The Big Bash! Rendezvous with Rajesh Kurup Multi-Talented Cybagians Adventure Unlimited My Family the Desk

News Magazine of Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd.

CYBAGETIMESJanuary 2011

Chase the sun – Paul Conover The Big Bash! Rendezvous with Rajesh Kurup Multi-talented Cybagians Adventure Unlimited My Family The Desk

Interviews Editors’ 6 Rendezvous with Rajesh Kurup note 9 Me & Harley 11 Paul Conover on’t bury your talent 30 My Family Din the ground; in fact, nurture and develop it. This Talent & will only help you both Creativity professionally and personally. In this age, monotony sets 10 Multi-talented in and becomes very much a Cybagians part of day-to-day living. Don’t 16 My work of Art let it control you. Energize yourself by indulging in various activities – extra- Events & circular activities – or for Tech Talk Activities that matter, even a simple Cloud routine at the gym would 12 The Big Bash! 22 Computing work wonders. These perfect 18 Happenings 24X7 stress busters come as rescue 27 Tech Quiz CybageAsha in your regimental lives. 21 Here’s another stress buster 28 Adventure Unlimited – CybageTimes – dressed in a differentavatar each time. We Comments & Contents try to compile an interesting Opinion collection of articles featuring 3 Readers’ Feedback your colleagues and share My Cybage with you inspirational insights 14 on the families of Cybagians. 25 Just Chill! In every issue, we try and 31 Success & You incorporate your suggestions to make the magazine more 4 Executive Speak interesting. So, help us help News you and let your creative 8 thoughts flow. 20 Leadership summit 2010 -The CybageTimes Editorial team 24 Gizmos 26 Resolutions

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 2 CybageTimes CybageTimes rocks! Executive speak connect Opinion Not just me, even my Every CybageTimes issue CybageTimes wife Vaishakhi, an ex- carries a poignant message acquaints me Cybagian, looks forward from Arun. to each upcoming issue of with various facets of the In the last edition, he talked CybageTimes. In my opinion, organization, be it Cybage about Cybage as a brand. Readers’ CybageTimes has a felt clientele, multi-talented Fifteen years of hard work presence in the organization; Cybagians, or the year-round and persistence that it took it effectively portrays Cybage’s feedback events and activities. to make what Cybage is culture and its people. Indeed, For a newcomer like me, today shines through in CybageTimes rocks... CybageTimes provides an Arun’s message. insight into the value system I suggest that we also dedicate and leadership that has J. Ramkrishna Murty | a section in CybageTimes to nurtured Cybage, especially Sr. Project Manager people who complete five Arun’s ‘Executive Speak’ proves years in Cybage. to be an instant connect. Bhavik Panchmatia | Kannan Vanni | Delivery Manager Process Head

Please send your feedback to: [email protected]

Creativity, Impression of Include sports fever, Feature family inspirational stories, CybageTimes cultural curry interview

achievements I was fascinated reading I appreciate the efforts put in The July 2010 issue of Splendid presentation, ‘Journey of Cybage’, which by the CybageTimes team for CybageTimes was quite marvelous creativity, beautifully depicted the featuring the organizational attractive. It was also an inspirational stories, and journey of our company. initiatives and activities opportunity for me, as a new presented in an engaging joinee, to know more about achievements aptly describe ‘Executive Speak’, where our prose and appealing design. my fellow Cybagians and the the issue of CybageTimes. CEO spoke about the initial happenings from yesteryear. The issue finely brought out years at Cybage and the You can also include a It would be nice if we include the remarkable journey of warm spirit of Cybagians, was sports and a cultural section. a section where along with Cybage that made me feel truly inspiring. I also enjoyed The sections should list our CEO, COO, CTO, and proud to be a Cybagian. It the amazing photography in the name of winners (with VPs, their families are also is also interesting to know ‘My Work of Art’. photographs) in various interviewed. about the happenings across events at Cybage. Mayuri Karanjkar | Cybage. Prathyusha Karnati | Sr. Technical Writer Ajay Dewani | QA Engineer Isha Joshi | QA Engineer QA Analyst

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 3 Executive Speak

Healthy body. Healthy mind!

Arun Nathani | CEO & MD

eing health conscious has an success that is not accompanied by a Boptional flavor in our country. healthy mind and body? In western countries, staying healthy I decided to hit the gym again with is an integral part of daily living. a high degree of cardio workout My first stint in becoming health including treadmill and squash conscious started during my MS days coupled with a stringent diet. Within in USA. Motivation? Everyone around months, I had shed those extra me looked fit, so I decided to get pounds, but I had also lost a lot of in shape, look and feel good about muscle weight in the process. So, I myself, and merge with the crowd. started a weight-training regime and But I let go of the regime when I took high-protein diet to build back settled down with a job. Years later, the lost muscles. Now, exercising and a balanced diet have become an What good is any form integral part of my lifestyle—just like of success that is not brushing teeth and bathing. I work out before my breakfast and follow it accompanied by a religiously irrespective of the time I healthy mind and body? go to bed.

They say “happy” chemicals released I again became health conscious during exercise are known to when I got engaged. This time, the have strong effects on a person’s driving force was the urge to look good for my fiancée. Then temperament, such as reducing anxiety and depression. once I got married and relocated to India, I let it go again! Experts also concur that exercise disciplines the mind and the Soon the sedentary life style kicked in, and before I realized, body and helps let go of the casual “chalta hai” attitude in life I had put on 20 pounds! A few years back, I fell very ill and in when you are up against tough situations. I agree. I know I am the tests that followed, I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. never going to let go of this third spell. Reason? This time I did That was a wake-up call for me! What good is any form of it for myself and not for others!

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 4 Deepak Nathani | COO

have been a sports enthusiast since cardio on alternate days. Saturdays Ichildhood and love playing almost are usually reserved for my new found every game. Sports kept me in good passion—golf at the Poona Club or shape until my college days. When I the Oxford Golf Course. On Sundays, I try to catch a game of badminton or For overall fitness, it is squash with my wife or son. This is followed by a relaxing massage! also important to lead a For overall fitness, it is also important stress-free life. to lead a stress-free life. I don’t take work home or home to office because I believe in not mixing work with got married and moved to the US in personal life. This helps me to remain the late 80s, I put on over 40 pounds relaxed and enjoy with my family. I even before I had realized. This was love watching sports on TV or catching essentially because of me being a a comedy serial or a movie on the major foodie with a taste for global weekends. Occasionally, I also take a cuisine. Since then, my struggle to shed ride on my bicycle. This helps me to those extra pounds started. I exercise de-stress. regularly and try to follow a diet plan (in vain).  Well, this year, I hope to lose at least 10 kg.  I plan to achieve this by My weekday begins with a one-hour watching my diet more carefully, gym session under a personal trainer’s specially my dinners. guidance, doing heavy weights and

