Скачать или смотреть Building a Startup vs Raising a Child | A Founder’s Fatherhood Shift | Dadsense Podcast

Building a Startup vs Raising a Child | A Founder’s Fatherhood Shift | Dadsense Podcast

In this episode of the DadSense Podcast, host Subhasis Mishra speaks with Shiladitya Mukhopadhyaya, a tech entrepreneur and business leader, about the surprising parallels between building startups and raising a child. Having been an entrepreneur since right after college, Shiladitya reflects on how his identity gradually shifted from “making something of himself” to nurturing his three-and-a-half-year-old son, Devan.
Shiladitya and his wife, Shai, became parents later in life after years of intense travel and career focus. The COVID-19 pandemic created an unexpected pause, giving them the space to turn inward and consciously decide that it was time to start a family. Shiladitya frames fatherhood as a startup journey in itself—full of learning, mistakes, pivots, and continuous iteration.
A major focus of the conversation is the intentional career decision Shiladitya made after his son’s birth. He stepped away from the unpredictable grind of early-stage startups and moved into a more structured role at Truecaller, prioritising work-from-home flexibility so he could be present during his son’s formative years. Within the family, he sees himself as the COO/CTO, executing and supporting his wife’s role as the “CEO” of the household.
He also shares a deeply personal parenting philosophy: “Be genuine.” Rather than using a baby voice or oversimplifying language, Shiladitya speaks to his toddler like an adult, trusting that children absorb authenticity even when they don’t fully understand the words. Fatherhood, he notes, has also reshaped his leadership style—making him more empathetic, emotionally aware, and attuned to the people he works with.

Key Discussion Points
• Parallels between startup life and fatherhood
• Becoming parents later in life and choosing readiness over pressure
• COVID as a forced pause and turning point
• Leaving startup grind culture for presence and predictability
• Redefining success after becoming a father
• Viewing parenting roles like a startup leadership structure
• “Be genuine” as a core parenting philosophy
• How fatherhood builds empathy in professional leadership

What to Expect
• Honest reflections on career identity and fatherhood
• A practical example of choosing presence without quitting ambition
• Startup metaphors applied to parenting decisions
• Insights on speaking authentically with young children
• A refreshing take on how parenting improves leadership at work

Final Takeaway for Fathers
Fatherhood doesn’t end ambition—it refines it. When you choose presence, authenticity, and intentional decisions, you don’t lose yourself; you become a better parent, partner, and leader.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Episode
00:58 Welcoming Shiladitya Mukkapadhyaya
02:18 Balancing Fatherhood and Career
07:10 Parenting During COVID-19
13:36 Embracing Parenthood Together
19:54 Career Choices Influenced by Fatherhood
25:21 Parenting Styles and Philosophies
42:29 Understanding Emotional Acknowledgement
43:05 Balancing Logic and Empathy in Leadership
44:28 The Importance of Soft Skills
50:22 Parenting Styles and Co-Parenting Dynamics
54:47 Physical and Mental Health for Effective Parenting
58:36 Work-Life Balance Strategies
01:03:28 Learning from Parenting Mistakes
01:12:05 The Impact of Fatherhood on Leadership
01:14:49 Embracing the Fatherhood Journey

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