Hello, I’m

Manikandan Selvaraj

Product Manager - BoldDesk

Inspiration

Everything about my IT career began with one person's belief in me...

My Current Role

I work as a Product Manager in Bold Desk, where I oversee key areas such as the email system, ID Server, Knowledge Base modules, and SLA management. A major part of my role is managing the email-to-ticketing system, which forms the core of the help desk experience. I focus on ensuring these core components work reliably while continuously enhancing the product to deliver a better experience for users.

My Experience Throughout My Journey

This could include my life experiences, challenges overcome, personal growth, and lessons learned.

About Me

I’m a calm and soft-spoken person who naturally prefers to stay composed. I approach people with a smile and believe that kindness goes a long way in building meaningful relationships. One thing I’ve always been grateful for is the support I’ve received from the people around me. At every stage of my life, whether from family, friends, or colleagues, someone has always been there to support me when I needed it most. That has shaped my belief that good people are always around us. Outside of work, I enjoy watching fantasy movies and reading books, as they help me relax and keep me curious.

My Career Journey

From a young age, I dreamed of becoming an engineer, even though I didn’t fully understand what engineering involved. It was a profession I admired, and that dream stayed with me throughout my school years. After completing my engineering degree, my journey didn’t begin as I had hoped, as I faced several rejections while searching for my first job.

Just when I was about to give up and return home, I attended an interview in Coimbatore that became a turning point in my career. Joining a small startup gave me the opportunity to work across multiple technologies and learn far beyond my role. Those early experiences built a strong foundation and shaped the way I approach learning and problem-solving even today.

The confidence I gained there opened doors to opportunities in Coimbatore, Bengaluru, and Chennai before I joined Syncfusion as a Software Engineer. Looking back, my journey has taught me that embracing new challenges and continuously learning are the keys to growth.

My Advice to Young Professionals

Don’t limit yourself to the responsibilities mentioned in your role. Be curious, explore beyond your area of work, and never hesitate to learn something new. The knowledge you gain outside your immediate responsibilities often becomes the foundation for new opportunities and long-term growth.

On a personal level, I would say – don’t overthink every problem. Challenges are a part of everyone’s journey. Instead of worrying about them, focus on understanding the situation and finding a solution.

My Inspiration

One of the biggest inspirations in my life is my first company’s CEO, Venkatesan. I feel deeply grateful to him because he gave me an opportunity at a time when I was struggling and uncertain about my career. The way he conducted the interview itself was different – he focused on understanding me and my potential rather than just evaluating my technical skills. Looking back, that opportunity became the foundation of my career.

What inspired me even more was the way he worked. Despite his experience, he never stopped learning. He regularly reviewed our code, patiently guided us whenever we got stuck, and always led by example. His dedication to learning, commitment to quality, and willingness to invest time in helping others grow have had a lasting influence on me. Even today, those lessons continue to shape the way I approach my work and learning

Stay dedicated, keep learning, and do your work with sincerity. The right opportunities and success will follow.

- Manikandan Selvaraj

More About Me

Additional insights into my interests, experiences, and traits that shape my journey and perspective.

A Challenge That Strengthened Me

One of the biggest challenges in my journey was taking ownership of the Orion project when I was still learning the application. Soon after I took over, customers started reporting issues, and I had to resolve them while getting familiar with the system. It was a demanding phase that tested both my technical knowledge and my confidence.

With the guidance of my manager, Karikalan, I focused on understanding the application, identifying the root cause of each issue, and resolving them one by one. As the project became more stable and customer concerns reduced, I gained confidence in handling complex situations. That experience strengthened my belief that even the toughest challenges can be overcome with patience, continuous learning, and a willingness to take ownership.