Vanathy Senthilathiban

Describe your current role
in the organization.

I drive product marketing for our event management software, Zoho Backstage. I generate product demand and usage through positioning, metrics, and messaging. I also take care of sales enablement and customer marketing for the product.

What role does Zoho’s company culture play in your identity and the work that you do?

Zoho has significantly shaped the person that I am today. Honestly, when I joined Zoho, I didn’t have lofty career goals because I didn’t have a strong centralized passion. My objective, at the time, was to have a job—any job. My singular ambition was to absorb knowledge, grow, and become my highest possible self, although I didn’t quite know how.

As fate would have it, Zoho unfolded a world of possibilities. The company offered me the freedom to traverse various roles, each one a distinct chapter in my professional story. I started my career as a sales agent and switched gears to become a creative writer, and then a product marketer with stints in EMCEEing and podcasting along the way.

These diverse experiences were more than mere professional detours; they unraveled my diverse interests, strengths, and areas for growth. Through each role, I learned that a job isn’t just a means to an end; it’s a canvas for the creative exploration of one’s life. Zoho showed me that a career doesn’t have to follow a straight path. For those like me, with diverse interests and driven by a strong sense of curiosity rather than a singular passion, work is an ever-evolving expression of oneself—a continuous journey of self-discovery.

What were the highest and lowest points of your journey with Zoho?

Every demanding negotiation that resulted in the successful closure of a deal is a high point. Meeting sales targets that felt almost unattainable, especially as the month draws to a close is another.

A special one is, as an early EMCEE hosting Zoho’s five-day global partnership summit, I felt an overwhelming outpouring of love and support from partners and the Zoho team. There was so much improvisation and quick thinking that I even had a small, impromptu dance number on stage (yes, for real!). Nearly eight years since, reconnecting with a partner from the summit, I was touched to learn that he fondly remembered our conversation.

Achieving successful campaign results, the launch of a video or content that fulfills its intended purpose, and presentations received well are many great moments that have turned into cherished memories.

As for the lowest points, trying out new roles and venturing into unfamiliar territories means facing uncertain outcomes. The initial days are the hardest, and are riddled with mistakes. I think the key lies in trying not to take the fall out too hard on ourselves, but that’s easier said than done!

Your most embarrassing blunder?

Ever felt chills down your spine—the kind that make the hair behind your neck stand up after confidently introducing the next speaker on stage who wasn’t really next? Or accidentally called for 30 minutes of silence instead of a quick 30 seconds? Keeping a straight face through it all is my personal achievement. And, yes, I’ve shown up at the office without my laptop. Twice…Maybe a couple more times.