No Boxes: Just Verses
No Boxes: Just Verses is where inspiring leaders reveal the songs and stories that shaped their journey. Join host Shannon Nash, a global C-suite leader, attorney, and CPA, as she goes beyond titles and trophies to explore the moments that truly defined today's top executives, entrepreneurs, and artists.
Each episode is a deep dive into a guest's personal "Leadership Playlist," uncovering the pivotal lessons and life-changing moments tied to the music that moved them. From career breakthroughs to personal reinvention, we explore the authentic, unboxed stories behind extraordinary success.
This isn't your typical leadership podcast. It's a rich blend of leadership development, personal storytelling, and musical discovery. Whether you're an aspiring leader, a seasoned executive, or simply a music lover, you'll find powerful insights and a vibrant community here.
Come for the stories, stay for the playlist. Subscribe now and join us as we redefine leadership, one verse at a time.
No Boxes: Just Verses
Vishal Verma On Being 2 Legit 2 Quit: Indian and Silicon Valley Roots, Family Office Growth, And The Rise Of Sidebar Summit
In this inspiring episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we sit down with the influential investor and entrepreneur, Vishal Verma. Are you a leader trying to navigate the high-risk world of venture capital, overcome self-doubt, or find a deeper mission in your work? Vishal's journey is a powerful testament to the value of immigrant work ethic and the idea that "failure is not an option". From his family's humble beginnings to building a global investment firm and championing education at UC Merced, this conversation reveals the mindset and persistence needed to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond.
Vishal Verma is a General Partner at Edgewood Ventures, LLC. and Redwood Collective, LLC. He has invested in 17 top-tier venture capital and private equity firms, and holds stakes in over 20 private companies including Wiz, Anduril, Antropic, Glean, and Mistral. Vishal is a Senior Advisor to Honorable Dick Gephardt and Honorable Secretary Michael Chertoff on International Strategy, and the founder of Sidebar Summit. He is an active member of The Chicago Club, The Indus Entrepreneurs, the US India Cyber-security Track 1.5 Dialogue hosted by CFR and ORF, the Board of Trustees of the University of California at Merced, the Leadership Council at the RFK Foundation, and Best Buddies. While pursuing his MBA at Chicago Booth, Vishal founded Hyde Park Angels. He holds a B.S. in Marketing from Santa Clara University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Key Takeaways:
- The "Too Legit to Quit" Mindset: Vishal's immigrant father, who arrived in the U.S. with $8, instilled an unwavering work ethic, teaching him that failure is not an option.
- The Power of Relationship Building: An early internship helped Vishal, a self-described high school introvert, master crucial relationship-building skills for business and life.
- Growth is Slow, Death is Fast: Vishal learned from the dot-com and telecom busts that startups must focus on making money, conserving cash, and building strong fundamentals to survive.
- Education is the Equalizer: Vishal believes education solves global problems and supports UC Merced to create generational change in immigrant families.
Vishal’s journey is a powerful reminder that you are the fabric of the innovation ecosystem—and you belong. What small impact will you make today to contribute? Join his community by checking out his Sidebar Summit.
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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)