About
“It only has to work once”
Hi there! 👋🏽
I am Sarvesh R. Agrawal- a former audio scientist and product manager turned strategist. I've dedicated my entire life to working in the audio industry, covering performance, recording, acoustic design, research, and business. Currently, I work on corporate strategy for HARMAN's Lifestyle division where I collaborate with the senior leadership for our consumer audio and professional solutions business- two areas of our industry that are close to my heart.
When I am not going down the audio or business rabbit hole, I can be found valuing companies and options, cheering on my beloved Arsenal, reading contemporary thinkers, going down the YouTube spiral, or on the Peloton bike (yes, I know. But check it out 😄).
This website is all about my unfiltered thoughts on science, business, and finance. I regularly share my thoughts and learnings in the bi-weekly newsletter.
Happy exploring.
My Journey From DJ to Strategist
My journey in audio began in 2012 in the streets of Mumbai where I used to DJ for fun (and some extra pocket money). As the new kid on the scene, I handled everything—from hauling gear and setting up to playing sets and tearing down at the end of the night. Though my understanding of sound quality was rudimentary, I knew that Chinese white-label drivers in janky cabinets were not cutting it. This sparked my lifelong quest for audio excellence.
Engaging in discussions on forums and extensive internet browsing led me to Middle Tennessee State University. By my final year at university, I had become engrossed in loudspeakers and room acoustics. It was the works of Dr. Floyd Toole and Dr. Søren Bech (who would later be my PhD supervisor) that persuaded me to pursue an advanced degree in acoustics. Just as I was nearing the completion of my graduate program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, I received a rare opportunity to join the research and development team at Bang & Olufsen, which I eagerly accepted. The best part? I could conduct all my research work at B&O and be fully involved in the company, as opposed to the solitary environments of academia.
To provide some context, Bang & Olufsen's headquarters in Denmark is nestled in a small town where one can walk its perimeter in just a couple of hours. With little to do outside of research, I began exploring options trading and started spending evenings developing and testing options trading models. Options models soon transitioned to corporate finance and company valuations, and close colleagues in business and finance became my sounding boards. Long before I defended my PhD thesis at the Technical University of Denmark, I knew my future lay beyond pure science. I had been preparing for product management roles, and the stars aligned when B&O was seeking a product manager for their flagship line of loudspeakers.
A year later, I found myself missing the United States. Upon my return, I joined B&O’s sales and marketing team in New York City. After a few trade shows, a partnership with the Waldorf Astoria in NYC, Beolab 8 launch events, and several other projects, it was time to immerse myself in a new role. And as fate would have it, I came a full circle—from hauling JBL Pro speakers in Mumbai to working at JBL.
Where am I Heading?
Well, I am sharpening my tools and living by the following words for the moment:
- Always stay in beta: Learn, improve, evolve
- Do it with all your heart
- Have a bias towards execution
- Believe in self and trust the process
- Money is not a dirty word