92. Authors of 'Hope is Not A Strategy': Understanding Company Culture

In Episode 92, we dive deep into the essence of company culture and alignment with special guests Sirisha and Harish, co-authors of the acclaimed book 'Hope is Not a Strategy'. Sirisha shares her experiences from her Nehru Fulbright Scholarship at Carnegie Mellon and her insights from interning at Zappos. Harish discusses the importance of alignment in leadership, drawing from his journey with 'choose to Thinq'. They introduce the Dilemma Resolution Framework (DRF) and debunk common myths about company culture. The discussion emphasizes the deliberate effort needed to maintain and evolve a company's culture while aligning it with long-term strategies. This episode is a must-watch for founders, leaders, and anyone interested in organizational culture. Timestamps: 00:41 Meet the Authors: Sirisha and Harish 02:13 The Importance of Alignment in Leadership 04:22 Understanding the Dilemma Resolution Framework (DRF) 10:05 Balancing Short-term Wins with Long-term Goals 11:08 Debunking Myths About Culture 15:16 The Role of Founders in Shaping Culture 24:15 The Pitfalls of Copying Values 26:11 Final Takeaways for Founders