Jagat Pal Singh | CTO

osing weight demands preparation, chocolates, pastry, or junk food. But Leffort, and commitment. I am yet the weekdays pull me back into order. to lose some more weight. I once It’s important to feel full, otherwise weighed 96 kg; now I am at 75 kg you are not taking the right steps. and had gone down to 69 kg during the weight loss regime. Only with diet control, I lost up to 10 kg in 5 months I am a foodie to the and then I started working out and core, but eating right is lost the remaining weight. most important. I follow three days of cardio and three days of weight training in a week. I am regular at gym except on What many people don’t understand days when I am travelling or I am too is that they are constantly either busy, which is about a period of 8–9 gaining, or losing fat. There is no weeks in a year. in-between. The key to losing weight long term is to make gradual lifestyle I am a foodie to the core, but eating changes you can stick to forever. right is most important. On weekdays, I eat light and have an early carb-free You have to work at being fit and dinner. be prepared for those times when you slip, so you can pick yourself up, When on vacation, travelling, or on dust yourself off, and move on. weekends, I don’t exercise control over the choice of food, be it sweets,

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 5 Reflections

Rendezvous In an interview with CybageTimes, Rajesh Kurup, Sr. Vice President – Media & Entertainment Practice, shares his reflections on his personal with Rajesh life and professional career. In so doing, he reveals how success is achieved and how it is passed on to others.

L-R: Marissa, Rajesh, Sanaaya and their pet dog, Shades

s a youngster, Rajesh Kurup had a burning desire to How did he manage the huge accomplishments that followed? Arepresent India in sports. However, life had different plans Rajesh says, “I swear by a combination of smart and hard work. for him. After graduation, on his father’s advice, he joined NIIT. Brilliance is inborn. You either have it or you don’t. But, the He did exceedingly well and was offered a job at NIIT. “I had to effort and the focus on your part can definitely be intensified.” justify the obscene amount of money that my father spent for the course,” quips Rajesh. “Success is not always goal-driven.” When asked about his future plans, he For Rajesh, it is discovery-driven. replies, “I will retire from Cybage...” Soon, overseas came calling and he was working for Ministry of Defense, UAE. He would be there for six years maneuvering the project from the base up. But, challenges eluded him in How did Cybage happen? In 2000, Rajesh came back from the Middle East. US posed that challenge and Rajesh went the US. He bought an apartment in Kalyani Nagar. He was for it. He says, “In the US, you are trying to convince a client busy setting up his home and running errands to have the who is probably as knowledgeable as you are. Meeting such interiors done. One day, he got into his apartment elevator clients was scary. As a consultant, you have to justify your and pressed the second floor button but in vain. That’s when recommendations to, sometimes, a 10-member panel of the US-returned Rajesh was offered a desi-advice by a cheerful stakeholders. There lies the real challenge.” voice: “It doesn’t work this way. Press ‘4’. And from the fourth floor, it readily takes you to the second.” En route 0-4-2, the

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 6 gentlemen got introduced to each other. The other gentleman is an avid badminton player, was hospitalized for a coronary was Deepak Nathani. Rajesh affirms, “Deepak got off on the condition. Rajesh reminiscences, “I went through a period of right foot with me as with everyone he interacts.” Eventually, denial. Not even ECG reports could convince me that I was Rajesh visited the two-bungalow Cybage and was wholly taken overtaken by a debilitating illness. It took four months to up by the environment. “My instincts told reconcile myself to the reality. The inner me that this is the place where I would be “Success is not always goal- strength that was needed was huge.” working,” says Rajesh. This was also when Rajesh realized how driven.” For Rajesh, it is consoling it is to have your family around. Although a man of few words, Rajesh is an discovery-driven. His wife, Marissa, has been his pillar of unfailing support for his team members. strength. “No matter how affluent a family His mantra for success: Focus on the goal, you come from, when it comes to nourishing a vision for life, it secure the means to achieve it, and go after it with everything is up to the individual. In my case, my wife endowed me with you have. He chalks out a very practical strategy for growth. one,” opines Rajesh. Marissa and Rajesh, and their 14-year old He explains, “It’s pointless to aim for the impractical. One has daughter, Sanaaya, make one happy family. There is also a pet to set measured goals for oneself, find ways to get there, and dog, Shades, who happily slouches in a warm corner when bring things into play that others have not thought of. Once the Rajesh leaves home to face the day ahead. Rajesh envies him goal is achieved, you move forward to the next goal.” a lot. His approach in life is backed by a strong set of values which Rajesh’s association with Cybage has been most fulfilling. “The he inherited from his parents. Rajesh believes in the basic environment here is most conducive for work. People easily goodness of people. He says, “Nobody is bad by choice. And, fall in line with the Cybage work ethos. I enjoy being here and if someone makes a mistake, criticize the action but respect expect more responsibilities to come my way,” remarks Rajesh. the person. That’s the only way to conduct in life – personal or professional.” When asked about his future plans, he replies, “I will retire from Cybage...” Life was not without its trials for this young achiever. Rajesh, who represented Cybage in various cricket tournaments and

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 7 News

Corporate While most sections of CybageTimes reflect news & events that are internal to the organization, the ‘News’ section is about key corporate waves achievements in newsprint

Global HR Excellence award

run Nathani, CEO & MD Cybage, won Athe Global HR Excellence Award at the 2010 Times of India Ascent Asia Pacific HRM Congress held in Bangalore recently. The award was presented in the category of “CEO’s with HR orientation”. The award acknowledges individuals or organizations that are outstanding HR practitioners and are judged on parameters such as strategic perspective, business goal management, risk management, team orientation and people management, networking, change agent, customer focus, business acumen, performance management, and achieving excellence.

Best Industrialist 2010

Arun Nathani is the recipient of the “DCCIA Pune Award for Excellence” in the “Best Industrialist” category. The award for excellence was presented by the Deccan Chamber of Commerce Industries & Agriculture (DCCIA), Pune, at its recently held annual awards ceremony. The purpose of the DCCIA Pune Awards for Excellence is to recognize and appreciate eminent individuals for their business excellence and present them as role models to the society.

