My guest today is a good friend and colleague - and not to forget with whom I was a co-author for a book, Paramu Kurumathur. In this episode, Paramu discusses how his recent development work evolved from small Google Apps Script utilities copied and adapted from online examples to building AI-connected applications via APIs to tools like Gemini and ChatGPT, including enabling Q&A over his book content. He describes surprises from “conversing” with his books—especially that LLMs retain details he has forgotten—while noting key risks such as hallucinations and the need for precise prompts. He explains learning Cursor with guidance from our colleague, Raja, discovering that it can generate code, and rapidly producing a proof of concept that maps citizens to the Government welfare schemes using PDFs, Chroma DB, sentence transformers, and queues—work that took about a week instead of months. The conversation contrasts older development eras with today’s dependency-heavy environments, argues many SDLC intermediate steps are compressed, and highlights transferable mid-career skills in requirements and problem translation, alongside concerns about limited debugging and testing depth. The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section 00:00 Welcome and Setup01:16 Rediscovering Coding via Apps Script02:02 Connecting Scripts to LLM APIs03:21 Talking to Your Own Book05:32 Hallucinations and Prompt Control06:50 Learning Cursor and Building a POC09:09 Old School Dev vs Modern Tooling12:00 AI Changes the SDLC13:36 Testing and Trusting AI Output15:10 Debugging Gaps and Assumptions16:34 Setting AI Standards17:20 Mid Career Transfer Skills18:48 Prompting Without Hallucinations20:21 Courses vs Learning by Doing23:25 Overcoming First Step Fear25:24 LLM Limits in Astronomy28:24 Cursor for Reliable Code29:37 Anybody Can Code Now31:13 Next Projects and Wrap Up

My guest today is a good friend and colleague - and not to forget with whom I was a co-author for a book, Paramu Kurumathur.In this episode, Paramu discusses how his recent development work evolved from small Google Apps Script utilities copied and adapted from online examples to building AI-connected applications via APIs to tools like Gemini and ChatGPT, including enabling Q&A over his book content. He describes surprises from “conversing” with his books—especially that LLMs retain details he has forgotten—while noting key risks such as hallucinations and the need for precise prompts. He explains learning Cursor with guidance from our colleague, Raja, discovering that it can generate code, and rapidly producing a proof of concept that maps citizens to the Government welfare schemes using PDFs, Chroma DB, sentence transformers, and queues—work that took about a week instead of months. The conversation contrasts older development eras with today’s dependency-heavy environments, argues many SDLC intermediate steps are compressed, and highlights transferable mid-career skills in requirements and problem translation, alongside concerns about limited debugging and testing depth.The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section00:00 Welcome and Setup01:16 Rediscovering Coding via Apps Script02:02 Connecting Scripts to LLM APIs03:21 Talking to Your Own Book05:32 Hallucinations and Prompt Control06:50 Learning Cursor and Building a POC09:09 Old School Dev vs Modern Tooling12:00 AI Changes the SDLC13:36 Testing and Trusting AI Output15:10 Debugging Gaps and Assumptions16:34 Setting AI Standards17:20 Mid Career Transfer Skills18:48 Prompting Without Hallucinations20:21 Courses vs Learning by Doing23:25 Overcoming First Step Fear25:24 LLM Limits in Astronomy28:24 Cursor for Reliable Code29:37 Anybody Can Code Now31:13 Next Projects and Wrap Up

Software People Stories

Reviving Developer Passion with Paramu Kurumathur

My guest today is Evan J. Schwartz, the COO of AMCS Group North America, a global leader in sustainable cloud technology. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor and Board Advisor at Jacksonville University, mentoring graduate students in AI, cybersecurity, and technical project management. Evan traces his technology origin from early-1980s bulletin board systems to founding a company that built graphic multiplayer BBS games and a scripted graphics language, that he says predated HTML, reaching 33 titles across a global BBS market before the internet rapidly displaced it around 1995. He then shifted from internet gaming into business software, automating insurance workflows and later working in commodity and “reverse logistics” industries including forestry, natural gas, and waste/recycling at AMCS, citing route optimization across 770,000 trucks that saves 17–20 gallons of diesel per truck. He discusses why ERP adoption is hard, advocating game-design-style gradual introduction, putting people first, and having product teams do end-user jobs. He emphasizes vendor relationships over feature requests, AI governance and risk frameworks, a “person + AI” stewardship model, and evolving education/career paths toward broad skills, clear communication, domain knowledge, and knowing what “good” looks like. The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section 00:00 Welcome and Setup00:31 Early Computing Origins01:20 Building BBS Games03:02 Internet Shift to Business05:01 Reverse Logistics Mission06:34 ERP and AI Adoption08:31 Gaming Lessons for ERP11:03 People First Strategy13:00 Empathy by Doing the Job17:29 Vendor Trust and Roadmaps21:31 Universities vs AI Change24:58 Training Architects Without Coding26:03 AI as Faster Camera26:58 Stewardship Over Replacement28:34 Why Hallucinations Happen29:52 Capstones in One Class30:37 Excel to AI Migration33:08 M&A Governance Interop35:45 EU AI Act Reality Check37:56 Culture Shapes Adoption40:31 Interstellar Waiting Trap41:53 Career Skills for Stewards44:41 Quiet Failure Risk45:57 Protect Time and Values48:52 Closing Thanks Evan J. Schwartz is the COO of AMCS Group North America, a global leader in sustainable cloud technology. With 35+ years of experience in resource-intensive industries like waste, recycling, and natural gas, he drives digital transformation through AI and data science. Formerly AMCS’s Chief Enterprise Architect, Evan is also an adjunct professor at Jacksonville University, mentoring future IT leaders. A Forbes Technology Council member and sought-after speaker, he advocates for AI-driven sustainability and ethical tech. His bestselling book, People, Places, and Things, cements his expertise in seamless ERP implementation. SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Website: https://www.evanjschwartz.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-schwartz-live/

My guest today is Evan J. Schwartz, the COO of AMCS Group North America, a global leader in sustainable cloud technology. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor and Board Advisor at Jacksonville University, mentoring graduate students in AI, cybersecurity, and technical project management.Evan traces his technology origin from early-1980s bulletin board systems to founding a company that built graphic multiplayer BBS games and a scripted graphics language, that he says predated HTML, reaching 33 titles across a global BBS market before the internet rapidly displaced it around 1995. He then shifted from internet gaming into business software, automating insurance workflows and later working in commodity and “reverse logistics” industries including forestry, natural gas, and waste/recycling at AMCS, citing route optimization across 770,000 trucks that saves 17–20 gallons of diesel per truck. He discusses why ERP adoption is hard, advocating game-design-style gradual introduction, putting people first, and having product teams do end-user jobs. He emphasizes vendor relationships over feature requests, AI governance and risk frameworks, a “person + AI” stewardship model, and evolving education/career paths toward broad skills, clear communication, domain knowledge, and knowing what “good” looks like.The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section00:00 Welcome and Setup00:31 Early Computing Origins01:20 Building BBS Games03:02 Internet Shift to Business05:01 Reverse Logistics Mission06:34 ERP and AI Adoption08:31 Gaming Lessons for ERP11:03 People First Strategy13:00 Empathy by Doing the Job17:29 Vendor Trust and Roadmaps21:31 Universities vs AI Change24:58 Training Architects Without Coding26:03 AI as Faster Camera26:58 Stewardship Over Replacement28:34 Why Hallucinations Happen29:52 Capstones in One Class30:37 Excel to AI Migration33:08 M&A Governance Interop35:45 EU AI Act Reality Check37:56 Culture Shapes Adoption40:31 Interstellar Waiting Trap41:53 Career Skills for Stewards44:41 Quiet Failure Risk45:57 Protect Time and Values48:52 Closing ThanksEvan J. Schwartz is the COO of AMCS Group North America, a global leader in sustainable cloud technology. With 35+ years of experience in resource-intensive industries like waste, recycling, and natural gas, he drives digital transformation through AI and data science. Formerly AMCS’s Chief Enterprise Architect, Evan is also an adjunct professor at Jacksonville University, mentoring future IT leaders. A Forbes Technology Council member and sought-after speaker, he advocates for AI-driven sustainability and ethical tech. His bestselling book, People, Places, and Things, cements his expertise in seamless ERP implementation.SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Website: https://www.evanjschwartz.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-schwartz-live/

