EP 293 – Steven Rothberg: If a Customer Wants to Pay More, Let Them
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When you sit down with someone like Steven Rothberg, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of , you expect to hear insights about hiring, technology, and the future of work. What you might not expect is a napkin that sums up decades of wisdom in a sentence so straightforward it almost sounds too simple: “If a customer wants to give you more money, find a way of making that happen. $$$” At first glance, it feels like sales advice. But during our conversation, it became clear that Steven’s napkin is less about sales tactics and more about mindset. It’s about curiosity,...
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EP 292 - Edge of the Napkin #3: “Who’s the best partner you ever had? (Secret) … It’s you.”
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Partnership is one of the most powerful words in leadership and in life. We spend years searching for the right business partner, co-founder, or even life partner. But here’s the twist on this week’s Paper Napkin Wisdom: the greatest, most important partnership you’ll ever have is not with someone else—it’s with yourself. The napkin for Episode 292 asks the provocative question: “Who’s the best partner you ever had?” And then delivers the unexpected truth: (Secret)… it’s you. In this episode, Govindh dives deep into the nature of the...
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EP 291 – Jennifer McKenna - The Prosperity Formula: Familiar → Faith → Fulfillment
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Jennifer McKenna, founder of JMac Consulting, is an accomplished business strategist, executive coach, and creator of The JMac Method. With decades of experience guiding leaders and organizations through transformation, Jennifer has built her reputation on blending practical business strategy with a deep commitment to values, authenticity, and growth. She has coached Fortune 500 executives, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to align who they are with what they do. On Paper Napkin Wisdom, Jennifer shares her Prosperity Formula — a deceptively simple but powerful framework to help...
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EP 290 – Andrew Safnauer: Find Your Way Over the Wall
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In Episode 290 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Andrew Safnauer, a seasoned leader and executive with a wealth of experience in management, strategy, and innovation. Andrew has held leadership roles across diverse industries and today brings his insights into resilience, adaptability, and persistence. His wisdom is captured on a single napkin: “Find your way over the wall.” At first glance, it’s a simple metaphor. But as Andrew shares, this idea has been a recurring theme throughout his life and career, one that continues to guide him...
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EP 289 - The Edge of the Napkin: Friction vs. Flow
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In Episode 289 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, host Govindh Jayaraman takes us deeper into the next evolution of his work: The Edge of the Napkin. This isn’t just about wisdom captured in simple strokes anymore — it’s about stepping into the tension between friction and flow, and understanding the rhythms of creativity and growth. The napkin for this episode sets the stage: a stick figure caught between jagged lines of friction and the upward curve of flow, alongside two key modes — Seminal (Spark) and Gestational (Build). At its heart, the question posed is simple but powerful: Are...
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EP 288 – Katy Spada: Build the World You Wish Existed
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When Katy Spada sat down with me on Paper Napkin Wisdom, she brought a napkin that was more than just words — it was a challenge: “Build the world you wish existed for your younger self, and for those who come next.” Katy isn’t just an entrepreneur. She’s a mother of two (ages 7 and 4), a storyteller, and the founder of , a lifestyle and apparel company that’s grounded in values of creativity, heritage, and intentional living. What makes her story remarkable is how deeply personal it is. As she says, she never set out to be an entrepreneur — she calls...
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EP 287 – Permission, Structure, and Social Media Success with Sam Toles
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Govindh Jayaraman welcomes Sam Toles, a digital media pioneer and storyteller with decades of experience building audiences, brands, and communities. Sam is the CEO and co-founder of , a platform designed to transform civic engagement by helping communities and governments create stronger, more transparent conversations online. Sam’s career has spanned leadership roles at MGM, Vimeo, Bleacher Report, and Warner Bros., and throughout it all he has stayed focused on how creativity, structure, and permission come together to unlock growth. His...
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EP 286 - Introducing the Edge of the Napkin
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In this special episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, I (Govindh Jayaraman) take a step back to reflect on the journey we’ve been on together — over 280 episodes filled with wisdom, stories, and lessons from incredible leaders, entrepreneurs, and difference makers. The napkin for this episode reads: “Introducing the Edge of the Napkin.” It’s a phrase that captures both a transition and an expansion. The napkin has always been a place for distilled wisdom — one sentence, one thought, one principle that could change everything if applied. But now, we’re venturing into...
