My journey to growing India's most sought after startup #Razorpay

Like all good things in life, you take the best decisions when you think from the heart. Some of my most important decisions have really paid off beyond my expectations because I followed my heart.

In this post, I will speak of my journey to building India’s most sought after startup, what I cherish most - #Razorpay.?

After many years of working and trying new things in the people function, I finally found what really tugged my heart, mind and soul. I have many-a-times based my decisions on what my heart feels. It has been proven to be the best in my? experiences. When you make decisions from your heart you tend to be right. A job then becomes more than a job, it becomes a vision. You become more than a person, a force. I have been one of those lucky ones who has never had to have a job. Each job for me has gone beyond what I was just hired to do, giving me the freedom to be myself. I also don't think it was just me. It was a collective effort of the environment, the opportunity and the PEOPLE.?

Now, when you have people involved, how can there be no emotions! My ability to largely base my decisions on emotions have always paid off. The number of people I have been able to work with, make lifelong friends, and grow careers together cannot ever be counted in merely being an HR person or the hires that were done. Here’s a small snippet of my life as a Razor.?

My journey with Razorpay started a little over 7 years ago. It was one lazy Tuesday that Shashank called me and asked me to come home, the workplace of Razorpay then. The Penthouse. Little did I know that this job he gave me and called it coming home truly became my home, my life for the last 86 months. All I remember is just living and breathing Razorpay, and the Vision that our founders had set. Let's build a happy place, Anu - was Harshil’s statement. Nothing else mattered except the fact that we had to bring this vision to life.?

The statement stuck strongly with me. This became what I would chase, quietly. Honestly, I may not have been the best choice if you had to build yet another organisation with processes and policies alone. But we wanted to build an institution, a place where we can all belong. After so many years, I know that this is why it was me, this is why I was given the opportunity. This was my chance to make dreams, a reality - to build; a safe place to be, a wonderful company to work for, incredible colleagues and truly build what most can only dream of.?

As a team, we did our jobs well, yes. What we did waaay better and wonderfully was that we were there for each other, to cover our flaws, shortcomings, complement one another and above all have fun along the way. What I do know today is that we did what no one else could - CARE, genuinely care for our people. We were the Ace Team most companies dreamt of having.

It was never about being better than the other, it was about what we could do as a team. Criticism taken in the right spirit, wins celebrated, one encouraged to do the best and be kind to the mistakes of others, enjoy the ride. We constantly learned and improved, striving to be better each day at our jobs and, as individuals. We cared genuinely - about people, about our customers, about the business and about what we wanted Razorpay to stand for.?

Our core values came from how we practiced being at Razorpay, how our decisions were made and what were the considerations. Our values are not just a few words that were put together because it was in vogue, or that they were the hot new startup lingo. They stemmed from our ‘way of life at Razorpay’.?

Our values tie back to the absolute; the first statement - Lets build a happy place that I heard on my day 1, the 18th of August 2015 that sealed this emotional decision for me.? To me, Razorpay is an emotion and it's something I have lived with all my heart for these last 86 months. Proving yet again that the decisions of the heart lead you to discover the brightness of light.?

Turned in my badge but not my identity as a Razor.?Its RZP011 signing off :)

With only love and best wishes always,?

Anu??