From Gaming to Global Efficiency with Evan J Schwartz

My guest today is Chaitra Partha Rao, Vice President at Daimler Truck Innovation Center India – Manufacturing , Sales & Aftersales. Chaitra shares how her childhood aspirations to become a neurosurgeon shifted to commerce due to cost constraints, eventually leading her into IT through an internship at a medical diagnostics firm automating stores processes. She describes observing early requirement-gathering and MVP-style delivery, learning the importance of user empathy, and contrasts it with a later failure where a $15M trading interface was rejected because designers didn’t listen to analysts. Her career spans core banking, Fidelity-style investing, equity trading transformation (including crypto/digital assets focus in 2015–2017), and automotive/trucking, emphasizing designing for human touchpoints even amid AI trends. She discusses patience versus outcome-chasing, staying focused via “recalculating” and timeboxing, scaling systems using “day in the life” simulations, cross-cultural user commonalities, cautious optimism about synthetic data, guidance for women returning from career breaks, and grounding routines like yoga, reflection, cooking, and music. The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section 00:00 Welcome and Setup00:42 From Medicine to Commerce02:37 First IT Breakthrough05:41 Curiosity Meets Automation10:56 User Empathy in Practice16:33 Human Touch vs AI18:39 Patience and Ambition22:04 Staying Focused Timeboxing26:07 Commute Predictability Hacks26:37 Banking vs Trading Reality28:10 Learning Traders Language31:27 Designing for Scale Patterns36:38 Cross Culture User Insights40:12 AI Synthetic Personas Limits44:27 Returning After Career Break49:12 Staying Grounded Daily Routine51:13 Closing Reflections Thanks Chaitra is a seasoned leader with 26 years of experience in IT traversing through Fintech & Automotive domains. Her formative leadership experience stems from working for Fidelity Investments , a company that shaped who she is while putting it to practice and being able to coach and nurture A teams is an opportunity that she experiences with her current organization. She has played various roles that have taken her through learning paths that have been challenging as well as fulfilling in the areas of technology, process and team building.  She calls herself as ‘still a work-in-progress’, curious learner who takes one day at a time , enjoying it to the maximum and helping coach leaders and teams to bring their best.  She may be reached on: <a href="mailto:chaitrasreesha@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">chaitrasreesha@gmail.com</a>

My guest today is Chaitra Partha Rao, Vice President at Daimler Truck Innovation Center India – Manufacturing , Sales & Aftersales.Chaitra shares how her childhood aspirations to become a neurosurgeon shifted to commerce due to cost constraints, eventually leading her into IT through an internship at a medical diagnostics firm automating stores processes. She describes observing early requirement-gathering and MVP-style delivery, learning the importance of user empathy, and contrasts it with a later failure where a $15M trading interface was rejected because designers didn’t listen to analysts. Her career spans core banking, Fidelity-style investing, equity trading transformation (including crypto/digital assets focus in 2015–2017), and automotive/trucking, emphasizing designing for human touchpoints even amid AI trends. She discusses patience versus outcome-chasing, staying focused via “recalculating” and timeboxing, scaling systems using “day in the life” simulations, cross-cultural user commonalities, cautious optimism about synthetic data, guidance for women returning from career breaks, and grounding routines like yoga, reflection, cooking, and music. The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section00:00 Welcome and Setup00:42 From Medicine to Commerce02:37 First IT Breakthrough05:41 Curiosity Meets Automation10:56 User Empathy in Practice16:33 Human Touch vs AI18:39 Patience and Ambition22:04 Staying Focused Timeboxing26:07 Commute Predictability Hacks26:37 Banking vs Trading Reality28:10 Learning Traders Language31:27 Designing for Scale Patterns36:38 Cross Culture User Insights40:12 AI Synthetic Personas Limits44:27 Returning After Career Break49:12 Staying Grounded Daily Routine51:13 Closing Reflections ThanksChaitra is a seasoned leader with 26 years of experience in IT traversing through Fintech & Automotive domains. Her formative leadership experience stems from working for Fidelity Investments , a company that shaped who she is while putting it to practice and being able to coach and nurture A teams is an opportunity that she experiences with her current organization.She has played various roles that have taken her through learning paths that have been challenging as well as fulfilling in the areas of technology, process and team building. She calls herself as ‘still a work-in-progress’, curious learner who takes one day at a time , enjoying it to the maximum and helping coach leaders and teams to bring their best. She may be reached on: chaitrasreesha@gmail.com

Navigating Career Curves and Breaks with Chaitra Rao

My guest today is Tyler Wells, co-founder of Brain Grid.Tyler recounts 25+ years in software, from an early IBM XT to work across military communications, startups, Skype/Microsoft, and seven and a half years at Twilio building video and SRE organizations, before founding Propel Data (which didn’t find product-market fit) and then Brain Grid. He describes an experiment-driven approach to building high-performance systems by defining hypotheses, creating a “steel thread” MVP, and prioritizing observability for 2:00 AM incidents.  He discusses how AI coding shifts focus from typing code to architecture, documentation, critical thinking, and red-teaming plans, while warning that agents need guidance on separation of concerns and DRY to avoid refactor side effects. Brain Grid emerged from using Cursor agents during Propel’s wind-down and aims to generate detailed specs, acceptance criteria, and validation loops so agents implement features reliably, with attention to token efficiency.  He also covers co-founder traits, chaos engineering, compliance challenges for solopreneurs, career advice, and staying grounded through exercise, cooking, and family. Tyler Wells is the Co-founder and CTO at BrainGrid, BrainGrid is one of the first platforms built specifically to replace the missing product management role in AI-native software development.He is currently building BrainGrid — helping engineering teams ship faster with AI-assisted requirements breakdown and task management. We're focused on bridging the gap between product ideas and implementation-ready work. His Background: He has spent 25+ years building systems where failure isn't an option—from satellite communications at Hughes Space to real-time video at global scale. I led the team that built Facebook's first video calling feature powered by Skype, then spent 7+ years at Twilio building their Video Platform (WebRTC) and leading SRE/Observability across the company.

My guest today is Tyler Wells, co-founder of Brain Grid.Tyler recounts 25+ years in software, from an early IBM XT to work across military communications, startups, Skype/Microsoft, and seven and a half years at Twilio building video and SRE organizations, before founding Propel Data (which didn’t find product-market fit) and then Brain Grid. He describes an experiment-driven approach to building high-performance systems by defining hypotheses, creating a “steel thread” MVP, and prioritizing observability for 2:00 AM incidents. He discusses how AI coding shifts focus from typing code to architecture, documentation, critical thinking, and red-teaming plans, while warning that agents need guidance on separation of concerns and DRY to avoid refactor side effects. Brain Grid emerged from using Cursor agents during Propel’s wind-down and aims to generate detailed specs, acceptance criteria, and validation loops so agents implement features reliably, with attention to token efficiency. He also covers co-founder traits, chaos engineering, compliance challenges for solopreneurs, career advice, and staying grounded through exercise, cooking, and family.Tyler Wells is the Co-founder and CTO at BrainGrid, BrainGrid is one of the first platforms built specifically to replace the missing product management role in AI-native software development.He is currently building BrainGrid — helping engineering teams ship faster with AI-assisted requirements breakdown and task management. We're focused on bridging the gap between product ideas and implementation-ready work.His Background: He has spent 25+ years building systems where failure isn't an option—from satellite communications at Hughes Space to real-time video at global scale. I led the team that built Facebook's first video calling feature powered by Skype, then spent 7+ years at Twilio building their Video Platform (WebRTC) and leading SRE/Observability across the company.

