American companies are like sequoia trees and Indian companies are like
trees and Indian companies are like
trees and Indian companies are like banyan trees the tree you see on the
banyan trees the tree you see on the
banyan trees the tree you see on the left is a famous giant sequoia half of
left is a famous giant sequoia half of
left is a famous giant sequoia half of the General Sherman at the Sequoia
the General Sherman at the Sequoia
the General Sherman at the Sequoia National Park in California it’s 84
National Park in California it’s 84
National Park in California it’s 84 meter high it’s about 8 meter wide in
meter high it’s about 8 meter wide in
meter high it’s about 8 meter wide in diameter at the base it’s the largest
diameter at the base it’s the largest
diameter at the base it’s the largest living single stem stem tree in the
living single stem stem tree in the
living single stem stem tree in the world and then who you’re right is the
world and then who you’re right is the
world and then who you’re right is the widest tree in the world that’s the
widest tree in the world that’s the
widest tree in the world that’s the great banyan tree at how to invest West
great banyan tree at how to invest West
great banyan tree at how to invest West Bengal in India the circumference of the
Bengal in India the circumference of the
Bengal in India the circumference of the tree is more than a kilometer and the
tree is more than a kilometer and the
tree is more than a kilometer and the tree has it’s like a mini forest and the
tree has it’s like a mini forest and the
tree has it’s like a mini forest and the tree has 4000 aerial roots that are sort
tree has 4000 aerial roots that are sort
tree has 4000 aerial roots that are sort of the trunk of the tree now I want you
of the trunk of the tree now I want you
of the trunk of the tree now I want you to think about the top American
to think about the top American
to think about the top American companies that come to mind if you take
companies that come to mind if you take
companies that come to mind if you take a moment you probably thinking Apple
a moment you probably thinking Apple
a moment you probably thinking Apple Google Facebook Amazon Walmart like the
Google Facebook Amazon Walmart like the
Google Facebook Amazon Walmart like the Sequoia tree they are focused they are
Sequoia tree they are focused they are
Sequoia tree they are focused they are fast growing their technology driven and
fast growing their technology driven and
fast growing their technology driven and they operate through contract and we’ll
they operate through contract and we’ll
they operate through contract and we’ll talk more about that now let’s think of
talk more about that now let’s think of
talk more about that now let’s think of the top Indian companies that come to
the top Indian companies that come to
the top Indian companies that come to mind you’re probably thinking Reliance
Indra RPG all group companies
Indra RPG all group companies conglomerates they are diversified they
conglomerates they are diversified they
conglomerates they are diversified they are ultimate survivors they are human
are ultimate survivors they are human
are ultimate survivors they are human driven and they operate through
driven and they operate through
driven and they operate through conversation
conversation
conversation my name is Kashyap Evra I’ve been an
my name is Kashyap Evra I’ve been an
my name is Kashyap Evra I’ve been an entrepreneur for over six seniors I
entrepreneur for over six seniors I
entrepreneur for over six seniors I split that time between Silicon Valley
split that time between Silicon Valley
split that time between Silicon Valley in India I’ve started up in Silicon
in India I’ve started up in Silicon
in India I’ve started up in Silicon Valley and in India I’ve built products
Valley and in India I’ve built products
Valley and in India I’ve built products for the US and Indian markets and I have
for the US and Indian markets and I have
for the US and Indian markets and I have worked at public companies in both
worked at public companies in both
worked at public companies in both countries today I’m going to talk to you
countries today I’m going to talk to you
countries today I’m going to talk to you about I’m going to use trees as
about I’m going to use trees as
about I’m going to use trees as metaphors to contrast the two
metaphors to contrast the two
metaphors to contrast the two cultures through stories of my personal
cultures through stories of my personal
cultures through stories of my personal experience you ready so first I cata me
experience you ready so first I cata me
experience you ready so first I cata me is focus versus diversified so in 2013 I
is focus versus diversified so in 2013 I
is focus versus diversified so in 2013 I started a mobile payments app for
started a mobile payments app for
started a mobile payments app for restaurants in the u.s. after the meal
restaurants in the u.s. after the meal
restaurants in the u.s. after the meal you could see your bill right on your
you could see your bill right on your
you could see your bill right on your app tap a button pay and go the eating
app tap a button pay and go the eating
app tap a button pay and go the eating out market in the US is six hundred
out market in the US is six hundred
out market in the US is six hundred fifty billion dollars of which 450
