#35: Padma Warrior, Founder and CEO of Fable — The reverse journey of grown-up to start-up, what to unlearn to become a founder, how to get your initial hires onboard, and rituals that build culture

Padmasree Warrior is the Founder, President and CEO of Fable, a mobile-first company that brings stories to everyone, anywhere. Previously, Padma was the Chief Executive Officer of NIO U.S., Chief Development Officer and Board Member of NIO Inc., a manufacturer of smart, electric, and autonomous vehicles. In this role, she scaled the company from start-up to a successful IPO NYSE:NIO in 3 years.Our conversation was truly fascinating! We discuss her reverse journey from grown-up to start-up, what she had to unlearn from a large corporation to become a start-up founder, how you can get your initial hires onboard, and the rituals that build a strong company culture.To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast!What inspired Padma to become an entrepreneur?(03:36)What she had to learn and unlearn when she went from being in a large company to becoming a start-up founder (06:14)Tips to help you when hiring team members for your start-up (09:28)What Fable does (14:45)Why Padma started Fable (15:45)The definition of company culture (22:48)Why investing in company culture is important for your start-up (23:36)The difference between hiring for experience and hiring for expertise (28:37)The ‘Fika’ ritual and why it is a powerful ritual for developing the company culture (33:12)Why she bans talk about work inside the Fika ritual (36:03)What it actually means to bring your whole self to work (40:40)How Padma made a mindset shift from a problem solver to someone who helps other people solve problems (44:35)The decision-making framework she uses in her staff meetings at Fable (49:20)The difference between being on a board and being on a management team (52:30)3 Things you should consider before you become a board member (54:36)What Padma has learned from her board roles at Microsoft and Spotify (56:31)Her experience with the impostor syndrome (59:38)What Padma wishes she had known earlier on her journey (1:02:58)Her advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (1:04:05) Remember to Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share! Connect with Padma!Follow Padma Warrior on:Website: https://fable.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/padmasree-warrior-9917a26b/Twitter: https://twitter.com/PadmasreeConnect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohn Twitter: @alisacohn Facebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/ Website: http://www.alisacohn.com Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from AmazonLove the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!