In this episode, Dr. Sharon Spano speaks with entrepreneur and experience strategist Vinay Raval, who walked away from corporate life to answer a deceptively simple question: How do businesses grow by inspiring happiness in their customers? His journey led him across continents, from mountain markets to high-touch tourism in Peru, culminating in the development of his customer-first philosophy called “Bring the Extra.”
Vinay dives deep into the human side of business, explaining how emotion—not just logic—drives customer loyalty, brand power, and employee retention. He also shares practical steps for making customer-centric strategy a tangible, impactful part of everyday operations.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why customer connection is no longer optional—it’s your differentiator.
- How Vinay’s global journey shaped his “Bring the Extra” philosophy.
- What it takes to create sensory, emotional, and lasting customer experiences.
- The real definition of “inspiring happiness” (Hint: It’s not fluff).
- How customer emotions differ by culture and context, and why that matters.
- What brand essence is and how to embed it into every touchpoint.
- Why tactics (not just strategy) drive real customer loyalty.
- How small businesses can thrive in a post-COVID world with human-centric service.
- Why employee experience matters just as much as customer experience.
- Simple ways to improve your tech, digital presence, and in-person service to reduce friction.
Transcript: Here
Connect with Vinay Raval:
LinkedIn: Vinay Raval – Growth Walla
Website: Vinay Raval
Sharon Spano:
Website: sharonspano.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD
Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/
Book: thetimemoneybook.com
Contact: sharon@sharonspano.com
Substack: substack.com/@drsharon
The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/
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