fifty billion dollars of which 450
fifty billion dollars of which 450 billion is quick service restaurants
billion is quick service restaurants
billion is quick service restaurants fast food nation the remaining 200 is
fast food nation the remaining 200 is
fast food nation the remaining 200 is where our product applied a few months
where our product applied a few months
where our product applied a few months into the product development we realized
into the product development we realized
into the product development we realized we have to pick between chains of
we have to pick between chains of
we have to pick between chains of restaurants and independent restaurants
restaurants and independent restaurants
restaurants and independent restaurants we thought there were more problems to
we thought there were more problems to
we thought there were more problems to solve in the independent restaurant site
solve in the independent restaurant site
solve in the independent restaurant site that made our addressable market 50
that made our addressable market 50
that made our addressable market 50 billion few months later we were
billion few months later we were
billion few months later we were acquired by OpenTable the leading
acquired by OpenTable the leading
acquired by OpenTable the leading restaurant reservations company of the
restaurant reservations company of the
restaurant reservations company of the u.s. because we thought the product
u.s. because we thought the product
u.s. because we thought the product would be magical if reservations and
would be magical if reservations and
would be magical if reservations and payments were to tie in together that
payments were to tie in together that
payments were to tie in together that brought the market down to fifteen
brought the market down to fifteen
brought the market down to fifteen billion dollars for us but with every
billion dollars for us but with every
billion dollars for us but with every pass the product became so much more
pass the product became so much more
pass the product became so much more magical and powerful it was a huge
magical and powerful it was a huge
magical and powerful it was a huge moment for us when i phone 6 was
moment for us when i phone 6 was
moment for us when i phone 6 was launched Apple pay was launched along
launched Apple pay was launched along
launched Apple pay was launched along with that and the first app that the
with that and the first app that the
with that and the first app that the world saw as a demo of in-app payments
world saw as a demo of in-app payments
world saw as a demo of in-app payments was pay with over a table using Apple
was pay with over a table using Apple
was pay with over a table using Apple pay there’s a huge moment for me in the
pay there’s a huge moment for me in the
pay there’s a huge moment for me in the team if you ask any entrepreneur in
team if you ask any entrepreneur in
team if you ask any entrepreneur in Silicon Valley what’s the key to success
Silicon Valley what’s the key to success
Silicon Valley what’s the key to success they’re likely to say focus focus focus
they’re likely to say focus focus focus
they’re likely to say focus focus focus in order to be what you are it’s
in order to be what you are it’s
in order to be what you are it’s important to know what you’re not now
important to know what you’re not now
important to know what you’re not now let’s contrast that with in 2008 I
let’s contrast that with in 2008 I
let’s contrast that with in 2008 I started a phone based marketplace for
started a phone based marketplace for
started a phone based marketplace for India the idea was to connect buyers and
India the idea was to connect buyers and
India the idea was to connect buyers and sellers over the phones in an open
sellers over the phones in an open
sellers over the phones in an open platform everybody in India at the phone
platform everybody in India at the phone
platform everybody in India at the phone not many people had the internet at the
not many people had the internet at the
not many people had the internet at the time even a classifieds business getting
time even a classifieds business getting
time even a classifieds business getting leads to sellers and the question we
leads to sellers and the question we
leads to sellers and the question we were asking was should we also do
were asking was should we also do
were asking was should we also do transactions on behalf of the sellers we
transactions on behalf of the sellers we
transactions on behalf of the sellers we were listening products and the question
were listening products and the question
were listening products and the question we were asking was should be also list
we were asking was should be also list
we were asking was should be also list services we were building a consumer
services we were building a consumer
services we were building a consumer brand and we were wondering if we should
brand and we were wondering if we should
brand and we were wondering if we should also make this unique phone commerce
also make this unique phone commerce
also make this unique phone commerce platform
platform
platform available to larger sellers and private
available to larger sellers and private
available to larger sellers and private label and a lot of answers that
label and a lot of answers that
label and a lot of answers that organically came out were yes let’s also