Ranked amongst top 10 in the Maturity, Global Delivery Maturity and Cybage Expands Media and Entertainment space breadth of Services Portfolio. Footprints in UK by IAOP Featured among Top Specialty & Europe Cybage has been ranked as one of the 10 Best Product Engineering Vendors Expanding its global Leaders in the Media and Entertainment Industry Cybage has been featured in the Top footprints, Cybage has by IAOP in the global outsourcing 100 list. Specialty Product Engineering Vendor recently set up an office Another feather in the cap for Cybage has been category list in the Global Services 100 in the UK. This will the ranking in the 20 Best Leaders by Industry (GS100) study in addition to being featured help Cybage undertake Specific Services Provided. in the 2010 Global Services 100 list. effective near-shore relationship management Featured in 2010 Global Services Microsoft Certified Gold Partner with existing clients 100 List In addition to being MSVP Preferred Vendor, and further explore the Preferred Vendor for Digital Marketing markets in the UK Cybage has been featured as a 2010 Global Platform Service, and Preferred Vendor for BI and Europe. Services 100 provider for the second consecutive and Data Analytic, Cybage is also a Microsoft year. The GS 100 model is based on four primary Certified Gold Partner. pillars: Management Excellence, Customer

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 8 Devdatta Rege | News (Vice President - Large Enterprises) Devdatta, in his role as Vice President - Large Enterprises, holds a strategic position at managing client relations and controlling the overall delivery of strategic large accounts We welcome at Cybage. Devdatta holds B.Tech and M.Tech degrees in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay and a you on board Graduate Certification in Business Management from Harvard University, USA.

SG Murthi | Nandan A Dasannacharya | (Vice President - Health IT & Life Head_Business Development, Europe Sciences) Nandan, a seasoned business development SG Murthi, in his role as Vice President professional with over 15 years of in-depth – Healthcare & Life Sciences (HC & LS) experience, focuses on two key areas at spearheads Cybage’s dedicated service Cybage—growing our footprint through offerings in the HC & LS space. SG holds a Bachelor’s acquisition of new clients and building on existing relationships degree in Electronics and Telecommunication from Madurai with our strategic accounts across Europe. Nandan holds a Kamaraj University and an MS degree with specialization in B.E. in Electrical Engineering from VJTI, Bombay and a Software Systems from BITS. Masters in Marketing.

A few months ago, a neatly sculpted, appealing monster stood imposingly in the Cybage premises. Day after day the bike would announce its arrival with its signature vroom. After much flurry that it generated among Cybagians, Vroom... there were enquiries about the owner of this Harley—one of the first in Pune. And... here we have the proud owner relate his Harley experience to you.

Harley is an iconic brand with It was like taming an unruly a celebrity and it is certainly Me & a cult-like following in the US. spirit. worth every penny. I would love It has been associated with raw to join a bikers’ club and go on As a prestigious owner of freedom and empowerment, long drives to Lonavala, Lavasa, Harley, what do you look Harley feelings akin to all riders of Mahabaleshwar, and many more forward to? Harley. Little wonder then that, places. Some folks have even Every time I take a ride on my Since when have you been into my dream of owning it someday suggested getting a cool tattoo Harley on Pune roads, I feel like bikes? started when I was in the US. to complete the picture. 

Believe it or not, Harley is How was your first Harley the first bike that I own. My experience? closest experience with a two- In the month of May last wheeler prior to Harley was a year, Harley dealership was Bajaj Chetak that I rode before established in Mumbai, and a moving to the US way back in test ride was arranged in the mid 80s. A couple of years ago, Fountain area. The first sight of for the fun of it, I grabbed my Harley was quite intimidating, son’s friend’s bike and took it and the elegant sprawl of for a spin. And boy! chrome dazzled my eyes. For It did make me feel 20 years the first time, I rode pillion. The younger. I then decided to rider pressed the shifter down buy one. to the first gear, released the clutch, and raced the monster Why Harley? slightly... I almost got offloaded Just when I decided to buy a because of the G-force. But, Deepak Nathani on his Harley-Davidson’s Dyna Super Glide® Custom bike, there was news of Harley when I rode it myself, the fear (This 1600 cc model has a six-speed cruise drive gearbox and a torque of hitting the Indian shores. gave way to a sense of control. 123 Nm @3125 rpm and weighs around 300 kg.)

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 9 Passion We have a mixed bag of Cybagians who have flair for arts, Multi- agility required of sportspersons, and sensitivity towards social issues. At Cybage, they get a wide playing field to express themselves talented and fuel their interests further. Here are three exemplary Cybagians Cybagians who have made us proud by their contributions and achievements.

ocus on the journey, not on the ‘Fdestination. Joy is not found in finishing things, but in doing them. This has guided Ruchi in her life and affected others who came in touch with her. She is fond of cultural events and their promotion, which is evident from the fact that she was a member of the Annual Bash ’09 and ‘10 steering committees and, a member of the Bhangra group during the Annual Bash ’08. She won the ‘best dressed employee’ award on Atul Srivastava | Independence Day ’09 and ’10. Her Shridhar Kawley | System Analyst passion for dance is insatiable. She is Sr. QA Analyst tul possesses talent as well an active participant in the ballroom lend a software professional with a Aas drive. He is part of the sessions. A lover of adventure, she Bsportsman and an artist, and you get Cybage Cultural committee and the was one of the most active members Shridhar. A Cybagian for more than five CybageAsha committee and is an of Trek Unlimited. Ruchi has already years now, being a senior analyst, he is a active participant in various events led various trekking events. This, source of motivation to his co-workers. at Cybage, such as sports week, coupled with her writing abilities, Having won the singles title once, traditional day, and, of course, the got her the Best Travelogue award standing runner-up twice, and winning Cybage Bash. He has also organized from Trek Unlimited. She is attentive twice in the doubles and mixed doubles various fund-collecting activities for to social issues and does her bit for category of the annual Badminton CybageAsha. Atul is a reservoir of the needy through CybageAsha. Her tournaments at Cybage, he justifies the energy and ideas. Be it organizing varied interests include playing guitar, title of ‘Ace Shuttler’ bestowed upon him. potluck or initiating activities such reading, and photography. Multi- His achievements are not limited to only as cubicle decoration, puppet- talented indeed! Cybage. He has won Inter-Corporate making, celebrating occasions such Badminton tournament twice. He is as Mother’s day, or conducting brilliant in TT as well and reached the one-minute games, Atul knows how Cybage TT quarter-finals in 2007. He to delight his colleagues. He is as excels not only in sports, but also at much at home writing skits as he managing sports events. He’s been a part is when walking the ramp. Atul’s of the Sports Committee since 2006 and hobbies include driving, music, horse was involved in organizing various sports riding, shooting, swimming, and tournaments. Besides sports, he is active photography. He is truly versatile! on other fronts too. He loves to dance. In Dandiya nights held each year in Cybage, he is a participant who stands out in the crowd for his enthusiasm. You can see him doing musical skits and Ruchi Shukla | dance shows during the VP Bash. Bravo, Software Engineer you made us proud!

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 10 Partnership

“Cybage is considered part of our team. We cannot succeed Chase the without you,” sun Paul Conover - Dir, SQA Engineer | Enterprise Management Group, Symantec Corporation – Lindon

and competitive market, the extra mile is the expected contribution. The challenge we face is to innovate so that we can maintain a balance.

