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Yamini Rangan

Hubspot, CEO
EPISODE 161

Fortune favors the focused

As a leader, you’ve got a LOT of things vying for your attention.

How do you know what deserves your time and focus … and what doesn’t?

Today’s episode will help you answer that big question!

David is joined by Yamini Rangan, the CEO of HubSpot, a popular online CRM platform that’s growing by leaps and bounds.

A big reason for HubSpot’s success is the clear sense of focus that Yamini has instilled to help everyone make better decisions and prioritize the right opportunities. 

In fact, Yamini even has a phrase for it: fortune favors the focused.

The way you apply your attention and focus has a huge bearing on the results you can achieve.

So if you’re feeling spread a little thin, or you’re just not sure what you need to be focused on right now to really move the needle for your organization, then you’re going to love this episode!

You’ll also learn:

  • Your most strategic tool in leadership (this one will surprise you!)
  • A paradigm-shifting way to think about company culture
  • Practical advice for shifting out of functional roles into management
  • A helpful mindset to overcome imposter syndrome
  • Fresh ideas to put customers at the center of your business

Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go 

Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day

Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

More from Yamini Rangan

Treat your culture like a product
Treat your culture like a product and evolve it just like you would evolve your primary products. That way you stay aware of what needs to change in order to maintain a healthy and positive work environment for your employees.
Make connections across departments
When you expand your leadership capability beyond just your functional expertise and learn to connect the dots across departments, you'll create more opportunities to progress in your career.
Fortune favors the focused
Leaders that say no to "good" ideas enable their teams to execute on "great" ideas.
The #1 skill a new manager needs
To be a better manager, ask thoughtful questions instead of trying to have all the answers. That’s how you lead people to find solutions for themselves.
Start with the future and work backwards
In a new role? Don’t get bogged down by where you are. Focus on what you want the future to look like, and then figure out what it will take to get there.
Think of your culture as a product to develop
Your organization’s culture is like a “product” for your employees. Listen to what they’re asking for, and then keep iterating and building your culture around it.
Play to your strengths
It’s okay if you don’t have the same skill set as everyone else. Just take the time to understand what you're uniquely good at. Then, lean into it!
Solve for the customer and you'll be rewarded
Make decisions with the best interests of your customers in mind. When you take care of customers, things have a way of working out everywhere else.
Be vulnerable about what you don't know
You don’t need to have all the answers. In fact, being upfront about where you need help sets a powerful example of curiosity and humility for your team.
The power of presence in work-life balance
Focus less about “balancing” work and life and more on being present wherever you are, whether it’s in a meeting or with your loved ones.

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Short (but powerful) leadership advice from entrepreneurs and CEOs of top companies like JPMorgan Chase, Target, Starbucks and more.

Clips

  • Broaden your perspective when you change roles
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Start with the future and work backwards
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Play to your strengths
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • The #1 skill a new manager needs
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Make connections across departments
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Embrace your own authentic style
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Be vulnerable about what you don't know
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Let growth opportunities guide your career path
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Know what principles guide your career decisions
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Solve for the customer and you'll be rewarded
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Think of your culture as a product to develop
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Your calendar is your most strategic tool
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • The power of presence in work-life balance
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO
  • Fortune favors the focused
    Yamini Rangan
    Yamini Rangan
    Hubspot, CEO

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