Kiran Diwakar

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗔𝗱𝗱, 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Charming, brilliant, and hilarious—Huggy Hayagreeva Rao had the Sand Technologies team glued to our seats during our most recent company-wide "Thursday Late Discussion" session. Huggy is the co-author of "Scaling Up Excellence" and a professor of Organizational Behaviour at Stanford University. So when he speaks, we're all ears. One of the key takeaways that really struck a chord with us was Huggy's perspective on scaling excellence. He described it as "multiplying curiosity with generosity." Huggy pointed out that as companies grow, they often fall into the trap of "addition bias" and "time poverty." We just can't help but pile on more and more, until we're so overwhelmed that our curiosity and generosity take a backseat. Next thing you know, we're just going through the motions, feeling depleted, and lacking that sense of accountability. But the truth is that scaling isn't just about addition. In fact, sometimes it's about smart subtraction. We need to identify and remove the obstacles that stifle our team's ability to be curious and generous. When people are in that mindset, magic happens, problems get solved, everyone brings their A-game, and we all go home feeling energized rather than drained. Also, subtraction is like mowing the lawn: it's not a one-and-done deal—you've got to keep at it regularly. It's not just about efficiency, but about giving our team the gift of time, which inspires them to reciprocate with their best efforts. We have been on a massive scaling journey over the last three years. Our operations have grown from one site to 30 sites and the number of engineers we are developing has grown by 5,000X (which if my math is correct is about 500,000%). We are just getting started, so we’re always curious about what we need to do as an organization to maintain our scale, and not lose quality, dynamism, agility, and our innovative spirit. The team is already lobbying for Huggy to host our TLD every week 😄—a testament to how insightful, thought-provoking, and relatable his lessons are. We have homework, though; time to put these ideas to work and start scaling up excellence.

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Finsire has recently started its learning series - Ideally by chatting with the best folks in the Industry. Here, with Siddharth Shetty, Co-founder and CTO of Account Aggregator (AA) from DigiSahamati Foundation, we speak about the data exchange's inception, growth, and future in India. - We use AA for various reasons, including pushing boundaries in India's data exchange layer with various use cases. - It's been about three years since it went live, and over 70 million cumulative Indian accounts are linked. - One-of-a-kind data sharing network from India that is not seen anywhere across the globe, baring Singapore with https://lnkd.in/gyrCQtVQ - Different approach to protect consumers as compared to the previous models that existed to attain consumer data by various methods used by Plaid or Salt Edge Onemoney Finvu (Cookiejar Technologies) Protean eGov Technologies Anumati by Perfios AA NADL - Account Aggregator Computer Age Management Services Limited KFin Technologies Ltd. Enjoy - Please click on the link below and watch the video!

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It was a great conversation with Rachana Bahadur on how we all can contribute to inclusivity and equity in our own ways and how can organisations can help structure and elevate it #HerRising2024 HerKey

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When Gujarat’s leaders stepped onto the national stage, they brought the state’s vision, discipline, and growth-oriented mindset to India. Their leadership not only elevated Gujarat’s presence but also set the foundation for national transformation, proving that strong regional representation can lead to collective progress. Today, in the ICAI elections, Surat has a similar opportunity to shine. With dynamic and capable leaders like Jay Chhaira and CA Ishwar Jivani (Jivani Ishwarkumar Ramjibhai), Surat can bring its unparalleled spirit of innovation, resilience, and growth to the forefront of ICAI’s future. Just as Gujarat’s leaders transformed India, Surat’s representation can transform the ICAI, ensuring progress for members across the country. Let’s make this moment count—vote for Surat, vote for growth, vote for Jay Chhaira and Ishwar Jivani. #LeadershipMatters #SuratForICAI #ICAI2024Elections #VoteForProgress #JayChhaira #IshwarJivani #SuratLeadership #VisionForGrowth #FutureOfICAI #StrongRepresentation #SuratShines #EmpowerLeadership #ICAIChangeMakers #VoteForChange #GujaratToIndia #SuratToICAI #ProfessionalExcellence #LeadersFromSurat #ICAIInnovation #TogetherWeGrow

