Karthikeyan Selvaraj
Director, Event Management
Years with Zoho
Years with Zoho
What did you want to be while growing up?
A cricketer.
A leader that inspires you?
MS Dhoni and Abdul Kalam.
Your go-to comfort food?
Sambar rice (a south Indian dish with lentils and spices) with potato fries.
Describe your current role
in the organization.
I currently oversee the presales activities for Zoho Backstage, collaborating closely with sales and other product teams to generate high-quality leads. Here’s a breakdown of my responsibilities: account management (prospecting, contacting, and qualifying leads), project planning, understanding customer requirements, determining the best solutions, and effectively communicating the value to customers. Additionally, I handle delivering customized product demos, drafting POCs (proof of concept), and training implementation teams.
What role does Zoho’s company culture play in your identity and the work that you do?
Let the numbers tell the story of my evolution and progress at Zoho:
Over 3,000 ITSM product demonstrations, more than 200 ITSM product implementations, journeys spanning across 12 countries, and mentoring over 10 presales engineers; It’s been an incredible growth journey.
I started at Zoho as a young professional with no IT background. Today, I stand in front of a room full of business leaders, capturing their attention as I explain how our software effectively addresses their business challenges. This is the identity that Zoho has helped me shape over the years. Above all, Zoho has shown me how to conduct business with integrity, transparency, strong work ethics, and empathy—these values define my core.
People often ask me why I’ve stayed with the same company for more than a decade. I believe in investing in a workplace that allows growth in various directions and provides ample space for creative freedom. There was no need for me to seek opportunities elsewhere when I could find them within.
What were the highest and lowest points of your journey with Zoho?
Life would be boring without ups and downs. While the great days have allowed me to appreciate my work life, challenges have helped me become better and stronger. I choose to embrace each moment and move forward. So far, Zoho has treated me well, and I haven’t encountered any low points.
Your most embarrassing blunder?
At the moment, nothing particular comes to mind. However, in the past, the mistakes I made seemed significant. Now, they’ve become anecdotes that I can look back on, share with friends and colleagues, and laugh about. Interestingly, these mistakes have played a pivotal role in my learning and growth journey.
What are your hobbies or favorite activities outside of work?
I enjoy playing cricket and badminton, weekly, as a refreshing way to unwind after a busy week. Being a fitness aficionado, hitting the gym in the mornings is part of my daily routine. At home, I relish the company of my three dogs and three cats.
Words of Wisdom
Great leaders understand what motivates their employees. From my experience, offering a bias-free workplace and timely employee recognition strongly impacts work dynamics. These practices maintain employee motivation, enhance engagement, and improve retention. When individuals master their work, they often lose interest—a definite red flag. As a leader, it’s crucial to keep them engaged with new challenges and opportunities.