A Journey Called Life: Nataraj N, Global CIO, Hexaware

An industry veteran and an influential CIO, Nataraj N’s achievements and contribution to his company’s growth speak for themselves. As a Global CIO, Hexaware, Nataraj has been at the helm of several strategic initiatives, which resulted in significant business benefits. He has been instrumental in developing Hexaware’s private cloud platform, which led to substantial cost savings and opened the doors for his firm into several businesses. He also incubated the IMS service line in Hexaware.

A winner of several prestigious awards, Nataraj’s career is quite an inspiration for many. However, even after these accomplishments, he still continues to learn from life and feels there is a long way to go. ‘I certainly have not arrived,’ he says.

In a candid chat with Srikanth RP of Dataquest, Nataraj opens up and talks about key inspirations and lessons in life that have led to his personal and professional growth.  Nataraj gives a peek into his personal and professional journey and tells us more about key inspirations and lessons learnt in life.

Here is Nataraj in his own words:

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I am who I am and where I am because of the decisions I made in this life’s journey of 45 years, influenced by my experiences and lessons learnt from those who inspired me or those I followed (as Twitter describes it, today).

What you learn in B-school and professional colleges could be subject knowledge or dopes on strategy, planning tools, conceptual/ application oriented understanding on people, financials, markets, technology, etc. Being a learner, what I learn from life, through experiencing the moments and inspirations from people form the school that I choose to never graduate from.

Inspirations and learning from others, be it family, teachers and professors, colleagues at work, friends, and many achievers who have been influencers in my life has been my real school.

 My Early Years

Born in a lower middle class family, shuttling along with my father across the Delhi-Haryana belt through my childhood, taught me lessons on hard-work; that there are no shortcuts in life, one has to earn and deserve every bit of what one gets. I still remember how my father used to travel 20 km one way to office by bicycle even in peak summer and winter in Delhi to save bus expenses. I saw my father as a standing example of hard work, discipline, perseverance, and commitment.

My elder brother and I didn’t have enough of luxuries to be sent to the best of schools, colleges and formal training in our hobbies; however we were happy—a complete family of four, each of us unique and strong individuals. Learnings on differences in people’s thinking and behavior was an early lesson as a growing boy. I decided to be serious with academic and aimed at a successful career; worked hard, scored ranks, qualified for entrance tests of reputed engineering institutes. I believed that my high scores would take me to where I am today, professionally. But life had something else in store; we couldn’t afford the fees. I put up my case with a dream reputed institute stating, ‘I am an outstanding student!’ The response I got was, ‘Every student here is outstanding.’ How true! I asked myself, what is my differentiator? I didn’t find an answer then.

Games Teach you More than Sports and Fitness

I pursued normal education; gained subject knowledge and found ways to earn as I learnt. More importantly, pursed interests that didn’t cost much. Chess, the game that teaches you strategy, to make the right moves and how important it is to not make the wrong ones. My grandfather granted me this game in legacy. He has been a great source of inspiration, a government employee, man of principles, and an ace chess player apart from varied interests in homeopathy, gardening, tailoring, music, electronics, and mechanics that he pursued with passion. I learnt two of the greatest virtues: Passion (that he personified) and patience from him. I was also a college champion in Chess and represented my team in the Khurukshetra University Championship.

The other game that has intrigued me over the last decade is golf. Haven’t I been lucky? This game of the halves I played for the first time in Cupertino (California) Golf Course in 2005. Till last year, I have been playing almost every weekend in Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) and Army Golf Course (AGC) in Bengaluru. I also participated in a couple of championships since 2005 (Cisco Golf tournament in Eagleton, CRY in KGA, ICICI in Eagleton etc). Although, I didn’t gain enough proficiency to win a tournament, I did manage to win a couple of prizes for the longest drive and putting.

I learnt that it’s not the power but the precision, timing and tact that matters in every stroke. It’s the same ball, the hole being the goal; however one needs to choose the club, which can make the difference. I learnt that rules of games are not the same, sometimes the lowest score means winning. It is not only about a talented player who is the best in a sport. Consider the case of Eldrick Tont Woods, is it the player or the player plus his coaches that make him Tiger Woods (the giant of a man). A coach is definitely important in one’s life to be the best. Opportunity is not always obvious and success is lot dependant on what you do next—this is the big lesson I have learnt while playing chess or golf.

Never Forget your Roots

History and mythology have interested me over the years. Well, I am not a religious-ritualistic person, nor into any cult or formal followership. If I had a boon to be granted, Lord Krishna is a role I wish to play. Is it the epic Mahabharata or the Bhagavat Gita or Krishna that mesmerizes me more? I don’t know. What I do know is that a portion of my mind and being is engulfed and guided by Him—call it the ‘concept’ or ‘the being.’