An everlasting memory at Cybage

• Driving with Raju (office driver). He would be wealthy driving in the US NASCAR circuit

• I was part of some fantastic team and cultural activities.

Your passion My family is my greatest passion. This drives every other passion I have in life. Work, technology, outdoors... it all comes back to supporting my family and enriching life at home.

Social cause I’ve served in Boy Scouts of America for 15 years and have given service to R-L: Paul Conover with Delivery Head, Rajnikant Tripathi youth organizations because I believe our future rests with today’s youth. This Partnership with Cybage pull together, support each other, and belief is founded from my own personal Cybage has a great team of leaders and achieve success enriches our work religious beliefs and the value of an individuals. Our partnership not only experience. We should celebrate and individual. allows us to “chase the sun”, but also enjoy our accomplishments as a team. At helps our team be greater than it would the same time, we should also recognize otherwise be. Cybage brings years of our challenges and tackle them together. One liner that best describes India experience to our partnership and with Unmatched culture and population. it, long standing relationships. Cybage is My family is my greatest considered part of our team. We cannot I believe... succeed without you. passion. This drives every I need each person to understand how what they do impacts our customers. other passion I have in life. Your views on... I want us to succeed together. I strongly believe we are one team. We have a great • Work-life balance • Leadership and much needed product in the market. We work to live and not the other way Natural leaders are hard to find. They As we strive to satisfy these customers around. We should always strive to keep should be held on to, and modeled. with improved quality, we’ll continue to a healthy life balance in all that we do. see just how needed our products are in • Team spirit • Going the extra mile today’s economy. Being able to work as a team is critical Going the extra mile is not extra to achieve synergies. Being able to anymore. In today’s tough economy

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 11 The Big Bash!

Pune Dabang

Congrats on 10 years

Jagat Pal Singh

Amit Gajwani

Rajesh Kurup

Jaikrishnan

Amit Mulay A splendid performance! Raghava Reddy

Sai Balaji midst lot of jubilation and excitement, evolve as a global IT leader; he also touched Chirag Bindal ACybage celebrated its 16th Annual upon the contribution of IT professionals Bash with zing. It was a spectacular event in making our country scale new heights. Sunita Pawar with Arun Nathani (CEO & MD, Cybage) What came next was felicitating 20 bright Meera Menon and Deepak Nathani (COO, Cybage) along Cybagians who completed their successful Rajnikant Tripathi with their wives, Ritu and Sheena Nathani, journey of 10 years at Cybage. A special respectively, playing the perfect host to event that completely stole the show was the Sanju Desai over 3000 Cybagians and their families. “Cybage Management Dance”. With colorful Shamshu Hirani The celebration began with an outstanding attires and synchronized steps on tracks from Shreerang Mahajan performance by Santosh Shetty’s troupe the movies Tees Maar Khan and Dabang, the who danced to the enthralling tune of Vande management truly became the star of the Vinay Joshi Mataram. The musical mood continued with night. The performance was so engaging that Ketan Parekh famed singer Mohit Chauhan taking the it left the crowd with a unanimous cheer for Yogesh Kshatriya crowd through a spellbound journey of his “Once More”. To mark a perfect ending to this melodious numbers from Bollywood. joyous mood, Cybagians showcased some of Abhijit Kulkarni their fine steps while dancing on the foot- This was followed by the speech from the Bhupendra Tope tapping music by the DJ. CEO, Arun Nathani, where he spoke about Anshuman Deshmukh achievements of Cybage as it continues to

Flavors of the evening Mohit Chauhan enthralling Cybagians

Sai Balaji takes center stage

GNR team rocks!

Strike a pose Gandhinagar Tadka

Hyderabad Dum The much-awaited Cybage his thoughts on the big bash, Gandhinagar Annual Bash was and Ritu walked down the The Cybage Hyderabad Annual Bash was celebrated celebrated with much zeal and lane of reminiscences of her at The Westin. The event was graced by our CEO, fervor at The Grand Bhagwati youthful days in Gujarat. Arun Nathani and his wife Ritu. The Management Hotel. The graceful presence and Senior Managers took the center stage on The foot-tapping songs from of Arun and Ritu Nathani along the title track from Dabang, leaving the crowd Bollywood, performed by with Devdatta Rege (Vice mesmerized by their performance. Two of our Rajesh Awasthi, rocked the President - Large Enterprises) clients, Naveen Arcot from Purusharta and Radhika crowd. The special performance made the event memorable. An from SendWordNow, also honored us with their by our DMs and Managers on inspirational speech from our presence. Other events included a musical band the title track of the movie CEO, Arun Nathani, gripped the performance by Guru Enterprises and a trendy ramp Dabang left hands applauding audience. Devdatta appended walk and dance by Cybagians. and echoing ‘Once More’!

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 13 Workplace Our workplace is not just the infrastructure that surrounds us. It is more about people and our interactions with them. When we My look closely, we realize that there are many people and incidents that help, teach, inspire, support, and motivate us to aim high and achieve Cybage success. Here’s a glimpse into our workplace as some of us see it... Let’s find out what makes it tick!

Learning all the way Growing and Glowing t Cybage, I took up the &G is the most creative and Amanager’s role as a beginner, Gwonderful training program and I can boast of being the first I have ever attended. It is very documentation manager hired well researched and logically by Cybage directly at that level. organized. The sessions are aimed On my journey, I discovered new at sharpening your leadership avenues where I could have more skills and improving your self- meaningful exchanges with people around. From being an esteem. The program is based on have-fun-while-you-learn event manager to a soft skills trainer, I did everything to theme. Besides, it helps us realize the importance of which I could bring my skills and understanding. I learnt work-life balance. the art of multi-tasking. New challenges kept coming and I G&G gave me an opportunity to introspect and foresee my found myself growing with each passing day. It’s here that career path. The program proved to be a turning point in I got opportunities to work with some excellent leaders my life. Participating in G&G and being honored as the best and I was exposed to new perspectives on leadership and participant was my rare fortune. management. It makes me feel good that my organization is doing its bit for the society through CybageAsha. Hats off to the G&G training team! Thanks a ton to Cybage for all the good things. M. Qais Mujeeb | Sr. Manager – Documentation Ashish Mahale | Associate PM

Cybage - the place Growth is the biggest for me reward

he culture in Cybage and have completed close Tthe kind support I received Ito five years in Cybage. from every individual and In retrospect, I feel that department made me find my my journey at Cybage has zeal for work. What impresses been extremely fruitful and me is the interest that the enriching. Opportunities in management shows in the personal growth of the the form of challenges and responsibilities came my employees and building their career path. way from time to time. Opportunities led to growth and career advancement. If you put in your best, have job satisfaction, and align yourself to the organization’s expectations, you are What more can I ask for? I have no second thoughts assured of an overwhelming success ahead. I witnessed about referring my friends to Cybage. this in Cybage. K Vidya Sagar Reddy | Sr. System Analyst Nitin Pangrekar | CSM, Manager – Process

