Balaji Murugesan

Over the years, I have implemented many ideas by adapting concepts that I found practical and relevant.

One example was inspired by IT minister, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan who introduced the idea of a monthly report card that consolidates and captures the work done over the month. From that concept, I introduced a similar practice within the team. Between the 1st and 5th of every month, teams submit a report covering both technical and human resource aspects of what they tried, what worked, and what didn’t. Reviewing these reports helps me clearly understand the team’s performance. Even today, some teams continue to follow this practice consistently.

In a similar way, back in 2014, I was inspired by how companies like Telerik and TCS structured their training programs. Based on that, I introduced a structured in-house training approach. I created a predefined learning path for our product, outlining what new team members should learn before fully moving into project work. I tried this method, and it worked well.

One principle I strongly believe in comes from the teachings of Chanakya that a leader must be a role model. A team is always observing its leader’s actions, decisions, and words, and true trust is built only when a leader consistently leads by example. At the same time, leadership is also about motivating and guiding others, especially during challenging situations, so the team continues to move forward with confidence. 

Another important teaching from Chanakya is about succession. A leader’s role is not just to lead, but also to identify and prepare the next leader. In a team, this means recognizing individuals with strong potential and guiding them to take on greater responsibilities. When they are ready, they should be able to step into your role, allowing you to move forward. This is how teams continue to grow, ensuring continuity and long-term success. 

There are a few people in my journey with whom I openly share my thoughts and experiences, especially Manoj, the current UX Manager. I share a strong bond with him. He had always accepted me for who I am and stood by me throughout my journey. Since I am naturally a reserved person, he encouraged me to step beyond my comfort zone and introduced me to many new experiences. Through him, I explored things I might never have tried on my own. I truly value his presence in my life and am deeply grateful for the positive impact he had on my journey.

When I think about the advice I would share with young professionals, a few simple principles stand out to me. 

First, stay curious. Keep asking why things happen the way they do, because curiosity drives learning and innovation. Without it, growth becomes stagnant and mechanical work can easily be replaced. Another important aspect is investing in upskilling. What we study doesn’t always directly apply in real-world scenarios, so it’s important to continuously strengthen your expertise. I suggest allocating around 2% to 5% of your yearly spending toward learning. Along with this, being part of technical and professional communities also matters. Engaging with others helps you exchange ideas, gain new perspectives, and refine your thinking. Finally, it’s important to respect money. Focus on saving and investing wisely from the early stages of your career, as financial discipline plays a key role in long-term stability. 

Reading has been a part of my life since childhood. I grew up reading magazines like Siruvar Malar and comics such as Rani Comics. During my teenage years, I explored novels by Rajesh Kumar and Indra Soundarrajan. Over time, my interests expanded to history, World War stories, and technical articles that helped me stay informed and continuously improve my knowledge.

Because of this interest, I began setting aside money to buy books, and that habit continues even today. I invest in books not only for my own growth but also for my team's learning. The knowledge I gain often helps me share relevant insights and practical examples during team discussions.

My perspective on money has also evolved over time. Before 2021, I didn't pay much attention to saving and often spent without much planning. In recent years, however, I've realized the importance of financial stability and thoughtful planning. Today, I focus on managing my savings and investments more responsibly, with a long-term perspective.

One of my passions is photography. Spending time capturing wild animals gives me immense happiness. Before 2018, whenever I felt stressed, I took my camera and head out to a forest or a lakeside. I can spend hours, sometimes an entire day, simply observing and photographing nature, and it helps me return feeling refreshed. Another passion of mine is learning. From my early days until now, I found relaxation in learning new things. Now, I’ve been exploring areas like human resources, sales and marketing subjects outside my comfort zone. Even choosing to study something beyond my usual domain gives me a sense of relaxation. 

When I think about the leadership skills I had in 2011, it makes me smile. Especially during product releases, we often worked night shifts and when application builds ran for a couple of hours, leaving some idle time before testing could begin, I used that time for meetings and constant follow-ups to keep the team engaged. Looking back now, I sometimes wonder: was that really me asking all those strict questions and behaving that way? Those memories now make me smile.

Another memory I value is the team travel between 2011 and 2015. During that time, meetings and outings were often organized outside the office and we traveled together to places like Coorg, Wayanad, Mahabalipuram, Murudeshwar Temple near Goa. Nearly fifty of us would travel by bus, spend a couple of days enjoying the trip and return with great memories. Those were truly fun and memorable moments for all of us. 

If I had to talk about someone I admire, one person would be Bruce Lee. When I visited the US, I went to see his grave and was touched to see people still emotionally connected to him. One of his quotes that has stayed with me is, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” It reminds me of the value of discipline, focus, and consistency. 

Another person I admire is Kamal Haasan. About a year ago, he went to the US to study artificial intelligence. What I admire most is that, even at this stage of his career, he still has the curiosity to learn. He has also never limited himself to a single genre, constantly challenging himself with diverse roles throughout his career. That mindset of continuous learning is what I admire most about him.