Navigating Tech and Chaos with Tyler Wells

My guest today is L.A. Balamurugan, known as Bala. With extensive experience in software development, he now plays the role of a delivery coach.In this conversation filled with nuggets from his experience, Bala shares his career journey from a computer science degree in the early 1990s to roles at HCL, Perot Systems in the US, and Manugistics.After earning a master’s in information systems and software engineering from George Mason University, he joined HP Labs in Bangalore as an R&D project/program manager on HP OpenView and became involved in early Agile/Scrum adoption and scaling. He later launched a boutique consulting firm and co-founded BookMyTrainings.com (a training marketplace), grew it with angel funding, and expanded into payment collection and L&D program management before COVID led to winding it down.  He then spent about seven years as an Agile coach and recently published a startup-focused book, "What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Up," covering founder blind spots, idea alignment, co-founder choices, and emotional resilience. 00:00 Welcome and Setup00:30 Early Career at HCL01:53 Textile Systems Tech Stack02:28 US Onsite Perot Systems03:41 Supply Chain at Manugistics05:20 Return to India and Masters06:13 HP Labs and Agile Shift08:10 Entrepreneurship Leap08:57 Building BookMyTrainings10:23 Payments and Revenue Model11:52 SAFe Training and Coaching13:43 COVID Impact and Book Writing16:22 Learning New Domains Fast19:03 Dual Hat PM and Scrum22:48 Two Sided Marketplace Insights25:03 Training Pain Points26:05 Building Trust Platform26:53 Win Win Marketplace29:26 AI In Learning Paths32:06 Agile Culture Vs Delivery34:49 Writing Startup Book40:08 Career Tips In AI Era44:47 Co Founder Dilemma47:24 Staying Grounded49:56 Closing Thoughts L. A. Balamurugan, or Bala, began his career as a computer science engineer, studying in India and later completing his Master’s in the USA. After sixteen years building software products and leading teams, he moved into entrepreneurship, founding multiple ventures including BookMyTrainings, a well known training marketplace in India. Following the pandemic and the closure of the startup, Bala now works as a Delivery Coach helping software teams deliver better products faster. His entrepreneurial journey inspired his book, What I Wish I Knew Before I Started: A Founder’s Guide to Understanding One’s Blind Spots and Equipping Before Venturing. Bala’s Linkedin profile <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/labmurugan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.linkedin.com/in/labmurugan</a>Link to his book: <a href="https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GFNP7NTG" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GFNP7NTG</a>

  My guest today is L.A. Balamurugan, known as Bala. With extensive experience in software development, he now plays the role of a delivery coach.In this conversation filled with nuggets from his experience, Bala shares his career journey from a computer science degree in the early 1990s to roles at HCL, Perot Systems in the US, and Manugistics.After earning a master’s in information systems and software engineering from George Mason University, he joined HP Labs in Bangalore as an R&D project/program manager on HP OpenView and became involved in early Agile/Scrum adoption and scaling. He later launched a boutique consulting firm and co-founded BookMyTrainings.com (a training marketplace), grew it with angel funding, and expanded into payment collection and L&D program management before COVID led to winding it down. He then spent about seven years as an Agile coach and recently published a startup-focused book, "What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Up," covering founder blind spots, idea alignment, co-founder choices, and emotional resilience.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:30 Early Career at HCL01:53 Textile Systems Tech Stack02:28 US Onsite Perot Systems03:41 Supply Chain at Manugistics05:20 Return to India and Masters06:13 HP Labs and Agile Shift08:10 Entrepreneurship Leap08:57 Building BookMyTrainings10:23 Payments and Revenue Model11:52 SAFe Training and Coaching13:43 COVID Impact and Book Writing16:22 Learning New Domains Fast19:03 Dual Hat PM and Scrum22:48 Two Sided Marketplace Insights25:03 Training Pain Points26:05 Building Trust Platform26:53 Win Win Marketplace29:26 AI In Learning Paths32:06 Agile Culture Vs Delivery34:49 Writing Startup Book40:08 Career Tips In AI Era44:47 Co Founder Dilemma47:24 Staying Grounded49:56 Closing ThoughtsL. A. Balamurugan, or Bala, began his career as a computer science engineer, studying in India and later completing his Master’s in the USA. After sixteen years building software products and leading teams, he moved into entrepreneurship, founding multiple ventures including BookMyTrainings, a well known training marketplace in India. Following the pandemic and the closure of the startup, Bala now works as a Delivery Coach helping software teams deliver better products faster. His entrepreneurial journey inspired his book, What I Wish I Knew Before I Started: A Founder’s Guide to Understanding One’s Blind Spots and Equipping Before Venturing.Bala’s Linkedin profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/labmuruganLink to his book: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GFNP7NTG

Building a Business Dream with L A Balamurugan

In this episode, I am in conversation with Rajesh Sharma, co-founder and chief product officer of ProHance. Rajesh covers a lot of ground starting from his move from Public Sector to SaaS Founder.Rajesh describes his path from a modest middle-class upbringing in Shimla and a mechanical engineering degree to a stable career at HPCL, then a major career reset into software after quitting his public-sector job to take an IBM course and restarting as a trainee. He later co-founded JaMocha Tech  (now ProHance) in 2009 with co-founder Kishore Reddy, backed early by angel investor Sudhir Sharma, aiming to build a world-class software product from India. After experimenting with multiple products and learning that market feedback matters more than expert opinions, they focused on ProHance, a horizontal work visibility and effectiveness platform, now with 250+ customers in 23 countries, ~200+ employees, and a private equity majority investor. He emphasizes the importance of complementary co-founders, supportive family, direct founder-customer feedback loops, profitability and frugality, outcome ownership, and adopting AI internally and in-product. 00:00 Welcome and Setup01:00 Origin Story and Courage02:10 From Shimla to Bangalore04:22 Quitting HPCL for IT07:06 Starting the Company11:06 Why Team Matters14:02 Family Support System16:56 Finding Product Market Fit18:45 Choosing the Winning Product23:18 Selling a Horizontal SaaS24:31 Business Meets Tech25:48 Customer Value Mindset27:36 Product Decisions and Risk30:36 Start Small MVP33:01 Founder Led Feedback Loop35:28 Scaling Global Teams36:05 Leaders From Customers39:16 AI Adoption and Roadmap46:03 Staying Grounded Values50:21 Parting Advice Start Now Rajesh Sharma is a first-generation entrepreneur and the co-founder of ProHance, a highly successful, self-funded, profitable SaaS startup built from the ground up in Bangalore, India.Born and raised in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, Rajesh earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from MNIT, Jaipur. He began his professional journey with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), one of India’s leading public sector oil and gas companies.After over 12 years at HPCL, Rajesh identified the rising potential of the IT sector and made a strategic career transition in 2000, moving from a stable corporate role to the technology industry as a software engineer. He gained practical experience in software product development with companies including Network Solutions, International Decision Systems, and JSoft.In 2009, Rajesh co-founded JaMocha Tech with Kishore Reddy (later renamed ProHance) where he leveraged his techno-functional expertise to build a profitable, debt-free SaaS enterprise. Today, ProHance stands as a global platform with over 200 enterprise customers and an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of around $18 million. In December 2023, ChrysCapital acquired a 75% stake in ProHance, fuelling its next phase of global expansion across regions such as the Philippines, Australia, and South America.Throughout his career, he has consistently embraced roles beyond his core expertise, applying a hands-on, practical approach that combines on-the-job learning with sound judgment. This rare combination has shaped him into a leader with deep insight into both the business and technical aspects of running any enterprise.Rajesh continues to be deeply involved with ProHance, now serving as its Chief Product Officer (CPO) after transitioning from his earlier role as COO. In this capacity, he continues to drive ProHance’s product vision, innovation, and technology roadmap—while mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs and builders navigating their own zero-to-one journeys.  Contact info: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajesh-sharma-12298447" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajesh-sharma-12298447</a>

In this episode, I am in conversation with Rajesh Sharma, co-founder and chief product officer of ProHance. Rajesh covers a lot of ground starting from his move from Public Sector to SaaS Founder.Rajesh describes his path from a modest middle-class upbringing in Shimla and a mechanical engineering degree to a stable career at HPCL, then a major career reset into software after quitting his public-sector job to take an IBM course and restarting as a trainee. He later co-founded JaMocha Tech  (now ProHance) in 2009 with co-founder Kishore Reddy, backed early by angel investor Sudhir Sharma, aiming to build a world-class software product from India. After experimenting with multiple products and learning that market feedback matters more than expert opinions, they focused on ProHance, a horizontal work visibility and effectiveness platform, now with 250+ customers in 23 countries, ~200+ employees, and a private equity majority investor. He emphasizes the importance of complementary co-founders, supportive family, direct founder-customer feedback loops, profitability and frugality, outcome ownership, and adopting AI internally and in-product.00:00 Welcome and Setup01:00 Origin Story and Courage02:10 From Shimla to Bangalore04:22 Quitting HPCL for IT07:06 Starting the Company11:06 Why Team Matters14:02 Family Support System16:56 Finding Product Market Fit18:45 Choosing the Winning Product23:18 Selling a Horizontal SaaS24:31 Business Meets Tech25:48 Customer Value Mindset27:36 Product Decisions and Risk30:36 Start Small MVP33:01 Founder Led Feedback Loop35:28 Scaling Global Teams36:05 Leaders From Customers39:16 AI Adoption and Roadmap46:03 Staying Grounded Values50:21 Parting Advice Start NowRajesh Sharma is a first-generation entrepreneur and the co-founder of ProHance, a highly successful, self-funded, profitable SaaS startup built from the ground up in Bangalore, India.Born and raised in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, Rajesh earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from MNIT, Jaipur. He began his professional journey with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), one of India’s leading public sector oil and gas companies.After over 12 years at HPCL, Rajesh identified the rising potential of the IT sector and made a strategic career transition in 2000, moving from a stable corporate role to the technology industry as a software engineer. He gained practical experience in software product development with companies including Network Solutions, International Decision Systems, and JSoft.In 2009, Rajesh co-founded JaMocha Tech with Kishore Reddy (later renamed ProHance) where he leveraged his techno-functional expertise to build a profitable, debt-free SaaS enterprise. Today, ProHance stands as a global platform with over 200 enterprise customers and an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of around $18 million. In December 2023, ChrysCapital acquired a 75% stake in ProHance, fuelling its next phase of global expansion across regions such as the Philippines, Australia, and South America.Throughout his career, he has consistently embraced roles beyond his core expertise, applying a hands-on, practical approach that combines on-the-job learning with sound judgment. This rare combination has shaped him into a leader with deep insight into both the business and technical aspects of running any enterprise.Rajesh continues to be deeply involved with ProHance, now serving as its Chief Product Officer (CPO) after transitioning from his earlier role as COO. In this capacity, he continues to drive ProHance’s product vision, innovation, and technology roadmap—while mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs and builders navigating their own zero-to-one journeys. Contact info: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajesh-sharma-12298447

