Playing to Win: Lessons from Neythri’s Intro to Poker Workshop with Poker Power

Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in Neythri’s Intro to Poker workshop with Poker Power, and it was one of the most unexpectedly empowering sessions I’ve attended.

As a finance and investing professional, I’ve often found myself in professional settings where poker is being played — at offsites, retreats, or networking events — but I never felt like I had the toolkit or confidence to participate meaningfully. This workshop changed that.

The session combined learning and practice. We were able to play real hands with an instructor coaching us in real time, helping us think through every move and strategy. That hands-on gameplay transformed what could have been an abstract lesson into something deeply tangible and confidence-building.

What stood out most to me was how much poker reflects the dynamics of decision-making and leadership. It’s a game of measured risk, about knowing when to be offensive or defensive, when to lean into uncertainty, and when to step back. As the Poker Power team emphasized, poker is a true mind sport: a blend of logic, psychology, and emotional discipline. In many ways, not too dissimilar to what I do in venture capital!

At its core, poker isn’t about avoiding losses; it’s about playing to win. And that’s a mindset that extends far beyond the table. Very grateful to be part of the movement to empower one million women to play poker!

Author Bio Sruthi is a technology growth equity investor at ICONIQ Capital, a privately-held investment firm that serves some of the world’s most influential families and organizations. Prior to her current role, Sruthi was an Analyst at Goldman Sachs’ Tech, Media and Telecom Investment Banking group where she worked on mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and capital raises in various technology sectors. Sruthi also spent time in marketing at Career Contessa, a career mentorship platform for women, and in business development at Room to Read, a non-profit focused on literacy and gender equality in education. Sruthi serves on the board of Archbishop Mitty High School and is a co-founder of Shakti Collaborative, digital platform that showcases the narratives of South Asian women. Sruthi holds a BA degree in Economics from The University of Chicago.