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Diksha Dwivedi
Personal Branding Expert & CEO at YOSO & IMO | The Bitchaari Podcast Host | Author of “Letters from Kargil: The War Through Our Soldier’s Eyes”
Diksha Dwivedi is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in brand marketing, content creation, and journalism. With a strong belief in the power of storytelling, she has made significant contributions to the industry through various entrepreneurial ventures and creative projects. Diksha's innovative ideas and strategic insights have led to the successful launch of multiple storytelling platforms, attracting millions of readers and subscribers globally. Her experience ranges from founding user-generated content platforms like AkkarBakkar to heading brand marketing and communications at InVideo. Diksha is also an accomplished author, with her book 'Letters from Kargil' earning widespread acclaim. She holds a Master's degree in Journalism, Media, and Communications from Cardiff University, complemented by a background in Economics and Commerce.
Highlights
As a bootstrapped startup, the stakes are high and resources low. And your team can make or break you.
Ashish Sangle and I knew this since day one.
On most days, building a reliable team at YOSO Media felt like an uphill battle.
The journey was not smooth.
I vividly recall an early morning in Hamburg (because of the time difference), dreading a 'quitting' call from a trusted early team member. I'm pretty sure I just wanted to cry in that moment (about who will find her replacement and how?). Instead, I smiled through it all, wished them well and made sure the handover was done well and right.
This and many such heartbreaking experiences over the last 2 years have taught me a valuable lesson: team building isn't just important; it's everything.
Our recent workation in Bangalore (July) was an eye-opener for me - great validation of what Ashish and I have built since January 2023. Slowly and steadily, but with all we have.
So, what have Ashish and I done to foster this sense of family in our team?
- We've embraced transparency
- Celebrated small wins
- Taken feedback for us as leaders time and again
- Been patient during the onboarding of new team members
- Constantly invest in the team's respective learning curves
- Don't wait for a team member to "ask" for a promotion or appraisal - if they've earned it, they deserve it! The timeline doesn't matter there.
- Acknowledged greatness
Have any unique team-building tips for us? Share them below!
She transformed a garage rental into a global empire—this is Susan Wojcicki’s leadership story.
It was 1998, and Susan was working at Intel Corporation.
She got married to Dennis Troper and was struggling to afford the mortgage on her recent house purchase.
So, she rented out her garage to earn some extra cash.
Why her garage is worth mentioning is because her tenants were Sergey Brin and Larry Page. And Susan's garage was where Google was nurtured.
In 1999, Susan was pregnant. But she saw a potential in what Larry and Sergey were building, she quit her job at Intel and joined the startup right away! Few women (or even men) would take such risks during that time!
Here's how Susan became Google's first marketing manager.
In the coming years, she wholeheartedly focused on growing the company. She helped create the company's longtime logo. She co-developed and launched Google Image Search. She was the first product manager of Google's AdSense. She committed to Google's success.
Susan was gifted. She took a risk. She won.
In 2006, while YouTube was a small startup, Wojcicki spotted and subsequently managed the $1.65 billion purchase of YouTube.
This led her to be named CEO of YouTube in 2014.
By the end of 2014, Susan announced taking maternity leave. This was when she decided to write about the importance of maternity leave for women in The Wall Street Journal.
And here's how - in 2018, Wojcicki was ranked 7 on Forbes's list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women".
Susan was in Google from 1999 to 2023, and... From 1999 to 2015, Susan gave birth to 5 kids.
She was not only a businesswoman growing a company but also a mother taking care of a big family.
She preached the importance of finding the balance between family and career to the world.
Not only preached, but rather proved to all of us - how a woman can excel in her career, be a leader, and have a close-knitted family.
Susan's known for helping shape Google and YouTube. But the shape she gave to her life is admirable for women like us.
I’ve never met Susan but her story feels so incredibly personal. And is a huge inspiration.
Susan made a real difference in this world. She believed. She worked. She inspired.
Here's to the great women such as Susan. 🥂 May we continue to celebrate their lives, raise them, and remember them.
