From Newspaper Dreams to a Desk at HP – My 20-Year Journey

Back in my college days, I remember flipping through the morning newspaper—not for the headlines, but for the ads. The ones with sleek HP desktops, printers, scanners... there was something about them that caught my eye every single time. I didn't know why, but a little voice inside me would whisper, "One day, I’ll work there."

Call it destiny, divine grace, or just the universe doing its thing—after a short and enriching stint at Infosys, I landed at HP. And now, two decades later… I’m still here.

🌱 The Beginning: Small Team, Big Heart

I started out in a small APJ team. First days in a big company always feel like the first day of school—new faces, new environment, a bit of nervousness, and a whole lot of excitement. But that team? Something special.

Vijay Kedilaya, my first manager, set the tone—supportive, approachable, and just the right mix of discipline and fun. And my first crew—Sandy, Sandhya, Roopa. Later joined by Sush, Sanu, Geetha, Saravanan, and Manju. That little team was everything.

Morning shifts meant long breakfasts, extended tea breaks, and lunches that were more about laughter than food. If you ask me, I think we spent more time in the pantry than at our desks! But those chats, those moments—they laid the foundation of my HP journey. Unforgettable.

🚦 The Transition: From Conversations to Commitment

As life moved forward, so did we—different paths, different teams, chasing dreams and opportunities. Then came the India Order Management team. I still get goosebumps thinking about that phase.

A short stint as a manager, but one that left a deep mark. That team? Pure commitment. The kind of folks who were always ready, always alert—like soldiers, just waiting for the signal. I didn’t manage them long, but I wish I could go back and relive that time. It was intense. It was beautiful.

The Epic Saga: Business Intelligence Team

Then came the next chapter—the BI team. Seven years. Yes, seven solid years. And what a ride it was.

Me and Ravi, thanks to an org change, found ourselves here. You know how they say change brings the best in you? This was that. The team, the bond, the energy—it was on another level.

Work was serious, but the fun? Next-level.

Vacations, team lunches, parties, late-night calls, chai breaks that turned into mini stand-up comedies, and the smoke breaks with deep life talks. And oh, the carrom board! That humble piece of wood was our stress buster, energy booster, and bonding zone. A game or two, and boom—back to work all charged up.

The Road So Far

These 20 years have been a mix of everything—ease, joy, struggles, and learning. HP gave me the space to grow, the platform to evolve, and more importantly, people I now call family.

I’ve built friendships, networks, and memories that no title or award can replace.

To HP – for being more than just a workplace.
To every teammate, every manager, every chai buddy – thank you for being part of this ride.
And to that college kid who once looked at a printer ad in the newspaper and dreamt... you made it, buddy.