Balaji Renganathan

When I joined, I had a clear thought that I wanted to stay in one company for at least five years. Today, it’s been 12 years, so crossing that goal feels like a real achievement. On a personal level, there have been many small successes too. Buying my bike is one of them. It wasn’t an impulsive decision—I planned for it and clearly decided that I wanted a Royal Enfield, specifically the Thunderbird model. 

Spending time with friends is my biggest hobby. I usually take my bike and go out with my school friends, and even for small things like buying household items, we don’t go alone. In the evenings, we ride around town. Since we’re in Madurai, we often go around the temple area, look at shops, and just ride around. We buy whatever is needed for home, stop for a tea, and head back. That simple time with friends is what really helps me relax.

There are a lot of memories like this. Once, while we were playing cricket, we didn’t even have proper stumps and used a big stone instead, with a couple of other stones placed behind it. I was standing at long-on when the batsman hit the ball. I picked it up and threw it at the “stump,” but it hit one of the other stones nearby. I immediately shouted that the batsman was out and started celebrating. Only when I went closer did I realize I had hit the wrong stone. Everyone started laughing and teasing me. Looking back, moments like these were pure fun, and we still laugh about them.

I don’t know which manager it was who told my relative that there was a walk-in interview and that I should attend it. Whoever that person was, I’m truly grateful. I never tried to find out exactly who it was. I only knew that at the time there were around eight top-level managers, and it could have been any one of them. What matters to me is that because of that one person, everything changed, and I’m thankful for it.

I still think about playing cricket, but I don’t know when I’ll get the time. These days, even getting everyone together feels like a big challenge, and sometimes even coordinating a simple con call is difficult. If I ever get the chance, I’d love to bring everyone together again and spend an entire day just playing cricket. 

My father used to say, 'we can’t score 100 in everything. We just have to try our best. The result is not always in our hands’ - I still follow the same approach today. Whether it’s work or a new task or project, I give my best. After that, whatever result comes, I take it as part of the process. If the process is right, the result will fall into place. 

In many places, when things go down, the first thought is to fire employees. But Syncfusion’s culture is very different. I’ve personally seen how much the company cares about its employees. What stands out to me is how the company has evolved over time, and I’ve witnessed that growth through my own journey here. When a company keeps evolving like this, we grow along with it. 

MS Dhoni is a big inspiration to me. It started when I was in 10th standard, watching his batting style, and later through his interviews. He often talks about trusting the process. When you focus only on results, you may not truly achieve anything, because success or failure is just a by-product. What matters is enjoying the process and doing your work with full involvement, without constantly worrying about the outcome. He tells his teammates the same thing - to enjoy the game instead of playing only for results. His leadership, whether natural or learned, is something I deeply admire.

Professionally, my previous manager, Manoj Babu, has been a big influence. His managerial skills and the way he handled the team so smoothly had a strong impact on me. Even during major issues, he never got angry. If I made a mistake, he wouldn’t react harshly. Instead, he would calmly explain how it could have been handled better and guide me for the next time. Those habits are what truly inspired me.

To be a good leader, the first thing is to understand the people who report to you. This means understanding their work and, to some extent, their background, which simple and regular conversations can help with. A leader’s role is to correct mistakes and guide people, not to say anything that affects them personally. A good leader should be careful with words, tone, and actions, and never hurt someone on a personal level. The goal is always to help them grow and move to the next level in their career.

One message that has stayed with me throughout my journey is, "Trust the process." I believe this applies not only to work but to every aspect of life. Things may not always go as planned, but every experience teaches us something and helps us move forward.

Another thought I often remind myself of is, "This too shall pass." Whether it is success, failure, or a difficult phase, every situation is temporary. Remembering this helps me stay calm, keep a balanced mindset, and face life with greater confidence.