Bees, Behavior, and Business: The Challenges of Managing People

Dear Friends,

There is a popular adage: A bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1,000 flowers, and produces less than a teaspoon of honey. Honey bees can work up to 12 hours daily, depending on their role in the hive. The busiest hours are usually between 11 AM and 2 PM. Surprisingly, their organizational structure is amazing!

• Nurse Bees (1-10 days old)
Role: Care for the larvae.
Task: Feed the colony's most vulnerable members a protein-rich secretion to promote rapid growth.

• House Bees (11-20 days old)
Role: Maintain the hive's internal environment.
Task: Keep the hive clean and organized, ensuring an efficient and hygienic living space.

• Guard Bees (18-21 days old)
Role: Defend the hive.
Task: Station themselves at the entrance to repel predators and intruding bees.

• Field Bees (21-35 days old)
Role: Scout and forage.
Task: Search for new hive locations when needed and gather resources like nectar, pollen, and water.

• Older Bees
Role: Undertake high-risk tasks.
Task: Handle the most dangerous jobs, such as defending the hive and foraging far from safety.

Dynamic Roles and Survival: Worker bees adapt their responsibilities as they age, supporting every aspect of hive life. This division of labor underscores a bee colony's collective resilience and efficiency. Each role is indispensable, highlighting the interdependence that drives their survival.

Today, progressive organizations are struggling more with people than with processes or products! HR can be considered tougher than Finance, R&D, or Operations because it deals with the most unpredictable and dynamic resource in any organization: people. Managing human behavior, motivation, and performance presents unique challenges that make HR exceptionally complex.

Human Behavior is Unpredictable. This unpredictability adds to the complexity of conflict resolution. As intellectual levels grow in an organization, the rate of complexity increases even more.

Consider this typical HR problem statement today:

A highly productive and critical resource with the best credentials, working remotely on the organization's most crucial product with all sensitive data on their laptop, does not share knowledge or cooperate with peers, desires rapid career progression, occasionally falls sick, and is hence irregular in delivery. This employee perfectly matched the job description during recruitment but began exhibiting this indifferent behavior post-joining!

This scenario is not isolated. Many organizations worldwide are suffering from this syndrome! Fancy degrees often do not address individual behavior or cultural alignment. More knowledge does not guarantee sharing. The power of position does not guarantee loyalty.

As AI and automation progress, this challenge becomes even more crippling!

Do you also experience this in your circles? Do bees teach us any valuable lessons?

Ravi Saripalle

From Scepticism to Acceptance: An Intriguing Question Raised During My Talk at the World Health Innovation Forum

Dear Friends

I got an opportunity to present “Healing with Intelligence—The AI Doctor Will See You Now: Transforming Medicine Through Technology” at the World Health Innovation Forum happening at AMTZ, Vizag, between December 12, 2024, and December 14, 2024.

My presentation revolved around AI surveillance tools such as:

• COMPOSER (Sepsis Monitoring), deployed at UC San Diego Health.

• Google AI (Verily) for diabetic retinopathy, deployed at Aravind Hospitals in Madurai (Google is not charging for this and is yet to get certification from the Indian government).

I also discussed how, in the future, Doctor = Doctor + AI, supported by analogies. For example:

• How Arvind Sanjeev tweaked an old typewriter by connecting it to ChatGPT using a Raspberry Pi (a mini-computer). Arduino (microcontroller) allowed the typewriter to simulate key presses. Hence you speak to Typewriter. It writes the answer! This is also called a “Ghost writer”.

• Similarly, part of a doctor's knowledge in the future could come from an AI-trained model, making the equation Doctor = Doctor + AI validation.

Additional topics in the presentation included:

• 2024 AI trends setting the path for medical innovations.

• AI performance benchmarks vs. human performance on multiple tasks.

• The AI healthcare market outlook.

• The role of AI in science and medicine.

• AI ethics and controversies.

• A recommended framework for adopting AI in healthcare.

At the end of my presentation, I received an interesting question from a medical practitioner. She asked:

“Why have virtual tutors failed in education settings, even though many experimented with them during COVID-19, and why are people going back to the old-school model? Similarly, why is the remote health model failing, despite the availability of teleconsultation technology?”

It was an intriguing question, but there is no definitive answer at this stage. However, I shared my thoughts:

1. 50 years ago, part of entertainment included street dramas. These dramas were highly emotional and engaging at the time. Today, however, dramas are consumed virtually. As a society, we have come to accept the virtual format for this level of emotion.

2. Education, on the other hand, operates at an Emotion+ (Enhanced Emotion) level. Education is linked to livelihood and has a greater emotional and societal importance. Acceptance of virtual solutions in this domain, therefore, takes more time, and physical intervention is still often necessary.

