Samridhi (Sam) Shandilya

We are all familiar with Intuit and its products, Quickbooks, TurboTax & CreditKarma. They were also in India for a brief period, and I have voiced my opinion about that in an earlier post. Intuit's recent announcement of laying off 1,800 employees, including some executives, highlights a broader trend among companies striving to stay relevant and competitive in an ever-evolving technological landscape. This decision, part of Intuit's transformative journey, underscores the company's commitment to reallocating resources toward priority areas such as AI and generative AI. Intuit's investments in AI-powered solutions, like its GenAI-powered financial assistant, reflect a strategic shift from traditional workflows to AI-native experiences. Additionally, the company's focus on money movement, mid-market expansion for small businesses, and international growth exemplifies its efforts to adapt to emerging market demands. This trend of companies continuously churning to remain competitive and investing in cutting-edge technologies offers valuable lessons for businesses worldwide, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Embracing technological advancements and being willing to pivot resources towards innovative solutions can be crucial for long-term success. Businesses and individuals can learn from larger corporations like Intuit by recognizing the importance of agility, forward-thinking strategies, and the integration of AI to enhance their offerings and stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly digital world. #intuit #quickbooks #AI #automation #accountingautomation #CFO #agile #forwardthinking #transformation #peachtreemanagementadvisors #businesstransformation #techtrends #digitaltransformation #futureofwork #leadership #strategy

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"The Chair Incident” made Amazon what it is today. Read below to know the incredible story👇 It was the late 1990s, and Amazon was still in its infancy. Jeff Bezos was heavily involved in the day-to-day operations, often reading customer emails and personally addressing their concerns. One such email came from a disgruntled customer who had received a broken chair. The customer, understandably upset, wrote a detailed complaint about the poor condition of the chair upon arrival and expressed disappointment with Amazon's quality control. For many CEOs, delegating such issues to the customer service department would have been the norm. But Bezos saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate Amazon's commitment to its customers. He believed that every customer interaction was a chance to improve and build trust. Instead of forwarding the email to customer service, Bezos decided to handle the issue personally. He contacted the customer directly, apologizing for the inconvenience and assuring them that Amazon would make it right. But he didn't stop there. Bezos took a bold step that few executives would consider. He arranged for a new chair to be delivered and personally ensured its quality. Then, Bezos himself drove to the customer's house to deliver the replacement chair. He wanted to make sure the customer felt valued and to show that Amazon was willing to go above and beyond to rectify mistakes. When Bezos arrived at the customer's home, the surprise and gratitude were palpable. The customer couldn't believe that the CEO of Amazon had taken the time to personally deliver the new chair. Bezos took the time to talk to the customer, listen to their concerns, and assure them that Amazon was dedicated to providing the best possible service. The Chair Incident reinforced the importance of customer obsession at Amazon. It wasn't just about selling products; it was about building relationships and trust with every single customer. #jeffbezos #amazon #story #complain #customerservice #customersuccess #success #goals

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We keep reading stories of how much a stock's price has increased in the last 20-30 years, but how many times have you really thought to yourself, "This stock that I am buying today, I will hold it atleast until the year 2044"? Let this question sink in. These decisions need to be taken at the time of investment. Even at market dips, stay calm, stay to remain invested for 20 years, you're here for the long-run. #personalfinance #stocks #investments

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Finding the glimmers of light at the end of the long, dark tunnel that is layoffs... I was recently impacted by a reduction in force (the first time I've ever been laid off) at the company I worked at for the last 6 years as the company moves the majority of operations to India. To say that the job hunt has been ROUGH is an understatement. I've been trying to think of the appropriate words to describe the experience and, so far, the best words I can think of are "roller coaster." It's been a roller coaster of emotions, hope, confidence and learnings. It has been a test of my grit and determination! But my biggest takeaway over the last several weeks plunging into a job market that I've never experienced before is... GRATITUDE. Since posting about being newly open to opportunities and sharing my experience, I have been positively surprised and overwhelmed by the response from the LinkedIn community! I rekindled relationships with past colleagues, received so many messages of support and hope from total strangers as well as message with tips and recommendations. It has been amazing to be the recipient of such beautiful HUMAN KINDNESS! If you have been one of the people who have reached out to me, messaged me, commented on my posts, shared my posts, wrote a recommendation, shared a job lead, shared a helpful tip, or scheduled a call with me, please know how APPRECIATED and INVALUABLE that was to me. It truly gave me a much-needed boost in hope and confidence. This was not only encouraging in my job search journey, but a reminder that there are still good human beings in the world. If you're currently employed, please share your support with those who are searching for work. Kindness goes a long way. If you're on the job hunt, like me, you're not alone. I see you, I feel for you and I understand the roller coaster you're going through. Reach out to me and let's share this journey together because it's easier that way. #opentowork #remotework #phoenixjobs #hybridjobs #productoperationsjobs #programmanagementjobs #PMOjobs

