Gratitude Post — For a Flight I Took in 2011 ✈️

It was my first-ever flight.

SAP Labs India had recruited us from campus, and — in a move that was unheard of back then — invited all future joiners to Bangalore before onboarding, just to celebrate Freshers’ Day.

I had only ever travelled by train or bus. But that day — taxis picked us up, flights were booked for a Mangalore to Bangalore & return, and coaches waited at the airport to ferry us. I couldn’t believe it. This wasn’t just logistics — it was a vision. And it was made real by two people:

• ✨ The then MD, whose vision came to life via Ferose V R, who later became my boss and mentor. I did my fellowship in his office and continue to be a fellow of his in spirit and learning, even today.
• ✨ And Bhuvaneswar Naik, who was then Head of HR — and instrumental in making SAP Labs one of India’s best workplaces in that decade.

They were ahead of their time:

• 🌿 Mainstreaming EV cars at SAP Labs before it was fashionable
• � Experimenting with work-from-home policies years before COVID

It’s been a decade since I moved out of SAP Labs — and they’ve since moved on to bigger roles. But the inspiration & example they created remains! Forever grateful. 🙏

P.S: Remembering my then recruiters as well — Suvarna Kartha, Dinu Nanjappa, Anil Warrier, and Simon Avinash — thank you.