Pon Pavitra Jothi
Manager, User Education
Years with Zoho
Years with Zoho
What did you want to be while growing up?
Interior designer.
A leader that inspires you?
Sridhar Vembu. There’s so much to learn from our CEO.
Your go-to comfort food?
A heavenly duo: warm brownie with ice cream.
Describe your current role in the organization
I mentor and guide a team of experienced and new technical writers for CRM, Bigin, and Desk. I joined as a novice technical writer in 2009 and was one of the few technical writers in Zoho. It has been a great learning experience to date with every challenging activity, new resource, and learning material we created for the products.
What role does Zoho’s company culture play in your identity and the work that you do?
When you forget your titles and join as one towards a common goal, that is a win-win for everyone—that is, culture and the work environment, which is a constant source of motivation for me. It gives me the liberty to venture into unexplored territories, embrace risks, learn from setbacks, take full responsibility for my tasks, and continuously evolve. The absence of a rule book has, in fact, given me the space an individual needs to produce quality work. This is backed by Zoho’s core culture that speaks of flexibility, opportunity, and teamwork. It feels great to know that my contributions have had a positive impact.
What were the highest and lowest points of your journey with Zoho?
I started my journey as the sole technical writer for the team, with only the basic resource material available for the product. The highest point in my work journey was the day I looked back at what I had built: a great team of 10+ technical writers and an array of resources. It is an ongoing journey, and I still remember when I took a shot writing an ebook for the first time for a new feature. It turned out to be quite useful for the customers, and the appreciation I got from my seniors was rewarding.
The lowest point was the time when we had to work from home because of the pandemic. The beginning was quite challenging to keep up the team spirit and continue working at the same pace. To add to that, activities and team dynamics changed as things had to be handled remotely. Personal commitments also played a role and balancing it all was tiresome.
What are your hobbies or favorite activities outside of work?
At this point in my life, my hobbies and activities are all centered around my two sons, aged seven and two. So, when I am not working, I am busy appreciating the little moments and finding joy in the simple pleasures of life. You can find me outdoors in the park, on a walk, working on a creative DIY project, or simply sitting down with my kids to explore and play. In that way, working at Zoho has helped me achieve a good work-life balance.
Words of Wisdom
Leadership is not in the title but in one’s actions. My advice to young leaders is to live by example. Be a mentor and a friend, and not always a boss.
Every individual is unique, and it is important to understand each person, empathize with them, and become a part of the people. This will be the foundation to communicate effectively, build trust and meaningful relationships, encourage transparent feedback, and pave the way for an individual’s growth.