned drivers not to use Apple Maps after it sent people 70 km into the wrong location in the middle of a national park.

The backlash was so intense that Tim Cook had to issue a 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆.

But of course, that didn't make up for the loss they had to incur.

Since the iPhone 5 release and the Maps fracas, Apple shares have lost about 4.5% of their value. 
That's about $30bn (£18.6bn) in market cap.

But with companies like Apple, that operate on high customer trust, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆.
It was years of rebuilding 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁.

In the Product community, we often preach "𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁, 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁, 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿".
And I am all about the speed. 

But some things take time. 

Discovery and validation can’t be 𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱.
Some problems demand depth, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱.
Shortcuts in alignment and testing can 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝘀 that you were trying to avoid.

Try thinking of product building in two gears:

𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗿: Prototypes, A/B tests, quick feedback loops.
𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗿: Foundational research, data quality, decisions that are hard to reverse.

The art is in knowing which gear to use, and when.

All the Product leaders I meet are usually under such immense pressure to ship fast. 

I've been there myself. Stakeholders want quick wins, markets move faster than you can blink, and competitors ship gazillion features every day.

But trying to catch up with the rest won't make you win the race. It only makes you 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝘂𝗻.

Otherwise, there will be reworks, rollbacks, and reputational damage that take 10x more time to fix.

Take your call. 

#productmanagement #growth #productdevelopment #productgrowth

As product builders, we build. We ship. We sprint hard.

But somewhere between JIRA tickets and stakeholder decks…

Our product’s "𝘄𝗵𝘆" starts fading.

Because we think that storytelling is just for the pitch.

But it is so much more than that.

It’s how we 

Align our team on a roadmap.
Influence stakeholders to back our bets.
Make complex decisions feel clear, simple, and worth following.

So, why not do a 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗷𝗮𝗺? And we have some really interesting storytellers join us –

Harish Venkatesh
Harish designs brands by turning ambition into strategy and strategy into stories that stick. He’s shaped 200+ global brands, from Intel and PepsiCo to DarwinBox, and led iconic projects like the Dubai Expo 2020 pavilion and Intel’s Guinness World Record all.ai event. An engineer with a passion for photography. He’s also a top 1% ADPlist mentor and speaker at CreativeMornings and the London Design Festival. At Flip the SCALE, Harish brings the clarity of a strategist, the creativity of a storyteller, and the curiosity of a lifelong explorer.

Aiswaria Balasubramanian (Aishu)
Aiswaria doesn’t just build products; she builds catalysts for change. She’s led global API and Open Banking initiatives, authored whitepapers that challenge the norm, and believes the future of fintech lies where bold innovation meets human insight. At Flip the SCALE, she brings the conviction and courage to reimagine how product stories can shape systems and spark change.

Jack Anto
Jack blends design and marketing to make fintech feel personal. As Head of Marketing & Design at M2P, he drives everything from brand to UX, combining sharp strategy with standout creativity. He’s also the force behind Madrasters, one of India’s most vibrant creative communities with 200+ meetups and workshops. Jack brings purpose, punchlines, and a creative spark that turns good products into unforgettable ones. At Flip the SCALE, he brings a blend of purpose, punchlines, and the creative spark that turns good products into unforgettable ones.

Jagadis Natarajan
Jagadis builds products that protect and stories that connect. With two decades in pricing, risk, and compliance, he now leads investigative platforms at Airbnb, keeping users safe worldwide. A motorcycling dad and musician at heart, Jagadis blends technical depth with creative soul. At Flip the SCALE, he brings precision, empathy, and how to build with logic and land with heart.

I am excited to curate a space with these four to jam on 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀.

So, whether you are a PM, techie, designer, or marketer, come join us to 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘 on your product journey!

We’ll be jamming on 20th Sept in Chennai at the Sortd Café at 4pm. Pre-register for the event through here: https://lnkd.in/gNPBpbpa

Seats are limited. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁. Hope to see you there!

#productmanagement #productstorytelling

Flip The SCALE - Meet the Featured Guests!

When 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘁 compared calendars...
Buffett’s was nearly empty.

In a rare interview, Gates asked Buffett how he manages his time.

Buffett smiled and said: “𝗜 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.”

He believed that free space created clarity.
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸.
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁.
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

Now, look at your own calendar.

Back-to-back meetings?

No time to think, read, or connect?

Busyness isn’t a badge of honor.

It’s often just lack of boundaries.

As leaders, if we don’t protect our time, we can’t help our teams protect theirs.