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Transforming a 27-year-old business into an AI powerhouse👀 Join me for an insightful episode of #TheProductPodcast with Vinod Suresh, Chief Product Officer at GoDaddy’s North America business unit. Vinod takes us on a journey through his unique experiences, from attending 13 different schools across India to continuously evolving as a lifelong learner. His student-for-life mindset has led him to complete over 20 professional courses, keeping him sharp and ahead in his field. In this episode, Vinod shares how these experiences have shaped his ability to embrace change, prioritize ruthlessly, and lead high-performing teams. Vinod also provides a behind-the-scenes look at how GoDaddy empowers entrepreneurs through its product suite, supporting them at every stage from domain identity to full-fledged e-commerce solutions. He explains how his team is structured for impact, focusing on building tools and platforms that serve millions of users globally. Vinod dives into his strategies for time management, fostering a no-meeting culture, and leveraging Opmex to optimize team operations. ✨ What you'll learn: - Vinod’s journey from attending 13 schools to becoming a product leader at GoDaddy. - The importance of lifelong learning and how Vinod stays ahead through continuous education. - How GoDaddy's product suite helps entrepreneurs, from establishing a domain to growing a business. - Time management tips for product leaders and how to create a no-meeting culture. Listen to the full episode at: 📺 Youtube: https://lnkd.in/gCnFCMxU 🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gdfUQY4S 🍏 Apple: https://lnkd.in/gr8q7CUp Key Takeaways👇: Embracing Change as a Constant: Vinod shares how growing up in 13 schools helped him naturally adapt to change, a skill that has been instrumental in his career as a product leader. Lifelong Learning: With a commitment to continuous improvement, Vinod believes in going back to school every year, sharing how this mindset has helped him stay relevant in the fast-paced tech world. Optimizing Team Operations with Opmex: Vinod gives a glimpse into how GoDaddy's internal processes, like Opmex, streamline operations, ensuring that the team can focus on high-impact work without unnecessary meetings. GoDaddy’s Product Evolution: From domains to e-commerce, GoDaddy is empowering entrepreneurs through a full product suite that helps them build and scale their businesses. #productmanagement

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Prompt - "Compose a Hindi song on two fruits - Apple & Orange" Outcome - You have two variants of a ~30 seconds song available in a jiffy. I have combined the two and attached them to this post. What did I use? Introducing Udio (https://www.udio.com/), Your New AI-Powered Studio! 🎶 In an exciting development, a team of former Google DeepMind researchers have launched Udio, a revolutionary application designed to transform music production. This AI-driven platform enables anyone, from novices to professionals, to create high-quality music in mere minutes. 🌟 Why Everyone's Talking About Udio Previously only available in closed beta, Udio has already captured the attention of music industry giants like will.i.am, Common, and Kevin Wall. Its public debut is set to shake up the music creation landscape significantly. 🔧 How Does Udio Work? Imagine typing out the genre you love, adding some lyrics or a theme, and mentioning your favorite artists. In just 40 seconds, Udio delivers a fully mastered audio track! What’s more, with its "vary" feature, you can tweak the sound and length of your track until it's just right. 🛡️ Safety First Udio isn’t just innovative; it's responsible too. With robust automated copyright filters, the platform ensures all music produced is original and copyright-compliant. David (Fengning) Ding, Udio’s CEO, reassures us, "We’re deeply committed to ensuring all works created on our platform are novel." 💡 What Sets Udio Apart? Backed by top investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Instagram’s Mike Krieger, Udio is poised to do for music what Instagram did for photography—make it accessible to everyone. It offers up-and-coming artists a chance to produce their tracks without the hefty price tag typically associated with high-quality music production. 🎨 Creative Freedom and Business Impact This isn’t just about making music; it’s about democratizing creativity. Udio provides artists with new revenue streams and reduces barriers to entry in the music industry. Its ease of use and rapid output can spur a new generation of artists and producers. 🚨 Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities While the rise of AI in music poses challenges like potential deepfakes, Udio is committed to ethical practices and collaborates closely with the industry to refine its safeguards. We will have to see the outcome in the near future. Read more - https://lnkd.in/dHJxBS5T #MusicTech #AI #Innovation #Udio #ArtificialIntelligence

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Organisational alignment on the right measure are key.

