“You have to dream before your dreams can come true”- This famous quote by our former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has been an inspiration for Anshul since childhood.

Currently working as the Head of Technology at AirAsia, Anshul has come a long way from Rishikesh, Dehradun and left footprints all over the world. Recently, he shared his story with us and gave us a glimpse of his journey. Read on to find out more.

Anshul spent his formative years at IDPL, tucked away in an enchanting corner of Dehradun. His father, a scientist working with the pollution expert unit of IDPL, was more than just a role model for him. His jolly nature, sense of humor, and attention towards the environment helped shaped Anshul’s childhood and made him who he is today. His mother also had a huge impact on his upbringing by imbibing good habits and ensuring that his siblings and he got a proper education.

After finishing his schooling, Anshul moved to Kanpur to study Computer Engineering at HBTI and then moved on to BITS Pilani to acquire his Master’s degree. Once his academics were done, there was no looking back. His academic excellence helped him land a job in the government sector, through campus placement, in a company called Scooters India Limited as a Management Trainee. However, it didn’t take him long to realize that he was not in the right place. And just like that, he quit his job and started searching for his true calling.

Soon he joined a startup called Prologix Software Solution Private limited where he worked on Product Development. After a couple of successful projects with Prologix, he moved on to IBM.

As the industry matured, Java & Dot Net became its cornerstone. Armed with his extensive knowledge in these subjects and a zeal to adopt new things quickly, Anshul found a firm footing that laid the foundation for a successful career. Pretty soon, Digital Transformation made its way into the market. Using this technology, one could create a mechanism where you can reach out to customers and provide digital customer activity. Anshul predicted that this would soon be adopted by every company and become an integral part of the industry’s future. So, he did what he does best. He put his heart and soul into not only learning this new technology but also in mastering the craft.

His dedication and hard work paved his way for bigger and better things as he moved to Bangalore and soon found himself working in Singapore before eventually moving to the US. While in the US he got to work in the Silicon Valley and experienced the startup boom first-hand.

Moving around helped Anshul a lot in developing a strong work ethic and strengthening his core professional values. Since he got to work with people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, he picked up the best things from all of them and developed a cosmopolitan work culture that helps him adapt quickly as per the need of the hour.

His experiences have gone a long way in shaping his thinking and he believes that before turning 35, every person should focus on growing and learning as much as possible.

Anshul now works for AirAsia, which has become a large fleet and one of the biggest low-cost carriers over the past few decades. And as the airline is now converting into a digital airline, Anshul has got his work cut out for him. But never one to shy away from a healthy challenge, he is now working on multiple initiatives and projects to make AirAsia one of the best digital airline companies by 2020.

Apart from being a tech geek, Anshul is also a white-collar hippie. Bitten by the travel bug in his youth, he loves to travel and explore new places whenever possible. He is an avid fan of national parks who visited Sariska, Bandipur, Nagarhole, Madhumalai, and plans to spend some time at the famous Corbett National Park soon.

Reading and yoga are two more things that keep him occupied in his spare time. His current favorite books are The Power of the Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy and Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda.

A firm supporter of working hard and having fun while doing it, Anshul believes that everyone should have a dream that they hold close to their heart. And if you’ve got a dream that sets your pulse racing, go ahead, chase it till it’s yours.