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 14 Life- changing moment

e set for Wourselves goals that drive us. But somewhere down the road, My team, my family! we experience an t is hard to single out a memorable moment as event that changes Ieach day at Cybage is memorable to me. Here the course of our I met people who worship their work. I hear my lives. Prashant seniors saying, “Approach work with passion; Tripathi, Sr. Tech Support Executive, money has to follow.” Their example is very describes how a CHANCE meeting turned motivating. The team, of which I am a part, is out to be a ‘Life-Changing Moment’. more like a family. I have friendly and caring team Howard Zinn, a well-known author and mates. My team empathizes with the problems of historian once said, “Small acts, when its team members and stands united. This is what I cherish the most about multiplied by millions of people, can my team at Cybage. transform the world.” The saying came true Ameya Marathe | Sr. Executive – Business Development in my case. I graduated from the elite National Defence The humane side Academy in 2002. An injury that persisted ybageAsha invited Nivant, an organization that since my training period was a big blow to Cworks for the visually challenged, to organize my career. Because I had always aspired to an exhibition-cum-sale in the Cybage premises. wear the olive green uniform, the dilemma Seeing the kids from Nivant sell chocolates and that haunted me after leaving the force handmade roses and draw smiley, I experienced was: what will I do next? mixed feelings of joy and despair. I can never One of my acquaintances from Pune forget the sight of those kids selling merchandise suggested that I visit Fergusson College to the Cybage employees. Their spirit was amazing. to seek admission, which would save Their attitude towards life was awe-inspiring and has altered the way I look two crucial years of my academic at things. career. I followed his advice. I met Prof. Sana Asaria | Sr. HR Executive Chakranarayan, the vice principal of the institute at that time. It was my good Milestone of my career fortune that I met him. Not only did he counsel me properly, but also gave me veryone has a burning desire to excel and admission at a time when the academic Elooks for an ideal place to manifest his or her year was concluding. He was my savior potential. Thus, everyone wants to rise in life. I am at that time. no exception. It was on May 13, 2010 that I got a call from Cybage. Thanks to a very good friend The chance encounter with him boosted Arpita Mehta, who referred me for the position my morale that had taken a hit. It also of SQA. It was a milestone of my career. I’m re-affirmed my belief that life has its own extremely proud to be a member of the ‘Process plan. I managed to sail through the exams Team’. The profile offers interesting prospects and an opportunity to fulfill pretty easily thereafter. I also met friends my dreams that I dreamt since my college days. who are still with me. Above all, I met a beautiful girl who became my life partner. “It is not what you have, but how you make the best use of what you have, that makes the difference in your life.”

Anurag Singh | SQA Process

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 15 Photography

My work An ensemble of fine photography contributed by our talented of art Cybagians

Roopali Katta | UI Designer

Satvashil Jagtap | Design Analyst Prachi Bhrugwar | UI HOD

Hrushikesh Rao | Sr. UI Designer

Awesh Shrivastava | UI Manager Activities

Happenings 24X7

Dandiya night

Musical night at Cybage

Cloud Computing team’s boating adventure

Drums workshop

Process team outing to Girivan

Traditional day

Winners of pool tournament Christmas celebrations at St. Wahlberg’s Old Age Home

CybageTimes | DecJan 20112010 || 1812 UI Flash Flex team outing to Bhandardara

Cybage Hyderabad 4 year’s celebrations

Cybage 15-years celebrations

Cybage INC Diwali celebrations

Pune International Marathon

Winners of badminton and TT tournaments 17

Puppet making competition Strike a pose - Marketing team

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 19 Summit

Leadership Summit & Managers’ Meet 2010 Taj Exotica, Goa Two events, two exotic venues, and one central theme “Growth Through Transformation.” The Cybage Leadership Summit and the Managers’ Meet 2010 were truly eventful. From charismatic speeches and presentations to games and attractive prizes, the events left Cybagians with the zeal to achieve more.

ith grace and style, Cybage hosted Wthe Leadership Summit at The Taj Exotica, Goa and the Managers’ Meet 2010 at Hotel Westin, Pune.

Amidst rapturous applause, the curtain raiser was a welcome speech by Deepak Nathani, COO Cybage, which set the tone for the event. Amit Gajwani, Sr. Vice President – Business Development, and Jagat Pal Singh, Chief Technology Officer, took center-stage sharing the Mr Raghunath Medge (fourth from the right) with the Cybage Senior Management team company’s projections and technology recognized and acknowledged by top his thoughts on his ambitious growth updates, respectively, for the coming management institutes in the world. He plans to become one of the top software year. is also a celebrated six sigma champion. services companies globally. The session Guest speaker Mr. Raghunath Medge, was made interactive with games in Arun Nathani, CEO & MD Cybage, left president of the Mumbai Dabbawala between of which everyone was a part. the crowd overwhelmed as he unfolded Association, took the audience by the ‘Cybage 2020’ vision through his The events concluded with lasting surprise with his riveting speech on engaging presentation on ‘Growth memories and everybody gathering for their business model that is globally through Transformation’. He conveyed the ‘Cheese!’ moment.

Hotel Westin, Pune Fun moments in Goa

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 20 CybageAsha

Fulfilling dreams through education The post matriculate scholorship to 64 underpriviledged students CybageAsha and Khushboo Khushboo Charitable Trust

Charitable Trust have run Nathani, CEO - scholarship program to help Charitable trust sponsored made significant ACybage, along with his needy students from Pune to 64 children for the academic contributions to the wife, Ritu Nathani, have pursue further education after year 2010–11. The trust shall th Education of the initiated a new charitable the X grade. This program now offer scholarships to organization called the was offered to students who 200 students for the next under-privileged. ‘Khushboo Charitable Trust’ have a strong desire to pursue academic year. Here’s a brief on why that focuses on education. higher academics, but cannot Extending this initiative, The primary objective of this do so because of financial these organizations the trust also plans to offer trust is to strengthen society constraints. will be remembered scholarships for specialized by creating educational for their noble The response to this courses in Medicine and opportunities for the under- scholarship program was Engineering. contributions in privileged people. overwhelming. Under this this field. The trust announced its first program, the Khushboo

CybageAsha - Karnawadi

arnawadi in Bhor Taluka, Maharashtra, was adopted by classrooms decorated with informative and visually exciting KCybageAsha a few years ago with the aim to develop the themes for students. The local governing body was impressed infrastructure in the village, upgrade the living standards, and with the new school and agreed to provide playground raise the literacy level of the villagers. equipment for kids.

