Letter to My Younger Self: Balaji Sivasubramanian, Engineering

Dear Younger Bala,

As you read this letter, you are sitting at the train station, contemplating what the future may look like if you choose to accept an opportunity in the financial services industry to become a developer.

Waiting for the train that will take you to your next stop, you are thinking you will proceed with the offer you received, and spend a couple of years gaining experience before diving into research for experimental astrophysics, a field you have been – and will always be – passionate about.

During your journey, you’ll realize you actually have a soft spot for the financial domain and working with numbers. As you progress, you will find that your capacity to balance knowledge of the domain with a high level of technical expertise will serve you well.

You can confidently look forward to an amazing career over the next 25 years, and as you do, here are five pieces of advice to help you along the way.

One step at a time, one day at a time. As you begin your career, you will be full of adrenaline and ready to take on the world. In this excitement, be mindful not to push yourself too hard. There will be times when running faster is not necessarily the answer. Pace yourself, give things the time they need and you will end up learning more along the way.

The best form of learning is asking questions. The apprehension of appearing ignorant can be intimidating at times. It’s important not to let that hold you back. Ask the burning questions that come to mind, people are happy to share their knowledge.

Realize the power of connections. It took me 10 years before I realized the importance of building my network. While your immediate team and a few senior stakeholders may know your capabilities and think of you as the bright but silent colleague who codes away in his corner solving complex issues, a lack of interactions with your broader professional community can impede progress.

Don’t underestimate yourself. Surrounded by incredibly talented people, at times you may question whether you are the right person to take the lead to solve certain complex challenges. Don’t let this limit what you choose to tackle, be confident in what you bring to the table and be vocal when you feel like you can make an impact. If you don’t have all the answers, remember that you are surrounded by incredibly talented people who can help you in finding a path forward.

Feedback is a powerful tool for growth. Your managers and stakeholders can regularly offer a fresh perspective on your development, and when you bring those insights together over time, they continuously help you become more impactful. Don’t wait until the end of the year to solicit feedback.  And, don’t take it personally – instead, listen to it and implement it.