I am a Business Technologist by profession. I was born in Bangalore, studied in Chennai, travelled to US, UAE, Europe for work and now based in the Silicon Valley of India and the city of lakes – Bengaluru. I suppose the city is now earning a global reputation for its heavy traffic these days – but I love Bangalore for its moderate weather (throughout the year), the vibrant energy, the palette of opportunities it offers and its cosmopolitan people. And yet, I have a deep appreciation for Tamil cuisine (esp. the filter coffee), Tamil language and Tamil movie comedy 😀. So, in a nutshell, am a deadly combo of a Tamilian mind coupled with a Bangalore-an outlook, or so they say 😛

Now a MIT Sloan and IIMB alumnus – I have always been a brilliant student, an overachiever coupled with a slight rebel streak 😎– so hence I wasn’t always the teacher’s favourite. But still I got the complete 100% practical marks because I managed to strike the delicate balance between being a troublemaker and a first ranker. So yeah, I was a corporate professional in the making, a bit early in time 👩🏻‍💼

At home, I was an unconventional girl child – who was not that interested in beauty, praying, gossip, jewellery, fashion etc and had a lot of questions when asked to follow norms and traditions blindly (which was unfortunately the unsaid expectation) – I had a curious mind, was trying to reason out, but however I never got any sensible answers from anybody (not even from my late father – a double masters + MBA, then College Professor & HOD, or my mother – again a double masters, a high school science & math teacher 🤦‍♀️). Today this leads to me to the understanding that there is a vast difference between being “literate”, being “educated”, and as I grow older – further to being “wise” too🤘

During my college days, my dream was to become a model/actress like any other teenager – but senses prevailed. I knew my intellect wouldn’t tolerate the vulgarities of the industry even for a day. My independent streak led me to leave home when I was 19 for my first job and then a year later, I moved to USA, staying there for the next decade for work, education, travel and fun 🥳. Being in US in my twenties shaped my outlook and mindset tremendously – I learnt to live independently, cultivated my social skills, learnt driving, developed confidence and a sense of humour as a by-product 😂, appreciated diversity in people/cuisines/ movies/fashion, became a thorough bred professional in a global space👩‍💻.

In my thirties, many setbacks, challenges, loss of my father & relationship taught me “life” – to be more resilient, humble, sensitive, mindful and patient. It was hard and lonely – and I understood the value of genuine friendships, meaningful relationships, well-wishing mentors & a strong support system. I started focusing on EQ & SQ (Emotional & Social Quotient) than IQ – the alpha in me toned down tremendously. Quite surprisingly, what held me through all the hard times, adversities and struggles were my tattoos 🧘‍♀️.

i) Dad’s picture on my right forearm, which was inked the day after he passed away, gave me the strength to plough ahead and compensated for his physical absence as he was a part of me now.

ii) Goddess Durga on my right thigh, which was inked after a failed relationship to symbolize what I embody – quiet strength, feminine force, compassion & courage.

iii) INTJ on my left ankle, which was inked to keep reminding me that my life in all forms – personal, professional, general will never be a conventional or easy one.

iv) Simba paw on my chest, which was inked after my fur baby met with a freak accident and fractured his spine. The paw gave us both the emotional strength to survive his two surgeries and bring him back from death door.

So yeah, tattoos when done with a purpose and meaning, is therapeutic and gives one the power to cope, heal, survive and thrive 😄.

In my mid-thirties, I started questioning myself, my direction and this led to a phase of self-discovery 🤔. I started searching for meaning & fulfilment in what I do and seeking a higher purpose in life. I took a break, pursued my ivy league dream, went to MIT 👩‍🎓, and ventured into unchartered waters – start-up & entrepreneurship to explore and learn beyond my comfort zone. I have so many learnings from being at a helm of running a business – one primary thing being both success and failure in business humbles a human being like no other, or so I learnt 🙏🏻.

It was hard and unpredictable Covid times during 2020 – Bringing home 1-month old golden retriever 🐕‍🦺 Simba just the day before the lockdown and sharing personal space with an animal 24*7 for the next 2 years (golden retrievers never really give you any personal space actually) opened my heart to the unconditional love & compassion that dogs have to offer. I always wanted not just one, but many dogs around me – but the travelling nature of my consulting career didn’t give me the time or space for the same. I started making time to develop my interest in animals, wildlife and nature, which further broadened to wildlife photography 🐅, understanding wildlife conservation efforts in India/globally and the need of the hour in preserving nature’s delicate balance. There is a lot going on in this space and what I know is just the tip of the iceberg – but I do know that there is actually a real natural life 🌍 (beyond the corporate cabins, four walls of my house & the 4/5 family members), which we all have a collective responsibility to protect in the small ways we can. I try to do my humble bit towards dog rescue/animal welfare through NGOs – donations, fostering and being an advocate for the cause through my lens 📷.

I am a beginner in this wildlife photography space🎥 – still learning the nuances, techniques. I plan to master this art, as photography is a powerful visual medium to express our creativity & imagination, to narrate stories & influence people, to rally support for cause & agendas. It transcends language and borders, making it a universal language and a catalyst for change. Here is a list of my Equipment & Gear

(i) Nikon Z8 Mirrorless

(ii) Nikon Z 180-600mm Lens

(iii) Nikon Z 24-120mm Lens

Looks like I do have a backup career in the making 😄.

My corporate career is highly demanding (which I continue to enjoy thoroughly), and still, I try not to miss an opportunity to go for an adventure into the wild or go out and travel – breathe, experience, live. 🫶

Thanks for reading my page and enjoy! 🤗