5 May 2025 – Monday: 6:45 to 7:45 pm IST

Entrepreneurial traits, behaviors, Founders Mindset
Moving from Employee/Student to Founder.
Why do Startups Fail?

Trainer: Ravikanth Jagarlapudi, Sai Sudha Nunna

Session Overview:

This 1-hour session will focus on equipping participants with the core principles and mindset required to succeed as an entrepreneur. Through a balanced approach, we will explore both the theoretical foundations of entrepreneurship and the practical realities of leading a startup. I will draw on my personal journey as the founder of Sai Acuity Institute of Learning Pvt Ltd, weaving in both my successes and failures, to provide authentic and insightful lessons.

The session will be structured to provide a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset, practical steps for overcoming common challenges, and the psychological tools necessary for sustained entrepreneurial success.

Session Objectives:

1. Empower Participants with the Entrepreneurial Mindset:
   • Understand the critical psychological and emotional traits that differentiate successful entrepreneurs from others.
   • Foster a mindset of resilience, perseverance, and problem-solving that can be applied immediately to their ventures.
2. Provide Real-World Insights and Practical Tools:
   • Share tangible tools and strategies for handling uncertainty, risk, and failure — essential components of entrepreneurship.
   • Provide actionable takeaways that can be implemented immediately in their ventures.
3. Foster Leadership and Strategic Vision:
   • Develop a vision for leading by example, fostering creativity, and maintaining a focus on long-term growth while handling day-to-day challenges.
   • Empower participants to embrace strategic risk-taking and make decisions aligned with their purpose and goals.
4. Encourage Continuous Learning and Adaptation:
   • Cultivate a growth mindset where continuous learning, adaptability, and iteration are seen as opportunities for growth, not setbacks.
   • Instill the importance of mentorship, networking, and learning from others to speed up entrepreneurial growth.

Session Structure:

1. Introduction & Setting the Context (5 minutes):
   • Personal reflection: My entrepreneurial journey — highs, lows, and the lessons learned.
   • Brief discussion on the importance of mindset in entrepreneurship.
2. Defining the Entrepreneurial Mindset (10 minutes):
   • Key components of the entrepreneurial mindset.
   • The psychology of a successful entrepreneur: Resilience, Vision, and Flexibility.
   • Real-world examples of entrepreneurs who’ve navigated challenges by cultivating the right mindset.
3. Key Mindsets for Success (20 minutes):
   • Growth Mindset: Why your ability to adapt and learn is more important than initial success.
   • Risk-Taking & Decision-Making: How to develop a strategic approach to risk and handle uncertainty.
   • Perseverance in the Face of Failure: The ability to bounce back from setbacks, failures, and difficult decisions.
   • Passion and Purpose: The deeper “why” behind your entrepreneurial journey.
4. Practical Insights from My Experience (15 minutes):
   • Lessons from Sai Acuity: The real-time challenges I faced, and how my mindset evolved through those phases.
   • Navigating the early startup hurdles: Strategy, execution, and the role of adaptation.
   • Handling failure: How to pivot when things don’t go according to plan.
   • Leadership and Collaboration: The importance of building a team, fostering a collaborative environment, and learning to delegate.
5. Interactive Q&A and Open Discussion (10 minutes):
   • Address any doubts and questions from the participants.
   • Open the floor for a feedback loop — encourage participants to share their thoughts and insights on how they plan to apply the entrepreneurial mindset principles to their ventures.

Key Takeaways:

1. Resilience and Adaptability: Successful entrepreneurs don’t avoid failure; they learn from it and pivot. They treat setbacks as stepping stones to success.
2. Purpose-Driven Mindset: Your why keeps you going when the road gets tough. Entrepreneurs who align their work with a deep sense of purpose will find ways to persevere.
3. Continuous Growth: Entrepreneurs are lifelong learners. Developing a growth mindset is essential for long-term success.
4. Strategic Risk-Taking: Learn to embrace calculated risks. The right mindset allows you to make informed, bold decisions.
5. Leadership through Service: True leadership comes from the ability to serve others, build relationships, and empower teams.

By the end of this session, participants will have a clear understanding of what it takes to build the entrepreneurial mindset and will leave with actionable tools and strategies that they can implement immediately. More importantly, they will understand that entrepreneurship is not just a business venture; it is a continuous journey of personal growth, learning, and transformation.