Episode · Lenny's Podcast · 2025-05-25

Lenny Rachitsky & Krithika Shankarraman: books mentioned on Lenny's Podcast

Growth tactics from OpenAI and Stripe’s first marketer | Krithika Shankarraman

2 books · With Krithika Shankarraman · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Krithika Shankarraman was the first marketing hire at OpenAI and Stripe and led marketing at Retool. At OpenAI, she established marketing foundations for ChatGPT for consumers and enterprises, as well as their developer API platform.

Krithika Shankarraman recommended Obviously Awesome by April Dunford and Circe by Madeline Miller.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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1. 

   Obviously Awesome

   April Dunford · at 1:08:59

   Obviously Awesome by April Dunford is a practical guide to product positioning that helps businesses define their market from scratch.

   Recommended

   “On the professional side, one book that I recommend to most people is April Dunford's book on positioning called Obviously Awesome. She does a great job breaking down how to position a product from scratch if you've never had to do that. Um and she's just so great for her real talk. So really highly recommend that.”

   Krithika Shankarraman Growth tactics from OpenAI and Stripe’s first marketer | Krithika Shan… 2025-05-25 Listen at 1:08:59

   Where to get it

   Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon
2. 

   Circe

   Madeline Miller · at 1:09:17

   Circe by Madeline Miller is a lyrical fiction retelling of the Greek myth that reframes the classic Odyssey story from the perspective of the exiled witch Circe.

   Recommended

   “And then I love fiction. So I would say one of the best reads in the last couple of years has been Meline Miller's Cersei, which is a retelling of a Greek myth. So lyrical pros, beautiful writing. Highly recommend.”

   Krithika Shankarraman Growth tactics from OpenAI and Stripe’s first marketer | Krithika Shan… 2025-05-25 Listen at 1:09:17

   Where to get it

   Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon