ET BureauThe brief I was given and what I did in the first 100 days at work
IN THE FIRST THREE months of my first job, I was asked to design and de velop a stock trading simulator to do stress-testing for high volume trades. I was asked to coordinate with a five-person development team and report back weekly on the development. Algorithmic trading was not as popular an idea then as it is today. I had very little idea about automated stock trading, or stress testing. So I set about learning the technicalities of trading as well as thinking about how the human part of it could be automated.
The worst mistake I made
I THINK I was way too confident. I felt that with the right “design“, development will be child's play. I took the development effort for granted, and resisted getting my hands dirty for the first three months. I kept my development team at an arm's length, thinking that I will get a fully functional code without needing to understand it. When our project started missing deadlines my boss, though he was a great guy and meant well, told me that I could either get down into the trenches, or else...I didn't realise how important programming would be in later years; I did it just to save my job. But the project was successful and I moved on to handle bigger responsibilities of online trading with a (relatively) sound understanding of how the system worked.
How I had fun at work
STOCK TRADING WAS fun all by itself. I also had a bunch of friends, both among the seniors and those who came after me.We would go out exploring eating joints in Mumbai, and we still do that sometimes.
How I managed my work-life balance
SOMEHOW I NEVER had an issue balancing work and personal life. I have been lucky in that I have always worked with friends, and exploring the city, taking trips around Mumbai, hanging out in evenings and watching movies have always kept things fun.
The best leadership lessons I learnt
IN A CANDID discussion with my boss, I asked him, “How come you know more than me on every single thing we talk about?“ Over several years and every single interaction, even if it was my own project or area of expertise, a discussion with him always added value. He told me his secret, which I think will remain with me for the rest of my life. He said, “While you are working on the current successes, I am always thinking about what can be the next success.“
My biggest innovation
I BUILT AN al gorithmic trad ing engine for Indian stock markets back in 2006 which estimated profitable trades and created orders automatically.
The best friend
I made on the job I MADE A number of good friends, and some of them are working with me now at Care24.
IN THE FIRST THREE months of my first job, I was asked to design and de velop a stock trading simulator to do stress-testing for high volume trades. I was asked to coordinate with a five-person development team and report back weekly on the development. Algorithmic trading was not as popular an idea then as it is today. I had very little idea about automated stock trading, or stress testing. So I set about learning the technicalities of trading as well as thinking about how the human part of it could be automated.
The worst mistake I made
I THINK I was way too confident. I felt that with the right “design“, development will be child's play. I took the development effort for granted, and resisted getting my hands dirty for the first three months. I kept my development team at an arm's length, thinking that I will get a fully functional code without needing to understand it. When our project started missing deadlines my boss, though he was a great guy and meant well, told me that I could either get down into the trenches, or else...I didn't realise how important programming would be in later years; I did it just to save my job. But the project was successful and I moved on to handle bigger responsibilities of online trading with a (relatively) sound understanding of how the system worked.
How I had fun at work
STOCK TRADING WAS fun all by itself. I also had a bunch of friends, both among the seniors and those who came after me.We would go out exploring eating joints in Mumbai, and we still do that sometimes.
How I managed my work-life balance
SOMEHOW I NEVER had an issue balancing work and personal life. I have been lucky in that I have always worked with friends, and exploring the city, taking trips around Mumbai, hanging out in evenings and watching movies have always kept things fun.
The best leadership lessons I learnt
IN A CANDID discussion with my boss, I asked him, “How come you know more than me on every single thing we talk about?“ Over several years and every single interaction, even if it was my own project or area of expertise, a discussion with him always added value. He told me his secret, which I think will remain with me for the rest of my life. He said, “While you are working on the current successes, I am always thinking about what can be the next success.“
My biggest innovation
I BUILT AN al gorithmic trad ing engine for Indian stock markets back in 2006 which estimated profitable trades and created orders automatically.
The best friend
I made on the job I MADE A number of good friends, and some of them are working with me now at Care24.
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