organically came out were yes let’s also
organically came out were yes let’s also do that the team thought we should do
do that the team thought we should do
do that the team thought we should do that our customers thought we should do
that our customers thought we should do
that our customers thought we should do that and we did that and that actually
that and we did that and that actually
that and we did that and that actually worked out and led us to success when we
worked out and led us to success when we
worked out and led us to success when we were bought by the leading retailer of
were bought by the leading retailer of
were bought by the leading retailer of India which a group we were running the
India which a group we were running the
India which a group we were running the digital commerce arm of nature group not
digital commerce arm of nature group not
digital commerce arm of nature group not ecommerce who is ecommerce does not do
ecommerce who is ecommerce does not do
ecommerce who is ecommerce does not do justice to the diversity of the vision
justice to the diversity of the vision
justice to the diversity of the vision who is omni-channel retail digital
who is omni-channel retail digital
who is omni-channel retail digital commerce if you ask entrepreneurs in
commerce if you ask entrepreneurs in
commerce if you ask entrepreneurs in India they’d say yes you’ve got to
India they’d say yes you’ve got to
India they’d say yes you’ve got to expand expand expand do more and do it
expand expand expand do more and do it
expand expand expand do more and do it fast and diversify very very quickly and
fast and diversify very very quickly and
fast and diversify very very quickly and occupy as much space as you can like the
occupy as much space as you can like the
occupy as much space as you can like the banyan tree moving on to the next
banyan tree moving on to the next
banyan tree moving on to the next dichotomy what you see on the left is a
dichotomy what you see on the left is a
dichotomy what you see on the left is a pine cone where the Sequoia seeds sort
pine cone where the Sequoia seeds sort
pine cone where the Sequoia seeds sort of sit in the crevices of the pine cone
of sit in the crevices of the pine cone
of sit in the crevices of the pine cone one giant sequoia disperses about
one giant sequoia disperses about
one giant sequoia disperses about 100,000 seeds in a year at the end of
100,000 seeds in a year at the end of
100,000 seeds in a year at the end of two years two percent of those seeds
two years two percent of those seeds
two years two percent of those seeds survive but when those two percent the
survive but when those two percent the
survive but when those two percent the ones that survive they grow really fast
ones that survive they grow really fast
ones that survive they grow really fast and in the first 20 years of life they
and in the first 20 years of life they
and in the first 20 years of life they shoot up to 20 meter high and these
shoot up to 20 meter high and these
shoot up to 20 meter high and these trees go on to live thousands of years a
trees go on to live thousands of years a
trees go on to live thousands of years a 20-meter is a very short span of time in
20-meter is a very short span of time in
20-meter is a very short span of time in which they grow really fast and they
which they grow really fast and they
which they grow really fast and they have to do that to get the sunshine in
have to do that to get the sunshine in
have to do that to get the sunshine in order to survive and once they shoot up
order to survive and once they shoot up
order to survive and once they shoot up the more sunshine they get the faster
the more sunshine they get the faster
the more sunshine they get the faster they grow and if the conical structure
they grow and if the conical structure
they grow and if the conical structure of the tree so that the branches of the
of the tree so that the branches of the
of the tree so that the branches of the bottom also get the sunlight and the
bottom also get the sunlight and the
bottom also get the sunlight and the branches at the top don’t block it it’s
branches at the top don’t block it it’s
branches at the top don’t block it it’s all about getting more sunlight and
all about getting more sunlight and
all about getting more sunlight and rising up in a dense forest very fast if
rising up in a dense forest very fast if
rising up in a dense forest very fast if you don’t do it you’re dead does this
you don’t do it you’re dead does this
you don’t do it you’re dead does this remind you of the venture capital
remind you of the venture capital
remind you of the venture capital startup ecosystem that we recently
startup ecosystem that we recently
startup ecosystem that we recently started seeing in India but it’s been in
started seeing in India but it’s been in
started seeing in India but it’s been in Silicon Valley for a while high death
Silicon Valley for a while high death
Silicon Valley for a while high death rates very very low success rates but
rates very very low success rates but
rates very very low success rates but the ones that succeed grow very fast
the ones that succeed grow very fast
the ones that succeed grow very fast very quickly they get a lot of the
very quickly they get a lot of the
very quickly they get a lot of the sunshine funding and they grow even
sunshine funding and they grow even
