Mahesh Guruswamy: Leading with Empathy and Intentional Connections

The Power of Connections

In this episode, Rich and Mahesh Guruswamy discuss:

• How his wife’s advice became a pivotal moment in his career at Amazon
• Lessons learned from building and rebuilding relationships in new environments
• The importance of empathy, apologies, and honest conversations in leadership
• The power of small gestures, like waving to neighbors or checking in with old friends
• Creating value in relationships, both personal and professional

Key Takeaways:

• Simple actions, like waving to your neighbors or having a quick conversation, can profoundly impact how connected you feel to your community. These gestures contribute to your sense of happiness and belonging.
• Apologizing is a powerful way to model empathy and humility, whether as a parent or a leader. Learning how to admit when you’re wrong fosters stronger relationships and trust.
• It’s important to recognize how your environment influences the ease of building relationships. Dense urban areas might naturally offer more opportunities, while suburban life requires an intentional effort to connect with others.
• Career growth often begins with taking a leap of faith. Asking for opportunities—even those that seem unlikely can open doors to pivotal experiences.
• Time is the most precious resource you have. Choosing to invest it in positivity, learning, and helping others leaves a lasting legacy that people will remember long after you’re gone.

"Work is work, but how you make people feel, that's what they'll always remember." — Mahesh Guruswamy

 

About Mahesh Guruswamy:

Mahesh Guruswamy currently serves as the Chief Product and Technology Officer at Kickstarter, leading the Product and Engineering teams to develop advanced features for Creators and Backers since April 2024. In addition to this role, Mahesh writes a weekly newsletter for The Sensible Manager and has been a Limited Partner at Tau Ventures since June 2021. Previously, Mahesh held leadership positions such as Head of Engineering at Mosaic.tech, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Engineering at Kajabi, and Vice President of Engineering at Smartsheet. Mahesh's experience also includes managing engineering teams at Amazon, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Homesite Insurance, and Fidelity Investments. Mahesh obtained a Master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Wayne State University and a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the University of Madras.

Connect with Mahesh Guruswamy:

Substack: https://maheshguruswamy.substack.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maheshguruswamy/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eharburg

Book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Deliver-Bad-News-Away/dp/B0D7FHTTNN

Connect with Rich Woo:

Website: www.catalyst.nm.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richwoo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rich_woo/?hl=en

Book: The Relationship Recession - https://a.co/d/dXlXd71

Email: [email protected]