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Shashank, how do you manage to keep up with content creation, family life, and a full-time job? With a seven-month-old baby at home, my days are anything but predictable. Yet, thanks to a well-structured schedule and the steadfast support of my wife, I've found a rhythm that works for both of us. While I'm working during the day, she looks after our little one, ensuring everything's okay. When it comes to content creation, efficiency is key. The process used to take about 1-2 hours for me, from shooting to editing and scheduling. Now, it takes less than 20 minutes. I've figured out shortcuts and ways to do things faster to make the most of my time. But the real secret to making it all work is talking and helping each other out. My wife and I are a team—we share the load and support each other. Whether it's taking turns with baby duties or finding time for family fun, we're in it together. As rightly said by Stephen R. Covey, a thought that profoundly impacted me: "The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." This philosophy has become a cornerstone of how I approach my daily life. It's a reminder that success isn't just about ticking off tasks on a list but making intentional choices to focus on what's truly important—family, passion, and career. As I wrap up another busy day, I'm reminded that with a little bit of planning and a great deal of teamwork, managing content creation, family life, and a full-time job, is not just a dream, but a reality. #contentcreation #worklifebalance #life #time #support #teamwork #family

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Can technical founders become effective CEOs? Srinath Sridhar knew he needed to step out of his comfort zone when he founded Regie.ai four years ago. Now he and cofounder Matt Millen have raised more than $20 million and landed on G2’s list of fastest-growing software products of 2024. My full conversation with Sri is in the comments.

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Finsire has recently started its learning series - Ideally by chatting with the best folks in the Industry. Here, with Siddharth Shetty, Co-founder and CTO of Account Aggregator (AA) from DigiSahamati Foundation, we speak about the data exchange's inception, growth, and future in India. - We use AA for various reasons, including pushing boundaries in India's data exchange layer with various use cases. - It's been about three years since it went live, and over 70 million cumulative Indian accounts are linked. - One-of-a-kind data sharing network from India that is not seen anywhere across the globe, baring Singapore with https://lnkd.in/gyrCQtVQ - Different approach to protect consumers as compared to the previous models that existed to attain consumer data by various methods used by Plaid or Salt Edge Onemoney Finvu (Cookiejar Technologies) Protean eGov Technologies Anumati by Perfios AA NADL - Account Aggregator Computer Age Management Services Limited KFin Technologies Ltd. Enjoy - Please click on the link below and watch the video!

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ShareChat PM interview questions [1] How would you improve Swiggy revenue? [2] What metrics would you, as a PM, track for WhatsApp? [3] Estimate the number of airplanes in the Indian sky at noon? [4] How could you use hashtags on Sharechat to drive engagement? [5] Design a camera for the elderly. [6] How would you design Uber for blind? [7] Assume that the page views on Flipkart’s product pages have declined over the last 3 weeks. How would you go about investigating this? [8] What metrics and goals would you focus on for Instagram stories? Liked this? Follow Vishal Bagla for more. #ProductManagement #ProductManagers #InterviewPrep #Jobs

