How “Fantastic Mondays” Brought Sundaram R M Back to Infosys after Four Years Away

Sundaram R M rejoined Infosys in November 2021 after four years away from the company. We talked with Sundaram about his first stint with Infosys, why he chose to leave in 2017, what brought him back, and what other Infosys alums should know when considering a return engagement.

When, and why, did you originally join Infosys?

I took a job with Infosys in July 2010 as an MBA in HR with a couple of years of experience. Based on my background, I started as a regional recruiter for engineering colleges in the then-combined Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. I wanted to work in recruiting, and during my B-school days, I was the Placement Representative. I had serendipitously landed a role that put me on the other side of the table to recruit talent. I could not have been happier with that.

How would you describe your first stint with Infosys?

The way I took to Infosys is the way a fish takes to water. There are several reasons to take a job, but there are only a few reasons to stay in one. I found strong reasons to stay with Infosys for seven years.

Above all, my values aligned with those of the organization. Infosys is the only organization I know that is obsessed with its values. You won’t find an old-timer at Infosys who doesn’t talk about the values the organization promulgates.

What’s more, I was empowered to own my work and take decisions. The leadership believed in my judgment—often more than I did myself! I got used to a culture where freedom of expression comes naturally.

Work could get long and hard, but it was like steering a boat in rough waters. It wasn’t long and hard for a few of us—it was long and hard for all of us. I always felt that I belonged to a team and a cause that was much larger than the hours I put in every day.

Why did you decide to leave Infosys?

I felt like I had seen everything to see in early-talent recruitment, and I didn’t know how the world outside worked in the space of campus recruiting. I had a natural curiosity to learn how hiring happened in a product company and, for that matter, in a different industry. Seven years with Infosys had given me considerable expertise in a niche profile, and I wanted to explore some uncharted territories.

What brought you back to Infosys?

My mantra has always been to live for a Fantastic Monday rather than a Fantastic Friday. I always enjoyed that at Infosys. There were things that needed getting to and I had to be there to get them done. Responsibility and ownership are some things that my time spent at Infosys taught me. I had a great opportunity to become a leader when I wasn’t even sure if I was ready.

Even after I left Infosys, I never stopped thinking about my life there. I still felt like I was part of the extended family, and I was always in touch with my old managers and colleagues.

At Infosys, the cause was bigger, and my contribution was critical as compared to my stint with any other organization I worked with. That was the missing link in my professional life. When I realized that an appropriate opportunity opened, I was happy to be reunited with the organization that had led the path to my professional success.

Do you have any insights or advice for Infosys alums thinking about returning to Infosys (or any former employer)?

I think we all must consider what’s most important to us and where and how we can best realize our goals and dreams.

For me, a work environment is a combination of a lot of things. One must feel challenged and nurtured in their job, that there is a big picture, and that one is constantly contributing to it. One must feel like an important cog in the wheel. One must feel like they belong to a big family where mistakes are learning opportunities and one always has the support of the other.

I had all those things as a part of my work at Infosys. These aspects get ignored more often than we care to acknowledge. If this wasn’t the case, the highest-paying jobs would be the happiest jobs in the world. Nothing can be further from the truth.

I am truly grateful to my leaders for putting faith in me and accepting me back. A few days after joining back, I went to the Bangalore Development Center. As I walked from Gate 4 to Building 2, passing through the corridors and food courts, I couldn’t help but reminisce on all the good times. The air had a sense of familiarity. It felt like home, and it feels great to be back.