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Calling all APMs & PMs! Deep Dive into Razorpay's approach to create exceptional PRDs. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/gGG6sYmE In this insightful video Pravir Shanker, Director of Product at Razorpay, unpacks their PRD process. HelloMeets - Upskilling platform for PMs. #productmanagement #PRD #Razorpay #HelloMeets

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Ask Me Anything Session with BV Jagadeesh at #TGS2024 TiE TiE Bangalore - Part-1 Amazing nuggets from the session. Entrepreneurship Q&A Q1: How do you not dilute in the early stages of VC funding? Do not raise significantly more than what is needed. Visualize customer segments and the go-to-market strategy. Generate interest from multiple VCs to avoid reliance on a single investor. Leave a 10-15% room for negotiation. Q2: With the advent of AI, how has product-market fit changed? Rapid AI advancements disrupt hundreds of companies with each major release of chatgpt (other LLMs). Focus deeply on the specific domain you serve. Q3: Will there be differences in scaling with founders? It’s common for founders to move on for personal, financial, or other reasons. Q4: What defines product-market fit? When a normal salesperson can sell without needing help from founders or top technical folks to a normal customer who has a pain and wants someone to solve the problem. Q5: With early customer wins, different customers are experiencing different values. Should I raise VC money or grow organically? Identify four key verticals. Find four customers in each domain and define the buyer persona. Secure 20 new customers and see if results are replicable. #tgs2024 #entreprenuership #startup #VCfunding

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Speaking at India Digital Summit 2025 in ‘AI’ track on 16th Jan! Looking forward to interesting and intriguing interactions. #IndiaDigitalSummit #IDS2025 #IDS25 #AIInnovation

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The Make in India initiative started back in 2014 and been a cornerstone in transforming India into a global manufacturing hub. 🚗 India’s manufacturing GDP has nearly doubled in the last decade and is now the world’s 4th largest car manufacturer. That would not have been possible without a focus on developing technical skills, expertise, & capabilities across the working population. 🔑 The Skill India initiative was launched in 2015 to build those pockets of capabilities and provide adequate training in market-relevant skills to the youth & underpriveled populations. The program has reached 10’s of millions of people since its inception. 68% of the 1.4 billion people in India are between the ages of 15-64, making it the largest working-age population in the world! Future is bright for India! 🇮🇳 #makeinindia #skillindia #manufacturing #indiagrowth #digitalindia Hiten Shah Suhas Jagtap Nipul Keniya

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🎙️ Great conversation yesterday with Ankur Sinha, Head of Partner Solutions & GTM at Domino Data Lab on the Ecosystem Aces series! We explored how Domino, a leader in enterprise AI solutions, collaborates with partners to scale AI and machine learning across industries. Highlights include: 🟣 Deep integration with hyperscalers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and technology leaders such as NVIDIA for cutting-edge ML Ops. 🟣 New partnerships with data giants like Snowflake and Palantir Technologies, enhancing data science capabilities on the Domino platform. 🟣 Strategic focus on vertical solutions, from clinical development to public sector, leveraging industry expertise to drive product innovation and customer success. Watch the replay for more insights on Domino’s ecosystem-driven approach to transforming AI deployments and creating value through strategic partnerships. #AI #DataScience #EcosystemAces #PodcastInterview #DigitalTransformation David Barden, Ian Shanahan, Joel Meyer, Alec Davis, Amit Sinha, Nirav Desai, Kijoon Lee, Sam Gong, Ted Mathias, Asher Mathew, Vince Menzione

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This was a fun conversation with Ergest. As a Data Analyst, I've been asked countless times by revenue leaders in [insert weekly meeting here] why a metric is falling. It's always astounded me how much time people waste scrambling for a narrative. This shouldn't be the way. Recently at Levers Analytics we started approaching Root Cause Analysis around metrics trends with a specific framework, and it's been mind blowing for me personally because no analytics teams I've ever been on have been so ..... methods-driven. Here's the framework we use. 1) Does the change in the metric even matter? What can look like a huge drop in [insert metric here] might not be a statistical anomaly. We use XmR charts (used in statistical process control) to identify control limits -- to basically see if week-over-week metrics are within normal variation. If we can demonstrate that metric fluctuation is "normal", then we should not waste more time with the RCA. This alone would have been transformative for my analytics teams in the past decade of my career. 2) What drove the metrics shift? Our standard approach here is to start with looking at Component Drift -- the most important piece of RCA in my opinion. We see a business unit as a system with inputs (metrics) and outputs (metrics) that have a hierarchical relationship to each other that can be expressed algebraically (a metrics tree). By going up the components of the metrics tree, we can see what changed that drove the shift. Once we identify what component(s) drove the change in the key metric, we look at the why. This is almost always either: - Seasonality - Segment shift (often called mix shift) - Influence drift (e.g. something driving a metric has changed, like a team process) - Event shocks (endogenous or exogenous) And that's it. We've gotten to the point of being able to do this RCA framework in < 1 hour for most of our clients. A far, far cry from the days/weeks most Analysts spend on RCA. There's an entire conversation to be had around what Data teams need to do to allow their Analysts to move this quickly (namely, to codify the _right_ metrics of the business -- and their relationships to each other vis a vis a metrics tree). But that's for another post, maybe (if I can ever get used to this posting on LinkedIn thing).

