Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Deepika Phakke. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Deepika, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
My dad hates risk, but my mom is a daredevil. So, naturally, I’m both of them at the same time – one body, two conflicting personalities. Inherently, I dislike risks. If I could, I’d be a monk, living in some hidden corner of the world, reading books all day. But then, there’s this ambitious side of me that wants to make an impact, find a purpose beyond myself, and quench my insatiable thirst for knowledge.
Living in this duality is a blast – until it’s time to execute those big, audacious goals. It’s daunting at first, but oh, so worth it.
I grew up in India as a timid, introverted kid with one close friend in school. I spent my time studying, acing exams, and embracing my inner nerd. Going to an all-girls school and university didn’t exactly prepare me for landing a job at Google in India, where I suddenly had to interact with actual people (there were no more books to hide behind).
It was a challenging time, but as the days went by, my drive and willingness to learn and grow connected me to people and opportunities that made the risk of putting myself out there worth it. When I got a job offer from Google to move to their San Francisco office, I was beyond ecstatic.
For the first time in my life, I got the freedom I had always dreamt of, and to this day, I don’t take it for granted.
Being grateful for the life and freedom I have often makes me question: Is this the best I can do with my time? Is this the best I can do with my life? The answer usually involves doing things I’m not currently doing – which often means taking risks and stepping out of my comfort zone, which doesn’t come naturally to me.
At least, that was the case initially. So, consciously or unconsciously, I started setting goals outside of work that would give me ample practice taking risks and pushing boundaries. Here are a few highlights:
> Jumping out of an airplane despite a fear of heights (Yes, I’m serious)
> Getting caught in a snowstorm on Kilimanjaro – taking 18 hours to come down (Talk about a cold shoulder!)
> Not dying, thankfully, while in an accidental airplane spin while practicing a maneuver as a student pilot (Phew!)
> Traveling the world, about 41 countries, mostly by myself (Travel buddy, anyone?)
> Finding myself on the edge of a cliff in Australia – cliff jumping despite not knowing how to swim (I’m still working on it!!)
None of these were easy, but over time, the thrill of these experiences outweighed the logical risks, and I started to accept the latter as part of the process. It’s experiences like these that have shaped who I am and helped me push boundaries at work.
If I can survive that summit on Kilimanjaro, I can definitely convince people to choose plastic-free bottled water.
Whether it’s jumping out of a plane, climbing a 19K-foot mountain all by myself, or leaving a cozy big tech job to start a business I know nothing about – I’ve developed a formula that helps me navigate risks despite the conflicting push-and-pull forces within.
So, what’s the formula?
Step 1: Set a big, urgent, and ambitious goal (and then don’t just sit on it).
Example: Doing a Ted Talk in 6 months from now: Dec 2024
Step 2: Set a deadline for deliberation – logically going through pros and cons and all the risks involved. Most importantly, write down things that will keep you from moving forward. Preferably within 24 hours.
Example: Fear of public speaking, ESL, speaking too fast, feeling like an imposter – make a list, spend ~an hour contemplating and then keep it aside
Step 3: Get over it; Commit.
Example: Sign up and announce.
Step 4: Get clarity – prepare.
Example: Make a plan – work on it – get help.
Step 5: Do it and repeat.
Ultimately, for me, it was acknowledging that the pain of not taking a risk is worse than taking action to mitigate it. Now, I see risk as just another step in the process of achieving my dream state.
Keep pushing boundaries until there are none – or until you find yourself on the edge of yet another cliff, ready for the next jump!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m Deepika Phakke, the founder of Nama Water, a sustainable bottled water company dedicated to making a difference.
I spent over a decade at Google, growing and scaling the $30 billion video ads business. But during the pandemic, something didn’t feel right (and it wasn’t just COVID). I kept asking myself – is this the best I can do with my time? What do I really want?
I grew up in Hyderabad, a bustling city of 10 million people in South India. Despite its size, we didn’t have the luxury of running water like many American homes do. Huge tankers would bring water to our neighborhood, and my family and I would carry buckets back home.
Even though I was only 8 years old and didn’t have to carry the heaviest loads, experiencing water scarcity firsthand left a mark on me. I learned early on to see water with Respect.
When I first moved to America, I was amazed by the ease with which people could access safe drinking water. Just turning on a tap and having clean water flow out was something I had never experienced before. In many parts of India, including my hometown, this remains a distant dream. And it’s not just India – water shortages are becoming more widespread across the world. This instills a deeper sense of responsibility in all of us to better manage the resources we have today for future generations.
Combining my values of treating water with respect + my passion for cutting down on plastics in our lives, Nama Water was born.
“Nama” in Sanskrit means Respect. I started Nama Water to help you live joyfully and sustainably.
What drives me? The way we’re going, we’ll leave a plastic planet behind. Plastic is literally everywhere: the clouds above Mt. Fuji, raining down in the Grand Canyon, the deepest point in the ocean, in Antarctica, inside whales, human blood, our lungs, breast milk, etc. I am grateful my job at Google got me from India to the US, but to create a world where our future kids don’t face the same problems I did at 8, I decided to start with Nama Water – creating simple solutions for a better us and a better planet.
I quit my job in Q4 2022 to work on Nama Water full-time. We’ve been in business for about two years, primarily focusing on the SF/Bay Area. And are SO excited to launch in NYC this month and nationwide starting July 2024!
Through Nama Water, we aim to make it easy for you to incorporate sustainability as a part of your everyday life. We do the hard work of sourcing water ethically so you can live your values and enjoy life!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Starting Small and Staying Curious: Just getting started, doing what you can wherever you are in life, is a fantastic place to begin. No need for heavy investment – just spend time unlocking answers, navigating ambiguity, and finding likeminded people i.e your customers who see value in what you’re building. It’s like a treasure hunt, but without the pirate costume (unless that’s your thing).
2. Determination Pays Off in the Long Run: Growing up as the youngest kid, I was the default rebel – stubborn and always wanting to do things my way, no matter what others said. While I’ve evolved to be more compassionate towards others’ feelings, my need to keep going (stay determined) as long as it makes sense to me hasn’t changed. Opinions from those who’ve never done what I’m doing matter only to an extent. Don’t get me wrong, I still proactively solicit feedback, especially tactical advice specific to challenges I face, and I’ve learned from many mistakes in my own way but cutting out the noise is comes handy.
3. Making Dreams a Reality: Founding a startup is the easy part – you can get the paperwork done, set up a website, design a logo, and source products fairly quickly. However, the real challenge lies in turning that startup idea and passion into a sustainable & inclusive venture. It’s like building a ship – anyone can hammer planks together, but making sure it sails smoothly through stormy seas takes skill, perseverance, and a lot of grit.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We love working with mission aligned, small businesses. hether you’re planning summer or holiday events, stocking Nama Water in offices, stores, or recommending us to your favorite restaurant next door – we’re all in! You can find us on namawater.com or on Faire at Faire Nama Water. For direct inquiries, drop me an email at [email protected], and I’ll be sure to respond.
Entrepreneurship can be a solitary journey, especially as a solo founder from India building my dream in San Francisco. I would love to connect and grow our Nama Water community on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nama_water/ and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepikaphakke/. Give us a follow, DM, let’s be friends ♡
Contact Info:
- Website: https://namawater.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nama_water/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinknamawater
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepikaphakke/
Image Credits
Deepika Phakke
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