To steer the course of the dwindling education scene in This project is a fine example of Private–Public Partnership. Karnawadi, CybageAsha joined hands with the villagers and It has brought about a positive change in villagers’ thinking encouraged them to approach the local governing bodies for towards education and has motivated the local government funds. The collections were not sufficient to achieve the desired authority to provide better school infrastructure. One good goal. CybageAsha donated the remaining funds, about 60%, idea implemented is better than thousands being of the total required amount to make this dream a reality. merely contemplated. Now, where there was a dilapidated tenement, there stand two

The Karnawadi primary school inauguration programme Inauguration of classroom at Karnawadi

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 21 Tech Talk CloudCloud ComputingComputing

In the IT space, there is no privileged minority that benefits from its technological What is cloud computing? advancements. By far, IT has loud computing marks a paradigm shift from the on-premises been a level playing field. We are Csoftware models. It is a revolutionary approach to selling and all witness to the pace at which provisioning computing resources at a rapid pace on the Internet. Virtualization technology, which gets over the one-to-one dependence IT automation has penetrated between hardware and software, heralded the cloud computing processes in the industry. However, revolution. Cloud computing creates uncluttered workplaces-although sounds very processes tend to grow larger naïve, is true for enterprises that place their businesses on cloud. No and more complex over time. If installation of costly hardware, no maintenance overheads, no undue focus on non-core businesses—cloud computing lets businesses to live the same levels of efficiency and up to their USP. Now, even small businesses can ensure that their non- effectiveness have to be maintained, core businesses are handled by someone better prepared to do it, that too, at an affordable cost. the processes need infrastructural The cloud umbrella has spread to embrace varied computing utilities support and funding. An and services that are broadly divided into: unavoidable dilemma faced the • Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS): IAAS provides a bare machine with IT industry a few years ago. How basic fixes. • Platform as a Service (PAAS): PAAS is technology specific. It provides to cope with implementation virtual machines with basic platforms and a cluster of frameworks. of costly computing resources? • Software as a Service (SAAS): SAAS targets domain-specific computing utilities such as Leave Management system, ERP, and CRM. How to procure them quickly? There are other variants such as Data as a Service and Information The question that towered above as a Service—all included under cloud computing. In all the cases, all—What are the chances of provisioning of computing resources or services can happen at a rapid pace. survival for the small-sized and Benefits medium-sized businesses as Placing your business on cloud has immense advantages. against their rivals who have Lesser upfront cost: Companies interested in using same functionality sophisticated computing resources can hire a space on the application server farm that executes application programs for multiple clients (SAAS model). With one application and at their disposal? Cloud computing multiple tenants, the licensing costs are also shared by the companies. emerged on the scene, and these Besides, the system architecture guarantees strong isolation of data. So, data integrity is well maintained. fears were put to rest. Reduced overall cost: The responsibility of administering infrastructure

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 22 and maintenance of data rests with the policy making and implementation cloud vendor. New development in cloud into its hands, we can expect the Rapid provisioning and easy computing concept to pick up steam. scaling: In cloud, deployment of huge While cloud promises enormous infrastructure can be done at a rapid scalability in terms of applications, pace. Cloud is quite elastic in scope the databases couldn’t grow Future of cloud computing and can fit in with your fluctuating commensurate with the needs of The importance of cloud computing computing needs. the industry. Relational databases in today’s world cannot be support scale up and not scale out. overemphasized. The economic Challenges Cloud can scale out. So, to address slowdown has paved way for cloud As with every new development, cloud the issue of scalability with respect computing like never before. Even computing faces a few challenges to to databases, a new set of databases large companies want to optimize become absolutely feasible. The major that departs from the relational their costs and retain their competitive database model has emerged, known challenges are: edge. For them too, cloud computing is as NoSQL databases. the way to go. Companies can entrust • Security: The data security at the For ad hoc and large-scale data their non-core businesses to specialist cloud premise may be at risk. CIOs processing, cloud is indeed a organizations that are cloud providers. need to ensure that the data security boon. Companies can hire as many With cloud computing dawns the age complies with security standards computing resources as required for of green computing. Reduction in such as PCI DSS and HIPAA. a parallel execution of tasks. This hardware components leads to lesser Whether you own your data or not is on-demand resource provisioning power consumption, which translates a big question mark. follows on the lines of grid into reduced carbon emissions. • Cloud transfer: What if the cloud computing. company you are working is taken Complementing cloud computing over by some other company? With and making it more viable is Service- no policies in place, data integrity oriented architecture (SOA). SOA is a and retrieval can be put to risk. services conglomerate that helps in • Application movement: Application making systems agile by integrating movement and synchronization from varied services, which could be one cloud network to another within spread over multiple frameworks/ a short time can be challenging. networks. It lends an additional system capability of adopting • Cloud vendors promise great SLAs changes in sync with business (up-time of 99.99%), which are changes. Thus, highly inter-operable rarely met. interfaces can be built that can allow Cloud computing is relatively new access across various data centers. developed and is maturing quickly. Contributed by - With a standard body (Cloud Security Raghava Reddy | Technical Evangelist Alliance) taking the reins of cloud

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 23 Leisure

Gizmos Being equipped with gadgets and gizmos is now a way of life, and yet everyday there’s a new invention that stretches it a bit further. Check out these cool things and find out how they set new trends.

Fabric PC Electronic Ink he Fabric PC is completely magine a digital book that Tflexible—it even has a Ican typeset itself and that fabric keyboard. The computer readers could leaf through display will be constructed just as if it were made of from a cutting-edge technology regular paper. Such a book called e-paper, allowing the could be programmed to display screen to be paper-thin display the text from Ernest and bendable. The Fabric PC’s Hemingway’s “The Old Man flexible design is such that its individual components will be and the Sea,” and once you’ve finished that tale, you could built into a pliable fabric-like backbone rather than a metal automatically replace it by wirelessly downloading the latest frame. While the components themselves will still be rigid, the “Harry Potter” book from a computer database. device as a whole will have some flexibility if the components are spaced apart within the fabric—somewhat similar to how rigid rhinestones can be sewn into a fancy dress. Compiled by: Moiz Nalwalla | Technical Writer

Did you know?

