Celebrating seasoned pros and their timeless contributions
This post is dedicated to seasoned pros with a few more years under their belts :)
Today’s agenda: To address the elephant in the room: Ageism in the tech world!
It’s time to dispel the myth that innovation is confined to favoured few in media spotlight: Folks in their 20s working out of their parents’ garages (or rather dingy apartments in small towns if you’re reading this in India). The idea that professionals in their 40s and 50s are primarily suited for people and managerial roles, sidelining their hands-on contributions, is a misleading stereotype.
Some of the most impactful empires (tech and otherwise) were constructed by individuals with a wealth of experience and wisdom
Steve Jobs launched the iPhone at 52,
Jack Ma founded Alibaba in his mid-forties
Elon Musk built Tesla and SpaceX well in his forties.
Vera Wang launched her iconic fashion brand at the ripe age of 40
Ray Croc turned McDonald’s into an empire in his fifties.
And if you were looking for inspiration closer home (In India)
Falguni Nayar redefined the beauty industry in India by launching Nykaa at the age of 50
And finally what can I say about Nandan Nilekani! The unofficial CTO of India doing the most impactful work of his career with ground breaking innovations like Aadhar and UPI in his Sixties :)
So while I lament my receding hairline, everything else has only “grown” with the passing decades:
Passion for the work, Functional & behavioral intellect AND even my fitness routines making me more energetic than ever.
So lets set aside those numbers in a footnote and enjoy our most productive and innovative years ahead!
This post is dedicated to seasoned pros with a few more years under their belts :)
Today’s agenda: To address the elephant in the room: Ageism in the tech world!
It’s time to dispel the myth that innovation is confined to favoured few in media spotlight: Folks in their 20s working out of their parents’ garages (or rather dingy apartments in small towns if you’re reading this in India). The idea that professionals in their 40s and 50s are primarily suited for people and managerial roles, sidelining their hands-on contributions, is a misleading stereotype.
Some of the most impactful empires (tech and otherwise) were constructed by individuals with a wealth of experience and wisdom
Steve Jobs launched the iPhone at 52,
Jack Ma founded Alibaba in his mid-forties
Elon Musk built Tesla and SpaceX well in his forties.
Vera Wang launched her iconic fashion brand at the ripe age of 40
Ray Croc turned McDonald’s into an empire in his fifties.
And if you were looking for inspiration closer home (In India)
Falguni Nayar redefined the beauty industry in India by launching Nykaa at the age of 50
And finally what can I say about Nandan Nilekani! The unofficial CTO of India doing the most impactful work of his career with ground breaking innovations like Aadhar and UPI in his Sixties :)
So while I lament my receding hairline, everything else has only “grown” with the passing decades:
Passion for the work, Functional & behavioral intellect AND even my fitness routines making me more energetic than ever.
So lets set aside those numbers in a footnote and enjoy our most productive and innovative years ahead!
Unlocking the true magic and navigating balance
When it comes to product teams, the distribution of folks in engineering, product management, and design often reveals an intriguing pattern.
Design, often the junior partner in this trinity (excluding the rare design-led organizations like Apple, Figma, or Airbnb), tends to be the leanest, more often than not :(
Tech team serving as the catalyst to bring concepts to fruition, is (rightly) the strongest. BUT when these folks garner a disproportionate focus, an unintended consequence is a landscape resembling what’s called a ‘feature factory’; orgs challenged with adoption and usability, often leaving a question mark on the efficacy of all these features produced!
When the product domain takes precedence, the scenario almost mirrors a product manager's version of seeking compatibility on a social platform – swiping right to match up with a capable design and engineering team that can help them materialise their vision :)
The real value resides neither in an abundance of features nor in lofty product aspirations. I
t’s in achieving a synchronized balance. Striving for the elusive equilibrium where innovation converges with usability, and delightful experiences align with pragmatic execution must be our collective pursuit
.
.
.
Because that’s where
.
.
.
TRUE MAGIC HAPPENS :)
When it comes to product teams, the distribution of folks in engineering, product management, and design often reveals an intriguing pattern.
Design, often the junior partner in this trinity (excluding the rare design-led organizations like Apple, Figma, or Airbnb), tends to be the leanest, more often than not :(
Tech team serving as the catalyst to bring concepts to fruition, is (rightly) the strongest. BUT when these folks garner a disproportionate focus, an unintended consequence is a landscape resembling what’s called a ‘feature factory’; orgs challenged with adoption and usability, often leaving a question mark on the efficacy of all these features produced!
