Aligned Incentives with Kakul Srivastava

In this episode, Lindsay speaks with Kakul Srivastava, CEO of Splice, a leading platform used by music creators worldwide.

Episode 47 of the North Star Leaders podcast, hosted by Lindsay Pedersen, titled "Aligned Incentives with Kakul Srivastava" was published on June 17, 2025 and runs 26 minutes.

June 17, 2025 ·26m · North Star Leaders

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

What does it really mean to build a business where purpose and profit don’t just coexist—but actively fuel each other? Can you scale without selling out, especially in a creative industry being disrupted by AI? In this episode, Lindsay speaks with Kakul Srivastava, CEO of Splice, a leading platform used by music creators worldwide. Drawing from her experience at values-driven companies like Flickr and GitHub, Kakul shares how she leads with clarity, protects artistic integrity in the age of AI, and makes space for creativity in both product and culture. This conversation explores what it really takes to build a purpose-centered business that scales without losing its soul. You’ll hear them discuss: How Splice’s subscription model creates mutual accountability with users and reinforces the company’s commitment to quality and trust Why Kakul and her team drew a clear ethical line when integrating AI - training only on content they have rights to, out of deep respect for creators What makes music a uniquely visceral art form, and how it shapes the raw, emotional nature of the music creators Splice serves How Kakul leads with care, high standards, and an obsession with data - not for metrics alone, but as signals of customer needs and behaviors The identity struggle many artists face balancing creativity with commercial demands, and how Splice supports both personal expression and livelihood Why scaling a purpose-driven company demands just as much internal growth from leaders as it does from teams, products, and systems The shift from simply providing creative tools to becoming a true partner in the music-making process - and why that’s where the magic happens Resources: Kakul Srivastava on Splice | LinkedIn Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! | Connect with me on LinkedIn

Episode Description

What does it really mean to build a business where purpose and profit don’t just coexist—but actively fuel each other? Can you scale without selling out, especially in a creative industry being disrupted by AI? In this episode, Lindsay speaks with Kakul Srivastava, CEO of Splice, a leading platform used by music creators worldwide. Drawing from her experience at values-driven companies like Flickr and GitHub, Kakul shares how she leads with clarity, protects artistic integrity in the age of AI, and makes space for creativity in both product and culture. This conversation explores what it really takes to build a purpose-centered business that scales without losing its soul. You’ll hear them discuss: How Splice’s subscription model creates mutual accountability with users and reinforces the company’s commitment to quality and trust Why Kakul and her team drew a clear ethical line when integrating AI - training only on content they have rights to, out of deep respect for creators What makes music a uniquely visceral art form, and how it shapes the raw, emotional nature of the music creators Splice serves How Kakul leads with care, high standards, and an obsession with data - not for metrics alone, but as signals of customer needs and behaviors The identity struggle many artists face balancing creativity with commercial demands, and how Splice supports both personal expression and livelihood Why scaling a purpose-driven company demands just as much internal growth from leaders as it does from teams, products, and systems The shift from simply providing creative tools to becoming a true partner in the music-making process - and why that’s where the magic happens Resources: Kakul Srivastava on Splice | LinkedIn Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! | Connect with me on LinkedIn

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Minnesota Twins finding ways to win

Apr 10, 2026 ·22m

After Her Mother’s First Yahrzeit, daughter does 100-Library Walk

Apr 10, 2026 ·24m

Minnesota Twins are letting Taj Bradley send it

Apr 8, 2026 ·25m

Who are these guys?

Apr 7, 2026 ·29m

50 protesters. 80 Toronto police. Did anything change at Bathurst and Sheppard?

Apr 6, 2026 ·25m

Why do Minnesota Twins fans hate the Pohlads so much?

Apr 3, 2026 ·22m

Similar Podcasts

Under The North Star Robin Jackson Welcome to "Under The North Star" - your gateway to an extraordinary journey through the realms of education, learning, development, business optimization, strategy, and success. "Under The North Star" is about sharing knowledge and experiences from leaders and entrepreneurs across various industries. In this podcast, we dive deep into insightful conversations with experts who generously share their wisdom, successes, and even the lessons learned from their mistakes.If you're looking to stay ahead in your career, business, or personal development, you're in the right place. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your journey, our goal is to fuel your curiosity and encourage you to question the status quo.Embark on this learning adventure with us on "Under The North Star" – where knowledge meets inspiration. Subscribe now and join the community of curious minds dedicated to continuous growth and success. Leadership Next Fortune Something big is happening in the world of business. CEOs increasingly say their jobs have become less about giving orders, more about inspiring, motivating, setting a north star. They are taking the lead on big issues like climate change, worker retraining, and diversity and inclusion. They are under pressure from employees, customers and investors not just to turn a profit, but to prove they are doing good in the world. And in the process, they are fundamentally redefining the relationship between business and society. Join Fortune Executive Editorial Director Diane Brady and Editorial Director Kristin Stoller as they engage global leaders on the insights, experiences and issues you need to know. Private Equity Fast Pitch Northstar Consistent with all programs delivered by Northstar, "Private Equity Fast Pitch" podcasts are meaningful, insightful and provide actionable information from leaders in the Private Equity community that will help you connect with the speaker in an efficient way. Each Tuesday, Jeff Henningsen from Lockton will spend time talking with his friends in the private equity community while they share insight into their world. Similar to an introductory meeting, Private Equity and Investment Banking guests will talk about their firms, recent activities, target industries, desired acquisition profile or companies they are prepping for sale, advice to aspiring professionals and their "closing pitch". If you would like to be considered for a Private Equity Fast Pitch interview please email [email protected] North Star with Ellin Bessner The CJN Podcasts Newsmaker conversations from The Canadian Jewish News, hosted by Ellin Bessner, a veteran broadcaster, writer and journalist.

URL copied to clipboard!