Name: Rashi Khanna

Title: FOUNDER & CEO

Organisation: KYAA MATLAB NETWORK

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Rashi's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

It was challenging for me as a leader to develop the technical credibility required in this sector because podcasting demands technology and technical know-how. However, I continue to learn.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I had to overcome a lot of worries as a middle-aged lady to get here.I had to restart myself with the drive and upskill to overcome numerous obstacles.

I have had a lot of experience with jobs when I first started my career, and I was able to learn how to solve a lot of different issues because I was receptive.To be honest, this has aided me in becoming a leader.

Being able to handle crisis situations patiently has made me a better leader.When I was incubating a school a few years ago, I recall dealing with a controlling parent about their child, which the principal of the school was unable to handle. This experience helped me recognise that my patience enabled me to handle a situation like a leader.

Here, patience is crucial.A skilled leader is very patient.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

The efficient management of my workdays is critical to my ability to fulfil my duties as a leader, especially in my role as CEO. It is essential to maintaining efficiency, productivity, and my own wellbeing.

Generally, my workdays are organised as follows:

Begin at 4:30am

Every day, I work on smiling and thinking positively as soon as I wake up.I meditate for ten minutes in the morning to start my day.I make my international calls at 5am in the morning after that,I usually hold a 30-minute worldwide podcast workshop/training session between 5:30am and 6am as booked earlier by hosts Or, to learn more about the industry, I typically listen to and browse through all podcasts during that period.

Starting at 8:30am

To help the crew finish up for uploading, I typically have a tonne of audio material files to check. Verify every email I have and get ready for face-to-face meetings.

I have to work on a lot of information for each vertical that needs to be sorted because we have four different verticals like a e-magazine ,our podcast school and video shows.

Take off at 4pm

Because there are so many interns working at our office, my team's workday starts at 4pm and ends at ends at 11 p.m Every day, I talk over the phone with my podcast account managers. Every other day, we have a full house team to work on different ability sets and the productive exchange of ideas. Because we hire a lot of college students, our organisation adheres to the principle of settling disagreements through rewards. Adaptability congruence of goals ,celebrating milestones and mentorship programs : a few guidelines we adhere to at Kyaa Matlab.

Dinner at 7pm is usually a networking one and I reach my home office at 8:30pm to be on calls to discuss collaborative projects.

My day comes to an end at 11pm with my team, and in ten minutes at 10:45pm, my EA and I discuss my schedule for the following day.I can be more proactive and save a tonne of time thanks to this.

The best method to be a successful manager and leader is to have clearly defined roles and activities in advance for the next day.

I abide by these few secret maxims every day in order to be viewed here.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

I recently had an eye-opening experience that reinforced a fundamental truth about leadership and relationships. It's easy to forget that patrons are, first and foremost, human beings with their own unique needs and expectations. But what truly stood out was the profound impact of leadership on this dynamic.

My recent visit to Mumbai for a powerful experience , I noticed that the behavior of junior staff spoke volumes about the leadership within an organization. The empathy, respect, and care they extended to clients mirrored the values instilled by their leaders. It's a powerful reminder that leadership sets the tone for how clients/patrons are treated, and it emphasizes the importance of nurturing a client-centric culture.

Remember, patrons are more than transactions; they're individuals with their own stories and aspirations.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Simon Sinek's "Leaders Eat Last" is among the best books on simple leadership. Based on the premise that outstanding leaders give their team members' well-being the same priority as a family's own, the book tells a gripping tale about leadership.

To make his thesis in the book, Sinek uses a number of real-world examples, such as the U.S. Marines. He describes how effective leaders establish a "Circle of Safety" in which the people of their team feel encouraged, safe, and safe enough to put in their all. According to Sinek, leaders who truly care about their followers and prioritise meeting their needs will inspire outstanding performance, loyalty, and trust.

"Leaders Eat Last" conveys a clear yet impactful message through tales and anecdotes: being a leader is about accepting ownership of the welfare of those under your supervision, not about status or title. For anyone wishing to comprehend the fundamentals of good leadership and how it may develop a cohesive, driven, and productive team, Sinek's book is an invaluable tool.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Being empathetic and never ceasing to learn are two important pieces of advise for aspiring leaders. Always look for ways to broaden your horizons in terms of viewpoints, abilities, and information. Accept new challenges with open minds and a curious nature. Acquiring knowledge is an enduring pursuit that is essential for both individual development and enhancing leadership abilities.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

It doesn't have to be competition but rather collaboration.

The senior employee of our podcast production company was compelled to alter her leadership style due to an issue. The organisation was plagued by a high incidence of employee turnover as well as split teams that were always competing with one another for resources and recognition. The work environment has become toxic and unproductive.

Once I realised that something needed to change, I made the decision to advocate for a more cooperative culture. I began a series of steps:

A Common Goal: Developing Teamwork Skills: Benefits of Cooperation : Frequent Meetings Across Functions:

These adjustments have a significant effect on the business over time. Employees aggressively sought out opportunities to collaborate, fostering a more collaborative culture within the organisation.

These adjustments have a significant effect on the business over time. Employees aggressively sought out opportunities to collaborate, fostering a more collaborative culture within the organisation. After breaking down silos, the business started offering its clients more creative and integrated solutions. The company's standing in the sector rose, employee morale increased, and attrition rates dropped.