3. Health operates at an even higher emotional level—Emotion++ (Peak Emotion). It concerns life itself, which is beyond livelihood. Hence, acceptance of virtual or remote health solutions takes much longer.

Eventually, when the performance of virtual AI solutions is on par with or better than human performance, society will likely accept these solutions. However, it will take time—it is a directional shift rather than an immediate one.

AI + Doctor = The Future of Medicine

Ravi Saripalle

Failure Conference!! Sounds Interesting!! You Heard Right!! Read This!

Dear Friends,

Occasionally, we hear about Success Meets! Whether it’s an organization or an individual, success is generally celebrated. My son or daughter got a UPSC Civils Rank, scored 99 percentile in JEE, ranked in the top 100 in NEET, cleared CA in the first attempt, the startup received seed funding, the organization completed one year, received an award, our movie ran for 100 days, and so on!

Have you ever celebrated failure? Have you ever attended a party hosted by parents because their son/daughter tried UPSC but failed? Have you been to a party hosted by parents because their son/daughter couldn’t get a JEE rank despite training from an early age? Rare, right? I admit that even I have never celebrated or attended such a failure meet, though I have personally failed multiple times and experienced the pain.

However, one of my admirers, Harish Hande, is organizing one such mega event (6-7 Feb 2024, IIM Bangalore)! It is all about organizational failure, and the name of the conference is “Impact Failure 2025 Experiences (impactfailure.org).” They are not asking you to submit your pitch deck or success mantra. Instead, they are asking you to submit your failure story:

“Share your failure story with us and contribute to a culture that can admit and learn from what did not work, one where failing and learning are shared and celebrated.”

Harish has been doing this for the last three events! His goal is, “Let us humanize it...so many youngsters can take the right path going forward” (LinkedIn: harish-hande-67b226).

You all should know about Harish. I met him only once at IIT Madras, probably 15 years back. However, his story inspired me a lot. If you read his LinkedIn, it is an interesting read. He passed out of IIT KGP (1986–90) BTech. He writes, “This is what my certificate says,” “Grade: With great difficulty.” Then, like a typical confused person, I spent somewhere between 3 to 5 years getting a Master’s and PhD. I surely recommend it if you think you have some years to decide what not to do.”

This shows his humility. In fact, Harish did his master’s degree and later a PhD in energy engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2011 (Asia’s Nobel Prize) for "his pragmatic efforts to put solar power technology in the hands of the poor through his social enterprise SELCO India.” Hande co-founded SELCO India in 1995, a social enterprise, to eradicate poverty by promoting sustainable technologies in rural India.

Despite his tall success, he writes of himself as:

Employee, SELCO – Not sure about what I do. Worked with creative people worldwide (mostly those who creatively created a career out of 'solving' poverty).

At the age of 25, I was a little fearful of sharing my failures, fearing it would ruin my career and life. At the age of 50, with a short stint left, there is nothing to lose. Today, I am happy to celebrate mentally and internally to start with! Thanks to Harish, we can glorify them too!

Are you ready to celebrate your failure?

Ravi Saripalle

Trash Talk: A Landfill’s Lament and Lessons for Us

Dear Friends,

Over the last few months, we have been gearing up for the International Conference on Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy. This week saw us fully immersed in the event execution, shedding light on one of the most pressing issues of our time: waste management.

Traditionally, our approach has been Extract-Produce-Consume-Dispose-Deplete. While production and consumption are vital for a growing economy, the last two steps—Dispose and Deplete—make this world increasingly unsustainable. To reverse this trend, we must embrace the Extract-Produce-Consume-(4R framework: Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle).

The Shocking Reality of Waste:

🌍 In Vizag, 24 lakh homes generate 1,200 metric tons of solid waste daily, including 400 tons of plastic waste, 200 tons of single-use plastic.

🌍 In India, 62 million tons of waste are produced annually. Of this, only 43 million tons are collected, and a mere 12 million tons treated, leaving rest to pollute our environment.

🌍 Globally, 42% of household wastewater and 73% of industrial wastewater were untreated in 2022, harming ecosystems.

If this trajectory continues, by 2030, waste will overpower us!

A Light-Hearted Yet Serious Tale: "Trash Talk"

Let me share a light-hearted story that underscores this serious issue.

In a quiet landfill, an old soda teased a worn-out shoe, "You’ve got no soul!" The shoe replied, "At least I’m not empty inside!"

Nearby, a banana peel sighed, "Stop arguing! We’re all stuck here together!"

As the sun rose, the sound of a recycling truck sparked hope.