The first computer “bug” was a real bug. In 1947, engineers found a moth in Panel F, Relay #70 of the Harvard Mark 1 system. The computer was running a test of its multiplier and adder when the engineers noticed something was wrong. The moth was trapped, removed, and taped into the id you know that the QWERTY keyboard layout computer’s logbook with the words: “first actual Dis 129-years old!!?? And, the qwerty keyboard case of a bug being found”. was present on the very first typewriter called the ‘Shole & Glidden Type Writer’, produced by gun makers R Remington & Sonsin Illnois, New York.

he world’s first computer mouse was Tmade by Douglas Engelbart in 1964. Macquariums are aquariums And it was made of wood. made from old Macintosh computers. he average computer user blinks 7 times a minute, Complied by: Pallav Chedda | Project Manager Tless than half the normal rate of 20. Amit Vaidya | Software Engineer Rahul Trivedi | Software Engineer

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 24 Weekend

Work and ambition are not the sum and substance of life. There is Just Chill! life beyond work. Read on how some Cybagians choose to spend life after work.

uring the fter work, I look t’s important to stop witching from one hat I do Dweekends, I am Aforward to a Ibrooding over work Skind of work to Wover the running errands to delectable dinner with after reaching home. another relaxes me. weekends?... enjoy fulfill the wish list my wife. We spend Chatting and spending Reaching home from the gift of life: Catch of my twins. I have time chatting about quality time with my the office, I cook for up with friends, taste to apportion some the day at work and family is a great stress my family. I watch TV various cuisines in time to play with making plans for the reliever. When I am for a while, chat with Pune, experience them in the garden in weekend. We enjoy home, my 6-month the family members, nature riding on my the neighbourhood. watching TV or catch a old son greets me and read books and cycle, ponder over On Sundays, I plan movie before we retire with a cherubic smile. the newspaper before the week gone-by an outing with my to bed. We sometimes It infuses fresh energy dozing off. That’s my during long drives, family and friends visit important in me. Occasionally, I typical weekday when listen to gospel who want to join us. landmarks in the city. listen to old melodies I am back from work. music, strum my It may mean visiting In the afternoons, we and fall into a reverie. guitar, and, on On weekends, I finish places in the vicinity set aside a certain time Sundays, I pray in Weekends are for the tasks piled up of Pune or visiting my to play badminton church, thanking brief outings and over the week in the relatives in and around and have lunch with God for each day of socializing. I share mornings. I relax at Pune. The idea is to friends. my life. trivial fancies as home during the day. spend quality time The evenings during also my dreams for Evening, it’s time for Radhakrishnan Dass | with my family and weekends are for a life with my close friends or relatives or Manager HRD friends, which helps dinner outing followed friends. It helps me going on a shopping me to unwind and look by a movie or they are stay grounded and spree. Every alternate forward to the week spent at home playing focus on my goals. Sunday, my family ahead with energy and cards. I believe that life and friends go on a enthusiasm. is a succession of jaunt. Bhalchandra Sunil Jiwnani | moments. Tembhurne | Priyanka Sheth | Associate Project DBA Analyst Ritesh Gedam | Sr. UI. Designer Manager Sr. QA Engg

fter work, all my time is for my family. Besides the promised wisdom, the dictum ‘early to bed Aand early to rise...’ also bestows good health and the zeal to work. Weekend is the time for brief outings, long drives, or shopping. Sometimes, we choose to stay indoors, attending to unfinished chores, watching a movie on television, or preparing a delicacy. There are weekends when we become slothful and we happily abandon all work.

Gayatri Baleri | Sr. Resource Executive (RMG)

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 25 My Aim

Resolutions The New Year is a time to reflect on the changes we want or need to make. CybageTimes finds out what resolutions Cybagians have for 2011 made this year.

“I don’t believe in the concept “1280 X 768 pixels... of New Year resolutions. If Pioneer in ‘optimism’, more you are truly determined to time for ‘health is wealth’, and achieve something, then any stretching ‘work is adulation’ time of the year is the best will be some of the brightest time to begin.” pixels.”

Tapas Ranjan Lenka | Utkarsh Sharma | Head – Ecommerce CoE Delivery Manager

“I have worked with “I am hoping to get my six underprivileged kids attending pack abs back! Jokes apart, school for nearly eight years this year’s resolution is to get now. This year I want to into a regular exercise regime empower their parents with which would be possible by vocational skills. This way maintaining a proper work-life they can remain employed balance.” and support their child’s Abhijit Lale | education.” Delivery Manager Kedar Sabne | Finance Controller

“I will start or join an ‘eco- “Keeping up with New Year club’ and become more resolutions has always been environmentally responsible. a walk on a tightrope. This Humanity must be a year I will have no more participant in ecosystems resolutions until I have and not an enemy.” accomplished the ones previously made.” Neel Kamal Thakur | Documentation Manager Anamika Thokal | Sr. Content Writer

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 26 Tech Quiz

7 Which of the following is the primary control mechanism Think-tank in Agile? a. Planning b. Feedback 1 Web 2.0 means c. User acceptance testing a) Creating applications compatible with latest d. None of the above emerging browsers

b) Using latest Java and ASP. 8 In the ideal world, while developing NET versions in building applications Web applications a) We should use the same coding c) Using the changing standards for all the technologies so trends in the use of as to easily move resources from one WWW technology and technology to another. web design that aims to enhance creativity b) We should use the community and secure information accepted coding standards to enable sharing, collaboration, and developers from that community to functionality of the Web. easily understand 4 Which of the following options lists c) We should use the coding standards d) All of the above all methodologies mentioned on the Cybage website. d) Every project should come up with own coding standards 2 In Scrum, the prioritized a. Waterfall, Agile, Extreme programming work to be done is referred b. Waterfall, Agile, Collaborative software to as: development methodology 9. Scalability by scaling out approach for an application is a. Standup meetings c. Waterfall, SCRUM, prototyping a) In most cases, directly proportional to b. Sprint retrospective d. SDLC performance c. Product backlog b) In most cases, inversely proportional d. Sprint planning 5 The term Web 2.0 is coined by to performance a) Microsoft c) Has no relationship with performance 3 SOA means b) O’Reilly d) Completely unpredictable a) Using SOAP protocol- c) W3C based Web services to build applications d) IBM 10 Search Engine Optimization comes under b) Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) 6 Software as a service is a) Special algorithm development domain c) Conceptual business a) Eliminating the need to install and b) Optimization domain architecture where business run the application on the customer’s c) IA domain functionality, or application computer logic, is made available d) None b) Conceivably reducing the upfront to consumers, as shared, expense of software purchases to reusable services on an IT customers network Complied by: Raghava Reddy | Technical Evangelist c) providing stronger protection of d) None of the above Amit Mulay | Technical Evangelist intellectual property and establishing an ongoing revenue stream to vendors d) All of the above

Answers:1.(c) 2.(c) 3.(c) 4.(b) 5.(b) 6.(d) 7.(b) 8.(b) 9.(b) 10.(c) CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 27 Trekking

