In the final installment of our special 100th episode, we focus on the human side of brand building—scaling teams, fostering culture, and the leadership strategies that drive long-term success. Our guests, Puru, Manas, and Sapna, dive deep into their experiences of building and managing teams, navigating the challenges of leadership, and ensuring their organizations stay aligned with their core values as they grow. This episode offers valuable insights into the people dynamics that underpin successful brands. PANELISTS: Puru Gupta - CoFounder of True Elements, a brand dedicated to healthy breakfast and snacks, with a strong presence both online and offline. Manas Madhu - Founder of Beyond Snack, Kerala Banana Chips, which is pioneering the shift of Banana Chips from unorganized to organized snacking with a focus on quality and innovation. Sapna Desai - CMO at Manipal Cigna Health Insurance, with extensive experience in BFSI, telecom, and advertising sectors. KEY SEGMENTS: Balancing Vision and Execution in Leadership (00:13 - 03:04) The discussion opens with insights on how to align team members with the company’s vision. Puru emphasizes the importance of communicating the "why" behind decisions, ensuring that everyone is on the same page as the company evolves. Building Teams with Complementary Skills (03:05 - 08:33) Manas shares his approach to assembling a team with complementary skills, particularly focusing on his experience in bringing in FMCG expertise. He highlights the importance of giving team members the autonomy to lead in their areas of expertise without micromanagement. Cultivating a Collaborative Culture in a Traditional Industry (08:37 - 10:35) Sapna discusses the challenges of fostering a collaborative culture in the BFSI sector, a traditionally rigid industry. She talks about how bringing in talent from diverse backgrounds has helped infuse new thinking and drive innovation within her organization. Overcoming Resistance to Change (10:35 - 11:26) The panel discusses the resistance to change that often comes from long-established teams within an organization. Sapna and Puru share strategies for overcoming this resistance and encouraging a more adaptable mindset. Closing Thoughts: The Journey of Building a Successful Team (11:27 - 11:57) TAKEAWAYS: For Entrepreneurs: Building a strong team starts with aligning them to the company’s core mission and values. Provide autonomy to your experts and foster a collaborative environment to encourage innovation. For Leaders: Communicating the "why" behind your decisions is key to ensuring your team is aligned with the organization's goals. This understanding helps create a resilient and motivated workforce. For Brand Builders: The human side of brand building—team dynamics, leadership, and culture—plays a critical role in the long-term success of your brand. Invest in your people as much as in your products. MEMORABLE QUOTES: "If your team understands the 'why,' they will often guide you back when you stray from your mission." - Puru Gupta "In a startup, it's crucial to build a team with complementary skills and then step back to let them lead in their domain." - Manas Madhu "Bringing in talent from outside the industry can challenge the status quo and drive necessary change." - Sapna Desai As always, do mail us your feedback, comments and any questions you may have for our hosts at [email protected]. We love hearing from you. SHOW WEBSITE CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS Sudeep Chawla on ⁠Linkedin⁠ Sharavana Raghavan on ⁠Linkedin⁠ FOLLOW US CoBB on ⁠LinkedIn CoBB on Instagram⁠ CREDITS - Album Art & Design by ting.in - Voiceovers by Anjale Stephanos - Music from Zapsplat.com - Produced by Kapoor AV - Shot At Recreate Spaces - Edited by Arul G of ting ******* Please tell us what topics you'd like to have discussed on the CoBB, by filling in this ⁠CONTENT SUGGESTION FORM⁠⁠ It onl