sunshine funding and they grow even faster and so on and so forth there are
faster and so on and so forth there are
faster and so on and so forth there are many many of them
many many of them
many many of them in one Silicon Valley but everyone is
in one Silicon Valley but everyone is
in one Silicon Valley but everyone is focused on their main trunk right
in contrast let’s look at the seed of
in contrast let’s look at the seed of the banyan tree it looks like a fruit it
the banyan tree it looks like a fruit it
the banyan tree it looks like a fruit it is a fruit the birds that live in the
is a fruit the birds that live in the
is a fruit the birds that live in the forest of a tree and fly over it they
forest of a tree and fly over it they
forest of a tree and fly over it they eat these seeds and then the bird
eat these seeds and then the bird
eat these seeds and then the bird droppings become aerial roots that fall
droppings become aerial roots that fall
droppings become aerial roots that fall from either the branch or the trunk of
from either the branch or the trunk of
from either the branch or the trunk of the tree the tree gives it enough
the tree the tree gives it enough
the tree the tree gives it enough nutrition to stay alive until they
nutrition to stay alive until they
nutrition to stay alive until they actually get to the soil and get
actually get to the soil and get
actually get to the soil and get nutrition from the soil and after a
nutrition from the soil and after a
nutrition from the soil and after a while the tree you know the the branch
while the tree you know the the branch
while the tree you know the the branch the trunk the roots are
the trunk the roots are
the trunk the roots are indistinguishable from each other does
indistinguishable from each other does
indistinguishable from each other does this remind you of conglomerates and
this remind you of conglomerates and
this remind you of conglomerates and family-owned businesses in India where
family-owned businesses in India where
family-owned businesses in India where if there’s any idea within the purview
if there’s any idea within the purview
if there’s any idea within the purview of a group chances are they will give it
of a group chances are they will give it
of a group chances are they will give it a shot they will give it minimal
a shot they will give it minimal
a shot they will give it minimal resources for it to thrive until it
resources for it to thrive until it
resources for it to thrive until it mines profit it goes to the soil and
mines profit it goes to the soil and
mines profit it goes to the soil and it’s self-sufficient after a while you
it’s self-sufficient after a while you
it’s self-sufficient after a while you see this whole tree doing so many
see this whole tree doing so many
see this whole tree doing so many businesses you don’t know which route
businesses you don’t know which route
businesses you don’t know which route became the largest trunk and where was
became the largest trunk and where was
became the largest trunk and where was the main trunk and so on and the
the main trunk and so on and the
the main trunk and so on and the companies amongst themselves are
companies amongst themselves are
companies amongst themselves are partners as well as competitors as well
partners as well as competitors as well
partners as well as competitors as well as customers and suppliers at the same
as customers and suppliers at the same
as customers and suppliers at the same time it’s one symbiotic relationship and
time it’s one symbiotic relationship and
time it’s one symbiotic relationship and it’s built for survival while the
it’s built for survival while the
it’s built for survival while the Sequoias are built for the next I caught
Sequoias are built for the next I caught
Sequoias are built for the next I caught to me is probably the one that I found
to me is probably the one that I found
to me is probably the one that I found to be most profound in my career I grew
to be most profound in my career I grew
to be most profound in my career I grew up in India and my career started in
up in India and my career started in
up in India and my career started in Silicon Valley in some sense as an
Silicon Valley in some sense as an
Silicon Valley in some sense as an entrepreneur we lived to solve problems
entrepreneur we lived to solve problems
entrepreneur we lived to solve problems if there are no problems to solve they
if there are no problems to solve they
if there are no problems to solve they won’t be entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley
won’t be entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley
won’t be entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley when I look at problems my instinct is
when I look at problems my instinct is
when I look at problems my instinct is to solve is through technology there
to solve is through technology there
to solve is through technology there must be an app for that there must be a
must be an app for that there must be a
must be an app for that there must be a sass for that must be a cool product
sass for that must be a cool product
sass for that must be a cool product which makes your life more convenient
which makes your life more convenient
which makes your life more convenient and the same me when I look at problems
and the same me when I look at problems