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The journey at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 continues to amaze! 🚀 Today, we connected with WIZ AI, a company revolutionizing conversational AI, and Pranav Foundation, a VR innovator based in Jayanagar, pushing the boundaries of immersive technology. Such interactions reinforce the value of tech summits—not just as a space for innovation but as a vibrant ecosystem for collaboration. Networking here opens up avenues to explore cutting-edge solutions, build strategic partnerships, and drive impactful sales. Excited to see how these connections help Amilo AI scale new heights and contribute to transformative advancements in technology. #BTS2024 #VRInnovation #ConversationalAI #Networking #AmiloAI Advantages of Networking and Collaboration at Tech Summits: Innovative Synergies: Discover complementary technologies and solutions for mutual growth. Lead Generation: Access potential clients or collaborators in niche markets. Local Insights: Collaborate with local leaders like Pranav Foundation to leverage region-specific expertise. Product Evolution: Gain feedback to refine your solutions and make them market-ready. Tech Inspiration: Learn from others’ success stories and apply innovative methods to your domain. Wizard AI

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I scored 85% in 10th Grade Board Exams and 81.4% in 12th Grade Board Exams, and they have not been deterrents in my professional career. Infact, they have been enablers But, there is more nuance that I want to share today 20 years back, like most of my classmates, I believed that good grades in the 10th Grade is a requisite to win in life I worked very hard, got 85% in my pre-boards and believed a 90% in the 10th Boards was a given. In the end, I just managed an 85% In Grade 12, thanks to competitive exam prep, I was left with very little time for the 12th Board exam prep which ended up - solving past 10 years question papers - selectively choosing to study parts of the syllabus that were usual features And, my goal was to get anything above 60% so that I was eligible for most of the competitive exams. I left BITSAT since it needed one to score atleast 80% in Grade 12 When the results came, I was again surprised. I ended up getting 81.2% which was beyond what even I was expecting My biggest takeaway from both these outings were that 'I am an 80% guy' - that in general most efforts will land me at the 80% mark unless I am willing to put that extra effort into something to do better I used the same tactics of putting 20-30% effort to skim through undergrad with a 7.2 GPA and use the rest of the time to write biz plans which got me started with my entrepreneurship career eventually The thing I intend to convey is that my grades have not hindered my career progression. Infact, this along with a bunch of other factors led me to an unconventional career path that has become my unfair advantage It is not that I have not tried to enter the more mainstream career path - the latest of it being thinking of getting an MBA However, I did not received calls from IIM A, B or C despite 99%iles in CAT, though I have received calls from the other IIMs And, I did not receive invites to interview at Harvard or Stanford but I have from Dartmouth Tuck and Kellogg with my profile and a 328 in GRE Eventually, I gave up the idea of doing an MBA - the biggest reason being it might have taken away my unfair advantage I have also refrained from applying to more mainstream roles throughout and stuck to the ones where I am a good fit because of my unconventional path and keep adding to my strength. Infact, I believe most mainstream roles may just reject me anyways. Hence I have stayed away from everything that looks FAANG, Big-4, etc. A 90% in the 10th Boards may have meant a different life but I won't trade what I have for it So, if you are somebody who scored low in your Boards or in some other exam and the mainstream world keeps frustrating you, you should look beyond it to find your unfair advantage

