How do the best CEOs think, prepare, and leave a lasting legacy? Shiv Shivakumar, former CEO of PepsiCo and Nokia reflects on decades of leading some of the most iconic companies. He shares insights on what makes a great leader, from the mindset required to the qualities that define people with a fighter’s instinct. Shiv explains why commitment and curiosity often matter more than degrees or pedigrees, and why only about 7% of those who aspire to be CEOs actually become one. He also discusses how to navigate co-founder disagreements, knowing when a company needs you, and how to hire the right people for lasting impact. Through stories from his own journey leading companies across sectors, Shiv highlights why unit economics, honest market sizing, and investing in innovation rather than cutting prices are critical for founders. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding culture, asking the right questions, and building trust in shaping a company’s success. Whether you are an aspiring founder, a manager, or simply curious about how leadership works in practice, this conversation with one of India’s most experienced CEOs is for you. Check out Shiv's latest book: The CEO Mindset :https://www.amazon.in/CEO-Mindset-Developing-Leadership-Decision-Making/dp/0143477250/ref=sr_1_1 0:00 – Trailer 0:55 – 3 qualities of people with a fighter’s instinct 2:40 – The biggest sin of a CEO: Past forward 5:51 – How a CEO of 20 years prepare using data? 7:56 – Why the information pyramid today is upside down 8:55 – If it doesn’t surprise competition, it’s waste of time 9:53 – The art of asking great questions 10:28 – Brands shouldn’t age: keep your core, but stay relevant 12:28 – Why Shiv calls himself a Brand person? 13:40 – Rich buy brands for vanity, poor for security 15:03 – Manyavar: Nationalism reflected in buying choices 17:15 – The Suta story 18:10 – Clothing Industry is waiting for innovations 19:28 – Brand person vs. Manufacturing person 21:27 – Why only 7% become CEOs 23:08 – CEOs Shiv admires 23:47 – Be the best prepared person in any room 24:09 – Always stress-test your assumptions 25:04 – Sending letters to great professors of the 90s 29:32 – Opportunities in India vs. abroad 36:59 – Understand culture before joining any company 40:11 – What young people should expect from work? 41:04 – People who leave a legacy 42:49 – How to hire the right people? 45:43 – Be a full-number, not decimal-point manager 46:25 – Never hire for degree or background 48:54 – Building relationships for the company’s interest 51:07 – How co-founders should handle disagreements? 52:56 – Be honest about your addressable market 54:00 – Founders overestimate idea, underestimate rigour 54:30 – ID Fresh: Founder & Opportunity 57:06 – The business model in publishing needs to change 58:58 – Is ghostwriting alright? 1:02:00 – The old model of distribution: Nokia Story 1:04:09 – Why CEOs should work across industries? 1:09:12 – When you need the company vs. when it needs you 1:15:31 – Future hiring: soft skills first, train hard skills ------------- India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it. This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India. What is Neon Fund? We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before. Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon. ------------- Check us out on: Website: https://neon.fund/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/ Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShoww Connect with Siddhartha on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/ Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7 ------------- This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.

Attend our Masterclasses: https://bit.ly/4mJ4ycI Join the 1% Club: https://bit.ly/4mymUgm — Subscribe: The 1% Club: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@onepercentclub12 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onepercentclub/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/the-1-clubfws Sharan Hegde: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financewithsharan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharanhegde95/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/financewsharan — This week on Finance With Sharan, we sat down with Shiv Shivakumar, Operating Partner at Advent International and former CEO of Nokia India, to decode how the workplace and work ethic has transformed over four decades. From his early days in Hindustan Unilever to leading global brands like Nokia and Pepsi, Shiv has witnessed corporate India evolve from typewriters to AI. But while the tools have changed, the fundamentals of success haven’t. In this episode, we unpack: 💼 How to think like a CEO (even when you’re not one.) 🧠 Why young managers fail.. and what separates fast learners from frustrated ones. 📼 The 80s vs. Gen Z workplace and the lessons each generation misses. 📱 The Nokia callback blunder (which SRK had to jump in to save them) 🌍 Why inflation and digitalization are rewriting how the world operates. 🚀 The truth about entrepreneurship in 2025 and what most founders get wrong. 🎓 MBA or not? Shiv’s unfiltered take on education, people skills, and thinking deeply. 💬 How he balances ambition, relationships, and money after decades at the top. It’s not just a crash course in leadership, it’s a peek into the mindset of someone who’s led through every kind of chaos. — Timeline: [00:00] Shiv’s, the corporate GOAT’s intro [01:02] Mindset upgrades from trainee to CEO [04:47] What should a Young manager do? [05:56] Office life in the 80s was our delulu land?! [09:38] How cooked is a CEO’s life [13:10] SRK and Reborn of Nokia’s PR [18:21] 2025: inflation, chaos, and a new world order [22:20] Middle class = rich on paper, broke in life [23:20] The entrepreneur boom and why most won’t last [24:55] 25-year-olds must listen this [30:08] Next big biz bets beyond the AI hype [33:40] MBA vs real world [37:09] Shiv’s discipline code: no dead time, ever [42:19] Shiv on life, love, and money sanity [49:13] Shiv unfiltered and hilarious — Behind every great company is a leader who built it the hard way. This episode isn’t about hacks or shortcuts.. it’s about timeless lessons that outlast every trend. — Sharan Hegde is a personal finance creator & founder of The 1% Club, simplifying money, markets, and mindset for India’s next generation of wealth builders. #Finance #Leadership #Nokia #Entrepreneurship #CorporateIndia #1PercentClub #FinanceWithSharan #CareerAdvice #MBA #Inflation #GenZ #ShivShivakumar #Mindset #WorkCulture #IndiaBusiness #Wealth #Success

An engaging conversation between Shiv Shivakumar and Shibani Sethi recently explored the many dimensions of the CEO Mindset. The dialogue highlighted how the role of a CEO extends well beyond execution to encompass being a Chief Ecosystem Officer, Chief Engagement Officer, and Chief Emotions Officer, among others. Key leadership principles came through strongly—communication, holistic thinking, ethical execution, investing in people, and legacy-building. Shiv underlined that leadership is ultimately about influence and trust, not control, and that reflection and prioritization are critical skills for every senior leader. His words resonated: “Every decision a CEO makes should leave the company stronger, not just profitable.” The discussion also examined the balance between speed and clarity, with the reminder that “speed without clarity is chaos; clarity without speed is lost opportunity.” Audience participation was equally enriching. Questions on prioritization amidst competing demands, managing time effectively despite meeting-heavy schedules, and building culture through conversations rather than policies added depth to the exchange. #books #bookrecommendations #bookreview #booktuber #booktalk #biography #selfhelpbooks #motivation #hardwork #descisionmaking #subscribers #Booklover #Youtuber #Bookstagram #Bookfluencer #book #bookblogger #bookcommunity #goodreads #trending #bookworm #read #whattoread _______________________________________________________________________ WHO WE ARE Frob, derived from ‘Friends of books’ is a social platform for book lovers. Connect, learn and share with each other over books at Frob! Download Frob App, TODAY at www.frob.social, and - Join Book Clubs of your choice - See Videos of Authors and Industry leaders related to Books - Start your own Book Club(s) - Join and participate in live community sessions related to Books _____________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YT channel at https://www.youtube.com/@frob.social Email: hi@frob.social Follow us on other social media platforms: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frob.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frob.social Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frobapp Join our Whatsapp community https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hh8dseVcdTbITu5uU02yo1 Visit our Book Store to buy Books with amazing benefits: www.frob.store

🎙️ The Art of Communication What makes words inspire, persuade, and endure? In this special Founding Fuel – Meet the Author episode, Terry Szuplat, former senior speechwriter to President Barack Obama and author of Say It Well, joins D Shivakumar, veteran business leader, best-selling author, and Founding Fuel contributor, for a masterclass on communication. They explore: 🎤 The fundamentals of great speeches across politics and business 🧑‍🏫 What Obama taught Terry about public speaking ✍️ The fine balance between writing and delivering a speech 🙏 Why humility and openness to ideas matter 🤖 The role (and limits) of AI in communication 📊 How to measure the real impact of a speech From anecdotes inside the Obama White House to lessons leaders everywhere can apply, this conversation is packed with timeless insights on the art of speaking—and connecting—well. 📖 Terry’s book Say It Well distills decades of experience into practical lessons for anyone who wants to inspire action with words. Chapters 0:00 – Introduction 0:09 – Welcome & Guest Introductions 1:27 – Craft of speeches: Politics vs Business 4:28 – Writing vs Delivering a Great Speech 5:51 – Obama’s #1 Rule for Public Speaking 7:47 – From Law School Dreams to Speechwriting 9:28 – Inspiration from Unexpected Sources 13:46 – Working with President Obama 18:14 – Handling Differences & Alignment in Speechwriting 18:59 – Technology & AI in Communication 20:46 – Measuring the Impact of a Speech 23:28 – Audience Q&A – Overcoming Impostor Syndrome 25:55 – Audience Q&A – Bridging Divides with Shared Values 27:40 – Closing Reflections ✨ If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights from Founding Fuel’s Meet the Author series. #Communication #Leadership #Obama #SayItWell #FoundingFuel