and the same me when I look at problems in India I go
in India I go
in India I go I wonder who I can call for that I
I wonder who I can call for that I
I wonder who I can call for that I wonder what kind of team I can put
wonder what kind of team I can put
wonder what kind of team I can put together for that
together for that
together for that I wonder which company can I get solve
I wonder which company can I get solve
I wonder which company can I get solve that problem much more human the picture
that problem much more human the picture
that problem much more human the picture you see on the left is a famous Swedish
you see on the left is a famous Swedish
you see on the left is a famous Swedish photographer
photographer
photographer aw Ericsson who took pictures during the
aw Ericsson who took pictures during the
aw Ericsson who took pictures during the gold rush when the Euro Americans were
gold rush when the Euro Americans were
gold rush when the Euro Americans were migrating westward the timber industry
migrating westward the timber industry
migrating westward the timber industry was booming and here are these three
was booming and here are these three
was booming and here are these three fellers who are posing handsomely
fellers who are posing handsomely
fellers who are posing handsomely confident about their technology that
confident about their technology that
confident about their technology that the tree is not going to snap them in
the tree is not going to snap them in
the tree is not going to snap them in very sort of technology machoism on the
very sort of technology machoism on the
very sort of technology machoism on the other hand you see the monk resting
other hand you see the monk resting
other hand you see the monk resting under the banyan tree it’s a place for
under the banyan tree it’s a place for
under the banyan tree it’s a place for tranquil you know he’s calm Siddhartha
tranquil you know he’s calm Siddhartha
tranquil you know he’s calm Siddhartha became buta under a banyan tree it gets
became buta under a banyan tree it gets
became buta under a banyan tree it gets its name because of the punya community
its name because of the punya community
its name because of the punya community which sits under the Banyan to you with
which sits under the Banyan to you with
which sits under the Banyan to you with their shop it’s a place to socialize
their shop it’s a place to socialize
their shop it’s a place to socialize that’s where the villagers come in and
that’s where the villagers come in and
that’s where the villagers come in and you can sell them products and services
you can sell them products and services
you can sell them products and services it’s a very human place when I was
it’s a very human place when I was
it’s a very human place when I was building the phone based you know the
building the phone based you know the
building the phone based you know the mobile app for restaurants my largest
mobile app for restaurants my largest
mobile app for restaurants my largest expense was engineers and technology and
expense was engineers and technology and
expense was engineers and technology and then when I was building the pawn base
then when I was building the pawn base
then when I was building the pawn base marketplace for India my largest expense
marketplace for India my largest expense
marketplace for India my largest expense was field sales all center operations
was field sales all center operations
was field sales all center operations local marketing very human costs after
local marketing very human costs after
local marketing very human costs after the acquisition both open table and
the acquisition both open table and
the acquisition both open table and feature group at the time of acquisition
feature group at the time of acquisition
feature group at the time of acquisition were two billion dollars each very
were two billion dollars each very
were two billion dollars each very similar size both were 15 year old
similar size both were 15 year old
similar size both were 15 year old companies similar age one had 600 people
companies similar age one had 600 people
companies similar age one had 600 people the other had 30,000 people and that
the other had 30,000 people and that
the other had 30,000 people and that brings me to
brings me to
brings me to the final contrast I want to talk about
the final contrast I want to talk about
the final contrast I want to talk about the tree what the image on your left is
the tree what the image on your left is
the tree what the image on your left is the cross section of a giant sequoia
the cross section of a giant sequoia
the cross section of a giant sequoia tree it has rings that are marked with
tree it has rings that are marked with
tree it has rings that are marked with signify how big the trunk was at that
signify how big the trunk was at that
signify how big the trunk was at that year to determine the age of a Sequoia
year to determine the age of a Sequoia
year to determine the age of a Sequoia tree you take the cross section you see
tree you take the cross section you see
tree you take the cross section you see the number of rings and it’s almost an
the number of rings and it’s almost an
the number of rings and it’s almost an exact science it tells you how all the
exact science it tells you how all the
exact science it tells you how all the tree is it’s like the trees and contract
