# Selling Stories, Not Products  | Nash Narasimhan | TEDxChrist University

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_fwJ7vaSIg
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/s_fwJ7vaSIg
Generated: 2025-12-09T21:33:09.065+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Nash Narasimhan details HP's journey from a garage startup with $538 capital to an 85-year-old company redefining the future of work through major innovations like the HP WOW Bus for digital inclusion and advanced 3D printing, emphasizing the core management philosophy that success hinges on high aspirations, not humble beginnings.

**Key Points:**
- HP, started in a garage with $538 capital, is an 85-year-old company striving to redefine the future of work.
- The company's core management philosophy, echoed by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard, prioritizes employee interest (ESOP), management supporting staff (MBWA), risk-taking, marketing importance, and societal contribution.
- HP technology has a long history with NASA, including equipment measuring astronaut vitals in 1963 and the HP ENVY ISS Printer designed for zero-gravity printing.
- HP's innovation extends to high-profile partnerships, such as powering DreamWorks movies with Z Workstations and sponsoring the Ferrari F1 team and Real Madrid soccer club.
- HP demonstrates commitment to sustainability, being recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical/Responsible Companies, focusing on circular economy principles (recycling, responsible sourcing/transportation).
- The HP WOW Bus initiative bridges the digital divide in India, using solar-powered technology to provide digital learning and citizen services to schools lacking computer access.
- Speaker Nash Narasimhan joined HP in 1997 and highlights that high aims matter more than starting points, citing Steve Jobs' quote about Bill Hewlett giving him a job at age 12.

![Screenshot at 00:03: The introductory slide displays the presentation title, "HP Story, you might not know," alongside the speaker's name, Nash Narasimhan, setting the stage for a deep dive into HP's history and impact.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/s_fwJ7vaSIg/00-00-03.png)

**Context:** Nash Narasimhan, Services Business Leader for HP Store International, delivers a talk at TEDxChristUniversity detailing the long-standing history, core management principles, and modern technological and social contributions of HP, framing the company's success as a testament to aiming high despite humble origins, referencing figures like Bill Hewlett, Dave Packard, and Steve Jobs.

## Detailed Analysis

Nash Narasimhan begins by establishing HP's longevity, noting it is an 85-year-old company started in a garage with only $538 in capital, questioning if such a company can still redefine the future of work. He quotes Nelson Mandela: "It is not where you start but how high you aim that matters for success" (1:01). Narasimhan shares his personal connection, having joined HP in 1997 and highlighting his varied roles. He details five key management contributions established by founders Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard: ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), MBWA (Management By Walking Around), Risk Taking & Innovation, Marketing importance, and Societal Contribution, emphasizing that management supports staff, not vice versa, and that societal betterment is a shared responsibility (09:05). He showcases HP's historical contributions to NASA, including vital equipment used during the 1969 moon landing and the development of specialized equipment for space missions (04:27). Moving to modern impact, he shows how HP Z Workstations power DreamWorks animations like Kung Fu Panda and Shrek (06:26), and that HP Indigo prints labels for major brands like Coke and Nestlé (06:51). He also highlights HP's leadership in sustainability, citing recognitions from EcodVadis and Ethisphere (10:47). Furthermore, HP bridges the digital divide in India with the HP WOW Bus, a solar-powered mobile computer lab (12:17). He concludes by referencing Steve Jobs' quote about Bill Hewlett influencing him greatly (14:34) and reinforcing the theme that the aim matters more than the start, contrasting HP's garage start with Apple's later move to a former HP facility (14:52).

### HP's Foundational Ethos

- ESOP: Employees take greater interest if they feel part of the company
- MBWA: Job of a manager is to support staff, not vice versa, beginning by being among them
- Risk Taking & Innovation: If you don't fail regularly, you are not trying hard enough
- Marketing: Too important to be left only to the marketing department
- Societal Contribution: Betterment of society is a responsibility shared by all

### Historical and Technological Impact

- HP equipment measured astronaut vitals in 1963
- HP 41C Calculators used on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981
- HP Labs image-compression algorithm transmitted high-resolution images from Mars via Spirit Rover (2001)
- HP ENVY ISS Printer engineered for zero-gravity, space-proof printing

### Modern Industry Contributions

- HP Z Workstations power DreamWorks movies (Kung Fu Panda, Shrek)
- HP Indigo prints labels for major brands (Coke, Nestlé, Mondelēz)
- HP 3D Printers used for automotive parts (BMW, JLR) and custom Nike shoes/orthodontics

### Sustainability Leadership

- Recognized as one of America's Most Responsible and Ethical Companies (Newsweek, Ethisphere, EcodVadis Platinum)
- Focus on circular economy: responsible transportation, sourcing, energy efficiency, and product recycling (10:54)

### Social Impact

- HP WOW Bus initiative bridges the digital divide in India, using solar power for digital learning and citizen services in remote villages (12:17)

### Founders' Influence

- Steve Jobs cited Bill Hewlett for giving him a job at age 12, which had a remarkable influence on him (14:34); Steve Jobs was fired from HP before founding Apple (15:21)

![Screenshot at 00:03: Introduction slide featuring speaker Nash Narasimhan and the talk title "HP Story, you might not know".](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/s_fwJ7vaSIg/00-00-03.png)
![Screenshot at 00:13: Slide detailing Nash Narasimhan's 25-year service at HP and listing his current and earlier roles, including extracurricular passions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/s_fwJ7vaSIg/00-00-13.png)
![Screenshot at 01:40: Slide emphasizing HP's foundational role, stating "HP Garage is the Birthplace of Silicon Valley," showing pictures of the garage and a historical marker.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/s_fwJ7vaSIg/00-01-40.png)
![Screenshot at 04:27: Timeline slide highlighting HP technology used by NASA across decades, including Apollo and Space Shuttle missions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/s_fwJ7vaSIg/00-04-27.png)
![Screenshot at 10:47: Slide showcasing HP's sustainability leadership awards and a circular diagram detailing initiatives Before Use, During Use, and After Use.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/s_fwJ7vaSIg/00-10-47.png)