When the product domain takes precedence, the scenario almost mirrors a product manager's version of seeking compatibility on a social platform – swiping right to match up with a capable design and engineering team that can help them materialise their vision :)
The real value resides neither in an abundance of features nor in lofty product aspirations. I
t’s in achieving a synchronized balance. Striving for the elusive equilibrium where innovation converges with usability, and delightful experiences align with pragmatic execution must be our collective pursuit
Because that’s where
TRUE MAGIC HAPPENS :)
Cheers to Zenoti’s firsts and the team behind them!
Even with a career spanning over two decades, Zenoti has a way of keeping things exciting for me with a constant stream of 'firsts' in the past two years :)
One of these “firsts” happened this week at ‘The Big DASH’’. I was thrown a curveball of 'designing, directing, and scripting' a live demo for our major new products :) No pressure, right: 800 folks in the audience, including execs from all over the globe and even the board of directors!
Our mission? To showcase how these cutting-edge innovations are about to transform the lives of business owners, their workforce, and customers.
The plan? Connect with the huge audience, make them feel the shift, and keep them hooked!"
Our challenge? To keep things real and unfiltered, steering away from my usual strengths in carefully crafted videos and presentations. It was all about showcasing our live products without any scripted stories :)
So this post is about a big shoutout to the stellar team who hustled for weeks to turn this vision into reality! They deserve a round of applause for sure :)
Firstly, the engineering legends - Anurag, Anil, Abhishek, Jagadeesh, and Bala - for rocking those builds, keeping everything stable, and pulling off their behind-the-scenes magic with perfection!"
Hats off to the PM squad - Priyanka, Nikita and Puja - for enduring countless dry-runs with script tweaks, owning the stage and saving their best for the grand finale by dropping a perfect pitch!
I just can’t thank Anand enough for handing this opportunity - most of those 'firsts' I mentioned earlier are due to the doors you’e opened for me/team and your trust means the world to me!
Last but not the least, big thanks to Sudheer for keeping us honest with your bold vision for these products and dropping some incredible inputs to amp up the demo
Been getting tons of compliments from my awesome colleagues, and every single one is really special! But I've got to admit, Shekhar's words hold a special place in my heart. It's pretty awesome to get a thumbs up from someone who's seen the B2B SaaS game from every angle, in India and beyond!"
Even with a career spanning over two decades, Zenoti has a way of keeping things exciting for me with a constant stream of 'firsts' in the past two years :)
One of these “firsts” happened this week at ‘The Big DASH’’. I was thrown a curveball of 'designing, directing, and scripting' a live demo for our major new products :) No pressure, right: 800 folks in the audience, including execs from all over the globe and even the board of directors!
Our mission? To showcase how these cutting-edge innovations are about to transform the lives of business owners, their workforce, and customers.
The plan? Connect with the huge audience, make them feel the shift, and keep them hooked!"
Our challenge? To keep things real and unfiltered, steering away from my usual strengths in carefully crafted videos and presentations. It was all about showcasing our live products without any scripted stories :)
So this post is about a big shoutout to the stellar team who hustled for weeks to turn this vision into reality! They deserve a round of applause for sure :)
Firstly, the engineering legends - Anurag, Anil, Abhishek, Jagadeesh, and Bala - for rocking those builds, keeping everything stable, and pulling off their behind-the-scenes magic with perfection!"
Hats off to the PM squad - Priyanka, Nikita and Puja - for enduring countless dry-runs with script tweaks, owning the stage and saving their best for the grand finale by dropping a perfect pitch!
I just can’t thank Anand enough for handing this opportunity - most of those 'firsts' I mentioned earlier are due to the doors you’e opened for me/team and your trust means the world to me!
Last but not the least, big thanks to Sudheer for keeping us honest with your bold vision for these products and dropping some incredible inputs to amp up the demo
Been getting tons of compliments from my awesome colleagues, and every single one is really special! But I've got to admit, Shekhar's words hold a special place in my heart. It's pretty awesome to get a thumbs up from someone who's seen the B2B SaaS game from every angle, in India and beyond!")
Embracing my quirky habit of daily walk to work
I have a daily ritual that often seems quirky to (many amongst) my family, friends and colleagues!
