Tejas Gadhia
Life at Zoho
Describe your current role in the organization.
I wear different hats at Zoho, and each day is always very different. Primarily, I head an amazing team handling the US operations for the Zoho Creator team focusing on customer and market-facing activities. I also serve as the spokesperson to press and analysts for the Zoho Developer Platform to spread awareness of our vision and showcase how customers have taken advantage of what we've built. Last, I head the US's largest spoke office in McAllen, TX, a wonderful city with even more extraordinary people.
How does the work culture impact your job and identity?
After several years, work culture and identity meld into one. When I first joined, I heard about things being done 'the Zoho way' and didn't know exactly what it meant. Yet, with time, the values, attitudes, and behaviors of colleagues and leadership became clear, influencing my own as well. One of the biggest impacts has been learning how valuable relationship-building is in work and life. Conducting business is exponentially easier when the interactions are more than just transactions. Taking the time to understand where people are coming from, their thought processes, and their backgrounds all make teamwork easier.
At Work
Is there a project or an accomplishment at Zoho you’re proud of?
I wouldn’t pinpoint a single project or accomplishment, but the overall growth of our PR and AR strategy over the years has been a very rewarding experience. Our core team of Sandy, Bharath, Tribin, and myself have transformed how the public perceives Zoho Creator and the broader developer platform. Previously, we were not even top of mind and were often excluded from various ranking systems by analyst firms, and now we’re regularly at the top. This is a testament to how many factors are required for true success, such as teamwork, building a long-term strategy, patience, perfecting our story and vision articulation, and last but not least, the engineering team’s constant innovations.
What were the highest and lowest points of your journey with Zoho?
The highest point on my journey has been seeing the Texas operations grow over 20-fold in the past 10 years. When I joined, there were less than 10 of us based out of a small shared office in Austin, and now we have over 200 people across three cities with our land and buildings in each. Seeing so many colleagues grow over the years into leadership roles is extremely satisfying.
One of the lowest points was back in 2013. Ricky Thakrar and I traveled to London for a trade show during Thanksgiving week. Upon arriving at the expo hall and getting to our booth, we found the booth empty. Given the time difference, it was difficult to get a hold of the team based in the US that planned the event. Eventually, we found that there had been some miscommunications and nothing had been shipped to the booth, no signage, no giveaways, no brochures, nothing at all. At that moment, we had to decide whether to stay at the empty booth and hurt our brand image or attempt to withdraw from the event. After some back and forth, we finally got our name pulled and were able to avoid embarrassment.
Anything else you would like to share?
I heard a saying that goes: Be a thermostat, not a thermometer. A thermometer merely reacts to the temperature around it, while a thermostat can regulate and control the temperature. Try to adopt a “thermostat” mindset, taking ownership of your surroundings and proactively working to create positive change rather than simply reacting to it. In both the personal and professional world, we are constantly faced with different situations, and how we respond is what defines us.
Getting Personal
Tell us about the people you admire outside Zoho.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India) for his leadership, determination, and ethics.
What are your hobbies or favorite activities outside of work?
Outside work, I enjoy watching documentaries of all kinds, with a guilty pleasure for ones based on conspiracy theories. One of my favorites is the topic of the pyramids and the debate around their origins and engineering.
I spend most of my weekends watching my favorite sports teams (Dallas Cowboys, Boston Celtics, and Texas Longhorns) or playing golf with friends.
Thankfully, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to dozens of countries around the world and enjoy experiencing local history, culture, and food.
What are some books and podcasts that you recommend?
Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke. The book suggests that uncertainty is inherent in decision making and should be embraced. Thinking in probabilities leads to more informed decisions and is important to identify biases and seek feedback from multiple perspectives.
Lex Fridman Podcast. Beyond just being a great source of information and insight from a diverse field of guests, his approach to interviewing is underappreciated. His focus on empathy, curiosity, and intellectual honesty when talking to people is what makes the conversations so valuable; it's how we should try to talk to everyone.
Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson. The book identifies different personality types of people and how understanding these differences is crucial for effective communication. Conflict often arises from miscommunication and by understanding different communication styles, you can avoid misunderstandings and build stronger relationships.
Words of Wisdom
Be resilient: Things won’t always go your way, but it’s important to bounce back and keep pushing forward.
Communicate effectively: Good communication is key to building relationships, both personally and professionally.
Take calculated risks: Don’t be afraid to take risks, but ensure you’ve weighed the pros and cons and are prepared for the possible outcomes.
Keep learning: Never stop seeking opportunities to learn and grow, whether through formal education or informal experiences.
Build a strong support network: Surround yourself with people who support and encourage you personally and professionally.
Be adaptable: The world and workplace are not black and white, and adapting to new situations and environments is important.
Set goals: Identity what you want to achieve and set specific, measurable goals to help you get there. Stay focused and determined, and don’t give up until you’ve reached your goals.
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