Aligned Incentives with Kakul Srivastava

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