tree is it’s like the trees and contract
tree is it’s like the trees and contract with the world about this age and we’re
with the world about this age and we’re
with the world about this age and we’re back to the great banyan tree again to
back to the great banyan tree again to
back to the great banyan tree again to your right asking about the age of the
your right asking about the age of the
your right asking about the age of the great banyan trees blast of the penny
great banyan trees blast of the penny
great banyan trees blast of the penny entry is immortal you hear about the
entry is immortal you hear about the
entry is immortal you hear about the banyan tree in conversations in the
banyan tree in conversations in the
banyan tree in conversations in the local neighborhoods that stories pass on
local neighborhoods that stories pass on
local neighborhoods that stories pass on from generation to generation new
from generation to generation new
from generation to generation new stories are getting formed maybe you can
stories are getting formed maybe you can
stories are getting formed maybe you can look at the expansion rate of the tree
look at the expansion rate of the tree
look at the expansion rate of the tree it’s still growing and try and figure
it’s still growing and try and figure
it’s still growing and try and figure out the age but why would you want to
out the age but why would you want to
out the age but why would you want to figure out the age there is no clear
figure out the age there is no clear
figure out the age there is no clear scientific way to do it I’m going to
scientific way to do it I’m going to
scientific way to do it I’m going to narrate a story to you about the
narrate a story to you about the
narrate a story to you about the opentable acquisition and the future
opentable acquisition and the future
opentable acquisition and the future group acquisition and contrast level so
group acquisition and contrast level so
group acquisition and contrast level so from the first time that open tables
from the first time that open tables
from the first time that open tables showed interest in in bind us there were
showed interest in in bind us there were
showed interest in in bind us there were business negotiations by business
business negotiations by business
business negotiations by business representatives on both sides not the
representatives on both sides not the
representatives on both sides not the CEOs followed by a bunch of negotiations
CEOs followed by a bunch of negotiations
CEOs followed by a bunch of negotiations by lawyers on both sides many times
by lawyers on both sides many times
by lawyers on both sides many times without the business representative on
without the business representative on
without the business representative on the call
the call
the call most of these negotiations happened over
most of these negotiations happened over
most of these negotiations happened over phone and email a lot of red line
phone and email a lot of red line
phone and email a lot of red line contracts going over emails me the CEO
contracts going over emails me the CEO
contracts going over emails me the CEO of my startup met the CEO of open table
of my startup met the CEO of open table
of my startup met the CEO of open table for the first time when we were ready to
for the first time when we were ready to
for the first time when we were ready to sign the agreement and all we spoke
sign the agreement and all we spoke
sign the agreement and all we spoke about was how we going to do business
about was how we going to do business
about was how we going to do business together now that we were one company
together now that we were one company
together now that we were one company the deal was as good as the contract and
the deal was as good as the contract and
the deal was as good as the contract and we both knew it people trusted that them
we both knew it people trusted that them
we both knew it people trusted that them that woke up now let’s contrast that
that woke up now let’s contrast that
that woke up now let’s contrast that when I first met the Future Group CEO
when I first met the Future Group CEO
when I first met the Future Group CEO mr. Kishor Vianney we had a fairly
mr. Kishor Vianney we had a fairly
mr. Kishor Vianney we had a fairly open-ended business conversation we hit
open-ended business conversation we hit
open-ended business conversation we hit it off in that meeting good chemistry
it off in that meeting good chemistry
it off in that meeting good chemistry the little friendly banter and then we
the little friendly banter and then we
the little friendly banter and then we ended the meeting with a handshake sack
ended the meeting with a handshake sack
ended the meeting with a handshake sack milk a Concord thing looking each other
milk a Concord thing looking each other
milk a Concord thing looking each other in the eye let’s work together there
in the eye let’s work together there
in the eye let’s work together there were other people in the room who didn’t
were other people in the room who didn’t
were other people in the room who didn’t understand what just happened what did
understand what just happened what did
understand what just happened what did these guys just agree to work seemed
these guys just agree to work seemed
these guys just agree to work seemed like a good meeting sure enough two days
