We were lucky to catch up with Mahesh Kondiparthi recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mahesh, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
For me, creativity thrives best when paired with the right collaborators. Early in my academic journey, I learned this the hard way — I shared a core idea from my thesis with a junior peer, who went on to publish several conference proceedings without crediting my contribution. That breach of trust became a turning point. I made a commitment to protect intellectual integrity and ensure that true contributors are recognized. Since then, I’ve chosen collaborators who either amplify the visibility of my ideas or complement my creative strengths. This ethos has guided me in co-inventing 22 patents and publications, leading cross-functional teams, and mentoring others. For me, creativity isn’t just about ideas — it’s about the people who can bring them to limelight, acknowledge the right contributors and help them grow.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Creative Problem Solving – My first master’s program taught me structured innovation, a skill I’ve applied in corporate strategy, research, and stage productions. I was often called the solutions guy, as I not only saw short comes in processes, but also proposed ways in which they can be improved.
Persuasive Communication – As a storyteller, I’ve influenced product roadmaps, rallied cross-functional teams, secured leadership buy-in, and even self-sponsored my EB1A visa (a visa for extra ordinary abilities) by crafting a compelling narrative of my achievements.
Curiosity – I learn for learning’s sake. A casual interest in dance evolved years later into cinematic live. My curiosity also led me to triple-major in Strategy, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship during my MBA.
These three qualities fueled Mahesh’s product leadership roles at multi-national companies and propelled his continuous excellence. His advice for early-career professionals: invest deeply in your strengths, practice them relentlessly, and let curiosity guide where you apply them.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I believe in mastering your strengths. A growth mindset matters, but scattering effort across too many unrelated skills can dilute impact. My core strengths — curiosity, storytelling, and problem solving — have been my throughline across science, engineering, and performance arts. They’ve shaped persuasive patents and papers, powered product launches, and even helped me earn my EB1A visa. Like Bruce Lee said: “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” Over 15 years, I’ve applied and refined my strengths across AI, consumer electronics, automotive, and live performance until they’ve become my sharpest tools for impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sites.google.com/site/maheshkondiparthi
- Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/herecomesmahesh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/halfticketentertainments
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/memahesh
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HerecomesMahesh
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
