Superhero Dad & Transformative Business Leadership
Leadership Insights: Comparing the approaches of Spartans, Toddlers, and CEOs
Hey there! Ever wondered how a child's innocent curiosity and a Spartan's relentless spirit intertwine in the world of business? Let's dive into the captivating story of Sidharth Ramsinghaney, Corporate Strategy director at Twilio, a man who juggles being a McKinsey alum, a visionary leader in M&A and transformations, and a superhero dad to young Kiaansh.
One day, Kiaansh asked, "Daddy, why do you exercise so hard?" Ramsinghaney's response? "To be strong enough to climb mountains and run through creeks in the Spartan race." The conversation continued: "But why do you want to do that?" Ramsinghaney replied, "Because Spartans never give up, buddy. They keep going even when things get tough." Kiaansh compared this to a superhero, and the comparison resonated deeply with his dad, who saw a parallel in both worlds.
Weeks later, Kiaansh tumbled from the couch. Injured, he stood up, inspired by his father's words, one that reminded him, "You're a Spartan." And just like that, a three-year-old embodied the spirit of determination, reminding his dad that resilience often surpasses the lines drawn by business frameworks.
Trust: The Bridge Between Strategy and Success
During his early career, Ramsinghaney found himself leading a critical merger integration between two global enterprises. Despite speaking the same "business language," the teams struggled to find a common ground in execution. The breakthrough came when he switched from presenting slides about synergies to understanding "why" each team approached their work differently. This process fostered trust and accelerated the project's success.
Later, watching Kiaansh interact with his grandparents during their visit from India, Ramsinghaney observed a profound lesson: trust is built through genuine curiosity about others' perspectives. This revelation has since become a guiding principle in his approach to business transformations.
Purpose: The 'Why' That Transforms Industries
In 2016, Ramsinghaney tackled one of India's most ambitious digital transformation initiatives, impacting over 460 million people. The chairman's vision was revolutionary: "Mobile internet and digital services should not be a privilege for a select few, but a basic necessity for every Indian." This purpose shifted the team's focus from documenting competitor prices to deep questioning: Why should data be a luxury when it's becoming essential as water? Within months, data costs plummeted by 95%, empowering millions of Indians to gain access to digital services for the first time.
Discovery: The Path To Innovation
Facing a 60-pound sandbag carry during his first Spartan Race, Ramsinghaney pondered, "Why did I sign up for this?" He realized that each obstacle is an invitation to discover what's possible. In his professional journey, this philosophy has manifested in his approach to business transformations as well. Acknowledging the importance of questioning, Ramsinghaney and his team started questioning the very existence of certain processes, leading to innovations that drastically reduced customer onboarding times from weeks to hours.
Conclusion: The Transformative Power Of 'Why'
Just as Kiaansh taught his father about resilience, every hurdle along the challenging path of business transformations can be an opportunity to grow, learn, and reimagine what's possible. In an era of AI, automation, and unparalleled change, our greatest advantage lies not in rigid problem-solving, but in childlike curiosity, courage, and the relentless pursuit of answers to the 'why' questions. Whether you're scaling mountains of life, running through the creeks to find happiness, or transforming an industry, the key to success begins with W-H-Y.
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- In the business world, Sidharth Ramsinghaney, a Corporate Strategy director at Twilio and a superhero dad, found that genuine curiosity, as demonstrated by his toddler, Kiaansh, played a key role in building trust and fostering successful transformations.
- Kiaansh's injury and subsequent recovery, inspired by his father's words, serve as a reminder for Ramsinghaney that resilience, a trait often associated with Spartans, transcends the lines drawn by business frameworks.
- The transformative power of asking 'why' questions, a trait Ramsinghaney learned from his toddler, has led to drastic reductions in customer onboarding times in his professional journey and has become the foundation of his innovative approach to business transformations.