Unleashing Potential with Rajesh Sharma

Host: Chitra Gurjar <ul><li>4 decades and counting, always energized to do something, work is my DNA</li><li>From post and telegraph to giving tuitions to creating her own agency to study</li><li>An advocate for herself, nurturing her desire to serve</li><li>Turning away “assured” job offers to join Defence Labs as a Scientist at CABS</li><li>Moved onto a “lesser assurance” to join HP</li><li>People and culture at the heart of her 3+decade stay at HP</li><li>Challenging status quo, try and fail, Innovation has to be a part of one’s daily life</li><li>Stay focused on problems that you are solving and layer tools and technology to solve your problem</li><li>Focus on incremental delivery of value</li><li>Holding a people vision through the course of her work</li><li>Strong belief that “AI will improve the quality of jobs”</li><li>Learning is a constant - continue to build </li><li>Apply training and learning programs intentionally</li><li>Working on a market analysis - next gen quoter</li><li>Strong belief on impact of AI on Healthcare and Education</li><li>Believing that coaching is something everyone should learn, enable people as answers lie within each one</li><li>Working with a non-profit Daksham skills and Dreams Designs</li></ul>﻿Arundathi has been working in technology and leadership related roles for the last 40+ years. Shestarted her career as a Scientist at Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, India.While at DRDO, she was involved in development of Radar transmitter and controller systems.Arundathi joined Hewlett Packard in 1996 and during her 27+ year career in HP and HPE, she hasworked in multiple roles across various business units. Under her leadership, HP rolled out multiplemarket leading internet services related products on HPUX. She was on one of the key leaderresponsible for setting up Global IT teams offshore centre in India in 2004. She has managed a teamof 3000+ technologists delivering for IT, across multiple technologies and multiple business areasenabling HP(E)’s business. She has successfully lead and delivered multiple IT transformationprojects. She has also lead the people transformation to move towards digital technologies inalignment with the market trends and business needs. She has had a short stint of 2 years at EY asthe Engineering leader for India, in Client Technology, building on Product engineering and deliverycapability. In the recent past she was the Global Program Manager for HPE’s industry leading NextGeneration IT transformation program. She leads the Global Delivery Services organisation, which isthe internal the delivery engine for GIT. She is also the India leader for HPE’s Global IT.Arundathi has led several initiatives in people transformation towards digital transformation,customer centricity and employee engagement. She is passionate about building teams and leaderswho are future proof and future safe. She has a strong passion towards building women leaders intechnology and mentored and coached many women through focussed initiatives. She has also hada stint as the chairperson at HP for Prevention of Sexual Harassment at workplace.Arundathi has as Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics from GovernmentCollege of Technology, Coimbatore and Master of Technology from Indian Institute of Technology,Madras (IITM). She is a certified coach.During her free time, Arundathi loves to teach, coach, travel and read.

Host: Chitra Gurjar4 decades and counting, always energized to do something, work is my DNAFrom post and telegraph to giving tuitions to creating her own agency to studyAn advocate for herself, nurturing her desire to serveTurning away “assured” job offers to join Defence Labs as a Scientist at CABSMoved onto a “lesser assurance” to join HPPeople and culture at the heart of her 3+decade stay at HPChallenging status quo, try and fail, Innovation has to be a part of one’s daily lifeStay focused on problems that you are solving and layer tools and technology to solve your problemFocus on incremental delivery of valueHolding a people vision through the course of her workStrong belief that “AI will improve the quality of jobs”Learning is a constant - continue to build Apply training and learning programs intentionallyWorking on a market analysis - next gen quoterStrong belief on impact of AI on Healthcare and EducationBelieving that coaching is something everyone should learn, enable people as answers lie within each oneWorking with a non-profit Daksham skills and Dreams Designs﻿Arundathi has been working in technology and leadership related roles for the last 40+ years. Shestarted her career as a Scientist at Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, India.While at DRDO, she was involved in development of Radar transmitter and controller systems.Arundathi joined Hewlett Packard in 1996 and during her 27+ year career in HP and HPE, she hasworked in multiple roles across various business units. Under her leadership, HP rolled out multiplemarket leading internet services related products on HPUX. She was on one of the key leaderresponsible for setting up Global IT teams offshore centre in India in 2004. She has managed a teamof 3000+ technologists delivering for IT, across multiple technologies and multiple business areasenabling HP(E)’s business. She has successfully lead and delivered multiple IT transformationprojects. She has also lead the people transformation to move towards digital technologies inalignment with the market trends and business needs. She has had a short stint of 2 years at EY asthe Engineering leader for India, in Client Technology, building on Product engineering and deliverycapability. In the recent past she was the Global Program Manager for HPE’s industry leading NextGeneration IT transformation program. She leads the Global Delivery Services organisation, which isthe internal the delivery engine for GIT. She is also the India leader for HPE’s Global IT.Arundathi has led several initiatives in people transformation towards digital transformation,customer centricity and employee engagement. She is passionate about building teams and leaderswho are future proof and future safe. She has a strong passion towards building women leaders intechnology and mentored and coached many women through focussed initiatives. She has also hada stint as the chairperson at HP for Prevention of Sexual Harassment at workplace.Arundathi has as Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics from GovernmentCollege of Technology, Coimbatore and Master of Technology from Indian Institute of Technology,Madras (IITM). She is a certified coach.During her free time, Arundathi loves to teach, coach, travel and read.

A real natural with Arundathi Rao

In this episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri speaks with Muthusamy Vetrivel, Manager – Business Analytics at Saudi National Bank (formerly Saudi French Bank), about a career that spans over four decades of technological disruption.Vetrivel’s journey is anything but conventional.He began in the granite export business — negotiating documents and standing nervously at bank counters. That experience sparked curiosity: “What happens behind the counter?” That curiosity led him into banking.In the mid-1980s, when computers first entered Indian banks, he was among a select group trained in programming through Aptech — at a time when unions resisted “computers” and they were rebranded as Advanced Ledger Posting Machines (ALPM).From:<ul><li>Assembly language and MS-DOS</li><li>20 MB storage limits</li><li>286 machines and floppy disks</li><li>Writing modules for savings and current accounts</li></ul>To:<ul><li>Oracle databases</li><li>LAN networks</li><li>Core banking migrations</li><li>And today — analyzing 5 million customer records in seconds</li></ul>Vetrivel has lived through every wave of banking transformation.Now in Riyadh, he leads Business Analytics — studying customer behavior, spending patterns, and helping the bank design better financial products while staying compliant with regulations governed by the Saudi Central Bank.Beyond banking, he serves as a community leader with the Riyadh Tamil Sangam — supporting migrant workers, coordinating repatriation flights during COVID, promoting Tamil literacy, and building recognized Tamil-speaking Toastmasters clubs globally.His philosophy is simple:Be sincere. Be honest. Contribute a little more than expected.A rare combination of technical depth, regulatory understanding, business acumen, and grassroots community service — this episode is a masterclass in longevity, relevance, and purpose. Muthusamy Vetrivel is a seasoned Banking and Data Analytics Specialist with over three decades of combined experience in both information technology and banking operations. He currently serves as Manager – Business Analytics at Saudi National Bank (formerly Banque Saudi Fransi), where he leads analytics initiatives that harness customer insights, large-scale data, and business intelligence to drive product design, customer understanding, and strategic decision-making.Vetrivel’s career uniquely spans core banking systems, software project management, and data analysis, rooted in deep experience with legacy banking platforms and modern analytics environments. Over the years, he has witnessed firsthand the evolution of banking technology — from early MIS and core banking implementations to advanced analytics workflows processing millions of records.Beyond his professional domain, Muthusamy is also known for community leadership, particularly through his involvement with expatriate cultural and support initiatives, mentoring, and building networks that bridge technical expertise with service and social impact. Vetrivel can be reached at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mvetrivel/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mvetrivel/</a>

