Episode 34 : Selling Your Vision To People Who Care with Mahesh Guruswamy

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In Episode 34 of Light Bulb Moments, I’ll be speaking with Mahesh Guruswamy, Chief Technology Officer at Kickstarter and a seasoned product development executive with over 20 years of experience. Mahesh has led teams of varying sizes and worked in leadership roles at Mosaic, Kajabi, and Smartsheet. Beyond his technical expertise, Mahesh is a passionate mentor, author, and cosmic horror fiction enthusiast. In this episode, we explore selling your vision to the right people, planning for marketplace changes, and leading with decisiveness and empathy.

Meet Mahesh Guruswamy

Hailing from Orange County, CA, Mahesh Guruswamy is a dynamic leader in software development and product innovation. Currently serving as CTO at Kickstarter, Mahesh combines technical expertise with a thoughtful, people-first leadership style. Inspired by Stephen King, Mahesh discovered a love for long-form writing, which culminated in his book, How to Deliver Bad News the Right Way. He dedicates his time to mentoring aspiring managers, empowering teams, and sharing strategies for navigating the complexities of leadership.

Episode Highlights

In this episode, Mahesh Guruswamy offers insights on:

  • Planning Ahead for Marketplace Changes: Mahesh stresses the importance of engaging with your customers to anticipate their evolving needs and staying ahead of the curve in a dynamic marketplace.
  • Selling Your Vision to People Who Care: He underscores the value of authenticity in leadership. Businesses thrive when they stand for something and connect with people who genuinely care about their vision.
  • Acting Quickly and Decisively: Whether launching a product or addressing challenges, Mahesh advises against hesitancy. Build quickly, address issues head-on, and avoid letting problems linger.
  • Creating Expectations: Mahesh explains the importance of setting clear expectations with your team and stakeholders, ensuring transparency and preparedness for challenging conversations.

Key Takeaways

  • Engage your customers to understand their needs and stay ahead of marketplace changes.
  • Stand for something meaningful and connect with people who align with your vision.
  • Act decisively—whether it’s building a product or delivering tough news, swift action is critical.
  • Create and communicate clear expectations to build trust and foster collaboration.

A Quote to Remember

“Whenever I give somebody one of my direct reports, something bad, something messy, I’m willing to do it myself too. I never give anybody something to do, which I don’t think I can do.” – Mahesh Guruswamy

Connect with Mahesh Guruswamy

Tune in to this episode to gain practical insights from Mahesh Guruswamy on leadership, marketplace adaptability, and staying true to your vision. Don’t forget to subscribe to Light Bulb Moments for more transformative conversations!