‘I don’t think only jobs related to IT are stressful’

Chella Namasivayam, CIO, iGATE speaks of his interest in agriculture after having developed a taste for the field from his parental roots, to his decision to pursue IT.

He also shares with Dataquest how IT has helped him in moulding himself and in achieving the goals of his life. Excerpts

Role Model...

My father was my role model. He was an agriculturist and like him, I wanted to become an agriculturist as well. In fact, I got an admission in agricultural engineering. However after counseling I decided to pursue a degree in engineering, with electronics and telecommunications as my core subjects. On completing my BE in 1990, I received an offer from Delhi-based Unicorp Industries (UIL) to join it as a systems engineer. I was deployed on the production floor where I was involved in the testing of printed circuit boards (PCBs), as well as, production and quality control of desktop computers, network equipment, and peripherals.

Out of the Comfort Zone...

A few years later in 1992, I spotted an opportunity to break the mould, move away from my comfort zone and be a part of a new line of business. Having evaluated the prospects of the emerging technology to understand how it could be turned into a new business model for the company, along with my manager, we started a new business unit called Unicorp Network Division (Uni-Net) that specialized in areas like structured cabling, networking hubs, high availability servers, server based operating systems, and related applications.

Gaining Control...

After that, I was transitioned from my role of head-quality control and was put in charge of a techno-sales function within Uni-Net. Through regular engagements and the excellent relations I had developed during my stint as quality head, I was able to create inroads for Uni-Net in a market that was dominated by other big players. In 1995, I decided to quit UIL and join Arthur Andersen as a consultant where I worked until 1997. My stint at Unicorp had equipped me with a lot of knowledge on systems, networks, and applications, and I thought that consultancy would be a good option.

 

Current Role...

At iGATE, in 1997, I started off heading and managing the local IT infrastructure at the company's headquarters in Bangalore. I was soon given the task of managing IT for Chennai, and subsequently appointed as head for the entire IT operations in the country. With time, I started adding new portfolios to my role. Today, in addition to my CIO portfolio, I also look after the procurements and commercial division, also new project expansions, and manage administration and facilities.

Vision...

I have always believed that CIOs should be valued as they are not just technical savvy, but also they contribute as a member of the senior management team with organizational responsibilities. I feel the early years of learning and the vast opportunities I have received in iGATE have molded me to be a professional I am today.

All-time Favorite...

My all-time great interest is of course agriculture and I will pursue it at greater length when I retire and have more time. I have been making the necessary preparations by purchasing agricultural land and modern agricultural equipment. My goal is to own and grow a new range of farm produce that has never been produced in the state.

Destressing...

I don't think only jobs related to IT per se are stressful. I am a strong believer that in whichever industry you are, one must always create opportunities and seek to better oneself. You will get stressed only if you feel the work is burden with full of challenges and obstacles. If you consider the work as opportunities, then where is the question of stress? When not at work, I enjoy playing sports such as cricket and frisbee. A sport is a great way to keep fit and active. Incidentally, I am the manager of iGATE's cricket team and enjoy some of my off days playing cricket with the team. Apart from that, I enjoy learning about new types of agricultural techniques and equipment, types of crop, and new methods of farming.

Beyond Work...

I enjoy sports. I love playing frisbee and have enjoyed it since my childhood days. While in school, we used to have frisbee tournaments on a football ground. With no referees, the crux of the game is its spirit of sportsmanship and the expectation of a fair play. Physically, and in terms of the teamwork involved, the sport is a lot like football, soccer, hockey or basketball. Even now, I play the game with my friends and relatives. It helps me to stay fit. Also, since it is a no contact sport, there is no danger of getting injured.

Decision-making...

The best part of IT decision-making is that you are in the thick of things for the most part. Being a part of an IT service organization, we live in a dynamic environment where we constantly look to innovate and offer cutting-edge technology to our customers as well as employees. As a CIO, I think the best part is to be in a position to adopt technology not just to help our customers meet their business objectives but also enhance the user-experience and empower our very own workforce. Being responsible for the effective, competitive, and strategic use of IT in the organization is the best part related to IT decision making.