Ep 47 w/ Geeta Manjunath - How to embrace ambiguity when you have a solid vision?

Attitude Makeover

Hi there, welcome to episode number 47! I’m beyond thrilled to be joined by Geetha Manjunath, Founder and CEO of Niramai Health Analytix, which is developing a novel solution for detecting early stage breast cancer using machine learning. Geetha is a researcher-turned-entrepreneur and is a genius with a holistic perspective and mindset that balances both these hats adeptly!

This conversation is about understanding the researcher mindset and how it translates to entrepreneurship, business and innovation. We go deeper as a researcher while building up as an entrepreneur. Geetha talks to us about her 25+ years journey and about how even as a researcher, she’s always been about making things work on the ground, realistically.

Simultaneously, we understand the gravity and the prevalence of breast cancer itself. “Today, breast cancer is the largest cancer killer in women in 159 countries.” Geetha provides insightful contextual data about the current scenario in India and globally, and her work is trying to move the needle. Further, we understand the multitude of processes that are involved in running a scalable business that caters to solving real-world problems.

Going beyond theory, we talk about comfort with ambiguity, tackling microtasks, trust and transparency. With main intent in place, she also shares her experience of dealing with the guilt of having other people sacrifice for your vision. “I am doing my best, I know, that’s what matters at the end of the day.” This one’s for all of us on a transformative journey, with a purpose. Tune in now!

0:00 Introduction

2:39 Introducing Geeta Manjunath

Founder of Nerumai, Geeta Manjunath is an entrepreneur from research background and this podcast aims to unfurl the intriguing mindset of a researcher

3:38 What does a researcher’s mindset look like?

The mind is an amalgamation of a plethora of things and we dive into how the world looks like from a researcher’s perspective

6:07 Going on a trek

Geeta compares research through an analogy of mountaineering

8:11 The first experience

Been a part of the first supercomputer commercial from India, Geeta talks about the challenges she faced along with some exciting things she learned along the way

11:25 The power of clarity

Some temporary destinations in our journey towards reaching our goals help us gain clarity

14:35 The first push

Geeta talks about what gave her the motive to plunge into researching breast cancer

18:37 Defining ambiguity

Ambiguity can mean different things to different people but we all need to learn how to deal with it nonetheless to fulfil our goals

21:56 Ambiguity in entrepreneurship

Every arena of life needs a little bit of a research mindset to overcome ambiguity

24:39 To assume or not to assume?

Clarity helps you understand which assumptions you need to take forward and validate and those which you need to strike off completely

26:10 The origins of Niramai

Geeta talks about how she began the journey of Niramai with the thought of just saving people

29:24 Inevitable dilemma of salary & opportunity

Sometimes one follows the other, the other times one needs to be prioritised over the other

32:10 The first pitch

A vision has many milestones and the first one is always powerful in deciding its course

34:07 Shifting lanes, switching gears

Transitions are always tough and uncertainties are something we need to learn to withstand, leaving behind previous identities

38:06 Reaching a milestone

Toiling through hardships certainly does pay off as Geeta recalls her first term sheet of a million dollars

41:27 Dealing with issues

Technology has advanced but it still carries disadvantages that cannot be avoided

42:49 How does Niramai do it differently?

Niramai’s methods take precautions into decreasing the risks while increasing the accuracy of measuring breast cancer

44:21 The kinds of accuracy

Geeta’s definition of accuracy through different research and studies

47:19 Regulations behind the process

With each idea to make the world better, there are countless regulations that people must consider

52:06 Getting into the complexities

There are several aspects one has to consider right from ethics to the different protocols of research

55:22 The process of patents

While there’s a sense of satisfaction in owning patents, the process in itself is very complex

59:29 Connecting child analogy to Niramai

Geeta explains how parents are important in the whole process

1:01:35 Nitty-gritty of clinical analytics

In clinical studies, AI is a boon but it also needs one to look at the scientific and medical aspects of different variables for decision making

1:05:06 Every minute matters

Whether it’s waiting for results or studying the results, each minute matters especially when there’s room for error

1:07:52 Complex algorithms of decision making

Each study has its complexities. The number of variables and their results contributes differently to the findings

1:09:23 Through the medical lens

Views clash and assumptions need to be dealt with delicately especially when scepticism is involved

1:12:18 Significance of results

Data from research is meant to be reviewed and only then can you clear the air for sceptics and their assumptions

1:18:50 Graduality of the process

Research is a process that needs to be approached in a gradual manner, starting from value propositions to what partners to choose for distribution

1:22:07 What call for action can you take?

Geeta talks about two call for actions that we can take to increase awareness about breast cancer through regular screenings and doing a surface examination every month as well as having the confidence to take the jump

1:27:43 Urging HR in CSR space to take necessary steps

1:29:06 One coin, two sides

With partnerships, differences in opinion are bound to follow. Geeta talks about how one can navigate through partnerships and manage certain dilemmas

1:33:54 Pressures of emotions & environments

From emotions to the environment you’re surrounded in dealing with investors, differences are a tough aspect of partnerships

1:37:58 Looking at the past self

Geeta talks about how she has changed in her journey from being a researcher to an entrepreneur

1:40:31 What does attitude makeover mean to Geeta?

For Geeta, it’s about space free from judgements, giving the best in what you do

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Audio version of the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/15qNxNpjPlBclAnWRNm4aV