Ashwin Damera is the Co-Founder and CEO of Eruditus, a worldwide leader in the $280 billion global professional education market.
He focuses his efforts on university outreach and academic collaborations; and spearheads strategy and expansion in global markets.
Ashwin started his career at Citigroup before going on to start Travelguru in 2005. Travelguru was acquired by Travelocity in 2009.
Ashwin is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Key Learning from Failing before Finding Success [02:06]
On the Importance of Timing [06:49]
Understanding Product-Market Fit [07:18]
The Importance of Ownership and Long-Term Focus[09:07]
Balancing Product Market Fit with Vision [10:20]
On Funding Patience [12:58]
The Disciplined Entrepreneurship Approach [14:02]
Steps to Disciplined Entrepreneurship [16:45]
The Best Form of Funding for a Startup [17:42]
Importance of Paying Customers [ 18:50]
Learning and Applying Concepts from World-Class Professors [19:26]
Prof. Vijay Govindarajan’s Three-Box Solution [ 19:50]
Thinking of the S-Curve [23:00]
Applying the Three Box Solution in Leadership Growth and Transition [25:13]
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s Learning Science approach [26:30]
Emerging aspects of Learning Science [29:00]
BOYT – The New Model of Corporate Upskilling [32:02]
Education – Giving vs. Receiving [33:40]
How Expectations from Learning are Changing [34:30]
Inspiration to Learn in the Early Days [35:15]
Learning to take risks after an MBA [37:20]
What is the Definition of Failure? [ 38:00]
Solving the “Good Education” crisis [ 39:34]
Internship with Dave Barger of Jet Blue [41:52]
How will the education business transform? [44:50]
How to achieve Work-Life Harmony? [48.15]
Connect with Ashwin
Online Masters in Computer Science from GeorgiaTech
Bill Aulet and Disciplined Entrepreneurship
Bill Aulet – MIT Sloan Faculty Directory
Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup
The Disciplined Entrepreneurship Website
Disciplined Entrepreneurship with Bill Aulet (Webinar)
Sanjay Sarma and the Theory of Dominant Design
Sanjay Sarma – MIT Mechanical Engineering Faculty Page
Vijay Govindarajan and The Three Box Solution
Vijay Govindarajan – Tuck School of Business Faculty Page
The Three Box Solution: A Strategy for Leading Innovation
The Three-Box Solution Playbook: Tools and Tactics for Creating Your Company’s Strategy
Beachhead Markets
Bill Aulet – What is a Beachhead Market?
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)
