About the Guest(s):
Deepti Pahwa is a seasoned innovator and leader at the intersection of design, branding and innovation management with over 20 years of experience. She has recently authored the book “Trailblazer Founders,” which explores building leadership skills as a founder.
Deepti also engages in coaching on innovation and leadership courses with Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) and other institutions and she is a co-founder of an accelerator incubator at Stanford called Lisa, short for Lead Incubator and Startup Accelerator, which is an initiative driven by Stanford GSB alumni.
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Accelerator Insider, host Dominic (referred to as B) talks with Deepti Pahwa, a distinguished guest with an extensive background in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. They discuss the world of accelerators, incubators, startups and the driving forces behind them, crafting a narrative that emphasises the importance of diverse, distributed teams and remote-first company cultures in today’s dynamic business landscape.
The discussion delves into the creation and success of Lisa, the digital incubation platform co-founded by Deepti at Stanford, highlighting its role in supporting global entrepreneurial ventures. Through an engaging conversation, they explore how the accelerator brings together an ecosystem of alumni, VC partners and facilitators to amplify the impact of innovative ideas. Deepti shares insights on the evolution of her career, drawing on her diverse experiences across various industries and her visionary role as a Chief Innovation Officer, which focuses on aligning company culture with innovative strategies.
Key Takeaways:
- Deepti Pahwa discusses the founding of Lisa, a Stanford GSB alumni-driven digital incubator that supports global entrepreneurial ventures.
- She emphasizes the importance and advantages of remote-first business models and the power of distributed teams in fostering innovation.
- The conversation touches on the differences in innovation culture between the US and other countries, such as Switzerland, and how ecosystems can influence entrepreneurial success.
- Deepti sheds light on the crucial role of personal branding, network building, and the courage to be visible for startup founders, particularly minority entrepreneurs.
- The key principles outlined in her book, “Trailblazer Founders,” are deemed essential for startup founders looking to transition into effective CEOs, focusing on continuous learning and purpose-driven business models.
Resources:
- Deepti Pahwa’s Book: “Trailblazer Founders”
- Stanford GSB Lead Incubator and Startup Accelerator (Lisa)
Tune in to the full episode to glean more insights from Deepti Pahwa on innovation, leadership and the transformative journey from founder to CEO. Stay connected for future episodes that promise to enlighten and inspire.
Accelerator Insider Recording: