Pushing Beyond the Obvious - Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed

In this episide, we host Lakshman, who heads the innovation practice for the consulting division of SAP, based in India and also a visiting faculty at the Hasso Plattner Institute, Potsdam, Germany. 

In this conversation, we talk about the importance of defining the right problem to solve, as the first step in any innovation practice. 

Lucky also shares his views on how to build a practice capable of being able to innovate on a consistent basis.

We also talk about Design Thinking, its history, the key components of this philosophy and how we can use this to solve complex problems.

He also shares information about the lense from which one could look at ideas to develop further in the innovation cycle.

If you are in the process of solving a complex problem or part of an innovation project, I would like to invite you to join the conversation to gain a different perspective.  

Direct download: 05_PBTO5__Innovation_Design_Thinking__Solving__Wicked_Problems_.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 7:48pm HKT

Welcome to episode number 4 of “Pushing Beyond the Obvious”. In this episode, we have with us Bob Thompson, CEO & editor of www.customerThink.com, the biggest online community about customers and customer centricity.

Bob has recently released his book #HookedOnCustomers. We shall talk to him today about what does customer centricity mean and everything that goes along with it.

We talk about

  • The fact that most customer centric organizations are such, because their operational fabric is such that they do listen to their customers and act upon it and this is not part of a special program or a project.
  • CRM, Customer Experience Management, social businesses & big data have become buzz words and without the right culture behind the efforts, they do more harm to the business. 
  • The role of Chief Customer Officers & how it is critical to have the CEO assume that role.
  • Some of the mistakes that firms do in their journey towards becoming customer centric and how they can avoid them.
  • What role can the sales, marketing and customer service teams play in the journey
  • When is it not a good idea to listen to your customers (with a good example).
  • The steps that he outlines in his book, Hooked on Customer (which by the way is a great book & you should pick it up): Listen, Think, Empower, Create & Delight.

This chat provides some very good insights if you want to or already are on your journey to becoming customer centric.

Hope you enjoy the chat.

You can connect with Bob on www.hookedoncustomers.com or www.customerthink.com.

 

Direct download: 04_PBTO4__Getting_Hooked_on_Customers_with_Bob_Thompson.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 6:50pm HKT

In this episode, we host Meron Bareket, the host of  “Inspiring Innovation Podcast” and the person behind the Inspiring Innovation Podcast Incubator, where he walks through all the steps that one needs to go through to set-up and start a podcast of their own. I am bringing this podcast to you by following his instructions as well.

We had a very interesting conversation about entrepreneurship, his journey from making software to how he got a job at the local Israeli radio, his iPad only magazine –“Inspiring Innovation” and his current role as the host of "Inspiring Innovation" podcast.

He also talks about the pivots that he has had to make from being an editor for the online magazine to being a podcaster.

We also talk about entrepreneurship, the challenges of being an online entrepreneur and how he addresses them. We also talk about Mastermind groups and their significance in the life of an online entrepreneur.

He also shares his secret of getting interesting guests for the podcasts.

You can find more about Meron and connect with him @ http://www.meronbareket.com/.

The inspiring innovation podcast is at https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/inspiring-innovation-podcast/id638774259.

The inspiring innovation podcast incubator to learn podcasting @ http://inspiring-innovation.com/

Other Podcasts that were mentioned in the podcast:

Hope you enjoy the show. Please do share your love by giving us a rating or leave us a review on iTunes.  

Direct download: 03_PBTO3-What_Matters_is_Execution_Not_Ideas.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:41pm HKT

This is episode No 2 of “Pushing Beyond the Obvious”.

Today, we host Sunder Madakshira, who heads marketing & communications at SAP in India. He was recognized as “The Marketing Thought Leader” by Stars of the Industry Awards, constituted by the ABP group in Feb 2014. 

We had a very interesting conversation about the role that marketing can and should play, both internally and externally.

He also shares a lot of interesting insights about the importance of building a personal brand; some do’s and don’ts about how you go about building your personal brand.

He also shares some insights on leadership and the role of leaders.  

You can find more about Sunder and connect with him @ http://www.madakshira.com/


This is the 1st episode of "Pushing Beyond the Obvious" podcast.

In this episode, I talk about what this podcast is about and whom is it relevant for.

This podcast is relevant to you if:

  • You are an entreprenuer or a CEO
  • You are a manager responsible for the sales, marketing, innovation or strategy functions in your organization.    

The podcast will be about getting insights on how to push the boundaries of the following functions:

  • Sales
  • Marketing
  • Innovation
  • Leadership
  • Entreprenuership
  • Strategy

The format of the show will be a combination of solo episodes where I share my experience and thoughts and interviews where I host successful practitioners and thought leaders in these fields and learn gain insights from them. 

I am extremely excited about the journey and I hope you shall join me in the ride.

I also believe that the podcast shall play a small but an important role in your success, whatever it is that you set out to do.

If you like the episodes, please share your love by rating the podcast, writing reviews and sharing this with your friends and colleagues. 

You can provide your feedback or questions by writing to me at mgr@rmukeshgupta.com

Direct download: 01_PBTO1__Introducing__Pushing_Beyond_The_Obvious__Podcast.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 9:47pm HKT

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