We say the means take you to the end but to me it’s been the means to the means; the end is Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana: You have very less say on the end but everything to do with the means. All that one has in one’s circle of influence and control is what and how one thinks, does, and communicates.

Chanakya or Chankaya neethi? This guru from our history is an institution of governance, political science, and management. He is a live example to emulate on how professors can play a role in nation building. How managers as coaches can enable high performance in organizations.

Sometimes television can be your teacher; I thank Dr BR Chopra and Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi for enabling my deeper interests in Krishna or Vishnugupta through their ventures on Indian television, so simplistically directed, for every Indian child to relate to. And yes, I will always be envious of Nitish Bharadwaj and Dr Dwivedi for enacting these roles.

Movies Influence Lives; My Cinema Icon

No one can be spared from being influenced by Indian tinseltown and its larger than life heroes. Is there anyone living who is larger than life? Well, I have only one image in my mind since my adolescence. The silver screen legend, Amitabh Bachchan!

The man behind this actor is another hero of my life. More than the characters he has played on reel, I admire his real character. He to me is many virtues personified. The fighter and pioneer in many areas that he has been, has inspired me over the years. How can a hero standing in front of a mike enact a 5 minute song with no change in costumes, scenes or dance movements, astounds me; isn’t this breaking the rules, moreover being a humongous box-office success for generations. He has been my inspiration through life’s struggles and I feel child-like excitement even today when my cousin Malavika (but more than a sister) refers me as AB or Big B (Ajay Bhaiya or Big Brother).

Ajay my name at home christened by my father, which means ‘unconquered,’ has been a source of sub-conscious positivity and affirmation. In reflection, I believe this name has been a source of tremendous resilience through my life’s struggle. Nothing in life has ever come easy, however everything that matters the most has been the best I could have asked for, including my family, friends at home and outside, and professional acquaintances.

Four Important Women in My Life

Did my name (Ajay) have anything to do with my decision to marry Jay, my life partner?” Jayasree, my better half is the other woman behind me. The first being my mother—the bold lady with a can-do attitude, leadership traits (as he sees her) are the genes that run in me is what Nataraj believes.

Jayasree, my companion, is the source of my inner-strength, provides me unconditional support, and makes me understand the meaning of life-partnership. Living with her I have strengthened my lessons on humility, equanimity, and selflessness. Over the last eight years, the third lady of my life—our little angel Kritika—helps me relive my childhood and rejoice the bliss of sheer innocence.

When I am traveling, I tell Jay how much I miss the family. She jokingly comments that I miss home food more. Oh yes! Iddlis are my only weakness that I am bereft of in my trips to the West. Last but not least, my little sister Malavika who has taught me the power of resilience. She is happily settled in Dallas.

Learning from My Brother

During my early years, I was an introvert and focused more on studies, whereas my brother gave equal importance to extracurricular activities. To me anything other than study was a waste of time. But soon I realized and started working on other aspects of life. I still remember his words, “McDonald’s sells more because it is packaged well.” How true! Having content alone is not good enough until it is presented well.

Key Influencers

I have learnt from many I have interacted closely with: My teachers, colleagues and seniors—the likes of Ashok Soota (Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, Happiest Minds); Chandra (VC, former President Wipro, CEO Mastek, e4e, Aztec); Govi (Founder Member Aztec, CEO Perfios), Chandra (KBC, Chairman, e4e); Subroto Bagchi; Samir Bodas (CEO Icertis); and Atul and Sekar (my current Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively). They took the risk and gave me an opportunity to head the IMS business apart from my CIO role and today that is the fastest growing horizontal in Hexaware. Here I would like to mention the name of R Srikrishna (Keech, CEO Hexaware), I am sure he would be an inspiration to every person involved in the IMS business.

To mention some achievers I have read about Gandhiji, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Randy Pausch, to name a few. Several aspects of these gentlemen have moved me.

My experiences have helped me become a richer human being and with all humility, I want to state that I certainly have not arrived yet. I see the journey as the reward. Well, and that’s what keeps me going.

The key to life, I believe, is to discover oneself and to serve, and this has been my journey ever since the question appeared in my mind – Who am I? I feel blessed as I can see and connect with people beyond their dejgrees, titles, popularity, and lifestyles. Who am I isn’t a bunch of interests and hobbies that I pursue and what I think, say and do or often don’t; it is the explorer enjoying the journey called life.

This is the first time I have been asked to share my personal experiences (not sure if it is of interest to others). As Randy Pausch found his last lecture as an opportunity to leave a message for his children, perhaps, this is my opportunity to thank those (many of who I have mentioned) who have been catalyst in the life lessons I have learnt.

For the person that I am today, I want to thank the many teachers.

Here’s a heartfelt, ‘Thank you!’