like a good meeting sure enough two days
like a good meeting sure enough two days ago two days later a bunch of
ago two days later a bunch of
ago two days later a bunch of professionals were tasked with making us
professionals were tasked with making us
professionals were tasked with making us an offer negotiating terms with us that
an offer negotiating terms with us that
an offer negotiating terms with us that dingo anywhere
dingo anywhere
dingo anywhere the only time we made progress was when
the only time we made progress was when
the only time we made progress was when the two principals you see your set
the two principals you see your set
the two principals you see your set together and talk about business and
together and talk about business and
together and talk about business and then in the third meeting when we were
then in the third meeting when we were
then in the third meeting when we were finally ready to converge on terms and
finally ready to converge on terms and
finally ready to converge on terms and do a handshake we brought in a third
do a handshake we brought in a third
do a handshake we brought in a third person who we both trusted to bear
person who we both trusted to bear
person who we both trusted to bear witness to what we just agreed to and
witness to what we just agreed to and
witness to what we just agreed to and why we were just sipping child
why we were just sipping child
why we were just sipping child we literally noted down what we had
we literally noted down what we had
we literally noted down what we had agreed to on a two pager and all three
agreed to on a two pager and all three
agreed to on a two pager and all three of us sign and that was the deal the
of us sign and that was the deal the
of us sign and that was the deal the next day my team starts working with
next day my team starts working with
next day my team starts working with their team we start doing business
their team we start doing business
their team we start doing business together and then we of course went to
together and then we of course went to
together and then we of course went to the lawyers and said put this on paper
the lawyers and said put this on paper
the lawyers and said put this on paper make it happen accountants go happen and
make it happen accountants go happen and
make it happen accountants go happen and as things came along the way the only
as things came along the way the only
as things came along the way the only progress that happened was when we
progress that happened was when we
progress that happened was when we actually met for a conversation so the
actually met for a conversation so the
actually met for a conversation so the deal was as good as the conversation of
deal was as good as the conversation of
deal was as good as the conversation of course in both cultures this contract
course in both cultures this contract
course in both cultures this contract and conversation but in the u.s. the
and conversation but in the u.s. the
and conversation but in the u.s. the contract seems to come first or seems to
contract seems to come first or seems to
contract seems to come first or seems to dominate and the other were the other
dominate and the other were the other
dominate and the other were the other way around
way around
way around in India American company
in India American company
in India American company are like sequoia trees Indian companies
are like sequoia trees Indian companies
are like sequoia trees Indian companies are like banyan trees this metaphor
are like banyan trees this metaphor
are like banyan trees this metaphor first occurred to me in 2008 when I came
first occurred to me in 2008 when I came
first occurred to me in 2008 when I came back to India after seven years in
back to India after seven years in
back to India after seven years in Silicon Valley it was many years later
Silicon Valley it was many years later
Silicon Valley it was many years later that I realized that the sequoia tree is
that I realized that the sequoia tree is
that I realized that the sequoia tree is the national tree of the USA and the
the national tree of the USA and the
the national tree of the USA and the banyan tree is the national tree of
banyan tree is the national tree of
banyan tree is the national tree of India coincidence I think not the
India coincidence I think not the
India coincidence I think not the picture on your left is an Instagram
picture on your left is an Instagram
picture on your left is an Instagram photo of my home that I took from the
photo of my home that I took from the
photo of my home that I took from the top of the sequoia tree in my backyard
top of the sequoia tree in my backyard
top of the sequoia tree in my backyard in Berkeley I used to climb that tree to
in Berkeley I used to climb that tree to
in Berkeley I used to climb that tree to watch the sunset over the Golden Gate
watch the sunset over the Golden Gate
watch the sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge read a book and the picture on
Bridge read a book and the picture on
Bridge read a book and the picture on your right is the pannin tree in the
your right is the pannin tree in the
your right is the pannin tree in the backyard of my home in New Delhi where
backyard of my home in New Delhi where
backyard of my home in New Delhi where is my family now coincidence I think
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