How did she join Facebook's Co-Founder's Fund? || Ft. Lakshmi Naga Potluri - Entrepreneur, Investor

Episode 31 of our show, ‘Wiping out the Norm’ is out now!

Featuring: Lakshmi Potluri, Head of Asia Business Development at B Capital.

"To become a successful entrepreneur, you have to make choices such as missing family functions, PTA meetings, etc," says Lakshmi Naga Potluri.

➡️Aspiring engineer turned mathematics enthusiast, Lakshmi Naga Polturi, embarked on a remarkable journey that redefined her path.

➡️With an MBA from Columbia, she aced her way into the corporate world, landing her first job at Goldman Sachs after enduring ten rounds of rigorous interviews.

➡️Undeterred by challenges, Lakshmi co-founded Jabong, a pioneering e-commerce venture, and introduced the concept of in-house logistics—a milestone that revolutionized the retail industry.

➡️Currently, Lakshmi Naga Potluri dons the hat of a leading partner at B Capital, where she passionately supports startups from Israel and the UK.

➡️Her extensive experience and investment thesis reflect her keen eye for innovation, scalability, affordability, and a strong team.

➡️Reflecting on the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, Lakshmi sheds light on societal expectations and traditional gender roles that often hinder women from embarking on entrepreneurial paths.

➡️However, she firmly believes that with the right support from family and the courage to make tough choices, success is attainable.

➡️Lakshmi Naga Potluri eloquently states, "One should appreciate failures because it means you have had the courage & determination to keep trying & figuring out ways to achieve your goals."

Watch the full conversation of our founder Radhika Bajoria with Lakshmi Naga Potluri, and join us in celebrating the indomitable spirit of women entrepreneurs.

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0:00- Snippets of the conversation
2:10- Lakshmi's educational background
5:14- Her mentor
6:15- Becoming her mentor's assistant
6:26- The best advice she received from her mentor
7:02- Challenges faced while studying in Columbia
7:49- Experience as a leader in Jabong
10:39- Days in Jabong
13:05- Challenges faced in Jabong
17:33- From retail to media at senior position in Network18.
18:32- Things to be done to become the COO
19:45 - Moved from operator to investor
20:30- Her investment journey
22:56- Star performers as angel investor
24:14- Gender ratio as angel investor
25:20- Opinion about women entrepreneurs
28:10- Journey in B capital
29:47: Helping the company to grow.
31:41- Explicating about hiring strategies.
33:40- Investment thesis opportunities in India
35:28: Best and worst advice received
36:25- Most important questions asked by Lakshmi in life
36:43- Favourite childhood memories
37:24- Early Influencers in life
38:41- Sacrifices Lakshmi has made
39:23- How she met her partner
41:34- Conclusion