Farewells are never easy.

I have written many times by the change, and this change was meant to happen too. Today, one big, incredible chapter of my life came to an end. Eight years of Thoughtworks — eight years of people, learning, experiments, failures, friendships, conversations, ideas, challenges, and countless memories.

Yes, it was an emotional day, but I kept reminding myself, every ending is also a beginning. So rather than looking it as a goodbye, I want to look back for a moment and simply say thank you. 🙏

It was always about the people ❤️

What made today especially emotional was the people.

People I have worked with have been sending their best wishes throughout the last few weeks. But today, a small group gathered at my home office in Gurugram to say goodbye. And there was something really beautiful about that gathering — many of the people standing there had never worked with me directly on a project.

Yet somehow, they knew me. They shared, some knew me through the Emerging Tech showcases on XR, IOT, AI or the Experience Center. Some had attended my talks or sessions. Some knew me through community contributions, books, patents, mentoring, or events. Some had simply heard me or had a conversation with me at some point during these eight years.

And then some describing me as a strong techie, a public figure, influential leader, available for others, grounded, sharing experiences, caring, mentoring, motivating, and experimenting. There were so many kind words. ❤️ and while listening to all of this, I said something that made all of us pause for a sec:

Most of these things weren’t really part of me before Thoughtworks.

The techie was there. 😄 But the public figure, the writer, speaker, and the people person — so much of that was shaped here.

Thoughtworks didn’t just give me a workplace. It gave me the space to become myself.

The person I became

Thoughtworks gave me the freedom to be who I am. I never felt that I had to become someone else to fit in. I could question things, challenge things, disagree, experiment, fail, learn, and try again. I could keep competing with myself.

And as I wrote in 📕Jagjeevan, there is a better version of us inside us. The journey is to keep finding that person. 🙂

Over these eight years, I learned much more than technology. I learned to see people, not as a “resources.” I learned what diversity and inclusion really mean. Navigate an organisation without losing myself. Ignore things that don’t really matter. Express myself, to listen, to communicate, to disagree respectfully, to share, to mentor, and to lead.

And somewhere along the way, I realised that leadership isn’t really about leading others first. It starts with learning to lead yourself and your own life.

I found purpose. I started sharing the learnings with care, found 📕 My Thoughtworkings, kept moving. Looking back now, those writings feel almost like little snapshots of who I was at different points in these eight years.

When I think about Thoughtworks today, I don’t think first about projects, technologies, deadlines, meetings, or titles.

I remember conversations in corridors and cafeterias, random discussions that turned into ideas, arguments that taught me something, community gatherings, talks, experiments, failures, celebrations, mentoring sessions, unexpected friendships, and countless small moments that slowly shaped me.

🤪 Funny thing about journeys like this. You don’t always notice yourself changing while you are in the middle of the journey. You realise it only when you stop, turn around, and look back.

Today, I stopped, and I looked back. Another version of me shaped in these eight years mean to me. ❤️

What I take with me

There is a famous saying here, “Once a Thoughtworker, always a Thoughtworker.”

I don’t want to pretend that I know what next chapter would bring. But I do know what I am taking with me —

The curiosity, the courage to challenge the status quo, the belief that technology can create meaningful change, the habit of sharing, the importance of people, the humility to keep learning, and the constant desire to become a little better than I was yesterday.

So, no dramatic goodbye. Just a very heartfelt thank you.

Thank you, Thoughtworks, for eight incredible years. Thank you for the opportunities, the challenges, the trust, the freedom to experiment, the room to fail and learn, the friendships, the conversations, and all the people who made this journey what it became. 🙏

A very special thank you to Rajani Kafaltia, Diljeet Saluja, Rupesh Ranjan, and all the Gurugrammers who made my last day so warm, emotional, and memorable. The fact that you took the time to be there, share your stories, and say goodbye means more to me than I can probably put into words. ❤️

One chapter ends today. Another begins tomorrow.

I promise, I will keep learning and keep sharing! keep working on the next, better version of me.

Until we meet again. 👋

Read more about my journey

• Two Thoughtful Years
• My thoughtworkings from five thoughtful years
• My impactful change stories
• TW Spotlight: Going with the Flow – My Journey
• Eight Thoughtful Years - Final Episode
• 20 reflections of 20 years
• 2020 — The year of Change
• Embibe purpose and balance in life
• My books

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