In this episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri speaks with Muthusamy Vetrivel, Manager – Business Analytics at Saudi National Bank (formerly Saudi French Bank), about a career that spans over four decades of technological disruption.Vetrivel’s journey is anything but conventional.He began in the granite export business — negotiating documents and standing nervously at bank counters. That experience sparked curiosity: “What happens behind the counter?” That curiosity led him into banking.In the mid-1980s, when computers first entered Indian banks, he was among a select group trained in programming through Aptech — at a time when unions resisted “computers” and they were rebranded as Advanced Ledger Posting Machines (ALPM).From:Assembly language and MS-DOS20 MB storage limits286 machines and floppy disksWriting modules for savings and current accountsTo:Oracle databasesLAN networksCore banking migrationsAnd today — analyzing 5 million customer records in secondsVetrivel has lived through every wave of banking transformation.Now in Riyadh, he leads Business Analytics — studying customer behavior, spending patterns, and helping the bank design better financial products while staying compliant with regulations governed by the Saudi Central Bank.Beyond banking, he serves as a community leader with the Riyadh Tamil Sangam — supporting migrant workers, coordinating repatriation flights during COVID, promoting Tamil literacy, and building recognized Tamil-speaking Toastmasters clubs globally.His philosophy is simple:Be sincere. Be honest. Contribute a little more than expected.A rare combination of technical depth, regulatory understanding, business acumen, and grassroots community service — this episode is a masterclass in longevity, relevance, and purpose.Muthusamy Vetrivel is a seasoned Banking and Data Analytics Specialist with over three decades of combined experience in both information technology and banking operations. He currently serves as Manager – Business Analytics at Saudi National Bank (formerly Banque Saudi Fransi), where he leads analytics initiatives that harness customer insights, large-scale data, and business intelligence to drive product design, customer understanding, and strategic decision-making.Vetrivel’s career uniquely spans core banking systems, software project management, and data analysis, rooted in deep experience with legacy banking platforms and modern analytics environments. Over the years, he has witnessed firsthand the evolution of banking technology — from early MIS and core banking implementations to advanced analytics workflows processing millions of records.Beyond his professional domain, Muthusamy is also known for community leadership, particularly through his involvement with expatriate cultural and support initiatives, mentoring, and building networks that bridge technical expertise with service and social impact.Vetrivel can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mvetrivel/

Bits, Banking & Business Analytics with Muthusamy Vetrivel

In this special Women’s Day episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri sits down with Manisha Deshpande, VP, Digital Platform Engineering at Neurealm, for a deeply reflective conversation on career evolution, motherhood, leadership, and thriving in the AI era.Manisha’s journey begins in the early 2000s — renting desktops with friends, coding in C++, and working at startups before “startups” were cool. A pivotal on-site experience early in her career changed how she viewed engineering — from writing code to understanding customer impact.Across 25 years in technology — from digital asset management to identity & access management, from services to product engineering, from engineering leadership to heading UX Centers of Excellence — Manisha shares the inflection points that shaped her:<ul><li>Choosing to intentionally slow down during certain seasons of life</li><li>Moving from domain specialist to product mindset thinker</li><li>Bridging design and engineering</li><li>Leading horizontally across business units</li><li>Preparing teams for AI not just technically — but mentally</li></ul>She speaks candidly about:<ul><li>Why “letting go” without regret is powerful</li><li>The importance of showing up every day</li><li>Building a support system beyond work</li><li>The shift from executor to thinker in the AI age</li><li>Why curiosity is the only non-negotiable skill</li></ul>From rental 386 desktops to AI agents and workflow automation — this episode is about evolution, resilience, and staying human in a rapidly changing industry.If you’re a software professional navigating change, motherhood, leadership, or the AI disruption — this conversation is both grounding and energizing.<h2> Quotable Quotes</h2>Here are powerful pull-quotes you can use for LinkedIn, audiograms, or graphics:<ol><li>“Technology is shrinking in shelf life — but curiosity never expires.”</li><li>“You cannot have it all at the same time. But you can choose your season — without regret.”</li><li>“If you remain an executor, you will be automated. If you become a thinker, you will thrive.”</li><li>“Letting go is not failure. It is prioritization.”</li><li>“Show up every day. Even when you’re slowing down, you’re still moving forward.”</li><li>“AI can accelerate execution — but intent and context still belong to humans.”</li><li>“Full stack today is not just technical depth — it is empathy, collaboration, and business awareness.”</li><li>“Build foundations — health, support systems, hobbies. They are your resilience engine.”</li><li>“Learning is not optional anymore. But evolution is a choice.”</li><li>“Be curious, not fearful.”</li></ol> With over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, Manisha Deshpande is a highly skilled and visionary leader in digital platform engineering. She is deeply committed to design-led, human-centric product development, ensuring that engineering teams align with cutting-edge design principles to deliver impactful, scalable products.Manisha’s expertise spans the entire product engineering lifecycle, from UX design to cloud infrastructure. She combines a product mindset with AI-powered development to accelerate delivery and drive smarter engineering decisions, creating innovative solutions that address both current and future challenges.An advocate for diversity and inclusion, she mentors college-bound female students, providing valuable guidance to help them succeed in their careers.Earlier in her career, Manisha held leadership roles at Persistent Systems, where she led teams in identity and access management, API management, business process management, and security solutions. She is known for her ability to build high-performing teams, collaborate for growth, and drive product excellence.Outside of work, Manisha’s passions for painting, traveling, and hiking fuel her creativity and provide inspiration for her leadership approach. Manisha can be reached at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-deshpande-0881b36/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-deshpande-0881b36/</a>

In this special Women’s Day episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri sits down with Manisha Deshpande, VP, Digital Platform Engineering at Neurealm, for a deeply reflective conversation on career evolution, motherhood, leadership, and thriving in the AI era.Manisha’s journey begins in the early 2000s — renting desktops with friends, coding in C++, and working at startups before “startups” were cool. A pivotal on-site experience early in her career changed how she viewed engineering — from writing code to understanding customer impact.Across 25 years in technology — from digital asset management to identity & access management, from services to product engineering, from engineering leadership to heading UX Centers of Excellence — Manisha shares the inflection points that shaped her:Choosing to intentionally slow down during certain seasons of lifeMoving from domain specialist to product mindset thinkerBridging design and engineeringLeading horizontally across business unitsPreparing teams for AI not just technically — but mentallyShe speaks candidly about:Why “letting go” without regret is powerfulThe importance of showing up every dayBuilding a support system beyond workThe shift from executor to thinker in the AI ageWhy curiosity is the only non-negotiable skillFrom rental 386 desktops to AI agents and workflow automation — this episode is about evolution, resilience, and staying human in a rapidly changing industry.If you’re a software professional navigating change, motherhood, leadership, or the AI disruption — this conversation is both grounding and energizing. Quotable QuotesHere are powerful pull-quotes you can use for LinkedIn, audiograms, or graphics:“Technology is shrinking in shelf life — but curiosity never expires.”“You cannot have it all at the same time. But you can choose your season — without regret.”“If you remain an executor, you will be automated. If you become a thinker, you will thrive.”“Letting go is not failure. It is prioritization.”“Show up every day. Even when you’re slowing down, you’re still moving forward.”“AI can accelerate execution — but intent and context still belong to humans.”“Full stack today is not just technical depth — it is empathy, collaboration, and business awareness.”“Build foundations — health, support systems, hobbies. They are your resilience engine.”“Learning is not optional anymore. But evolution is a choice.”“Be curious, not fearful.”With over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, Manisha Deshpande is a highly skilled and visionary leader in digital platform engineering. She is deeply committed to design-led, human-centric product development, ensuring that engineering teams align with cutting-edge design principles to deliver impactful, scalable products.Manisha’s expertise spans the entire product engineering lifecycle, from UX design to cloud infrastructure. She combines a product mindset with AI-powered development to accelerate delivery and drive smarter engineering decisions, creating innovative solutions that address both current and future challenges.An advocate for diversity and inclusion, she mentors college-bound female students, providing valuable guidance to help them succeed in their careers.Earlier in her career, Manisha held leadership roles at Persistent Systems, where she led teams in identity and access management, API management, business process management, and security solutions. She is known for her ability to build high-performing teams, collaborate for growth, and drive product excellence.Outside of work, Manisha’s passions for painting, traveling, and hiking fuel her creativity and provide inspiration for her leadership approach.Manisha can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-deshpande-0881b36/

