Yuvabe alumnus Jaganath takes us through his rapid transformation at Yuvabe; from being a fresh graduate to a skilled Business Analyst leading projects. His journey is a compelling tale of growth and making the most of opportunities.
Discovering Auroville and Yuvabe
Hi! I'm Jaganath from Pondicherry. My journey began with my uncle Ramesh introducing me to Auroville. Driven by a desire to explore and learn, I initially enrolled in the Language Lab to enhance my spoken language skills. Soon after, I was introduced to Yuvabe by our team member Hari, and it is here that my career truly started to take shape. As they say, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," and Yuvabe was that crucial first step for me.
After my interview with Sriman, I began my role as a business analyst on January 2nd, 2023. On my very first day I was introduced to enterprise resource planning and the ERPNext software.
Learning the Ropes of ERPNext
As a fresh graduate, I of course had no idea what was ERPNext. Over the next three months, I immersed myself in understanding this powerful tool—learning what it is, why it’s used, and the processes involved in its implementation. Within six months, I had a solid grasp of its functionalities and gained invaluable experience working with two different manufacturing units of Auroville.
This hands-on experience allowed me to face clients confidently, provide them training, and understand their perspectives on our products. It was a steep learning curve, with problem-solving alongside diverse people and mentors.
Optimizing Processes: ERPNext for Auroville's Units
One day, our mentors brought us an exciting news: we were going to work on a major Auroville project, which required us to implement ERPNext across seven different units. The goal was to unify the procurement processes of these seven units under a single control system. Our team was thrilled and dedicated countless hours to discussing workflows and project plans, often working late into the night purely out of passion and interest.
One of my most memorable moments at Yuvabe was during those late-night sessions with my team on this project, where our dedication and teamwork created a strong bond, making the experience both challenging and enjoyable.
A Journey of Discovery, Collaboration, and Team Bonding
For this project, our team embarked on the discovery process, going across Auroville, understanding each unit's workflows. We explored various environments, interacted with different people, and sampled diverse foods!—experiences that I believe couldn't be matched elsewhere.
After gathering all the data, we moved on to analysing gaps and identifying areas for improvement. It was intensive work and finally one evening we took a well deserved break and along with our mentors, Anand and Sriman, went on a team outing. It was moments like these which strengthened our bonds and ones which I will definitely remember.
Technical Mastery & overcoming challenges
Being involved in a project of this scale helped me gain comprehensive knowledge of ERPNext, including understanding codes and technical customizations. My interest in coding grew, and with the help of my colleagues, I started learning and implementing custom scripts.
In the end, despite facing numerous struggles and disappointments, we learned extensively about client handling, time management, and collaboration. Each challenge taught us valuable lessons, and our team spirit remained unbroken.
Opportunities of Personal Growth
My journey with Yuvabe was not just about professional growth; it was also about service. I volunteered in the community solar kitchen along with facilitating STEAM classes at Deepanam. Yuvabe’s Work. Serve. Evolve philosophy resonates deeply with me, as it emphasises not only professional excellence and community service but also continuous personal growth.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
I am profoundly grateful to Sriman, Hari, Ramesh, my colleagues, and the entire Yuvabe team for this incredible opportunity. The journey from a novice to a proficient Business Analyst and coder has been nothing short of transformative. As I continue to learn and grow, I remain committed to the principles that have guided me thus far—dedication, teamwork, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge.
My advice to new joiners at Yuvabe is to seize every learning opportunity, maintain curiosity, and proactively seek guidance from mentors! Yuvabe provided me with the perfect opportunity to kickstart my career by providing invaluable professional experience and continuous mentorship support.
This is just the beginning of my journey and I am excited for what the future holds!
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