thank you boss

I recently stumbled upon a article that emphasises on significance of appreciating the "sources" of our inspiration that keeps us going, and listed out all the people I should be thanking for their guidance and inspiration – the list went on...

For most of us, these sources are either from family or from work place

Since this platform is more about work and career than anything else, I've limited this post to list of a gentlemen I am lucky to have worked with, and share insights on key aspects I picked up (or I hope I did) from them that left everlasting influence on me

To keep this short, I had to limit the list to top 5 people (Yep! its five since I started firing my keyboard on this at 5pm with 5 beers left in fridge - Strange coincidence) who had most influenced my work personality. While it is so less of me not to mention all others who did mould me and taught life lessons, I had to limit the list (and follow the sequence in which I had met them) to make this more readable, concise and impactful

Yatheesh B I met him for brief while, about 14 years ago. As program manager for a bunch of top priority projects, his job on a normal work day was to juggle between time, cost and quality to take tough calls in high pressure environment to iron-out issues. For me as a young boy who hasn't practically started his career yet, watching him closely made it clear that one thing that's need to take off - Relentlessness

Dr Sanjay Agarwal I met him as a young kid out of college when I just started my career and his dynamism swept me off my feet. He had the right balance in talking to people in person and firing quick emails to set the ball rolling, and tops the list of people with taste for technology amongst the seniors I have met till date. He brewed culture which empowered people irrespective of designation and ensured that information flows to every contributing person, and is not privy to a selected few. He would always say "You will only be promoted if you make sure someone else is good at doing your job"

Anyone who works with him would one day want to become one - that's the aura he carries around. Later when I moved out to pursue other opportunities and every time I mentioned to someone that I worked with him, the reactions have always been nothing short of "wow" which gave me a real sense of pride. Today, its no wonder how strong his network is in the industry

The long conversation I was blessed to have with him a few years ago about importance of building team, taking people along, networking, creating a brand in business, doing right things and taking tough calls while also ensuring your team still get the best is nothing short of what Sri Krishna would say to Arjuna if their conversation had to happen in these times (at least for me, it had that sort of impact)

Lucky me to be in his proximity early during my career and see him let nothing stop him or his team moulded most part of my personality and taught me one thing that's needed to grow - Team

Tata Rao Dunga Met him first about a decade ago and worked with him for a good time. And I'd like to believe there's more to come. His way of making you learn things is to push you into the pool. He is there to save you but won't teach you baby steps to swim. This helped me gain immense confidence in my work life, while his way of respecting others as a human and not with titles or role taught me how to remain grounded. There are a few people who go beyond being a boss and become a father figure. He is that one person for me. If I were to write a book, there'd be a chapter on him - this should say it all.

Closely working with him and see him grind through taught me one thing that's needed to sustain - Discipline

Katuluru Sesha Reddy I was lucky to have worked with him closely at the right time in my career. His brilliant way of deciphering a mega project into logical yet elementary tasks is unfathomable and taught me the importance of planning. One of the most influential conversations in my life till date is the one with him on a Sunday noon where he threw sparks on communication, trusting team, importance of focus, delegating to avoid being busy focusing on right things and building a open network to fill for ones weaknesses. Every feedback he gave me was straight from the shoulder, constructive and made me realise what I needed to become the next best of me. Having had worked with such a personality filled with wisdom and focus taught me the one thing that's needed to handle challenges - Logic

Suneel Vora (PMP) I first met him about 5 years ago and worked with him for a brief period. First time I met him, I was blown by his candour. And the next time I met him to work on an engagement, I was blown by his high-octane personality.

During one of those PPT review sessions where he would grill the team before we present to client, I had goosebumps watching him fire a few dozen emails and make a few slides all by himself while fervently talking to three of us on key discussion points. The pace at which his fingers hammered keyboard made me realise how important it is to quickly put the thoughts on the slide before we let our mind fly to something else.

The conversation where he ground me inside out and taught me the importance of being thick-skinned to be able to navigate through anything that's thrown at us will always remain one of the best feedbacks I have ever had. And the one thing I learnt form him - Focus

If you too have had such incredible bosses who guided you through, helped you build your career and in becoming who you are, please do give a shoutout for them in comments. Because, a Good Boss is Better than a Great Company

Sayonara !