Shruti Gandhi is a founder and managing partner at Array Ventures, an enterprise-focused early-stage fund. She gives us insights from her life’s journey. This interview was conducted by Sonal Chandna, a fellowship student at CSU East Bay.

Talk to us about Array Ventures and your journey throughout.

Shruti started her career as an engineer at a large enterprise and transitioned into a startup founder and investor. She worked for top tier venture capital firms before starting her own firm, Array Ventures.

What attributes do you look for when you make an investment in a company as well as in these start-up founders?

When it is about committing to make an investment in the company, three things that are non-negotiable on my list are technical skills, ability to sell, and teams’ expertise in the space the company is focused on.

In regard to the founding team, I look for a team that is agile, quick to learn and experienced.

Did you ever find yourself hitting a wall?

Definitely. It happens to the best of us! I tend to gravitate towards my goal and not focus on the blockers. My superpower is my ability to find an opportunity in any roadblock I encounter.

What were your childhood days like?

While growing up, both my parents were entrepreneurs. They instilled a sense of responsibility and independence. My parents always encouraged me to think out of the box and gave me the freedom to do things my way.

Do you believe that your South Asian heritage has influenced your leadership style in any way? Is so, how?

Without a doubt! My cultural background has had a huge impact on my decision-making ability. I will share a very interesting observation. When I go to India, I see various Indian women leaders on the covers of business magazines. What I find most interesting is that these distinguished leaders are often on magazine covers without any makeup. These business leaders are humble and modest, they are not at all worried about their looks, which I find very fascinating. This is what my South Asian heritage has made me so proud of. I do not have to look or speak in a certain way to fit into a society. It’s very liberating to accept myself for who I am and focus on bigger achievements that will leave a longer-lasting mark.

What is one piece of advice you have for the young women leaders/entrepreneurs?

I would say that all of you should keep one thing in mind — confidence takes its own time to build. So do not get overwhelmed if you are a shy person, do not fear and do take risks. Never underestimate your instincts and stand up for yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself then no one else will!