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It’s ironic how many people label themselves as "entrepreneurs" yet lack a deep understanding of fundamental entrepreneurial principles. Recently, I've seen numerous posts analyzing "10 reasons why Koo failed" or other similar critiques. Have these critics ever attempted to build a company themselves? I often encounter so-called "Top Voices" on LinkedIn who claim to be industry experts. But I wonder, do they have the courage to quit their jobs? Freelancers with a handful of local clients, calling themselves business owners, please don't spread negativity here! When was the last time we truly accepted failures in India? Probably never. Look at how people navigated the crisis at BYJU'S. Despite the challenges, BYJU’S Learning significantly impacted the edtech industry and demonstrated the real grind behind sales and business. Many ask why founders prefer to move to the USA. Just observe how failure is perceived there—it’s accepted and learned from. In India, successful local business owners often wonder why they aren’t getting recognition, despite their significant profits and contributions.It's disheartening to witness this mindset. Let's grow up and change our perspective on success and failure. Thanks for putting it loud Manoj Kumar Shastrula #Entrepreneurship #FailureAcceptance #BusinessGrowth #MindsetShift #StartupLife #EdTech #Leadership #Innovation #koo 

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Ever wondered why your Indian language searches fall flat? Uncover the hidden 'Search Problem' through my blog on Srujanee: https://lnkd.in/grQTeedY Read, share, and join the conversation! Mention some interesting experiences that you have undergone while searching on the internet using your native language search queries in the comments below. #Srujanee #MultilingualSearch

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After tech roles what's next: #GTM roles moving to India. The landscape of tech jobs has been shifting for a while, with many tech roles across the spectrum moving from the US to India. Now, we're witnessing another wave: the movement of High Quality GTM roles such as Sales Leadership, SDRs, AEs, RevOps, AMs, Marketing, and Marketing Automation to India. This trend began with Indian founders in Silicon Valley leveraging their networks back home. Today, more and more valley companies are recognizing the benefits and following suit. The Indian services and SaaS ecosystem has nurtured leaders with diverse global experiences, a strong grasp of technology, and modern GTM strategies. In the era of AI, where understanding its impact is still evolving, hiring from India makes even more sense. The talent here is hugry and driven, fluent in English, and highly skilled. My bet is that India is on its way to becoming a global hub for new age GTM roles as well, and it's exciting to see how this evolution unfolds. https://lnkd.in/gVh2EqkX

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Speed is a moat in of itself. This thread [1] does a great job of breaking that down But, speed / urgency is also a moat in sales. Sales teams that: - respond right away to an inbound lead - do same day follow ups - set up POCs in a day instead of a week just compete better. This is because to get speed, you have to solve so many problems upstream from tooling to hiring to culture. [1] https://lnkd.in/gCkewMJV

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Even 'ex-Google' tags don't seem to cut it in the product management job market. Let's unravel the surprising reason why. 👇 I was reviewing a product leader's resume the other day. He had managed teams of up to five people and had a significant impact at various places. All seemed to be good. But he had been applying at many places and not getting much response at all. He was puzzled and said something that many clients have told me recently. "Shobhit, I thought it would be easier." Easier to get interviews, to get noticed, to get to the final rounds, to get offers. But it just isn't today. Even when you come with a pedigree as "ex-Google" or "Experienced product manager" its not easy. Hiring managers just don't want another "accomplished product leader." They want to know that you are EXACTLY the right fit for the job. That you bring accomplishments and skills that are unique to the job. This is precisely why so many product managers struggle 👉 They build generic resumes and pitches 👉 They apply to tons of places without a clear strategy 👉 They struggle to articulate why they are a good fit for the role 👉 They do endless smocks with people who have no idea how to give them the right feedback 👉 They have some success.....and then do not get past the next round 👉 They repeat the process What if what it took for you to start getting MORE offers, and even the ideal offer, was a SIMPLE tweak in the words you're using in your narrative and stories that positioned you the right way? What if you needed to upgrade the words you use in your answers so that they speak to your being the ideal candidate for the job right now? What if the real difference would be in positioning yourself by articulating clearly why you are an exact fit for that role and unique from most other candidates? What if it did get easier when you made those tweaks (as it did for Justin, who recently landed a role with a 40%+ increase by only applying to five places where he could articulate being a great fit)? 'Cause let's face it: YOU are an action taker and are applying for roles that challenge you and stretch you while others are just happy to have any job - am I right? If that's the case, here's how we can help: We invite you to a personalized strategy session. We'll delve into your career journey, assessing the highs and lows and discussing your aspirations. Together, we'll map out a strategy for your success. If our services align with your goals, we can discuss how we can help. If not, that's absolutely fine! So, let's get going and take action soon. I invite you to book a call with us. Please comment "Book" on this post to set up a session with us.

