310 Ranjay Gulati - Leaving a Lasting Impact through Podcasting & Deep Purpose

Episode Summary

Ranjay Gulati is a Professor at Harvard Business School, the best-selling author of Deep Purpose and the host of the Deep Purpose Podcast. Today, Ranjay joins the show to discuss purpose, intention, and the importance of studying problems that are important to the world. Ranjay shares his evolution as an author, his growth as a podcast interviewer and how he learned to genuinely listen.

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Key Takeaways

06:26 – Ranjay Gulati joins the show to reflect on his time at Harvard Business School, paying it forward, and the responsibility to educate leaders to make a difference in the world

14:49 – Purpose and how Ranjay’s upbringing impacted his journey

18:55 – The inspiration to write Deep Purpose and Ranjay’s evolution as an author

24:02 – Why Ranjay got involved in podcasting

28:07 – The pre-production process of Ranjay’s podcast and how he has grown as an interviewer

32:31 – How Ranjay defines success and what the future holds for him and his family

37:10 – Something Ranjay has changed his mind about recently and the most misunderstood thing about him

38:05 – Harry thanks Ranjay for joining the show and lets listeners know where they can go to connect with him and learn more about Deep Purpose

Tweetable Quotes

“I think it was a series of mishaps, accidents, curiosity and really serendipity that landed me where I am.” (07:51) (Ranjay)

“Our mission at Harvard Business School is to educate leaders to make a difference in the world. Of course every organization has a purpose, but we actually believe it. We really believe that we are privileged with the position and the resources made available to us and that with that privilege comes responsibilities. And our responsibility is to educate leaders to make a difference in the world. And it’s something that we take very seriously.” (10:38) (Ranjay)

“My world and how I grew up is a very important part of who I am. I learned about business from watching my mother. My mother was building a business while I was a kid. I got to watch from my living room - where she ran the business from - how a business gets started.” (17:58) (Ranjay)

“I was very fortunate to have amazing sets of advisors for my doctoral research. My one advisor shared his idea that you have to study important problems. And ‘important’ means important to the world. So, find what’s important in the world today.” (20:44) (Ranjay)

“I had to learn how to listen. I needed to learn how to ask probing questions. I needed to learn how to not interrupt. And I needed to genuinely listen. We listen, sometimes, to react. When I do that, I’m not really listening. I’m formulating the next question or the comment I want to make. Only when you genuinely listen can you get the other person to open up.” (29:22) (Ranjay)

“When you bring purpose or intention into your life, you can’t help but share it with others as well. But you can’t preach to others. I think everybody has to be ready and at the right stage in their life.” (36:33) (Ranjay)