Beyond Coding: Thriving as a Thinker in the Age of AI with Manisha Deshpande

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri speaks with Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) — a seasoned technology leader, Senior Director at UPS, and a resilient voice for women navigating complex careers and life transitions.From learning C++ through shared manuals in the early 90s to leading global logistics technology at massive scale, Viji shares a journey shaped by grit, reinvention, and purpose. The conversation explores her early career struggles, health challenges, and defining leadership moments — including navigating motherhood, rebuilding her career, and evolving across roles at IBM before helping build UPS’s Global Capability Center in Chennai.Viji reflects on how technology, AI, and analytics are transforming supply chain ecosystems while emphasizing that leadership today requires curiosity, empathy, and continuous learning. More than a career story, this episode becomes a powerful reflection on resilience — rewriting oneself after setbacks, embracing change without guilt, and building ecosystems that help women thrive.Recorded as part of the Women’s Day special series, this conversation blends technology, humanity, and lived experience — reminding listeners that growth is rarely linear, but always meaningful.<h3> Key Highlights from the Conversation</h3><ul><li>Early career beginnings as an electrical engineer learning software development in the 90s.</li><li>Overcoming autoimmune health challenges and redefining career paths.</li><li>Transformational leadership lessons from early mentors and global work experiences.</li><li>Career evolution through startups, IBM’s long tenure, and transition to UPS.</li><li>Building and scaling a Global Capability Center with a startup mindset.</li><li>The role of AI, analytics, and logistics technology in moving millions of packages daily.</li><li>Continuous learning culture — embracing AI as a hands-on skill across generations.</li><li>Personal reflections on resilience, single motherhood, cancer survival, and reinvention.</li><li>Women’s Day message centered on self-worth, removing guilt, and prioritizing wellbeing.</li></ul><h3> Quotable Quotes</h3><ul><li>“Belong — don’t blur. You are here because you deserve to be here.”</li><li>“AI is here to stay. Don’t stand on the fence — start embracing it.”</li><li>“Do not feel guilty for choosing yourself. Put the oxygen mask on first.”</li><li>“Rewrite yourself. Life will throw curveballs — and that’s okay.”</li><li>“Leadership is not just about technology; it’s about listening and empathy.”</li><li>“Only if you are okay, the people around you will be okay.”</li></ul> Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) is a seasoned technology leader and Senior Director at UPS India Technology Centre, bringing over three decades of experience across software engineering, supply chain technology, analytics, and global delivery leadership. Her career spans early R&D engineering roles, semiconductor innovation, a long tenure at IBM, and now building next-generation logistics technology at UPS.An alumna of the University of Madras and a strong advocate of continuous learning, Dr. Viji is also a published author. She co-authored the book Shape It: A Perfect Gift for Budding Engineers to Become Industry Ready, a self-development guide that shares real student stories and practical skills to help young engineers navigate evolving workplaces. ()Known for her philosophy of “belong, don’t blur,” she blends deep technical expertise with empathetic leadership — mentoring the next generation of technologists while championing resilience, lifelong learning, and inclusive growth in the technology ecosystem. Viji can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaijayanthisr/

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri speaks with Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) — a seasoned technology leader, Senior Director at UPS, and a resilient voice for women navigating complex careers and life transitions.From learning C++ through shared manuals in the early 90s to leading global logistics technology at massive scale, Viji shares a journey shaped by grit, reinvention, and purpose. The conversation explores her early career struggles, health challenges, and defining leadership moments — including navigating motherhood, rebuilding her career, and evolving across roles at IBM before helping build UPS’s Global Capability Center in Chennai.Viji reflects on how technology, AI, and analytics are transforming supply chain ecosystems while emphasizing that leadership today requires curiosity, empathy, and continuous learning. More than a career story, this episode becomes a powerful reflection on resilience — rewriting oneself after setbacks, embracing change without guilt, and building ecosystems that help women thrive.Recorded as part of the Women’s Day special series, this conversation blends technology, humanity, and lived experience — reminding listeners that growth is rarely linear, but always meaningful. Key Highlights from the ConversationEarly career beginnings as an electrical engineer learning software development in the 90s.Overcoming autoimmune health challenges and redefining career paths.Transformational leadership lessons from early mentors and global work experiences.Career evolution through startups, IBM’s long tenure, and transition to UPS.Building and scaling a Global Capability Center with a startup mindset.The role of AI, analytics, and logistics technology in moving millions of packages daily.Continuous learning culture — embracing AI as a hands-on skill across generations.Personal reflections on resilience, single motherhood, cancer survival, and reinvention.Women’s Day message centered on self-worth, removing guilt, and prioritizing wellbeing. Quotable Quotes“Belong — don’t blur. You are here because you deserve to be here.”“AI is here to stay. Don’t stand on the fence — start embracing it.”“Do not feel guilty for choosing yourself. Put the oxygen mask on first.”“Rewrite yourself. Life will throw curveballs — and that’s okay.”“Leadership is not just about technology; it’s about listening and empathy.”“Only if you are okay, the people around you will be okay.”Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) is a seasoned technology leader and Senior Director at UPS India Technology Centre, bringing over three decades of experience across software engineering, supply chain technology, analytics, and global delivery leadership. Her career spans early R&D engineering roles, semiconductor innovation, a long tenure at IBM, and now building next-generation logistics technology at UPS.An alumna of the University of Madras and a strong advocate of continuous learning, Dr. Viji is also a published author. She co-authored the book Shape It: A Perfect Gift for Budding Engineers to Become Industry Ready, a self-development guide that shares real student stories and practical skills to help young engineers navigate evolving workplaces. ()Known for her philosophy of “belong, don’t blur,” she blends deep technical expertise with empathetic leadership — mentoring the next generation of technologists while championing resilience, lifelong learning, and inclusive growth in the technology ecosystem.Viji can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaijayanthisr/

Belong, Don't Blur with Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji)

In this episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri sits down with Hiran , Co-founder of Ashwatta Sustainability Ventures (domain Ashwatta.earth) , to explore how climate innovation is evolving beyond buzzwords into real systems change. From her beginnings in chemical engineering to building a venture studio focused on translating breakthrough science into scalable climate companies, Hiran shares a grounded perspective on what it truly takes to build a sustainable future. <ul><li>Hiran shares her journey from chemical engineering to climate tech commercialization.</li><li>Ashwatha Earth focuses on building climate companies by translating science into scalable ventures.</li><li>Conversation framed around women leaders in climate and deep tech.</li></ul><h3>️ Climate Tech Evolution</h3><ul><li>Shift from clean tech to climate tech, but the mission remains sustainability.</li><li>Circularity and responsible material use are central themes.</li><li>Need to rethink systems that nature cannot naturally recycle.</li><li>Climate innovation goes beyond solar and wind.</li><li>Key areas: thermal storage, alternative fuels, advanced materials, and fusion.</li><li>Industrial heat and heavy transport remain major decarbonization challenges.</li></ul><h3> Startup & Solution Examples</h3><ul><li>Ashwatha Earth building PVC upcycling solutions.</li><li>Emerging climate startups in emissions tracking, digital twins, hydrogen storage, carbon capture, and biochar.</li><li>Strong in deployment, financial models, and application-layer innovation.</li><li>Gaps in deep-tech ownership, patents, and long-term risk capital.</li><li>Opportunity to move from adoption to innovation leadership.</li></ul><h3> Software & AI in Climate</h3><ul><li>AI accelerates optimization, modeling, and material discovery.</li><li>Data availability is still a major limitation.</li><li>AI complements science rather than replacing it.</li><li>Institutional co-founder approach to take tech from lab to market for making Venture Studio Model</li><li>Higher success probability compared to traditional VC power-law models.</li><li>Focus on zero-to-one building and de-risking innovation.</li><li>Local solutions can scale globally when economics and distribution are solved.</li></ul> <h2> Quotable Quotes from the Episode</h2><ul><li>“It doesn’t matter whether we call it clean tech or climate tech — the goal is a sustainable future for all.”</li><li>“Electrons alone won’t solve the energy problem. Heat, materials, and chemistry matter just as much.”</li><li>“Circularity isn’t a trend — it’s learning to live within the limits of the planet.”</li><li>“The Global South is great at deploying solutions, but deep-tech ownership is where we need to grow.”</li><li>“AI can optimize what exists — but the fundamental breakthrough still has to come from science.”</li></ul> Hiranmayee Vedam is a climate tech entrepreneur, chemical engineer, and Co-founder of Ashwatta Sustainability Ventures(domain Ashwatta.earth), a venture studio focused on translating breakthrough science into scalable sustainability ventures. An alumna of IIT Madras, she brings over 17 years of experience spanning process engineering, advanced materials, and climate technology commercialization. Over the years, she has contributed to research-led innovation and knowledge sharing across materials, energy systems, and sustainability, with work that bridges academic insight and industrial application. Known for her systems-thinking approach to circularity, deep-tech entrepreneurship, and production-scale climate solutions, Hiran is actively shaping pathways for Global South innovations to move from research pilots to real-world impact. Hiran can be reached at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiranvedam/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiranvedam/</a>

