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,  a Tamilian mind coupled with a Bangalore-an outlook is deadly is what 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 – not that interested in beauty, praying, gossip, jewellery 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 eager 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 – 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 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 😂, learnt to appreciate diversity in people/cuisines/ movies/fashion, became a thorough bred global professional👩‍💻.

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 I understood the value of genuine friendships, meaningful relationships, well-wishing mentors & a strong support system. In my mid-thirties, I started questioning myself, my direction and this led to a phase of self-discovery 🤔. I started searching for fulfilment in what I do and seeking meaning & 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 beyond my comfort zone. I have 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 before the lockdown and sharing personal space with an animal 24*7 afterwards (one actually needs to forget personal space with a golden retriever :P) 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 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 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 – forget, breathe, experience, live. 🫶

Thanks for reading my page and enjoy! 🤗