High on Dedication, Determination and Discipline

A quick question for Sathya Pandian - “How’s the Josh?” She screamed, “High, Sir.” You might wonder why. It’s courtesy of her dedication, determination, and discipline. This attitude has been instrumental in both her personal and professional life. Currently, she is working with Infosys as their SAP SD (Sales and Distribution) Consultant. In an interview with Corporate Citizen, Sathya opens up about her campus placement journey, a few tips for her juniors on how to prepare for placements, and more

When you are fully committed to your dreams, you become unstoppable. Total dedication provides resilience, allowing you to push through obstacles and overcome challenges. Sathya wholeheartedly agrees with this, stating, "Loyalty to your goals helps you overcome any challenges".

Sathya was born and raised in Alangotti, Tamil Nadu – a small, conservative town where traditional roles often limit women. However, "my parents are complete sweethearts," she smiled. They have always supported her in all her endeavours and encouraged her to achieve her goals, pushing her to break boundaries and succeed.

Born to fly

Although Sathya is from a small town, she always had big dreams. From childhood, she was focused and determined, knowing she had important goals to achieve. One of Sathya’s strengths is her ability to turn obstacles into opportunities, never allowing challenges to hinder her progress. As she recalls, “I completed my schooling in my native language, but my higher studies were in English. The transition was challenging, but I enjoyed every bit of it.

Laying the foundation for a bright career, Sathya moved to Chennai to pursue her BE in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, a decision she describes as a turning point in her life. "This move gave wings to my dreams and broadened my horizons," she explained. She secured a position at Infosys through campus placements. "I had a clear vision—I wanted to gain work experience before pursuing my Masters. Infosys came at the right time and aligned with my plan," shared Sathya.

Reflecting on her practical experience before post-graduation, she said, "I was fortunate to join a welcoming team straight out of college. After three months of training, I was assigned my first project, where I had the rare opportunity to interact directly with clients. My client was from the UK, and I learned a lot from that experience. My mentors and senior colleagues were incredibly supportive. I was curious about how other modules worked, so I took the initiative to learn more. Understanding the entire business process from end to end was crucial for my growth".

All geared up

The next step in her journey was to complete her post-graduation, which prompted her to move to Pune. Reflecting on her upbringing, she said, "I agree, the place I was born in was orthodox, but my parents and cousin have been my constant source of motivation. Following in my cousin's footsteps, I moved to Pune to aim higher and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in IT and Marketing".

Sathya came to Pune with plenty of work experience, and this played a vital role in her growth. She said, “My work experience, helped me connect the dots better.” Sathya underwent another transformation during her college years. Initially shy and introverted, she pushed herself to participate in various fests. "I had several opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities. I love dancing and music, so I joined dance events. I even had the chance to host an important visitor—the chairman of Deloitte—during my second year. Additionally, I served as a discipline coordinator in class, which helped build my interpersonal skills and confidence," she shared. "These experiences groomed me into a more confident and communicative person. As a discipline coordinator, I had to manage and interact with many people, which honed my interpersonal skills," she added.

"These experiences groomed me into a more confident and communicative person. As a discipline coordinator, I had to manage and interact with many people, which honed my interpersonal skills"

-Sathya Pandian

These experiences prepared her well for campus placement. "Apart from that, I attended lectures, solved papers, stayed proactive, curious, and networked with peers. I also took mock tests and participated in personal interviews (PIs) and group discussions (GDs) to prepare myself. My internship at Colgate played a crucial role in my growth," she said.

As luck would have it, Infosys visited again, but this time, for a different role. "I worked as a functional analyst, primarily interacting with clients and business users. My job was to gather requirements from end-users and relay them to the team for implementation. Initially, I worked closely with a mentor, but after two months, I started handling projects independently. My clients were spread across Europe, the UK, and the US," she explained.

With her professional life on track, she settled down in 2023 and recently welcomed her baby boy, Yugan, who is the apple of her eye. Now, her focus is on climbing the corporate ladder and securing a senior position. Aware that this won’t come easy, she continues to upskill and enhance her expertise. Alongside her career ambitions, she hopes to give back everything to her parents, who have been a constant source of support throughout her journey.

TIPS FOR CAMPUS PLACEMENT

Strong foundation: To be successful, your understanding of all relevant topics, subjects, or concepts must be solid. This strong foundation enables you to connect the dots and relate ideas effectively in any given situation.

Continuous learning: This is the only way forward to avoid becoming obsolete. Stay updated with industry trends, take relevant courses, pursue certifications, and keep learning to continue thriving in both your personal and professional life.

Be attentive: Paying close attention to what your professor is teaching is crucial. Absorb the material during class and actively engage with it. This approach reduces the amount of work you’ll need to do later. Follow it up with revisions and a deeper exploration of the topic. This method will help you retain information better and perform well in exams.

Keep exploring: Staying proactive and continuously researching what your field of interest offers is essential. It not only helps you stay updated but also provides you with new opportunities and insights that can help you excel. Exploring new trends and advancements in your area of expertise gives your career direction, adds purpose to your life, and positions you for success.