Chandrashekar LSP
Life at Zoho
Describe your current role in the organization.
I was with Zoho for five years (2001-2006), then quit to be an independent Zoho Consultant/SME (2006-2017) before I came back to Zoho in 2017. Currently, my core focus is on Operations and Market Development in Canada. I also work very closely with the Zoho Business Intelligence suite as their chief evangelist.
What does your work space currently look like?
What role does Zoho’s company culture play in your identity and the work that you do?
Zoho defines my work-life persona. The culture instills an entrepreneurial spirit, best evidenced by the breadth of offerings across Zoho and ManageEngine. The culture is fluid and never opposed to change; in fact, it is a culture that embraces change and challenges the status quo.
Declining funding, staving off acquisition interest, or staying private—all these were never fashionable for a tech company. We always swam against the tide and here we are, 26 years later. Chaos is a given in Zoho, but chaos is merely an opportunity for order and new leaders to emerge.
At Work
Your most embarrassing blunder?
Severely sleep-deprived, I was on a call with a partner when I fell asleep and snored!
Is there a project or an accomplishment at Zoho you’re proud of?
To this day, one that gives me a lot of satisfaction is being granted a joint patent for the Generic Multilayer Provisioning system. A crucial part of the system was doing path computation without a physical network and provisioning Metro Ethernet services. The generated code could allow network planners to plan network service provisioning and rollout services with the patented methodology. While this was not done in Zoho, this could not have been done without Zoho’s WebNMS (Zoho IoT now) which is where my primary contribution to the patent is.
Tell us about a time you overcame a challenge you didn’t think was possible.
Ah! Glory days—they pass you by. I cut my teeth in presales and consulting. There was never a dull moment, and finding solutions to challenging problems was the name of the game.
Getting Personal
Any memorable moments of your journey captured?
Being selected by Zoho in 2001 after three rounds of interviews by the most brilliant people I know in the industry is something I cherish to this very day.
What are some of your favorite activities outside work?
Outside work, I love traveling, adventure sports, and reading. I am full of wanderlust, and I don't seek spots that attract tourists. I used to be big on photography, but grew out of it. It dawned on me that pictures can never capture the magic of the moment, so I decided to take it all in and ditch taking pictures. That said I’ve a trove of pictures that I have no recollection of where they are.
What are the top three books/podcasts that you recommend?
Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras: This is a fascinating book for anyone who wants to understand the ethos and foundation of building something lasting. This book helped me shape my thoughts and hold fast to my convictions. Reading this almost a decade after I started my work life allowed me to connect with various companies and leadership styles.
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran: I marvel at Gibran's eloquence and articulation. The depth and the topics he explores in The Prophet makes me reach out to this one at least once a year. Thankfully, the audio version is always on my phone.
From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas L. Friedman: I have a fascination for history, and I find the Middle East magical. Having had the opportunity to explore those places and go to unchartered territories in my travels, Thomas L. Friedman does full justice in capturing the aura of Beirut and Jerusalem. I walked to those places and saw those faces again when I read this book.
Marketing School: Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips. I like the format of this podcast. Eric and Neil make it interesting and easy to consume.
HBR IdeaCast is another one. I like the breadth of topics and depth. Sometimes pedantic, but always something to take away.
Words of Wisdom
Always be up to get your hands dirty and show your team that if push comes to shove, you can double up and contribute.
Have empathy and aspire to be a mentor, you will command respect from your peers and team.
Bear in mind that generic advice can only go so far. Advice, like medicine, has to be prescriptive for a situation and the individuals involved.
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