The Covid pandemic was a challenge for all startups, and it made some of them stronger. In this interview, Kumar Emmarilli talks about what changes and commitments they had to make during the Pandemic. They weren't easy, but they made the company stronger. Learn more about Kumar at linkedin.com/in/kumar-erramilli-17782834

Chapters

00:00 Introduction of Kumar Emmarilli

01:51 Kumar's Journey from Engineer to CTO

03:53 Navigating Leadership Challenges Post-COVID

06:39 Empowering Teams and Managing Expectations

09:50 Understanding Team Dynamics and Growth

11:45 The Role of People and Culture in Startups

14:45 Establishing and Maintaining Company Culture

18:57 Communication Strategies for Effective Leadership

Takeaways

Kumar transitioned from software engineering to CTO by leading by example.

Simplicity in communication is crucial but challenging to achieve.

COVID-19 changed the dynamics of team communication, creating silos.

Empowering team members requires trust and clear expectations.

Understanding individual team member goals is key to effective management.

Company culture should be a priority as startups grow.

Core values must be embodied in daily actions, not just stated.

Effective communication involves both oral and written components.

Leaders should recognize and promote internal talent for growth.

It's important to provide resources for team members transitioning to management.