In the issue Behind the scenes, I talked about my motivation and thoughts behind leaving Microsoft. The best follow-up would be to tell you what I intend to do now. It is difficult to tell you a hard and fast plan, but I do have some idea of how I am going to work and what I am going to do. Here it goes.
Founder of invactMBA
I plan to run invactMBA from the forefront and be the point person for it. NeoG already has one, and so does roc8, and both of them are so good that I do not have to get involved at all. Fun fact, the decision to leave Microsoft was not motivated by creating invactMBA. That decision had been taken long before. I had multiple ideas that I wanted to pursue: a Master's program for NeoG, a level 0.5, Android for roc8, and a generalist MBA. With the interest and arrival of Manish Maheshwari, the generalist MBA idea is the one that worked out and became invactMBA.
Measurable goals
The next goal that I want to put my all into is creating a better learning experience. Indians are inherently ambitious and hardworking, but they are extremely disgruntled by the system. The system currently rewards only the top 1% of test-takers. What about everyone else? I know for a thing that I can teach the next 10% of those students on my own. Look at that number, the value that is being added to the country. At the same time, I want to focus on ensuring a lower number of dropouts, and the metaversity that I am currently developing will take care of that.
I do not want to venture into the test-prep segment of edtech and want to keep NeoG and invactMBA outcome and placement oriented. NeoG 2022 will witness a lot of students from villages and remote parts of India. I want to enable those kids who do not have any resources or exposure, rather than earn money from the ones who already have it all. Sadhu bhi bhukha na rhe, main bhi ni. (Neither does the monk stay hungry nor do I.) Just take whatever you need, do not make making money the sole reason for your work. This is something I want to abide by.
To date, I had been working for others. Now that I am working for my own self, what values do I want to take forward?
I had this experience some time ago. I met a startup founder who was behaving properly with me but was super rude to his juniors. I noticed that and took his behavior up with one of our common friends. The latter said that he's under a lot of pressure, he is responsible for his employees' livelihoods, and that is why he can get rude sometimes. When did being busy or having work pressure become a justification for bad behavior? Why don't I get these memos? Rajeev, the head of Microsoft India, is responsible for so many products and people, but I have never witnessed him behaving badly with people. I was 4 ranks lower than him, but every time we got a chance of a conversation, he was extremely attentive and supportive in his demeanor. This is the most important value that I want to uphold. I do not want to pull rank on people. May the best idea win, and not the rank. People senior to me never used the veto. All of them were leaders who drove things forward with communication. That is what I want to follow as a startup founder.
See you on Saturday
That's all for today. I hope that I am able to achieve everything that I want to in this new role. Please keep supporting me the way you have. One way of doing that would be sharing this newsletter with anyone who may need it. Thank you!
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hi tanay,
what you are doing for community is awesome!, when i started web development buying programming and web development books are expensive in kindle itself for me. but there was it like holy-grail for webdev student WYZR (curious about the name thought). Thanks for your work for the community