In this episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri sits down with Hiran , Co-founder of Ashwatta Sustainability Ventures (domain Ashwatta.earth) , to explore how climate innovation is evolving beyond buzzwords into real systems change. From her beginnings in chemical engineering to building a venture studio focused on translating breakthrough science into scalable climate companies, Hiran shares a grounded perspective on what it truly takes to build a sustainable future.Hiran shares her journey from chemical engineering to climate tech commercialization.Ashwatha Earth focuses on building climate companies by translating science into scalable ventures.Conversation framed around women leaders in climate and deep tech.️ Climate Tech EvolutionShift from clean tech to climate tech, but the mission remains sustainability.Circularity and responsible material use are central themes.Need to rethink systems that nature cannot naturally recycle.Climate innovation goes beyond solar and wind.Key areas: thermal storage, alternative fuels, advanced materials, and fusion.Industrial heat and heavy transport remain major decarbonization challenges. Startup & Solution ExamplesAshwatha Earth building PVC upcycling solutions.Emerging climate startups in emissions tracking, digital twins, hydrogen storage, carbon capture, and biochar.Strong in deployment, financial models, and application-layer innovation.Gaps in deep-tech ownership, patents, and long-term risk capital.Opportunity to move from adoption to innovation leadership. Software & AI in ClimateAI accelerates optimization, modeling, and material discovery.Data availability is still a major limitation.AI complements science rather than replacing it.Institutional co-founder approach to take tech from lab to market for making Venture Studio ModelHigher success probability compared to traditional VC power-law models.Focus on zero-to-one building and de-risking innovation.Local solutions can scale globally when economics and distribution are solved. Quotable Quotes from the Episode“It doesn’t matter whether we call it clean tech or climate tech — the goal is a sustainable future for all.”“Electrons alone won’t solve the energy problem. Heat, materials, and chemistry matter just as much.”“Circularity isn’t a trend — it’s learning to live within the limits of the planet.”“The Global South is great at deploying solutions, but deep-tech ownership is where we need to grow.”“AI can optimize what exists — but the fundamental breakthrough still has to come from science.”Hiranmayee Vedam is a climate tech entrepreneur, chemical engineer, and Co-founder of Ashwatta Sustainability Ventures(domain Ashwatta.earth), a venture studio focused on translating breakthrough science into scalable sustainability ventures. An alumna of IIT Madras, she brings over 17 years of experience spanning process engineering, advanced materials, and climate technology commercialization. Over the years, she has contributed to research-led innovation and knowledge sharing across materials, energy systems, and sustainability, with work that bridges academic insight and industrial application. Known for her systems-thinking approach to circularity, deep-tech entrepreneurship, and production-scale climate solutions, Hiran is actively shaping pathways for Global South innovations to move from research pilots to real-world impact.Hiran can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiranvedam/ 

Beyond Clean Tech: From Science to Scale with Hiranmayee Vedam

Sujatha Ramani brings together corporate precision and grassroots purpose. With leadership experience at global companies like HP and Wipro, and two entrepreneurial ventures of her own, she made a deliberate shift into the social sector to build opportunity where it matters most. Since 2019, as CEO of Pollinate Group, she has led with clarity and conviction advancing women’s entrepreneurship, sustainability, and ethical growth across underserved communities in India and Nepal. She balances sharp execution with long-term vision, always anchored in dignity and agency. An MBA and computer science graduate, Sujatha also finds joy in soulful singing, nurturing her garden, and passionately following Cricket, Tennis, and Football. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sujatha-ramani-226a665?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sujatha-ramani-226a665?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app</a>

Sujatha Ramani brings together corporate precision and grassroots purpose. With leadership experience at global companies like HP and Wipro, and two entrepreneurial ventures of her own, she made a deliberate shift into the social sector to build opportunity where it matters most.Since 2019, as CEO of Pollinate Group, she has led with clarity and conviction advancing women’s entrepreneurship, sustainability, and ethical growth across underserved communities in India and Nepal. She balances sharp execution with long-term vision, always anchored in dignity and agency.An MBA and computer science graduate, Sujatha also finds joy in soulful singing, nurturing her garden, and passionately following Cricket, Tennis, and Football.https://www.linkedin.com/in/sujatha-ramani-226a665?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Leading with Purpose with Sujatha Ramani

This is part of the specials we have every year focusing on women in IT.In this conversation, Srini Sundararajan shares his experiences and perspectives on empowering women in the workplace, particularly in IT. Srini's key messages include: - His upbringing which emphasized the importance of education and non-discrimination between genders.- His early professional experiences, including managing and interacting with women colleagues for the first time.- The importance of treating women as equals in the workforce and his approach to avoiding gender discrimination.- His story of hiring and supporting a woman who was returning to the workforce after a seven-year break.- Insights into managing women in his team and the different challenges they face, such as work-life balance and societal expectations.- Instances from his career that highlight the importance of recognizing and addressing unique challenges faced by women, such as menstrual cycles and maternity breaks.- Advice on inclusive policies like paternity leave to support working families.- Emphasizing the role men can play in ensuring a comfortable and empowering work environment for women.Through real-life stories and learned lessons, Srini Sundararajan illustrates the importance of empathy, fairness, and structural support in empowering women in the IT industry.

This is part of the specials we have every year focusing on women in IT.In this conversation, Srini Sundararajan shares his experiences and perspectives on empowering women in the workplace, particularly in IT. Srini's key messages include:- His upbringing which emphasized the importance of education and non-discrimination between genders.- His early professional experiences, including managing and interacting with women colleagues for the first time.- The importance of treating women as equals in the workforce and his approach to avoiding gender discrimination.- His story of hiring and supporting a woman who was returning to the workforce after a seven-year break.- Insights into managing women in his team and the different challenges they face, such as work-life balance and societal expectations.- Instances from his career that highlight the importance of recognizing and addressing unique challenges faced by women, such as menstrual cycles and maternity breaks.- Advice on inclusive policies like paternity leave to support working families.- Emphasizing the role men can play in ensuring a comfortable and empowering work environment for women.Through real-life stories and learned lessons, Srini Sundararajan illustrates the importance of empathy, fairness, and structural support in empowering women in the IT industry.