The soda dreamt of becoming a shiny new car.

The shoe wished to turn into a soft playground mat.

The banana peel hoped to enrich soil as compost.

But their laughter turned to sadness. Trapped in the landfill, they whispered, "Even trash dreams of a second chance—please give us one!"

The story illustrates a simple truth: even waste carries potential. By choosing to reuse, repurpose, and recycle, we can ensure a brighter, greener world.

The next time you shop or discard something, remember the 4Rs. Reflect on your choices. Let’s ensure we leave our children a legacy of sustainability, not a burden of waste.

Together, we can create a future where every piece of trash fulfils its purpose.

Warm regards,

Ravi Saripalle

Zomato’s Chief of Staff Job Description Stunned the Corporate World! Will This Be a Future Trend?

Dear Friends,

Deepinder Goyal, Founder, and CEO of Zomato (80 million monthly active users in 2023, operating in 24 countries and 3,200+ cities, with 90 billion site visits, 1.4 million restaurants, 8,339 employees, revenue of ₹1,948 crores in December 2022, and $2.6 billion total funding according to feedough.com), recently posted an intriguing job description for the role of Chief of Staff.

Thousands of hiring announcements are made daily, but this post gained significant attention—and for good reason! It particularly resonated with me because the approach Deepinder shared is something I personally practiced 14 years ago.

Zomato is seeking a Chief of Staff to work directly with its CEO and help shape the company's future. The role is designed for someone eager to learn, empathetic, and committed to doing the right thing. It offers unparalleled growth, akin to a fast-track MBA, but with an unconventional first year: no salary and a required ₹20 lakh donation to Feeding India. Zomato, in turn, will contribute ₹50 lakh to a charity of your choice. From the second year, a competitive salary is guaranteed. Within 24 hours of this posting, more than 10,000 applications flooded in (source: NDTV.com).

Hearing about this unique job description took me back to my own journey. In 2010, I resigned from Wipro to establish the Centre for Innovation and Incubation in educational institutions when such concepts were almost non-existent in Indian Tier 2/3 colleges (except IIT Madras), and the idea of incubation centres was virtually unknown.

I visited several colleges and universities, pitching the idea, but initially faced rejection. Back then, I wrote countless postcards (as WhatsApp didn’t exist, and emails were rarely read) to the President, Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, HRD Ministry officials, vice-chancellors, institutional heads, and principals. Many institutions appreciated the concept and invited me as a speaker, but none were ready to implement it.

However, one institution's founder gave me an opportunity to experiment. For over nine months, I voluntarily worked without a salary because, like Zomato’s unconventional approach, I wasn’t entirely sure the idea would work. Later, I joined the institution full-time with an 80% salary cut compared to my Wipro role, as there was a significant gap between industry and institutional pay structures. I continued in this role for over 14 years.

When I read Zomato’s job description, it brought back those memories. I strongly believe this kind of approach is necessary at some point in one's career.

In my current role, I am handling Entrepreneurship Education (to build entrepreneurs) and Enterprise Education (to develop intrapreneurs—employees who think and act like entrepreneurs). In Europe, enterprise education is introduced at the school level. In India, however, it is still in its nascent stages. We are now experimenting with mandating enterprise education for all students in my organization—whether they study engineering, management, architecture, medicine, sciences, or social sciences. This initiative aims to nurture responsibility, customer centricity, effective communication, risk appetite, and business acumen.

Job descriptions like Zomato’s will likely become more common in the future. Building sustainable institutions requires more than glorifying entrepreneurs when businesses succeed or vilifying them when they fail. We need organizations with many leaders who take risks and work for satisfaction—not just high salaries, stock options, or perks. Institutions cannot be built solely on employee benefits, as these are tied to company profits.

Deepinder, I wish you all the best in finding your new Chief of Staff!

Warm regards,

Ravi Saripalle

The Cost of Wasted Time: A Reflection on Networking, Focus, and Productivity

Dear Friends,

Recently, I came across a post on X by Naval Ravikant that said, “Networking is overrated. Go do something great, and your network will instantly emerge.” He also mentioned, “Don’t spend your time doing meetings unless you really, really have to.”

He further elaborated, “Go do something great, and your network will instantly emerge. If you build a great product or get a good customer base, I guarantee you will get funded.”

I completely agree with this perspective and have closely observed some successful leaders who follow this principle purposefully. Naval’s advice is particularly relevant for startup founders. Often, we believe that consciously investing time in building a network is essential. However, such networks are rarely sustainable.

When you focus on doing excellent work, pursuing your passion, and helping others within your abilities and limitations, the network that naturally forms is the one that lasts. Beyond this, networks can become artificial and difficult to manage, draining your energy, resources, and emotions.