It’s walking!
About 5km/45 min, six days in a week (including getting up to and back from work everyday)!
But it's more than just a fitness goal for me – it's become my mobile thinking space!
Stepping away from the hustle and bustle, letting my mind wander, this is my designated time to think, reflect, and gain some mental clarity.
Plus,I often plug into a podcast while on the move. It's like having a virtual mentor or a thought-provoking friend right there with me, sharing different perspectives and fresh ideas that I otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
So even though it seems odd to those around me, I’ve come to embrace the weirdness! Would love to hear if anyone else has their unconventional habits that keep them on their A-game!
P.S. Picture from an early morning walk at a tea plantation in stunning Munnar :)
I have a daily ritual that often seems quirky to (many amongst) my family, friends and colleagues!
It’s walking!
About 5km/45 min, six days in a week (including getting up to and back from work everyday)!
But it's more than just a fitness goal for me – it's become my mobile thinking space!
Stepping away from the hustle and bustle, letting my mind wander, this is my designated time to think, reflect, and gain some mental clarity.
Plus,I often plug into a podcast while on the move. It's like having a virtual mentor or a thought-provoking friend right there with me, sharing different perspectives and fresh ideas that I otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
So even though it seems odd to those around me, I’ve come to embrace the weirdness! Would love to hear if anyone else has their unconventional habits that keep them on their A-game!
P.S. Picture from an early morning walk at a tea plantation in stunning Munnar :)
Design's secret sauce: beyond problem-solving
There's a constant buzz about the importance of "problem-solving" in the design realm, and don't get me wrong, it's absolutely crucial! As we have all heard a zillion times that “Design is not just about making things pretty but solving real problems”.
All this makes sense until young designers start donning their problem-solving superhero capes, at the cost of neglecting the foundation of their core skills.
Because here's the thing: when it comes to "problem-solving" and "strategy," you're going to find a crowd.
Product Managers, Engineering Managers, Heads of Design, VPs of Product, and more – they're all in the mix trying to identify a problem and ways to solve it, but not everyone can translate that solution into a visually stunning and user-friendly experience.
Visual design, interaction design, motion design, prototyping – these aren't just checkboxes on a job application. They're your design toolkit, your secret weapons. These are the skills that set you apart, the ones that make you indispensable. It's the ability to breathe life into pixels, craft seamless interactions, and bring ideas to life through motion and prototyping.
These are the skills that open doors at the early stages of your career, and trust me, those doors lead to amazing opportunities. As you build trust with your team and stakeholders, you'll find yourself naturally stepping into more strategic roles.
Become the go-to person for visual design excellence, interaction wizardry, and prototype sorcery. Your future self will thank you :)
There's a constant buzz about the importance of "problem-solving" in the design realm, and don't get me wrong, it's absolutely crucial! As we have all heard a zillion times that “Design is not just about making things pretty but solving real problems”.
All this makes sense until young designers start donning their problem-solving superhero capes, at the cost of neglecting the foundation of their core skills.
Because here's the thing: when it comes to "problem-solving" and "strategy," you're going to find a crowd.
Product Managers, Engineering Managers, Heads of Design, VPs of Product, and more – they're all in the mix trying to identify a problem and ways to solve it, but not everyone can translate that solution into a visually stunning and user-friendly experience.
Visual design, interaction design, motion design, prototyping – these aren't just checkboxes on a job application. They're your design toolkit, your secret weapons. These are the skills that set you apart, the ones that make you indispensable. It's the ability to breathe life into pixels, craft seamless interactions, and bring ideas to life through motion and prototyping.
These are the skills that open doors at the early stages of your career, and trust me, those doors lead to amazing opportunities. As you build trust with your team and stakeholders, you'll find yourself naturally stepping into more strategic roles.
Become the go-to person for visual design excellence, interaction wizardry, and prototype sorcery. Your future self will thank you :)
Simplifying productivity for managers and leadership
Ever heard of "Eat the Frog"? It’s a productivity concept that means tackling the most challenging or important task when you’re most productive. The frog represents the task that you might be tempted to procrastinate or avoid due to its difficulty or complexity.
In my life I have expanded this “froggy” concept to how can I simplify such “Eating the Frog" moments for my managers and leadership - means How can I offer help in some critical tasks that linger in their minds?