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Freshworks has to be one of the great Indian success stories of the past 15 years. 🚀 $5.27BN Market Cap 💸 $597M Annual Revenue 🇮🇳 1st Indian SaaS to feature on the NASDAQ My 6 key takeaways with CEO & Founder Girish Mathrubootham 👇 1. Why Indian Companies Have to Win Globally Before Winning India Doing business in India is extremely difficult & customers will hijack your product roadmap. Winning globally first will give you a higher chance of success. It is easier to make a dollar than a rupee. 2. Price Low and Move UP We first targeted SMBs with limited budgets. Our cheapest product is 1/3 the price of our competitor’s. You can always build more & move into enterprise later. 3. Why Start High and Go Down Does Not Work   No single SaaS company started in enterprise & won in SMB. Freshworks, Salesforce, HubSpot… Companies always start small then build their way up. 4. Why Freshworks Lost to Slack We created FreshConnect as a Slack competitor. But we were late & took more than 2 years to launch. Slack & Teams have already dominated the market. 5. One of the Most Important Lessons for CEOs Your #1 OKR for new management hires is to get them to succeed. Be hands-off but closely involved in big decisions. Observe they are treat their people. 6. What This Billionaire Looks for In Founders He Invests In Three things 👇 - Right to win the market: They need to spend considerable time in the problem domain. - Craftsmanship: They can’t be world-class without a world-class product. - Ability to hire: You need to build a great team to go far. (links in comments) #founder #funding #business #investing #vc #venturecapital #entrepreneur #startup #seed #funding #SaaS

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You want to get into product management but you have no product management experience? Here are two things that will not work: 1) Updating your resume in some magic way. 2) Taking a product management course. The chances of getting a first PM job without having PM experience are extremely low. And neither your resume or a course changes those chances much. What can you do? You need a game plan. Some of your options are: * Make a lateral move into PM from another role within the same company. This is the "traditional" path to product management. * Build a product yourself. What is your game plan? Or, if you already made this transition, how did you do it?

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From 𝟬 to 𝟭𝟮,𝟬𝟬𝟬+ in 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟰 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀, maltiplai 𝗶𝘀 𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩! While I could write paragraphs about how I feel, being a person of few words, here are three points. 1. It's hard - felt like giving up many times - but here we are. 2. Pivot - entered the market with Strategy A, had to pivot within days. 3. Not a linear process - the highs are high, the lows are very low. 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼-𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 who patiently listens to my "𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀" every day but successfully keeps me on track to do what we should really be doing 😎 This is your sign, see you on maltiplai! Download here = https://lnkd.in/girSEt5B #CreatorEconomy #Creators #Calendar #productivity #social

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Would highly recommend Shreyas Doshi "Managing Your PM Career" course to all Product Managers who are looking for a deeper and more fulfilling career. It is the by far the most valuable experience I've had were I intentionally planning my career by making a 3 year lighthouse goal , LMS framework etc instead of just letting my career happen to me. No matter what level of product you are, give yourself five minutes to see if it resonates. https://lnkd.in/gx4m7GYB

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👨🏻‍💻 Excited to share my second post in the product management series! In this latest entry, I delve into the "10 Skills Every Product Manager Should Cultivate" to thrive in this dynamic role. From strategic thinking and crafting compelling product visions to mastering market research and embracing a customer-centric approach, the skills required to excel as a product manager are diverse and essential. I also discuss the importance of technical expertise, Agile methodologies, and data-driven decision-making—skills that empower product managers to make informed decisions and maintain the competitiveness of their products. Leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability are key to effective product management. These qualities enable influencing without authority, navigating complex challenges, and adapting to changing market conditions. Dive into the complete blog to explore each skill in detail and learn how to apply them to enhance your product management expertise Let's discuss the most crucial or challenging skills for a product manager in the comments below! #productmanagement #productstrategy #productvision

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