Karikalan Natarajan

Respect is a value I strongly believe in. I feel that no matter a person’s age or experience, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. 

In both my workplace and personal life, I consciously ensure that I treat everyone equally, whether they are juniors or seniors. I prefer creating an environment where people feel valued and comfortable. 

This is something I have followed consistently and will continue to uphold. 

Over time, my journey has shaped the way I think, both professionally and personally. One of the biggest shifts has been in how I approach goals and decisions. I’ve learned to think in a more structured way—setting clear objectives and understanding the actions needed to achieve them. 

Another important change is learning to ask the right questions. Earlier, I would often accept things as they were. Now, I take time to question, analyze, and understand the reasoning behind decisions. This has helped me think more clearly and avoid assumptions. 

I’ve also come to value the importance of listening. By listening carefully and asking meaningful questions, I gain better clarity, which ultimately leads to more thoughtful and effective decisions. 

For me, leadership is about leading by example. It’s not just about giving instructions, but being willing to step in and show how things can be done. 

Clarity is essential. When a leader is clear about goals and direction, it helps the team stay focused and aligned. Without that clarity, it’s easy for teams to lose direction. 

I also believe that leaders should stay grounded and connected with their team. When people see that their leader is involved and approachable, it naturally builds trust and motivates them to do better. 

What keeps me going is the excitement of solving problems. Every day brings a new challenge, and finding solutions to those challenges gives me a sense of satisfaction. 

I see each problem as an opportunity to learn and improve. That continuous learning keeps me engaged and motivated. Along with that, there is also a sense of responsibility—towards my work, my team, and my family. 

These factors together drive me to keep moving forward and give my best every day. 

It happened just after I was selected at Syncfusion while I was waiting for the document verification call. I had very little money then—just enough for my bus ticket and around ₹20–30 as phone balance.

One day, I noticed a missed call and was sure it was from Syncfusion. But when I tried calling back, my balance had suddenly become zero. I had no idea what had happened, and I didn’t even have money to recharge.

Later, I discovered that my friend had accidentally activated a ringtone service on my phone. The instruction was to press 8, but he kept insisting, "I pressed 81, not 8," without realizing the balance had already been deducted the moment he pressed 8. We even ended up arguing about it.

Fortunately, Syncfusion called me again the next day, and I went for the verification. Even today, whenever I think about that incident—and the way my friend kept defending "81"—it never fails to make me smile.

One important thing I have unlearned over time is overthinking. Earlier, whenever a problem came up, I would spend too much time thinking about all possible negative outcomes. It often created unnecessary stress and distracted me from focusing on the actual issue. 

Over time, I realized that most of those fears never really happen. Instead of overthinking, I’ve learned that it is more effective to focus on the solution. I now try to stay present and handle situations step by step. 

This shift has made me calmer and more effective. 

Beyond work, I value the time I spend with my children. I also have an interest in writing; I enjoy writing poems and short stories whenever I get the time. It’s something that allows me to express my thoughts in a different way. At the same time, I enjoy playing cricket.  

I feel deeply grateful to my friend Baskaran R, who played a crucial role in shaping my path. At a time when I was unsure about my direction, he encouraged me to continue my studies and supported me in many ways. 

He not only guided me but also stood by me during difficult phases. His belief in me helped me stay focused and move forward. 

Even today, I value his guidance and consider his words seriously.  

I would say this—whatever you are going through right now is temporary. The struggles, the uncertainty, the pressure-all of it will pass. 

One day, you will look back at these moments and share them as stories. So instead of feeling overwhelmed, try to see how you can grow through these experiences. There is no need to give up. Stay patient, keep working, and trust that things will eventually fall into place.  

Just like me, one day you will look back at these experiences and speak about them with a smile, even though they felt difficult at the time.