Embracing change, building resilient organisations, fostering real growth, and navigating the future, particularly in the age of AI. Curated by Storise Studio based on ideas shared by Girish Mathrubootham.
Discover the journey of Girish Mathrubootham, the visionary founder and Executive Chairman of Freshworks, a company that began in Chennai and made history by going public on Nasdaq in 2021. His story goes beyond entrepreneurial success; it’s a powerful masterclass in adaptability, problem-solving, and continuous growth in an ever-evolving tech world. This summary captures his core philosophies on embracing change, building resilient organizations, fostering authentic growth, and navigating the future, especially in the age of AI.
The AI Monster Wave: Embrace or Be Swept Away
Girish Mathrubootham emphatically describes Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a "monster wave" – a technological shift so profound it is "turning industries upside down". Unlike previous tech disruptions that primarily affected other sectors like transport or retail, AI is uniquely disrupting the technology industry itself. This is exemplified by the fact that AI can now write code, raising questions about the future of traditional software engineering roles.SaaS in its Current Form is "Finished": Mathrubootham asserts that "SaaS in its current form...
Beyond Technology: The Art of Problem Solving
A core philosophy for Mathrubootham is that "technology is not a business," but rather "technology incorporation is a business". The fundamental "business" lies in "solving the customer problem". He warns that "building a product for the sake of technology has always failed" because it lacks a clear business problem to address.He illustrates this with an analogy of listening to his favourite songs over different decades: while the "gadgets" (cassette, Walkman, iPod, Spotify) changed, but the "music" (the song itself, what...
India's Rise as a Product Nation
India has made significant strides in transforming from a service-centric nation to a "product nation". When Freshworks began, there were very few global product companies from India. However, through initiatives like SaaSBoomi, an ecosystem has been built to support thousands of founders across India, including those from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, in building global products. This community, which started with about 40 founders, now boasts 6500 SaaS and AI founders.Mathrubootham notes that regulatory changes in India, such as...
Entrepreneurial Mindsets for Navigating Change
Mathrubootham shares several personal and leadership philosophies crucial for success:"Dream in Installments": Instead of starting with an overwhelming ambition to "change the world," he advises setting achievable, incremental goals (e.g., aiming for $1 million revenue, then $5 million). This phased approach makes growth manageable and less daunting.Trust Your Gut Feeling: While not the sole determinant, he has learned to trust his "gut feeling" when making decisions, especially in hiring. He believes it synthesises a multitude of unconscious thoughts and information,...
Defining and Achieving "Real Growth"
Mathrubootham identifies "real growth" as a "golden tripod" with three interconnected legs:
Knowledge: What you learn in your job.
Challenges and Responsibilities: The new hurdles you face and overcome.
Salary: A corresponding increase in remuneration.
Genuine professional growth occurs when all three legs evolve together. Mere designation changes without an increase in knowledge, challenges, and salary constitute "fake progress".
Adapting for the Next Generation (Gen Z)
Mathrubootham acknowledges the unique expectations of Gen Z and "2K kids". Unlike previous generations who valued job satisfaction, Gen Z desires "fast growth and learning". Their world of instant gratification (e.g., pressing a button for a car or food) leads them to expect similar rapid promotions.Instead of "cribbing about Gen Z and 2K kids being non reciprocative," he suggests that corporations must create "a high performing environment" that facilitates rapid promotion opportunities based on clear performance metrics. This includes offering...
Personal Philosophies for Life and Work
To finish off, here’s some more tips from him:-Own Your Happiness: He advises against "giving the remote control of your happiness to anybody else" by reacting quickly to external negativity. It's a crucial life lesson to manage one's own emotional state.Be a "Sponge": Mathrubootham's learning philosophy is to continuously "absorb" new knowledge, then "squeeze" it out by teaching others, which allows him to "absorb freshly again". This continuous cycle of learning and sharing prevents fatigue and keeps him engaged in...
Summary
Girish Mathrubootham’s journey offers a practical roadmap for thriving amid change. His focus on solving real problems, embracing “monster waves” like AI, and maintaining a learning mindset highlights what modern leadership requires. Through principles like “dreaming in installments” and having “no rearview mirror,” he shows how to adapt, act, and grow despite uncertainty. His belief in India’s potential as a product nation and his dedication to learning and relationships reflect a balanced path to success. In a world of disruption,...
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About the Author
Girish Mathrubootham is the founder and executive chairman of Freshworks, the first Indian SaaS company to go public on Nasdaq. A strong advocate for entrepreneurs and product innovators, he has invested in over sixty startups and co-founded Together Fund, India’s first operator-led venture capital firm supporting SaaS founders. Girish has been instrumental in shaping India’s SaaS landscape through SaaSBoomi. Outside the tech world, he established FC Madras, a grassroots football club dedicated to developing young talent in Chennai.
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