I'm Lakshman. Born in India, built my career in Silicon Valley. Employee #17 at Avi Networks, helped scale the product and team through VMware acquisition and Broadcom integration. 18+ years in tech, recently completed MBA at Wharton (the best business school in the world), and eventually found the courage to walk away from the corporate job and explore the two sides of entrepreneurship - investing and building. What Shaped Me My recent Wharton MBA taught me the courage to take the first step, stepping out of comfort zone, following my conviction and to communicate authentically. But most importantly, it showed me the power of being surrounded by people who elevate you, challenge you, and push you to grow - something I try to bring to every conversation now. Leading 2000+ volunteers in non-profit work taught me more about people management than any corporate training. Running 30+ half/full marathons showed me that big goals happen one step at a time. Raising two boys keeps me grounded in what actually matters. After navigating multiple transitions - IC to manager, startup to corporate, employee to entrepreneur - I've learned that most tough decisions aren't about finding the right answer. They're about finding clarity on what matters to you! I can help with • IC to management, Career transitions • MBA decisions: Is it worth it? Executive vs full-time, surviving while working • Tech/AI brainstorming • Angel investing, Startup evaluation • Team building, Leadership challenges • Marathon training, fitness • Non-profit consulting, leadership without authority • Parenting ... Or just being a sounding board