Jeyasri Murugan

One value I strongly hold on to is taking responsibility for my work. When something is entrusted to me, I feel responsible for seeing it through, regardless of the situation. I don’t look at it as just a task that needs to be completed; I take ownership of making sure it is taken care of. 

I remember going through a difficult health condition when I was not physically well and my body was not responding normally. Even during that time, I was thinking about the responsibility I had. I informed my manager about my condition and asked them to take care of the release because I knew it was something I was responsible for. That experience reflects how seriously I take my commitments, and it is a value I continue to carry with me.

One thing that has stayed with me since childhood is my determination. When I decide to do something, I make sure I see it through, no matter how much effort it takes. I also prefer to try solving things on my own before asking for help. That mindset has been part of me from my early days and continues even now.

At the same time, I have changed in how I spend my time. Earlier, I was very close to my family and deeply involved in things at home. Today, work takes up a much larger part of my life, so I’m not as involved with my family as I used to be. I’m aware of this change, and going forward, I hope to find a better balance between the two.

I’ve always valued appreciation, even when it is something small, and I tend to remember those moments for a long time. One appreciation that stands out to me came from Saravanan, my first team lead, during my early days. At that time, I was still figuring things out and building my confidence, so his appreciation for my work meant a lot to me.

It gave me the confidence to believe that I was moving in the right direction. I have received appreciation from other reporting managers as well, and I value those moments too, but Saravanan’s appreciation has stayed with me because it came at a time when I was still finding my footing.

One moment that still makes me smile is a conversation I had with my daughter about becoming an engineer. She once told me that she would never become an engineer. When I asked her why, she gave me a reason I wasn’t expecting: “Because engineers still have to study even after they get a job—just like you”

Her simple observation caught me off guard. For a moment, I honestly couldn’t think of a counterargument because, from her point of view, it made perfect sense. It was such an innocent way of looking at my work, and that is what made the conversation memorable. Even now, I smile when I think about how confidently she had made her decision based on what she saw me doing.

What keeps me going is the responsibility I feel toward the work entrusted to me. When something is given to me, I feel answerable for it and make sure I follow through. The trust people place in me also adds to that sense of responsibility. When someone relies on me to handle something, I take that trust seriously and it motivates me to stay consistent in my work. For me, knowing that people are counting on me is what keeps me committed to doing my part every day.

For me, success is not about reaching a particular position or title. It is about being able to handle the responsibilities that come my way and do justice to them. I see success in being consistent, showing up every day, and making sure that whatever I take up is completed properly.

I also believe success comes from continuing to improve through the work I do. At the end of the day, if I can look at my work with satisfaction, know that I have done it sincerely, and stand by what I have done, that is success for me.

I’ve understood that I didn’t always have clarity about what was ahead, but I kept moving forward. There were difficult phases, including financial struggles, health issues, and new responsibilities. I didn’t always know how things would work out, but I continued working, learning, and figuring things out one step at a time.

What my journey has taught me is that you don’t always need to have everything figured out before moving forward. Sometimes, continuing to show up and putting in the effort helps you find your way through uncertain situations. That has been one of the most important lessons I’ve taken from my journey.