Mohit Lad is the co-founder of ThousandEyes, a Cisco company providing some of the largest brands more visibility into how customers and employees use their networks. On today’s episode, Jon Sakoda speaks with Mohit Lad on how founding a company was “plan C” and why it’s important to use his role as an advisor to fight for diversity in the tech industry. 

1. Tap Into The Scrappiness/Pressure For The Best Results [08:58-11:23] - Mohit tackled several challenges throughout his founder journey, from self-filing for a green card to rummaging through recycling bins for spare servers. However, he says these high pressure situations give him clarity. For founders facing roadblocks, listen to learn why hurdles could be seen as motivators.
2. Focus On Sustainability [22:38-25:43] - While many founders these days are focused on becoming a “unicorn” and securing multi-million dollar valuations, Mohit has made a conscious choice to grow sustainably. Instead of chasing higher valuations or rapid exits, Mohit grew his company at a sustainable pace to protect himself and his employees.
3. Use Empathy To Get Ahead [29:20-31:01] - Since Mohit and his co-founder were creating their own category, they had to use empathy to understand what potential customers needed and how to best fulfill their needs. Learn why being the first company to enter a space allows you to make meaningful connections with new customers.

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