Try leaving one hour a day completely empty.

Not for emails. Not for planning. Just for thinking.

You’d be surprised how productive “nothing” can be.

#Leadership #TimeManagement #DecisionMaking #BillGates #WarrenBuffett #CalendarDiscipline

There are people who make products.
And then there are people who make products unforgettable.

What’s the difference?
👉 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹.

At 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘 – 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲, I’m bringing together four brilliant storytellers who’ve shown me just how much narrative can shape products, teams, and leaders.

Each of them brings a unique lens product, engineering, coaching, design but what unites them is the power of storytelling to:

✔️ Win buy-ins for bold ideas
✔️ Align teams on big visions
✔️ Turn customers into advocates

Together, they represent the many ways stories shape products and the people behind them:

Tanya Mathur Bhattacharya – A business storyteller and coach who helps leaders turn data and decisions into stories that stick. She has coached global product and tech leaders from Munich to Manila, and from San Francisco to Singapore. Known for her metaphors and playful nudges, she makes storytelling feel less like theory and more like everyday magic. Think of her as the salt in your story… not too much, just enough to make it tasteful.

Alipta Ballav – Design leader with 25+ years of experience shaping AI-driven products and scaling design organizations. Currently leading Product Design for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center apps, Alipta drives experiences that deliver measurable business value while transforming team culture. Beyond his role at Microsoft, he speaks, mentors, and writes widely, sparking conversations on AI, UX, and the future of design.

Roopa Jayaraman - CPTO with proven expertise in scaling product-led growth for a global B2B SaaS platform. She spearheads Product, Technology, R&D, and Customer Experience (CX) for a global fintech, while championing inclusive, innovation-driven workplaces. An industry thought leader and speaker at leading product, technology, DEI forums, Roopa was recently named one of Business World’s Top Inspiring Women Leaders to Watch in 2025.

Rahul Agarwal – a product and engineering leader who has scaled startups into global enterprises. He currently drives innovation through a Manufacturing Operating System that powers global efficiency. Earlier, he founded JoeHukum (later acquired by Freshworks) and helped transform chatbot technology into a core differentiator. His journey is all about turning tech into measurable impact and inspiring the next generation of builders to think bigger.

So, whether you are a PM, techie, designer, or marketer, come join us at 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗘!

We’ll be jamming on 27th Sept at 11 am at the Bier Library, Bangalore. Pre-register for the event through here: https://lnkd.in/g5ASR5m2

It’s not a panel, not a keynote, it’s where you roll up your sleeves and flip your own product story.

🎟️ Only a few seats left. Will you be in the room?

P.S. Only 2 days are left for you to get your early bird tickets! Make sure to register!

#productmanagement #productdevelopment #bangalore #productstorytelling #bangaloreworkshop

Flip the SCALE - Bangalore edition!

What if Netflix had killed streaming in 2007?
They’d be just another startup lost in history.

Because just features don’t change the world.
𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼.

And too many product leaders, PMs, and engineers still struggle to tell theirs.

That’s why roadmaps get dismissed.
Priorities debated.
Big bets shot down.

 At Flip the SCALE (Bangalore | Sept 27 | Bier Library) we’re 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁:

Hear bold arcs from product builders
Decode story frames that make ideas stick
Roll the dice & build your own product story live

Not a panel. Not a keynote.
It’s 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃 + 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 + 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 colliding with a 𝗱𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜.

30 builders. 1 room. Don’t miss your spot →  https://lnkd.in/g5ASR5m2

Few spots left, get your early bird tickets soon!

#productleadership #productmanagement #flipthescale #productstorytelling

Netflix was about to crumble, but this saved them 

She wasn’t on the payroll.
She was just an intern.
And she accidentally kicked off Adobe’s next big product.

Years ago, an intern at Adobe built a prototype for a design tool during a summer project.

It wasn’t flashy.
But it solved real problems designers faced every day.

She shared it with her team.

Most people moved on.

But one senior leader saw the spark and said:
“𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀.”
That prototype evolved into 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗯𝗲 𝗫𝗗.

It reminds me: Innovation doesn’t care about titles.

Some of the boldest ideas come from the quietest corners of the room.

Not because they know the business.
But because they know the pain.

As leaders, our job isn’t to have all the answers.

It’s to recognize brilliance when it walks in... even if it’s wearing an intern badge.

When was the last time you took a junior’s idea seriously?

#Leadership #Adobe #Innovation #DesignThinking #ProductLeadership

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