Swanand Shetwal
Product Owner-Innovator
Could you give a brief account of your professional background and experiences? What is the motivation that fuels your daily routines?
As a tech enthusiast since childhood, I pursued Computer Engineering and leveraged my programming skills to impact the education and finance sectors for over a decade. As a Product Innovator for 4+ years, I have excelled in defining project parameters, crafting designs, and implementing innovative ideas while prioritizing user data and privacy. With 14+ years of industry experience, I have honed my skills in product strategy, development, customer success, and growth across diverse domains. My motivation lies in creating customer-centric solutions that solve real-world problems. I thrive on challenges, constantly pushing boundaries, and exploring new ideas with diverse teams. Fueled by excitement, innovation, and navigating the dynamic business landscape, I am passionate about making a positive impact through technology-driven innovation.
You possess about fourteen years of experience, how has been your path to success?
The path to success has not been without its share of challenges and learnings. My success mantra revolves around three key principles: vision, perseverance, and agility. Having a clear vision and setting strategic goals have been instrumental in guiding my decisions and actions. Perseverance has helped me overcome obstacles and setbacks and has enabled me to stay focused and committed to my goals. Agility,
both in mindset and approach, has allowed me to adapt to changing circumstances and seize opportunities. I believe that success is not a destination, but a continuous journey. It requires a growth mindset, a willingness to learn from failures, and the ability to constantly evolve and innovate. Being open to feedback, seeking mentorship, and investing in self-improvement has been crucial to my growth as an innovative leader.
Tell us about your leadership approach. What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow to lead your team?
My leadership approach is characterized by collaboration, empowerment, and servant leadership. I believe in fostering a culture of trust, inclusivity, and accountability within my team. I strive to create an environment where team members feel empowered to share their ideas, contribute their unique perspectives, and take ownership of their work. I believe in leading by example and being a role model for my team, demonstrating integrity, transparency, and empathy in my actions and decisions. I also believe in mentoring and coaching my team members, helping them grow professionally and unleashing their full potential. By aligning the team's goals with the organization's vision and providing them with the necessary resources and support, I strive to enable them to excel and achieve their best work.
Could you reflect on some of the toughest challenges you have encountered in your journey so far? How did you overcome them?
Of course, there were several that I encountered over the course of my journey, ranging from product failures and market disruptions to resource constraints and team dynamics. One of the most significant challenges has been creating a product market fit for the education domain while creating a powerful, effective, and affordable adaptive learning solution where I was navigating the competitive landscape of the Edtech industry, which is highly competitive and constantly evolving. I had to overcome regulatory hurdles, gain market traction, and build trust with customers, all while managing limited resources and tough timelines. Hence, I adopted an adaptive approach, embracing change and leveraging my team's strengths. I fostered a culture of innovation, encouraged creativity, and empowered my team to think outside the box. I also prioritized building strong relationships with
Embrace a growth mindset, be open to learning from failures, stay curious, adaptable, and take calculated risks
Tell us about your leadership approach. What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow to lead your team?
My leadership approach is characterized by collaboration, empowerment, and servant leadership. I believe in fostering a culture of trust, inclusivity, and accountability within my team. I strive to create an environment where team members feel empowered to share their ideas, contribute their unique perspectives, and take ownership of their work. I believe in leading by example and being a role model for my team, demonstrating integrity, transparency, and empathy in my actions and decisions. I also believe in mentoring and coaching my team members, helping them grow professionally and unleashing their full potential. By aligning the team's goals with the organization's vision and providing them with the necessary resources and support, I strive to enable them to excel and achieve their best work.
Could you reflect on some of the toughest challenges you have encountered in your journey so far? How did you overcome them?
