I picked up tennis not too long ago, and what started as a casual hobby quickly became a source of life lessons. Tennis, I’ve learned, isn’t just a sport, it’s a masterclass in consistency, resilience, and patience. It rewards those who keep showing up and improving their game, one rally at a time.

Over time, I realized that those same lessons shaped my 14-year journey at Druva. The parallels are uncanny:

• Patience and Consistency: In tennis, you win not through flashy shots but through steady play. At work, the same principle applies: consistent effort builds trust, momentum, and mastery.
• Resilience: Every player loses points. What matters is the ability to reset, learn, and move forward. In your career, that’s how growth happens.
• Adaptability: No two matches, or projects, are the same. Reading the situation and adjusting your approach is key to staying effective.
• Accountability: On the court, you own your wins and losses. At work, it’s about owning outcomes, learning from mistakes, and keeping your word.
• Handling Pressure: Match points are defining moments. In our professional lives, those moments show up as deadlines, escalations, or new opportunities, and how you handle them defines your growth.

As I thought about what’s kept me motivated and growing all these years, I realized the same principles that apply on the court have shaped my journey. Every challenge, every opportunity, and every milestone at Druva has been its own rally demanding patience, resilience, and the courage to keep evolving.

The Beginning: Cracking the Code to Join the Family

I still remember my interview day vividly. I had just moved from Nagpur to Pune, chasing the dream of a career in IT. Sitting across from Sourav Mohanty, I found myself laughing mid-interview. Not because it was easy, but because he was asking about the exact challenges I was tackling daily at Microsoft. It felt like fate.

Then came my interview with one of Druva’s founders. Instead of technical jargon, he threw me a logic problem about speed, time, and distance. I walked out of that room knowing Druva was different. It wasn’t about what you knew; it was about how you thought. That focus on curiosity and problem-solving is still part of Druva’s DNA today.

My Early Years: Culture, Camaraderie, and Growth

My first role was as a Technical Support Engineer, and those early days were electric. The Pune office felt like one big family. We didn’t just work together; we learned, laughed, and built something special side by side.

We’d race to take on tough customer cases, go on long bike rides across the countryside, and turn Friday evenings into impromptu tournaments of foosball or billiards. The kitchen became our unofficial headquarters, where ideas, jokes, and friendships all blended together.

There was pride in every new release, every customer success story. Those years taught me that Druva’s strength wasn’t just its product — it was the people behind it.

Expanding Horizons: From Support to Global Deployments

After years of helping customers remotely, I moved into Deployment Services, a shift that took me from phone calls to face-to-face conversations around the world. I suddenly found myself flying to new countries, helping enterprises deploy Druva solutions that protected their most critical data.

Those experiences reshaped how I saw both technology and teamwork. I witnessed firsthand how Druva’s SaaS model was transforming data protection and enabling global resilience. This set the stage for my next big adventure: joining the team in Silicon Valley.

A Silicon Valley Revelation

Stepping into Silicon Valley felt like entering a new arena: fast-paced, innovative, and filled with some of the most driven minds in technology. The energy was contagious, and it pushed me to raise my own game every single day.

Here, I saw how our founders were turning a bold idea into an industry revolution. Druva’s model felt like Tesla’s Autopilot: a system built to keep evolving, adjusting, and accelerating toward the future.

Outside of work, I picked up hiking thanks to my colleague Silas. Those California trails became my escape, a place to reflect, recharge, and return sharper than before.

Evolving the Game: From Sales Engineering to New Horizons

After years in customer support and services, I was ready for a new challenge, one that would let me blend my technical expertise with my passion for connecting with people. Thanks to leaders like VP Pete Yamasaki, I was able to take a leap into Sales Engineering.

That chapter was transformative. Under the guidance of mentors like Bakshish Dutta and Patrick Lam, I learned the art of storytelling through technology: how to translate complex data protection challenges into simple, compelling solutions. Our small but mighty team became family. We worked hard, learned fast, and celebrated big, even earning our way into Druva’s President’s Club multiple times, an honor that still fills me with pride.

That foundation set me up for my next move, joining a new team under Silas’s leadership. I was able to represent Druva on major industry stages like AWS re:Invent and Dell World, places where customer conversations pressure-test your story and sharpen your craft. Around that same time, I found my way to the tennis court, where every match reinforced the same lessons I’ve carried throughout my career: stay resilient, stay adaptable, and trust your preparation.

And at the heart of Druva’s culture, Founder Jaspreet and Co-Founder Milind have always played a critical role—motivating people to chase their goals and creating an environment where you’re encouraged to grow into your full potential.

The Next Chapter: Paying It Forward

Nearly 14 years later, I’ve stepped into a new role where my impact feels bigger than ever. It’s both humbling and energizing to reflect on what brought me here: a mix of passion, persistence, and the belief that if you love what you do, growth follows naturally.

Today, under the mentorship of Rahul, one of Druva’s inspiring leaders, I’m channeling that same curiosity and drive into helping others succeed.

Reflections: Gratitude, Growth, and Family

I’ve always believed that our capacity to grow and succeed comes from the values that ground us, the lessons we inherit from our families, mentors, and communities. In India, we call this sanskar: the principles and moral compass that shape who we are and how we navigate the world. 

When people ask why I’ve stayed for 14 years, the answer is simple: the people and the purpose. Druva isn’t just a workplace; it’s where I’ve grown up.

Here, I learned to lead with humility, stay curious, and keep stretching myself. Leaders invest in you, notice your effort, and give you room to grow.

Druva has given me more than a career. It's given me mentors, friends, adventures, and a true sense of belonging. I built a life here: a home, a marriage, and memories for a lifetime.

Here’s to the next rally and the next chapter.