Whether it’s about bringing an elusive product idea to life with something beautiful that they can touch and feel ,
or whipping up a slick presentation for that upcoming keynote,
I’m like a frog whisperer, always on the lookout for those tricky yet crucial gigs.
And guess what? The reactions are like pulling a rabbit out of a hat – PURE MAGIC!
“So who’s up for a frog treat?”
Ever heard of "Eat the Frog"? It’s a productivity concept that means tackling the most challenging or important task when you’re most productive. The frog represents the task that you might be tempted to procrastinate or avoid due to its difficulty or complexity.
In my life I have expanded this “froggy” concept to how can I simplify such “Eating the Frog" moments for my managers and leadership - means How can I offer help in some critical tasks that linger in their minds?
Whether it’s about bringing an elusive product idea to life with something beautiful that they can touch and feel,
or whipping up a slick presentation for that upcoming keynote,
I’m like a frog whisperer, always on the lookout for those tricky yet crucial gigs.
And guess what? The reactions are like pulling a rabbit out of a hat – PURE MAGIC!
“So who’s up for a frog treat?”
Product visions are nice, but NOT always helpful
“We will make [insert your target customer]’s lives better through [insert your product idea here].”
Product visions like above are nice, but NOT helpful.
You need to give the audience (and senior executives) a real sense of how you will make their lives better as the chances of a written spec effectively communicating complex software is pretty close to ZERO.
The only thing I have relied upon when communicating a vision is a high-fidelity prototype or video.
Let’s INSPIRE our audience that it’s worth solving these problems!
TBT to one of zillion such concepts I have shipped in my career, both to get folks on board or to unearth limitations of the concept before investing time, money and effort:)
“We will make [insert your target customer]’s lives better through [insert your product idea here].”
Product visions like above are nice, but NOT helpful.
You need to give the audience (and senior executives) a real sense of how you will make their lives better as the chances of a written spec effectively communicating complex software is pretty close to ZERO.
The only thing I have relied upon when communicating a vision is a high-fidelity prototype or video.
Let’s INSPIRE our audience that it’s worth solving these problems!
TBT to one of zillion such concepts I have shipped in my career, both to get folks on board or to unearth limitations of the concept before investing time, money and effort:)
2024 Manifesto: Design beyond screens!
One of my resolutions for the year is to push our team to make the leap from being design maestros to true though leaders!
And here’s action plan #1
As designers, we pour our heart and soul into every pixel we craft and are most eager to share our Figma files to our audience. Unfortunately, very few amongst us (including the seasoned ones) realise that simply sending over screens without context doesn’t do any justice to our brilliance. Especially when it comes to sharing this with senior executives who do not have the luxury of deciphering the maze of screens in their busy schedules :(
So, here's the hack …
Let's start leading the design conversation! Instead of sending files without context, let's craft a narrative around our designs that unfold the story behind your work!
Why does your design exist?
Dive into the BEFORE/CURRENT states, shedding light on the problems you're tackling.
Highlight the pivotal moments of your proposed solution
Showcase the exciting roadmap for future versions.
.What does this achieve? It transforms you into a design storyteller, linking user needs to business goals seamlessly. This approach isn't just about presenting a solution; it's about articulating a vision. Sure, it takes a bit more effort, but trust me – the impact of making our designs speak louder than pixels on a screen is MONUMENTAL
One of my resolutions for the year is to push our team to make the leap from being design maestros to true though leaders!
And here’s action plan #1
As designers, we pour our heart and soul into every pixel we craft and are most eager to share our Figma files to our audience. Unfortunately, very few amongst us (including the seasoned ones) realise that simply sending over screens without context doesn’t do any justice to our brilliance. Especially when it comes to sharing this with senior executives who do not have the luxury of deciphering the maze of screens in their busy schedules :(
So, here's the hack …
Let's start leading the design conversation! Instead of sending files without context, let's craft a narrative around our designs that unfold the story behind your work!
.
.
.
Why does your design exist?
Dive into the BEFORE/CURRENT states, shedding light on the problems you're tackling.
Highlight the pivotal moments of your proposed solution
Showcase the exciting roadmap for future versions.
.
.
.
What does this achieve? It transforms you into a design storyteller, linking user needs to business goals seamlessly. This approach isn't just about presenting a solution; it's about articulating a vision. Sure, it takes a bit more effort, but trust me – the impact of making our designs speak louder than pixels on a screen is MONUMENTAL