Growing up in Ahmedabad, (in India), I was the youngest, the most mischievous, and probably the most curious kid in my family. While others played outside, I was tinkering with computer parts, figuring out how to build machines from scratch. My journey into technology wasn’t linear, but it was inevitable.
The Early Spark
In 1999, just three months before my final exams of Bachelor’s in Commerce, I became one of the first Microsoft Certified Professionals in my city. I wasn’t chasing titles, I was chasing understanding. My curiosity drove me to assemble computers, design websites, and eventually launch my own tech company, all while still navigating a commerce background.
Learning by Doing (and Necessity)
Most of what I know today, I learned not in classrooms, but through challenges. When I wasn’t satisfied with a UI design for a project, I learned Photoshop. When delivery delays frustrated my clients, I wrote a tool, magicCode, that could generate database and admin code in minutes.
I worked across industries: logistics, HR, insurance, customer service -and in every role, I found a way to bring in technology, to automate, optimize, and improve.
But no matter how far I went, the lack of a formal degree in computer science held me back.
Hitting Reset at 38
At 38, I made the decision to start over. I moved to the United States, leaving behind familiarity to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science. With the support of my wife, and our family, I went back to school.
I graduated magna cum laude from Stratford University and earned my Master’s from NJIT with a 4.0 GPA. I interned at ADP, then with Net@Work in New York City, and worked on range of real life projects.
The Microsoft Chapter
In 2018, I joined Microsoft straight from college. I now contribute to Microsoft Teams, helping shape how millions collaborate every day. From assembling computers in my small room in Ahmedabad to building global-scale software, this journey still amazes me.
But beyond the code, what I truly value is the purpose behind the work: solving problems that matter.
What I’ve Learned
- Curiosity beats credentials, but both together are unstoppable.
- Your background doesn’t define your ceiling.
- Learning has no age limit.
- Relationships matter more than résumés.
Giving Back
I now host DeepTechTalks.com, a podcast and blog platform where I interview technologists, startup founders, and young innovators, including school kids building robots! It’s my way of giving back, sharing stories I wish I had heard when I was starting out.
To anyone reading this, especially those thinking it’s “too late” to make a change, remember
Your journey doesn’t need to follow a straight line to lead somewhere incredible.