Of course, there were several that I encountered over the course of my journey, ranging from product failures and market disruptions to resource constraints and team dynamics. One of the most significant challenges has been creating a product market fit for the education domain while creating a powerful, effective, and affordable adaptive learning solution where I was navigating the competitive landscape of the Edtech industry, which is highly competitive and constantly evolving. I had to overcome regulatory hurdles, gain market traction, and build trust with customers, all while managing limited resources and tough timelines. Hence, I adopted an adaptive approach, embracing change and leveraging my team's strengths. I fostered a culture of innovation, encouraged creativity, and empowered my team to think outside the box. I also prioritized building strong relationships with
potential customers and stakeholders, listening to their feedback, and iterating on our products and strategies accordingly. These experiences taught me the importance of resilience, perseverance, and adapt ability in the face of challenges, and reinforced my belief in the power of team work and collaboration.
What is the future destination you are heading towards?
As I look towards the future, my destination is to continue driving innovation and creating products that positively impact people's lives. I am committed to staying at the forefront of industry trends, leveraging emerging technologies, and embracing new business models to stay competitive and relevant. I also aspire to contribute to the growth and development of the industry by sharing my knowledge and experiences, mentoring budding leaders, and advocating for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Any advice would you give to budding industry leaders?
Based on my industry experience, here are some advice that I would like to give to budding leaders, Embrace a growth mindset, be open to learning from failures, stay curious, be adaptable, and take calculated risks. Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture, and build trust, inclusivity, and collaboration within your team. Be agile and adaptable, embrace change, and proactively seek new opportunities. Lead with integrity, and demonstrate authenticity, transparency, and empathy in your actions. Network and build relationships, build meaningful connections with peers, mentors, and stakeholders. Never compromise on quality and customer centricity, and prioritize delivering value to customers. Take care of yourself, prioritize selfcare, recharge, and maintain a worklife balance for effective leadership.
Swanand Shetwal, Product Owner-Innovator, Solifi
A seasoned programmer and product innovator with over 14 years of industry experience, specializing in product strategy, development, and customer success, he is passionate about creating customer-centric solutions and constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the ever-evolving tech industry. Having a strong background in Computer Engineering he had also leveraged his programming skills to make a meaningful impact in the education and finance domains.
Hobbies:Hiking, Reading, and playing video games.
Favorite Cuisine:I am a food enthusiast and enjoy trying different cuisines from around the world. However, if I had to pick one, I would say it’s Italian.
Favorite Book:The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Favorite Travel Destination: Minnesota Swanand
What is the future destination you are heading towards?
As I look towards the future, my destination is to continue driving innovation and creating products that positively impact people's lives. I am committed to staying at the forefront of industry trends, leveraging emerging technologies, and embracing new business models to stay competitive and relevant. I also aspire to contribute to the growth and development of the industry by sharing my knowledge and experiences, mentoring budding leaders, and advocating for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Any advice would you give to budding industry leaders?
Based on my industry experience, here are some advice that I would like to give to budding leaders, Embrace a growth mindset, be open to learning from failures, stay curious, be adaptable, and take calculated risks. Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture, and build trust, inclusivity, and collaboration within your team. Be agile and adaptable, embrace change, and proactively seek new opportunities. Lead with integrity, and demonstrate authenticity, transparency, and empathy in your actions. Network and build relationships, build meaningful connections with peers, mentors, and stakeholders. Never compromise on quality and customer centricity, and prioritize delivering value to customers. Take care of yourself, prioritize selfcare, recharge, and maintain a worklife balance for effective leadership.
Swanand Shetwal, Product Owner-Innovator, Solifi
A seasoned programmer and product innovator with over 14 years of industry experience, specializing in product strategy, development, and customer success, he is passionate about creating customer-centric solutions and constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the ever-evolving tech industry. Having a strong background in Computer Engineering he had also leveraged his programming skills to make a meaningful impact in the education and finance domains.
Hobbies:Hiking, Reading, and playing video games.
Favorite Cuisine:I am a food enthusiast and enjoy trying different cuisines from around the world. However, if I had to pick one, I would say it’s Italian.
Favorite Book:The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Favorite Travel Destination: Minnesota Swanand