From Engineer to Entrepreneur to CEO Coach: Lessons in Building and Exiting Businesses

Summary

In this episode of Driven by Purpose, Surabhi Shenoy — serial entrepreneur with two profitable exits — shares her journey from engineer to entrepreneur to CEO coach. She reveals the lessons learned from building, scaling, and selling two businesses, including the systems, mindset shifts, and strategies that help founders run their companies with clarity and confidence.

From bootstrapping to scaling, overcoming personal tragedy, and designing founder-free organizations, Surabhi offers hard-won insights for entrepreneurs who want both freedom and valuation growth.

About the Host

Sheconomy Podcast celebrates the rising influence of women in today's economy, featuring in-depth conversations with female leaders, founders, and changemakers. Each episode explores strategies, challenges, and successes shaping the future of women in business.

Key Takeaways

Engineer to Entrepreneur – Why great products aren’t enough, and how intentional business design drives growth.
Bootstrapping & Scaling – How to self-fund, grow, and maintain control without outside investors.
Values & Purpose – The difference between the two, and how they shape decision-making.
Navigating Crisis – Turning personal tragedy into accelerated learning and stronger systems.
The MIS Advantage – How one management report helped secure a company’s sale.
Investing in Yourself – Why the founder’s skills, mindset, and clarity directly shape the business’s trajectory.

About the Host

Timestamp

00:10 – Introduction to Surabhi’s journey
01:10 – From engineer to entrepreneur to CEO coach
02:55 – Bootstrapping and scaling businesses
04:00 – Values vs. purpose — and how they drive decisions
06:08 – Highlights from two business exits
07:33 – Facing the most challenging period in business and life
10:08 – Learning finance under extreme pressure
13:43 – The mentor’s advice that transformed decision-making
15:59 – Advice for early-stage tech founders
17:16 – The evolving role of tech founders and women in leadership
18:50 – Final thoughts on intuition, creativity, and empowering others

About the Host

Notable Quotes

“Values are who you are; purpose is what you aim to achieve in the world.”
“Trauma can accelerate your learning — if you decide to rise through it.”
“Your company is your reflection. If you grow, your company grows.”
“I promise founders: I will remove all randomness from your decision-making.”