Hello Readers!
We are back with another set of handpicked articles that we hope will add value to your life. We are covering topics around inclusion at the workplace, GPUs that power the AI revolution, work-life balance at work, iPhone manufacturing in India and inside the mind of Ravichandran Ashwin.
Full article links are added as hyperlinks to the title. Happy reading!
Recommentary’s 5 Top Recommendations!
Article - The majority of workers cover their identities in some way.
"We encourage you to bring your authentic self to work."
We all have heard this at some point in our lives. Either at an HR presentation or an organisational pitch in a recruitment drive. Ever wondered how it manifests around us? This excellent piece by Kristen Parisi explains a behavioural phenomenon called 'covering', which happens when an individual acts to downplay or make a known identity less obtrusive at the workplace. These acts of covering suffocate the employees who end up not bringing their authentic selves to work. Employees are commonly found to be covering their appearance, identity, affiliation or association. Needless to say, covering their authentic selves negatively affects employee motivation and performance. A potential solution is to encourage leaders to be vocal about their covering experiences and how they've managed to overcome them. So the next time, if you're in a situation in which you feel that your speaking up, can make a difference for your colleague, be their ally!Article - How Jensen Huang’s Nvidia Is Powering the A.I. Revolution
A fantastic piece about how Jensen Huang's Nvidia is powering the Generative AI revolution through its supercomputing capabilities. Nvidia's case is an example of having a leader who was visionary enough to spot an opportunity and an organisation which was agile enough to pivot to realise that vision.
Article - The Work Week That Never Ends – Our Collective Affinity to Working More!
My response to #70-hourworkweek debate. Here is my unfiltered take. In this piece, I try to answer the following questions:
- Does India require a 70-hour work week to drive its economic growth?
- Are we defining the idea of ‘growth’ too narrowly?
- Is it sustainable to work 70 hours a week?Article - Inside Foxconn’s struggle to make iPhones in India
What goes inside the workplace of the Chinese manufacturing giant, Foxconn which has set up a factory unit in the outskirts of Chennai to manufacture iPhones? Sure, India offers the advantage of cost-effective labour but what about the cultural complexities that come with them? The article explores the struggles of the employer who had limited experience in managing an Indian workplace within a predominantly Chinese manufacturing culture of working faster and harder.
Podcast - Interview with Ravichandran Ashwin
"Always listen to people who tell you things you don't want to hear. They are your best teachers."
As Ravichandran Ashwin was saying this, one could easily find them going back to his highlight reels and realised he meant it 100%. Whether it be constantly improving his action, studying the science of spin bowling or trying to understand how conditions influenced the bowling, one could easily say he was the epitome of what one could call the 'thinking cricketer'. In this fantastic interview, he recollects a point in life at which he had to choose between either becoming a top-order batter or a full-time off-spin bowler. He chooses to become the latter knowing very well that chances of making it into a team are far higher if he's one. For those who are students of economics, it would remind them of David Ricardo's comparative advantage theory (choosing to specialise in one, despite both options being sellable) and the fan in me likes to believe, Ashwin would have thought of that too.
Photo of the day!
Chitradurga Fort - A fort that saw more than 4 dynasties ruling it - Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Nayakas, Hyder Ali. Culminating in a cultural melting pot of architectural styles and religious establishments. 4 hours from Bangalore!
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