1. Can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your journey so far?
(Where you started, your background, and what led you towhere you are today.)
My journey in the corporate/IT world first began during the covid time (2020). A few months prior I just completed my MBA with majors in Marketing and specialization in Operations and Supply Chain. Post my MBA degree I was on a complete lookout for a job in the management related roles nothing came my way and everything in that search lead to nowhere. As they say right, destiny had other plans for me and the unthinkable happened yet in a good way eventually. It was the transition from the management side to the IT side, Firstly I give a lot of credit to my parents and my uncle Mr. Bala Krishna Navuluri who is a COO in a big MNC company to take up the software line. I am not joking at all I was a complete novice to even to basic nuances of tech like “What is a function”, “What is a record list”, “What is a query” etc. But thanks to the company “Yexle Limited” who onboarded me during my grimmest of times made me fall in love with the IT world all over, here I should not forget the CEO and Managing Director of Yexle Limited – Mr. Vijay Poondy, who always encouraged, Motivated and showed me the right path to grow in my career. I donned multiple roles in “Yexle Limited” in the form of Junior Consultant, at times Business Analyst and a Quality Analyst. Fast forward to last 2023, where an idea inside me just popped up. The idea was being the host of an In-house podcast channel for Yexle Limited; I had a very strong conviction with this as I thought this would be a great platform for many talented IT professionals there where their voices pertaining to their prowess in the IT industry would be heard. I shared this idea immediately with my former HR – Ms. Priya Bhogineni and she instantly approved it, backed the idea and shared it with the decision makers there. Each one showed their support to it but for it to be a brand on a commercial scale raised a lot of apprehensions from the decision makers alike. After two months, somewhere in February the idea turned into reality and “Yexle Podcast” was born. It was not a smooth sailing ride as the people that I shortlisted for at times busy, had project deadlines or were a bit camera shy on an honest note. Despite these hurdles, I managed to host 4 podcast episodes which received quite a good acclaim from the people in the Appian space. However, midway I had to bid goodbye to pursue my own initiative and head to Australia to pursue my Masters dream. Yexle Podcast post my departure was handed over to my colleague, it was very difficult to part ways with my own initiative. Having said that during my First Trimester in Australia, a new idea seemed to take shape in my mind and that was the birth of “The Tech’o’Space Podcast”.
2. What inspired you to pursue your current path or profession? Was there a specific moment that shaped your decision?
Well the source of my inspiration came from my two pillars of strength my mother and father. I was a bit heartbroken when I parted ways with the “Yexle Podcast” and at times
I would be low on self-esteem. My father to my this dismissal would say “Come on what is there you can start your own podcast initiative, and you will really come up”. I would immediately shrug off his suggestion and used to doubt my own potential back then. But the main person who pursued me to make this idea into a reality was my mother, she often used to tell me “You have such a good voice why don’t you utilize it somewhere very constructive, like you can try in Broadcasting medium”. I never took her idea so seriously back then, but as time went at back of my head I got so attached to that suggestion of my mother, to which now I must say was like a game changer for me. Though, I could not get any openings in broadcasting medium in Melbourne due to lack of prior experience in the field and also I was on Student Visa, Australia I thought why don’t I start my own podcast initiative coinciding with my father’s advice, since I love tech and love conversing with industry leaders of the Tech space. These two things propelled me to take my idea (The Tech’o’Space Podcast”) to fruition. However I would like to share another interesting anecdote which I would like to talk about, lets picture it this way one of the August 2024 Winter evenings of Melbourne, in my flat I was on a regular video call with my mother, as the conversation went by I suggested my mother that I want to start my own podcast channel and (ironically back then my podcast initiative was still untitled). Few months before leaving my former company I stumbled upon an article about the improvements of Tech in the Finance Industry by one of Yexle’s British employee who was on contract that impressed me on a large scale. During the month of August he was working in a new company, my zeal to start my podcast initiative “The Tech’o’Space Podcast” came with the interest of collaborating with him. There was an initial agreement of a collaboration as well in place it even had a possibility of including his Managing Director as well. But as time progressed the interest from his end brittled up and there came a time when the collaboration never saw the light of the day. Despite such hurdles I did not give up and just went all out in pitching my ideas to many reputed industry leaders. But let me tell you it was not at all smooth sailing; there was one industry leader of a reputed MNC in Australia who agreed but had to back out because of non-approval from his company’s side. Later I approached three other industry leaders pertaining to Europe but to no avail I got any response from them. But the fire inside me still told me don’t give up and that kept me going on and on. Before my trimester came to close I struck a deal of collaboration with a New Zealander based in the city of Hamilton, New Zealand – Mr. Benny Pan, who was setting new grounds by combining the worlds of education and AI. I felt this was an interesting concept to talk about in my podcast initiative and it will be a great curtain raiser overall. Upon approaching Benny, He simply loved the podcast idea and gave a go ahead. I simply cannot thank Benny enough for the confidence and faith he had in me throughout the process, in-fact not once he doubted that how can a new-comer podcaster be able to pull it off. His reference to my podcasting skills was on the lines of the “Yexle Podcast”, where he felt my podcasting skills were amazing and that set the tempo for the approval from his end. Honestly speaking without Benny I don’t think “The Tech’o’Space Podcast” would ever take off, I dedicate my podcast success to Benny as well!!!
