In this episode of A Little Bit Radical, Rob is joined by Jambu Palaniappan, the CEO of Checkatrade, to discuss the evolution of the platform, the future of the UK tech sector, and his journey from Silicon Valley to leading a British startup. Jambu shares insights into the challenges and opportunities within the home improvement industry, his leadership philosophy, and how he balances ambition with effective decision-making. This conversation also delves into Jambu’s views on encouraging entrepreneurship in the UK and the importance of being comfortable with failure and ambiguity.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Jambu’s Background and Journey to the UK: From growing up in Silicon Valley to his early career at Uber, and what led him to Checkatrade.
- Leadership at Checkatrade: How Jambu approaches leading a well-established British brand with a focus on innovation, radical candour, and empowering his team.
- The Future of Checkatrade: Plans for expanding the platform’s value for both consumers and trade members, including the launch of a new consumer app and improved lead management tools for trades.
- UK Tech Sector and Entrepreneurship: Jambu’s optimistic view on the UK’s potential in tech innovation and the need for a cultural shift towards embracing risk and failure.
- Balancing Work and Life: Jambu’s personal routines, including fitness and family time, that help him maintain balance and focus as a leader.
- Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: The importance of writing down ideas to gain clarity and seeking feedback from industry experts to build conviction.
Memorable Quotes:
- "Comfort with ambiguity will get you really far—it's something we as a society need to get better at."
- "We have a responsibility to think bigger, to ask how we can create 10 times or even 100 times more value."
- "There's a lot of power in writing things down; it brings clarity and helps you gain conviction in your ideas."
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