Adventure Unlimited Visapur Peb

For those who wish to experience the thrill of adventure and explore the unexplored, Trek Unlimited provides an opportunity to undertake gallant Rohida expedition into the wilderness. Let’s hear Pune supportive, went exploring exciting moments of the Visapur: A 45-minute what the enthusiastic Visapur!!! from our very PEB trek.” drive from Pune near first interaction, all of us got Sunil Shukla | Cybagians have Malavli, Visapur is famous along very well. It seemed Sr. QA Engineer for its fort and caves. as if we had known one to say about their Situated at an altitude of another for a long time. I 1084 meters, there are also Rohida Fort: Located knew it’s going to be great adventures in Pune several temples scattered in the region of Bhor fun and it turned out to be at an altitude of 3650 and Gandhinagar. all over the place. so! Food, transportation... feet, Rohida is a perfect “This was my first trek with everything was perfectly destination for the Trek Unlimited. Visapur planned and organized.” adventure seekers. At a experience was impressive Shrutika Dali | distance of 50 km from and enthralling. The long Software engineer Pune, Rohida is known for stretch of walking and its fort and the bastion, a mandir and the Darwaja. climbing made us really Peb Fort: Nestled in tired. But the amazing view the Karjat range at an “The experience was really at the fort and a great bunch altitude of 2100 feet, the fantastic. Well planned and of people, along with the journey to Peb fort is filled well managed. I came back helpful coordinators made with stunning views and with a feeling that there is this a memorable trip.” fascinating waterfalls. nothing as refreshing as a Amruta Tripathi | trek. I wish such treks are HR Executive “Crossing the rivulet, the organized more frequently.” hike in the steady drizzle, the air laden with mist, “Visapur is tucked away Ashwin Nasare | and the climb atop 25-foot from the hustle and bustle Software engineer ladder under the waterfall of city life. A team of 20 were some of the most Peb members, all extremely Jessore Gandhinagar Jessore: Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, covering an area of 180.66 square kilometers, is situated in the Banaskantha district on the Gujarat–Rajasthan border. It is considered to be one of the best protected forests in the country. It is located in the Jessore area of Aravalli hills, to the north of the Thar Desert. It was declared a sanctuary in 1978.

“If you want to spend a day in the lap of nature, be awakened Wildlife at Jessore by chirruping birds instead of phony alarms, follow the flight of Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary has identified 406 species of colorful birds in the sky, and get lost in the spectacular view of plants, 14 species of amphibians and reptiles, 20 species the starlit sky, then Jessore is the place to visit.” of mammalian fauna, 105 species of avifauna including Janaki Patel | QA Engineer migratory birds, and also harbors a rare species of wildlife such as the sloth bear, leopard, sambar, blue bull, wild “Far away from the clamor of the city, we went out to boar, porcupine, jungle cat, civet, caracal, wolf, and hyena. experience the melodious silence of the woods. The amazing blue sky, the beautiful moon, the constellations, the time we e are all used to computers and lappies around, spent, friends we made... you cannot have enough of it.” headphones, AC cubicles, client calls, and coffee mugs. “W Malav Parekh | QA Analyst At Jessore, we were happily cut off from the routine. I felt peace and joy in the pleasant natural surrounding and had fun Compiled by: with the fellow trekkers. We had a great time bushwalking in Amit Dhavale | Information Security Administrator the dense forest of Jessore.” Anshul Goel | Software Engineer Vrutant Shah | Software Engineer Akash Jaiswal | Software Engineer

“This was the best trek of my life. Besides learning about the herbal medicines, it taught me the importance of team spirit.” Jay Khamgaonkar | QA Engineer

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 29 Family

My Family, Here are some Cybagians who speak their hearts out about the bond My World they share with their dearest families.

United we stand

have always been proud of the fact that II live in a joint family. My father along with my two uncles and their families live together under one roof.

Joint families of today are torn asunder because of internal conflicts. But, in our case, our togetherness has stood the test of time, and our affection has grown stronger over Mom, I want to the years. Everybody unites in the face of I’m the eldest son, but I have elder cousins problems and the situation is mitigated to who are much closer to me than my siblings. be you a great extent. It’s like a team working on a I am blessed to be born in such a loving mother is verily a project. Everyone has a unique attitude and family. manifestation of love skill set to tackle a problem. You always have A Vinay Kothari | and care. I was just two years more than one solution to every problem! Trainee Software Engineer old when my father passed away. It was my mother’s decision to relocate from a small town Nipani to Pune to Family that secure a better future for her stays together two daughters. In Pune, she completed her studies and ife is full of surprises and got herself a job as a teacher. Lsecond chances. How She would look after us and one handles these moments also discharge her duties defines one’s fate and at the school. Among other destiny. Born and brought things that I learnt from up in Goa, I lived my life like her were time-management any other Goan – simply and striking a work–life ‘susegad’ (Goan term for a balance. At the age of 54, relaxed life). It was not a she completed her post- life given to luxury, but one graduation in Marathi and steeped in love and joy. Sanskrit. Her dedication to I was in T. Y. B.Com when an work was tremendous. untoward incident occurred lunch, or being a sales for what we are today. She She taught me how to in the family. We had to representative at a garment says, “Trust in God and fight overcome failures and move start life all over again. store. Along with her, my the odds in life. He will never on in life. She made me My mom, who had been a two sisters and I did our let you down”. independent. I can never homemaker for the last 22 bit to sail through the thank her enough. Rudolf Britto | Associate years, had to earn to support tough times. Manager - Systems (IS) Pallavi Alurkar | us. It was a rigorous life that My mother has been a pillar Documentation Manager involved waking up early to sell the homemade snacks, of strength and a monument preparing and packing of courage. She is the reason

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 30 Comments

Success means different thing to different people. For some of us, Success success is a sense of arrival; while for others, it’s a journey. No matter how we see it, all of us aim for success in all that we aspire for. Here are & you a few ‘takes’ on success from our fellow Cybagians.

Arun Kumar | QA Engineer

“For me, success is fulfillment of my dreams. Doing good, doing it right, and doing it in a way that makes a difference in the lives of people. Material gains are not the yardstick for success.”

Adarsh Mishra | Technical Support Executive

“Your desire to succeed must be greater than your fear of failure. When I meet the expectations that I have set for myself, I consider myself successful.”

Anusha Gawade | Design Analyst

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. I believe in giving my best shot. Success is bound to follow. After all, isn’t success failure turned inside out?”

Maulik Narendrakumar Shah | QA Engineer

“Success is what you make it, there’s no better time to succeed than the present.”

Asma Doni | Technical Writer

“Success may mean different to different people. For me, the courage to undertake an uphill task, no matter how daunting, smacks of success. Success lies hidden in the opportune moments and in the best of our endeavors. Success is celebrating and sharing our achievements.”

Tanmaya Namdeo Thopate | Tech Support Engineer

“I always believed that it’s not failure, but a low aim that is a crime. I always dreamt big. Success eluded me in the beginning, but I never lost sight of my goal. In the bargain, I have improved not only socially but also professionally.”

Pratik Mohadarkar | Software Engineer

“The road to success passes through many obstacles and failures. He alone who is not assailed by troubles and hardships reaches the goal.”

CybageTimes | Jan 2011 | 31