3. How would you describe your mission or purpose behind what you do?
I feel the tech world inevitably experiences constant changes every other day, having said that world of tech is massive, expansive, deep and a lot to talk about. On this note, I felt I wanted to come up with a podcast initiative that gives me an absolute pleasure to collaborate and host eminent industry leaders of the IT space around the globe. Through my podcast platform, I wanted to take this as an opportunity to highlight the expertise of my guests in the form of storytelling, candid conversations, success
stories, anecdotes and to top it all highlight the excellence and brilliance of each
technology, framework, methodology and certifications vital for each one’s growth in the IT industry. In short my mission and purpose circles around my podcast initiative to make it more like an encyclopedia of the Tech World covering hot cake technologies like AI, Low-Code/No-Code, Python, IoT to that of the retro legacy systems like
Mainframes to that of the DevOps methodologies and pipelines, different SDLC’s, Concepts like Data Science, Data Analytics, Vibe Coding and Agentic Systems, Enterprise Architecture, Technological frameworks like ERPs, BPM’s etc you name it everything from the world of IT everything no barriers attached just like an encyclopedia. In fact, I feel the concept of tech though booming across the world is still underrated in some way and its not getting the much-needed reach that it deserves and requires. I have seen many tech podcast initiatives however what I have observed is they are dedicated to either one or three technologies at the max. I could not come across any podcast channel that acts as an encyclopaedia to be honest, so I took it upon me to spread the power of tech wholeheartedly to the listeners across the world, I hope I am able to contribute the best I can to the people across the world through my initiative. However, if I do come across one I would be happy to look at it and look on ways to improve my podcast initiative making it more interesting and insightful.
4. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge that I faced when I started my podcast initiative was people’s doubt and reservation in my closed circle whether I would be able to pull it out or not. The other challenge was initially post the release of my first episode, it was very difficult to reach out to people and gain their approval, as I was yet to cement my position and credibility in the podcasting arena and promoting it across my known circles convincing them to have a look and listen to my initiative. The questions of doubt that I often heard from people in my closed circle were “What will you get out of it, are you going to earn anything out of doing podcasts” and “Why would people only listen to your podcasts, when there are a lot of podcasts out there what makes yours different”. The only way I overcame such apprehensions from people was I just believed myself and kept on reaching to the tech leaders for a potential collaboration, diversify my approach in terms of technology and concepts. In case you get a rejection doesn’t matter keep trying for the next somewhere or other you will get a chance; this was the mantra that kept me going on and on despite the apprehensions I faced.
5. What achievement or milestone are you most proud of in your career or personal journey?
Well, the achievement/milestone that I am most proud in my podcasting journey has to collaborating with the reputed and eminent industry leaders hailing from the MNCs of MongoDB, Coforge, Capgemini, Amazon (Amazon Web Services), Microsoft and Deloitte in less than a year which I never dreamt about in my wildest dreams. Adding to that, in less than a year I got the opportunity to cover the tech scene of the Nordics, Spain, Portugal, Germany, The Netherlands, Australia, UK, The US, Canada, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Russia, Latin America, Singapore etc collaborating with one of the prominent industry leaders pertaining to those areas. I am glad I could diversify my approach with respect to highlighting the nuances of the tech scene and the interesting anecdotes
associated with it geographically. And very recently the podcast episode where I collaborated with Mr. Wilco Burggraaf a reputed Green Software Champion based in Breda-Tilburg Area; The Netherlands was featured in the Digital Transformation and Tech newsletter coinciding with the Bi-Weekly results of best of LinkedIn Posts on Sustainability and Green ICT Software CW 36/37 of the Frenus GmbH company. This recognition will always be a memorable one truly. I even wanted to mention that I got my very first opportunity to record a live podcast session in the Melbourne Microsoft Office. I owe my sincere thanks to Mr. Vic Perdana, a reputed industry leader of Microsoft Melbourne, for giving me such a huge break. And to top it all there were instances where people approached me to collaborate with me, this would also stand out as one of my proudest moments.
