Podcast Summary: “3 More Questions (Sanjit Biswas)”

Podcast: How Leaders Lead with David Novak
Host: David Novak, with Koula Callahan
Date: June 23, 2025
Guest Referenced: Sanjit Biswas, Co-founder & CEO of Samsara

Overview

In this episode of “How Leaders Lead,” David Novak and Koula Callahan present the “3 More Questions” segment, reflecting on the main lessons from David’s interview with Sanjit Biswas. Sanjit, a serial entrepreneur, successfully built two billion-dollar businesses, and his approach to leadership—in particular, his unique blend of engineering mindset, focus on discipline, and relentless customer orientation—serves as the basis for this discussion. David and Koula explore how leaders can foster innovation, embed discipline into teams, and create a culture deeply attuned to customer needs.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Curiosity and the Power of Boredom

(Timestamps: 01:28–03:37)

• Sanjit advocates for intentionally taking time to “get bored” as a catalyst for curiosity and innovation.
• David’s Perspective:
  • David highlights the importance of being an “active learner,” always waking up with a mindset of discovery and making connections (pattern thinking).
  • Memorable Analogy: “Basically have the mind of a child… they go into a new environment, they go in fresh because they haven’t lived it yet.” (David Novak, 02:42)
• Koula’s Reference:
  • She cites Juliet Funt’s White Space at Work to reinforce the view that time for reflection doesn’t just happen—it must be purposefully blocked out.
• Leadership Takeaway:
  • Making space for personal reflection fuels creativity, allowing leaders and teams to approach challenges with fresh perspectives.

2. Organizational Discipline and Culture

(Timestamps: 03:54–06:34)

• Sanjit attributes Samsara's long-term sustainability to discipline across all business functions.
• David’s Perspective:
  • He draws parallels between high-performing sports teams and “dynasty companies,” emphasizing routine, process, and consistent execution.
  • Anecdote: At Yum! Brands, tracking and refilling the new product pipeline was a disciplined, systematic process:

    “If we saw that we were getting a little bit dry, I guarantee you things heated up and we started developing more new products and getting more new products in the test…” (David Novak, 05:23)

• Shared Code:
  • Koula notes that for Sanjit, discipline isn’t just a top-down edict—it’s woven into a “shared code,” much like David’s “how we work together” principles.
  • Culture is actively reinforced via communication, recognition, and daily operational methods.

3. Customer Obsession: “Big Eyes and Big Ears”

(Timestamps: 06:34–08:47)

• Key Concept:
  • Sanjit encourages his team to approach customer interactions with “big eyes and big ears,” meaning they both observe (eyes) and listen (ears) deeply.
• David’s Reaction:
  • David is so taken with the phrase that he jokes about adopting it as his own mantra:

    “If there’s one thing that everybody should take from this podcast, in my opinion, is that. Yeah, because it’s such a simple way to think about what you have to do as a leader. Big eyes and big ears. That’s powerful.” (David Novak, 07:51)

  • Being present with customers—seeing their reality and listening to their feedback—enables proactive problem-solving and builds loyalty.
• Koula’s Visualization:
  • She finds the mental image of a “cartoon character with gigantic eyes and gigantic ears” helps her focus on being truly observant and attentive in her own customer meetings.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Curiosity:
  • “Basically have the mind of a child… they go in fresh because they haven’t lived it yet.” —David Novak (02:42)
• On Discipline:
  • “Dynasty performing companies...they have process and discipline around what really matters.” —David Novak (04:20)
• On Culture:
  • “He’s got process and discipline around the culture. The culture doesn’t happen by accident.” —David Novak (06:12)
• On Customer Focus:
  • “Big eyes and big ears. If there’s one thing that everybody should take from this podcast… that’s powerful.” —David Novak (07:51)
• On Visualization:
  • “I had this vision in my mind of this little cartoon character with gigantic eyes and gigantic ears, and I just love that visual.” —Koula Callahan (08:36)

Important Timestamps

• 01:28 — Sanjit’s approach to making space for curiosity and innovation
• 03:54 — Discipline as the foundation for sustainable high performance
• 05:23 — David’s analogy of tracking the product pipeline at Yum! Brands
• 06:34 — Discussion of “big eyes and big ears” customer philosophy
• 08:36 — Koula’s visualization of the customer-focus mantra

Flow & Tone

Throughout the episode, David and Koula balance admiration for Sanjit’s technical and entrepreneurial prowess with actionable advice for listeners. The tone is energetic, friendly, and reflective, with practical wisdom and light-hearted banter that bring the leadership lessons to life.

This summary provides a comprehensive breakdown of the episode’s leadership insights, memorable moments, and practical takeaways—ideal for leaders seeking inspiration from innovative business minds like Sanjit Biswas.