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Had the opportunity to attend BV Jagadeesh's amazing entrepreneurship class series @ E-Cell UVCE. Here are the notes from Class 1. Exec Summary: Good Negotiation = Best insights(knowledge) about the deal/customer Products are not built by just customer feedback Business is more common sense than anything. Understand basic financial metrics Gross Margin, Operating Margin, EBITA Keep an eye on the stock market(key stocks) to learn what is driving the market. Detailed class notes here ------------------------------------------------------------- Key Concepts: 1. Financial Metrics: Gross Margin (GM):  by subtracting the cost of goods sold from revenue. Examples: Reddy Labs, Biocon Homework: Calculate GM for companies like Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Swiggy, Paytm, Adani Power, Reliance Power, Tata Motors, Zomato, Mamaearth. Operating Margin (OM): Profit before tax, includes costs such as CEO salary, customer acquisition, marketing, and sales. EBITA: Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Amortization, and Depreciation. 2. Business Terminologies: Churn Rate: Example: How netflix publishes subscribers and people unsubscribed (churn) Zero-Sum Game: Concept explained with Steve Jobs’ introduction of the iPad, filling a segment between iPhone and MacBook. Common Sense in Business: Importance of understanding business fundamentals through examples. Educational Insights: Tracking Stock Market for Learning: Focus on understanding how companies generate revenue and profits. Practice calculating GM, OM, and EBITA. Entrepreneurial Myths Debunked: "Build it and they will come" is a myth. Entrepreneurship is not just about getting rich. Examples: Byju's, Kingfisher Airlines. Failure is not inherently bad. U.S. VCs prefer investing in founders who have failed once, as they've already learned critical lessons. Pedigree is not a necessity. Success doesn’t depend solely on having a prestigious degree or experience. Don’t rely solely on customer feedback to build a product. Start with a basic product(MVP) and refine based on feedback. Spending freely because VCs fund entrepreneurs is a misconception. Importance of delivering value and making a profit. Idea contributes 10%; execution is 90%. Negotiations are standard at all levels. Knowledge is power, Learn as much as you can about the customer and negotiate with insights learnt during the research.  Example: Google’s pricing and reliance pricing. Homework: Calculate GM, OM, and EBITA for companies: Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Swiggy, Paytm, Adani Power, Reliance Power, Tata Motors, Zomato, Mamaearth. #entrepreneurship #startup #startupLessons

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𝐄𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬: I have always felt strongly against the idea of exit interviews, I believe it is too late in the feedback chain to get much in terms of gathering feedback from someone who is leaving the company . There are certainly people who argue that documenting why someone is leaving is good to improve what needs to be done. If we are waiting for employees to give feedback on what is wrong and what needs to be improved as part of exit interview then I think we are doing it wrong. If you truly value employee feedback, identify ways to gather feedback from them periodically and try to improve things. Here are few alternative approaches that can be used to gather employee feedback: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬: Conduct periodic interviews with current employees to understand their satisfaction and concerns before they consider leaving. This builds trust and allows you to address issues before they lead to someone leaving. This should be done atleast once every 6 months.  Make sure to document key points and action items that are discussed. Report back to the employee with any solutions or changes planned based on their feedback.  𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲𝐬: Implement short surveys throughout an employee's tenure to track satisfaction over time. Use a variety of question formats to keep survey engaging. Use rating scales(strongly agree to strongly disagree) to gauge sentiment. Have open ended questions that allow space for employees to elaborate on their thoughts. It is important to keep it short (10-15 mins) to maintain focus and maximize participation. Explain how the feedback will be used and how it will benefit them. Inform employees of the key findings and any planned actions based on the feedback. 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐬: Provide anonymous channels for employees to share their feedback and concerns without fear of retribution. Consider anonymous feedback tools that integrate with your existing communication channels. Emphasize the importance of confidentiality throughout the process and explain how the system protects anonymity (e.g., not integrated to active directory, no IP address collection). Be transparent about how the feedback will be used and how often it will be reviewed. 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧-𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲: An open-door policy can be a powerful tool to improve employee retention by fostering a sense of trust, open communication, and employee empowerment. Open-door policies demonstrate a willingness from management to be transparent and approachable. Managers should actively listen to employee concerns and demonstrate a genuine interest in their well-being. Don't let issues raised through the open-door policy fall by the wayside. Follow up with employees and take action on the concerns whenever possible. By implementing these methods, you can get ongoing feedback and create a more positive work environment, potentially reducing turnover.

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The most powerful technology? Storytelling. 5 ways stories are changing the world. My mentor, in the photo below, was a revered Micronesian navigator. On his remote island of Satawal, he reminded me of this, "Stories are the medicine for the world. The storyteller is the Shaman." Here's the truth. Our voices can shape the future. Our experiences can change lives. Stories have the power to... 1. 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 A single tale can ignite global action. 2. 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 A blueprint for inventors. 3. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 Stories are time capsules of human experience. They carry wisdom across generations. 4. 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 Words have the power to rewire our brains. 5. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 Data informs. Stories persuade. How will you use your stories to change the world?

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