6. How do you stay motivated and focused, especially during tough times?
During tough times or let’s say during the times of uncertainty, the thing that keeps me focused and motivated always has to be my zeal and passion to collaborate, interact and connect with new industry leaders across the world or venture into those new concepts of the tech space that has to be explored or talked about for a potential podcast episode. If something bothers me during my coursework or job-work I don’t let my mind carry that luggage while recording my podcasts.
7. What sets you apart in your field or industry? What do you think people admire most about your work?
On a modest note, I have just started in the podcast zone so naming the things that sets me apart in my field or industry is too early to talk about. But one thing I can convey for sure is I am trying a new approach with respect to the promoting the world of the tech world through storytelling, highlighting the tech climate for different geographies and promoting new start-ups that have a budding potential with their cutting-edge ideas or mission to make a mark in the further run. Probably from the praise, I am receiving from my lovely guests who I have collaborated with me have mentioned out that I have a rare talent of identifying in not just what my eminent guests do but a genuine interest in why do they it? exploring their own motivations during the podcast session. Having said that before heading for the main podcast session, I love connecting with my guests once or twice acting as a way to build rapport with them, also perfecting the theme and questions associated for the podcast session. Adding another thing here, from the recommendations and reposts that I have received from my guests towards promoting my podcast episode have mentioned that I make my guests feel comfortable, adding a human touch to the nuances of the concepts mentioned by them, maybe that also might be one of the other reason that people admire my work. I personally feel their admiration comes from the fact that I am blending the concept of tech more with lines of storytelling and anecdotes to name many.
8. Who has been your biggest influence or mentor, and what’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from them?
First my biggest influence or my mentor has always been my parents – Mr. Sreenivas Navuluri and Mrs. Sharda Navuluri who are experienced software professionals, who from day one have been backing me to proceed with my podcast initiative and they are very proud with accolades that I have earned along with it. The valuable lesson that I have learnt
from my parents has to be “Give your effort don’t be worried about the result, just keep going everything shall fall in place”. The other biggest influence for me must be my late grandfather – Mr. Venkata Ramana Navuluri a reputed scientist and foreign returned who decades back encouraged me to try on new things and be a master in it, and my late maternal grandfather – Mr. Gangaraju Tatavarthy a reputed Civil Engineer who inspired me to pursue my BTech, had they been now and witnessed my huge growth in the podcasting space they would have been so proud of me and by the advice that I applied in my work. Professionally my mentor has to be my former Senior Delivery Head at my previous company – Mr. Vaughan Moriondo who I have as well collaborated with in my podcasting series. That episode remains to be a special one to me as I got the opportunity to collaborate with my mentor. But the biggest lesson or an inspirational thing that blew me and stays on with me was, during one of the team project reunions Vaughan happened to visit the Yexle Hyderabad office. There he personally went to the desks of all the freshers and junior consultants who were part of the project, he approached them saying “Don’t feel scared or hesitant to discuss any problem, we are one team any help or guidance always feel free to reach out and approach me”. This gesture of his won my heart, as I felt the person of such a huge stature and an uncanny experience in the IT field, made everyone working under him so comfortable. He is a true leader. And the other two people who I cannot thank enough have to my bosses – Mr. Jason Van der Meer and Mr. Martin Woodhouse who gave me my first break in the Australian Tech job scene. Also I owe a lot of gratitude to all my professors from my University – Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia who imbibed the technical knowledge in me.