If you don’t maintain the network, some people might laugh at you, disconnect from you, or fail to reciprocate when you expect it. Instead, focus on your karma and let the rest follow naturally.

This principle applies equally to college students. I often observe students spending hours in coffee shops or casual hangouts. When you overhear these conversations, they are usually unproductive. While relaxation is essential, it should be meaningful.

It is disheartening to see students spending an average of 3-4 hours daily on platforms like Instagram, X, Snapchat, and YouTube. Many spend 1-2 hours gaming, and some get so involved in multiplayer games that they spend 4-5 hours daily.

Instead of engaging in focused, deep study, students often spend 1-2 hours in pseudo-study, distracted by their phones or multitasking. Casual hangouts can extend to 2-3 hours or more, while procrastination—whether through scrolling, daydreaming, or delaying tasks—can easily add up to 2-3 hours daily. In total, students may waste 5-8 hours daily on non-productive activities, depending on their habits.

Why It Matters

This wasted time could be better utilized in skill-building, learning, or creative pursuits. Procrastination often results in last-minute work, which increases stress and reduces the quality of output. Over months and years, the cumulative effect of wasted time leads to missed opportunities and delayed goals.

Do you, your friends, or your children find themselves falling victim to this time-wasting syndrome?

Ravi Saripalle
Views are personal

The Connection Between a Mother’s Kiss and a Newborn: Emotion, Science, and Sanatana Dharma

 Dear Friends,

 

Recently, a social media influencer shared a heartwarming video that captivated many. In the video, a newborn baby was crying while being held by a nurse. However, as soon as the baby was placed in the mother’s arms and received her first kiss, something remarkable happened: the baby immediately calmed down and seemed to crave more affection. The baby’s anxious expression was replaced with one of security and warmth, demonstrating the powerful bond between mother and child. Viewers were deeply moved, and many commented on the incredible impact of a mother’s touch.

 

One of my connections, Ravi Teja Akondi from Vizag, has dedicated his work to maternal and infant well-being through his startup, iMumz. Ravi holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Management from IIT BHU (2012–2017) and comes from a family of Ayurvedic physicians spanning five generations. Deeply committed to integrating traditional wisdom with modern practices, Ravi joined his family’s business, Teja Ayurveda Nilayam, in Yelamanchili near Vizag after graduating. In 2020, he co-founded iMumz with the goal of revolutionizing maternal healthcare. Today, the iMumz app has over 1.5 million downloads and more than 100,000 paid subscribers. Through his work, Ravi has contributed to improving maternal health and is inspiring more initiatives in this space, emphasizing the philosophy that prevention is better than cure.

 

iMumz shared an intriguing article titled, “Will Your Child Be Impacted by Meditating During Pregnancy? What Science Is Saying.” According to a University of California study involving 335 women, those who practiced meditation had fewer instances of low birth weight and premature births compared to those who did not meditate. Another study found that women who meditated during pregnancy had babies with higher Apgar scores—a measure of a newborn’s health, including complexion, pulse, reflexes, activity, and breathing. Additionally, research published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing highlighted that women who started a meditation routine early in pregnancy experienced reduced stress and anxiety, which ultimately strengthened the mother-baby bond and positively impacted the baby’s development.

 

While modern science has confirmed the benefits of maternal mindfulness, Sanatana Dharma recognized the significance of this connection long ago. One well-known story from ancient texts illustrates this: Prahlad, the devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, was questioned by his classmates in the gurukul about how he became so deeply devoted despite being born into a demon family. Prahlad explained that his father, 

Hiranyakashipu, had gone to perform penance to seek boons from Lord Brahma. During this time, Indra kidnapped Prahlad’s mother, Leelavathi. Sage Narada rescued her and took her to his ashram, where she stayed while pregnant with Prahlad. Narada would narrate stories of Lord Vishnu’s divine acts (leelas) daily. Although Leelavathi often fell asleep while listening, the unborn Prahlad absorbed Narada’s teachings with full devotion. Realizing this, Narada continued sharing these stories, becoming Prahlad’s spiritual teacher. This early exposure to divine teachings shaped Prahlad into a lifelong devotee of Lord Vishnu.

 

Ultimately, while science and emotion establish a connection between a mother and her unborn child, Sanatana Dharma has long emphasized this phenomenon. Science may initially seem to question these ancient beliefs but often ends up supporting them in different ways. In the end, believers and non-believers find common ground in acknowledging the profound bond between mother and child.

 

Do you believe in this connection, too?

 

Ravi Saripalle