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EP 285 – Kendra MacDonald: Building a Career That Grows With You
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Careers aren’t meant to be lived on repeat. In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we sit down with Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, a leader who has spent her career helping organizations innovate, adapt, and push boundaries. Kendra has been recognized for her work in transformation and leadership across industries, and she brings her wisdom to the napkin with a deceptively simple but powerful message. On her napkin, Kendra wrote: “Make sure your career is 25 years, not 1 year 25 times. What will you learn this year?” This phrase, first...
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EP 284 - Michael Walsh – Conclusion of The Freedom Series Part 16
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Introduction: A Journey Comes Full Circle Over the course of sixteen episodes, Michael Walsh has taken us on an extraordinary journey through what he calls the Freedom Framework. This framework has become a cornerstone for entrepreneurs who want to build businesses that don’t just survive but thrive – organizations that create value, empower people, and endure through change. Michael, founder of , has spent decades helping leaders shift from working in their businesses to working on them. His approach blends deep financial discipline, people-first development, and a...
info_outlineWhen Katy Spada sat down with me on Paper Napkin Wisdom, she brought a napkin that was more than just words — it was a challenge:
“Build the world you wish existed for your younger self, and for those who come next.”
Katy isn’t just an entrepreneur. She’s a mother of two (ages 7 and 4), a storyteller, and the founder of Arya + Maan, a lifestyle and apparel company that’s grounded in values of creativity, heritage, and intentional living. What makes her story remarkable is how deeply personal it is. As she says, she never set out to be an entrepreneur — she calls herself an “accidental entrepreneur.” Yet, what started with a desire to create something meaningful for her family has grown into a mission-driven brand with a powerful message for anyone willing to listen.
Reclaiming Childhood Dreams
In the episode, Katy reflects on being a daydreamer as a child — someone who created fantastical worlds on paper. As an adult, she’s learned that those childhood imaginings were not flights of fancy but clues to the kind of life she wanted to build.
“When I had children, it became clear that I wanted to create for them the childhood I always wanted.”
Her napkin is rooted in this personal realization: what if we all took ownership of creating not just businesses, but environments and legacies that reflect the world we wanted when we were younger?
Entrepreneurship as Legacy
Katy shares how her business is less about products and more about building community and leaving behind a legacy for her children. Her work with Arya + Maan is anchored in storytelling and cultural connection, blending her Indian heritage with modern lifestyle design.
This isn’t just commerce — it’s contribution.
She reminds us that the real measure of success isn’t revenue charts but impact: what do your children, your community, and your younger self inherit from your work?
Courage to Take Ownership
“I think becoming a mom gave me no choice but to reflect on the life I was building.”
Katy’s journey is a call for courage — courage to own your story, courage to build what doesn’t yet exist, and courage to step into entrepreneurship without the usual blueprint.
So many entrepreneurs wait for permission. Katy shows us that transformation begins when we stop waiting and start building.
5 Key Takeaways
1. Build for Your Younger Self
If you could design a world for the version of you at age 10, what would it look like? That’s a compass worth following.
👉 Take Action: Write a short note to your younger self today — what would you tell them you’ve built?
2. Entrepreneurship Can Be Accidental — but Never Accidental Growth
You don’t have to plan to be an entrepreneur, but growth requires intentionality.
👉 Take Action: Ask yourself: “What am I growing on purpose right now?”
3. Your Children Are Watching
The example you set in building your life is the blueprint your children will carry forward.
👉 Take Action: Share a story with your kids (or a mentee) about something you struggled with and how you’re working through it.
4. Culture is Your Brand
For Katy, honoring her Indian roots is not just a detail — it’s the foundation of Arya + Maan. Authentic brands begin with personal truth.
👉 Take Action: Audit your brand or leadership style. Does it authentically reflect your story?
5. Legacy is Everyday
Legacy isn’t what’s left when you’re gone. It’s what you live out daily in how you treat people, the communities you serve, and the values you embody.
👉 Take Action: Identify one action you can take this week to make your daily work a legacy act, not just a transaction.
About Katy Spada
Katy Spada is the founder of Arya + Maan, a lifestyle brand blending heritage and modern living. With a background in storytelling and a passion for creating meaningful experiences, Katy focuses on building a community-driven company rooted in values, creativity, and family. Connect with her on LinkedIn.