9. What does a typical day look like for you? How do you balance work, growth, and personal life?
A typical day for me seems very busy as I am completely wired up with three sets of work one has to be Deakin University coursework assignments, the other has to be part- time/contract work that I am currently associated with the Torus International
company and final has to be with respect to my podcast initiative “The Tech’o’Space Podcast” where on an average sometimes I have to facilitate and connect on 3 calls a day across different time zones covering the likes of Australia, New Zealand, UK, US, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Canada etc. Balancing work, growth and personal is always a challenge, I ensure that I prioritise all my tasks parallelly and complete the same on the stipulated time whether it is an assignment submission deadline, a podcast session related work or the contract work. When it comes to growth on my spare time with a very little bandwidth I try to upskill my-self understanding different nuances and terminologies of the IT space as that’s my call for the long run. While coming to my personal life it always with the concept of “me travels” on Weekends, Since I am a student based in Melbourne I have explored the maximum of the Melbourne CBD. I would even recommend few beautiful places in Melbourne that I have explored – Melbourne Docklands Area, Docklands DFO, Melbourne Southgate Bridge, Melbourne Museum.
10. What are your goals or vision for the future — personally or professionally?
My goals/vision for the future has to be upskilling myself in field of Data Analytics, Data Science, different IT technologies and frameworks, AI related IT concepts etc having said that after getting a hang of all these nuances I would like to cement myself as a tech proficient IT industry leader in the tech scene. While coming to my podcast initiative, I
have this goal of recording and publishing my 100th episode and beyond, also I am very keen to collaborate with an industry leader of IT belonging to the Robotics space as I
feel it’s a hot-cake topic that I personally would love to venture in given an opportunity and having said that would like to shed more spotlight towards the retro technologies like MainFrames if possible in depth and adding to that dive deep more into the nitty gritties of the Low-Code/No-Code technologies like Appian, Pega, Mendix and OutSystems. I have already collaborated with few industry leaders pertaining to the space of Pega, Appian, Mendix however I would like to the core level this time that would make the podcast storytelling even more interesting and appealing for sure. I even plans of exploring into podcast zones out of the tech space very soon, buts that’s a topic for another day that I cannot divulge much into. Having said that God willingly if everything works well, I would like to talk about linking factor of different cutting edge technologies with that of the public sector processes on an expansive note given an opportunity.
11. How do you define success, and has that definition changed over time?
I would completely define success as the recognition, opportunities that I am getting with the different industry leaders or let’s say the award-winning industry leaders in their proficient space to collaborate with and getting heaps of praise from them for the good work I am doing with respect to my “The Tech’o’Space Podcast” initiative. I am very honoured by the fact when a marketing person of a reputed company/start-up company invites me to collaborate with his/her CEO or Managing Director and it really makes my day when my lovely guests refer me to their colleagues and the response I get from the latter to potentially collaborate with. I have had the privilege of working/teaming up with many reputed Enterprise Architects. Solution Architects, CEO’s, Managing Directors, IT award winning authors reputed in their core technology around the world. I feel over time the definition of it has not changed over time touch wood !!
12. What advice would you give to those who look up to you or want to follow a similar path?
Well I will be really flattered knowing the fact that people look up to me, that really means a lot. Coming to the advice I would like to give them would be always follow your heart, do the thing that you like the most with passion even if it is the regular office work that you are doing, that would make you enjoy what you are doing even more. And the advice for the people who want to follow a similar path of being a podcaster, have that zest of collaborating and reaching out to new people who you feel would be a great guest for your show, if you don’t hear from them don’t get disappointed, go for the next one someone or the other would show interest to collaborate with you based on your talent and good work, along with that while getting into a basic call understand your guest throughout, their work, their expertise and how to make the conversation even more interesting that will impress them more and give them confidence that you can pull it off really well. Last but not the least having a booming voice making the podcast session interesting, full of energy and full of vibe. These would be postulates for a great podcaster.
13. Lastly, how does it feel to be featured as a cover story personality in our magazine?
Seriously getting featured on as a cover story personality in the Enterprise Globe Magazine really means the world to me, a huge honour indeed. This has totally given me the opportunity of sharing those interesting insights of my and profession with you all through this amazing medium. For all, industry leaders who have happened to read this interview of mine and would be keen for podcast collaboration I will be more than honoured to take it forward. Apart from that I am very honored and blessed to all the guests who have actually given their good thoughts and ideas along with necessary corrections as and when needed to make it more effective making my podcast a super success. Thank you once again Mayur and Revathi for this opportunity and reaching out. Last but not the least I would like to share this with my best friend and partner at the “The Tech’o’Space Podcast” – Mr. Ajithsah Ravisah who supported me since the inception of this journey with his editing prowess and splendid poster designs for the podcast episodes. I would like to confess this, without him “The Tech’o’Space Podcast” would never become a reality!!!
