Sridhar Vembu is the founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation. It is one of the most successful software companies. He had a vision to foster rural development and to create sustainable, community driven workplaces.
What he did?
He closed his headquarters in Silicon Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area and opened it in a remote village near Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu (His native village). Zoho corporation Headquarters in a village in Tamil Nadu India has now 1000 employees. Its market value is 13 billion US Dollars.
He is considered as the 35th richest person in India. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2021.
Here is how he lives in his headquarters:
He is the inspiration to most tech Startups here, including freshworks ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Rajesh. Did you know Freshworks founder and CEO, Girish Mathrubootham, just wrote a book titled All In. Excellent. Please read it.
ReplyDeleteOh, will read. Hope it's available in Audible too..
DeleteHe has come down from Silicon valley USA to South india 's remote village (two extremes). He is the real down to earth person literally. I have read an article about him. 99%people of Tamilnadu itself don't know who he is. Even a villager, here, knows Bill Gates and actor Sharukh khan but not Sridhar Vembu. This is the fate of our country
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Gowri.
DeleteYou have said it all about this remarkable visionary, an unique and patriotic person! Despite mind-boggling wealth, he seems to lead a simple life and has efficiently and effectively shown that with dedication and devotion, a huge tech business can thrive in a remote rural place and enrich the people of area in skills, learning with ambition to grow.
ReplyDeleteHe is philanthropic too in his own ways through Zoho schools.. His tenacity despite the struggles is admirable. A role model he is for youngsters!
Thanks for your comments Mr. KP.
DeleteSridhar Vembu's story is truly inspiring. I remember when he started Zoho, his dream was to make a product that rivals Microsoft. And I think he has succeeded to a great extent.
ReplyDeleteBy moving his headquarters to Tenkasi, he has demonstrated two things: one, that for entrepreneurship to thrive, you don't need the Silicon Valley stereotype; and two, a commendable walk-the-talk action to empower rural communities.
The last time I met him was at a press conference in Bengaluru a couple of years ago. He comes across as a down-to-earth man with a clear vision not just for his company and his employees but for our country as well. Maybe I will get a chance to meet him again!
Thanks for your comments Pradeep. A friend of mine just now told me that he came to his office in jeans t.shirt and a chappal to sign a Rs.227 crore contract.
DeleteNever heard of this gentleman. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMust be cool to pass from IIT and make it big. This guy is very impressive.
Great blog post.
Thanks for your comments Kirtivasan.
DeleteIndeed! Zoho Corporation is a big name.
ReplyDeleteSuch an inspiring life!
May our Bharat Mata have more children like him.