Evolving Workplace Culture with Srini Sundararajan

In this episode of Software People Stories, VR Govindarajan, aka Govi, the co-founder and executive chairman of Perfios Software, shares his comprehensive journey from the early days of his career to building successful startups. Govi dives deep into his academic background, industry experience, and the various startups he co-founded, including Aztec Soft and Perfios. He emphasizes the importance of technology-focused innovation, building a product company out of India, and navigating the challenges of operating in a regulated industry. Govi also shares his insights on the value of teamwork, culture, and maintaining a larger purpose beyond just making money. Throughout the conversation, he provides valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs on raising funds, managing teams, and scaling businesses globally. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:35 Govi's Background and Career Journey01:43 Early Startups and Challenges02:48 Building Aztec Soft and Going Public03:10 Transition to Perfios and Product Focus06:18 Navigating the Dot-Com Bust08:18 Acquisitions and Selling to MindTree13:41 Importance of Team Effort17:34 Choosing the BFSI Sector20:39 Challenges in a Regulated Industry22:29 Managing B2B Sales and Integration24:26 Focusing on Product Development24:46 Creating a New Market Category25:06 Challenges of Evangelizing a New Product26:21 Leveraging Global Trends28:07 Expanding to International Markets34:25 Managing Code and Customizations36:54 Importance of Local Customer Support38:11 Leveraging AI and Data41:22 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs44:51 The Importance of Culture and Values48:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section As the Co-founder & Executive Chairman, Govi has been the driving force behind building Perfios into the Operating system for the BFSI in India and across the globe. Perfios is an acknowledged technology driven SaaS Pioneer that works across almost all financial institutions (Banking and Insurance Sector) both in India and across 18 countries in South East Asia, Middle East and North Africa. Perfios is a Unicorn and is backed by some of the best Global Investors. As a fintech Pioneer, Govi has been part of many committees in industry forums such as FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM. He has been an active speaker at many BFSI related conferences and public institutions. He brings over 35 years of rich experience in the IT industry across the US and India. Before co-founding Perfios, Govi was the Co-founder, CTO, and Board Member at Aztecsoft, a pioneering force in the offshore product development space. From being a startup, Aztecsoft got listed in the Indian markets and was run as a public company before being sold to another Public company. Prior to starting Aztecsoft, he played a key role in advancing database technologies at global technology leaders such as Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and IBM. Govi holds an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts and a B.E. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He may be reached at: <a href="mailto:govi@perfios.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">govi@perfios.co</a>m

In this episode of Software People Stories, VR Govindarajan, aka Govi, the co-founder and executive chairman of Perfios Software, shares his comprehensive journey from the early days of his career to building successful startups. Govi dives deep into his academic background, industry experience, and the various startups he co-founded, including Aztec Soft and Perfios. He emphasizes the importance of technology-focused innovation, building a product company out of India, and navigating the challenges of operating in a regulated industry. Govi also shares his insights on the value of teamwork, culture, and maintaining a larger purpose beyond just making money. Throughout the conversation, he provides valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs on raising funds, managing teams, and scaling businesses globally. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:35 Govi's Background and Career Journey01:43 Early Startups and Challenges02:48 Building Aztec Soft and Going Public03:10 Transition to Perfios and Product Focus06:18 Navigating the Dot-Com Bust08:18 Acquisitions and Selling to MindTree13:41 Importance of Team Effort17:34 Choosing the BFSI Sector20:39 Challenges in a Regulated Industry22:29 Managing B2B Sales and Integration24:26 Focusing on Product Development24:46 Creating a New Market Category25:06 Challenges of Evangelizing a New Product26:21 Leveraging Global Trends28:07 Expanding to International Markets34:25 Managing Code and Customizations36:54 Importance of Local Customer Support38:11 Leveraging AI and Data41:22 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs44:51 The Importance of Culture and Values48:53 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsThe timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the sectionAs the Co-founder & Executive Chairman, Govi has been the driving force behind building Perfios into the Operating system for the BFSI in India and across the globe. Perfios is an acknowledged technology driven SaaS Pioneer that works across almost all financial institutions (Banking and Insurance Sector) both in India and across 18 countries in South East Asia, Middle East and North Africa. Perfios is a Unicorn and is backed by some of the best Global Investors. As a fintech Pioneer, Govi has been part of many committees in industry forums such as FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM. He has been an active speaker at many BFSI related conferences and public institutions.He brings over 35 years of rich experience in the IT industry across the US and India. Before co-founding Perfios, Govi was the Co-founder, CTO, and Board Member at Aztecsoft, a pioneering force in the offshore product development space. From being a startup, Aztecsoft got listed in the Indian markets and was run as a public company before being sold to another Public company. Prior to starting Aztecsoft, he played a key role in advancing database technologies at global technology leaders such as Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and IBM.Govi holds an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts and a B.E. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He may be reached at: govi@perfios.com 

Building Global Tech Solutions with VR Govindarajan

In this episode of Software People Stories, Jordan Richards, a Digital Transformation and Knowledge Management technologist, and Founder of Tacitous (<a href="http://www.tacitous.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">www.tacitous.com</a>) a Knowledge Management blueprint and platform designed to help organisations capture, retain, and share critical knowledge at scale shares his extensive experience with technology and knowledge management. From his early days with the ZX 80 computer to his consulting work with oil companies, Jordan emphasizes the importance of solving real-world problems through technology. He advocates for a 'people first, process second, technology third' approach, and shares insights on how to ensure successful adoption of IT solutions by understanding user stories and daily workflows. Jordan discusses the critical importance of managing both knowledge and collaboration within organizations, especially with regard to retirees, and touches on the implications of AI and digital twins in modern business environments. He also shares personal practices that help him stay grounded and continuously updated with the latest trends in technology.  00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:45 Guest's Origin Story in Technology01:43 Solving Problems with Technology02:15 User-Centric Approach to IT Solutions05:02 Challenges in IT Deployment05:41 Building Effective IT Strategies06:40 Understanding Organizational Knowledge Flows11:14 Importance of Personas in IT Solutions18:56 Knowledge Management and AI27:56 Engaging Retirees: Challenges and Solutions29:38 Building a National Repository of Expertise32:04 Encouraging Knowledge Sharing and Consumption34:41 The Role of AI in Knowledge Management39:21 The Importance of Human Oversight in Technology43:07 Staying Updated and Lifelong Learning49:00 Personal Principles for Staying GroundedThe timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the section Jordan Richards is a Digital Transformation and Knowledge Management technologist, and Founder of Tacitous (<a href="http://www.tacitous.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">www.tacitous.com</a>) a Knowledge Management blueprint and platform designed to help organisations capture, retain, and share critical knowledge at scale. With 20+ years of international experience across high-risk and complex environments (including Oil & Gas and large-scale operations), Jordan specialises in institutional memory, lessons learned, communities of practice, and AI-enabled knowledge retention. He works with government entities, NGOs, and industry leaders to build practical, technology-enabled KM ecosystems that strengthen workforce continuity and organisational resilience. Website:<a href="http://www.tacitous.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="http://www.tacitous.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">www.tacitous.com</a>LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanrichards/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanrichards/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanrichards/</a>Email: collaboration@tacitous.com

In this episode of Software People Stories, Jordan Richards, a Digital Transformation and Knowledge Management technologist, and Founder of Tacitous (www.tacitous.com) a Knowledge Management blueprint and platform designed to help organisations capture, retain, and share critical knowledge at scale shares his extensive experience with technology and knowledge management. From his early days with the ZX 80 computer to his consulting work with oil companies, Jordan emphasizes the importance of solving real-world problems through technology. He advocates for a 'people first, process second, technology third' approach, and shares insights on how to ensure successful adoption of IT solutions by understanding user stories and daily workflows. Jordan discusses the critical importance of managing both knowledge and collaboration within organizations, especially with regard to retirees, and touches on the implications of AI and digital twins in modern business environments. He also shares personal practices that help him stay grounded and continuously updated with the latest trends in technology. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:45 Guest's Origin Story in Technology01:43 Solving Problems with Technology02:15 User-Centric Approach to IT Solutions05:02 Challenges in IT Deployment05:41 Building Effective IT Strategies06:40 Understanding Organizational Knowledge Flows11:14 Importance of Personas in IT Solutions18:56 Knowledge Management and AI27:56 Engaging Retirees: Challenges and Solutions29:38 Building a National Repository of Expertise32:04 Encouraging Knowledge Sharing and Consumption34:41 The Role of AI in Knowledge Management39:21 The Importance of Human Oversight in Technology43:07 Staying Updated and Lifelong Learning49:00 Personal Principles for Staying GroundedThe timestamps are approximate and do not include the time for the intro. Add about 90 seconds to locate the sectionJordan Richards is a Digital Transformation and Knowledge Management technologist, and Founder of Tacitous (www.tacitous.com) a Knowledge Management blueprint and platform designed to help organisations capture, retain, and share critical knowledge at scale. With 20+ years of international experience across high-risk and complex environments (including Oil & Gas and large-scale operations), Jordan specialises in institutional memory, lessons learned, communities of practice, and AI-enabled knowledge retention. He works with government entities, NGOs, and industry leaders to build practical, technology-enabled KM ecosystems that strengthen workforce continuity and organisational resilience.Website: www.tacitous.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanrichards/Email: collaboration@tacitous.com

Knowledge Management Insights with Jordan Richards

Stories of what worked and sometimes what did not, in the course of discovering, designing, developing and delivering software based solutions – as shared by practitioners who went through these situations.

Stories of what worked and sometimes what did not, in the course of discovering, designing, developing and delivering software based solutions – as shared by practitioners who went through these situations.

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Software People Stories

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