I grew up in a small town in Chennai, painting oil on canvas, then sketching logos for friends and family and drawing flyers and posters by hand. My family never imagined I could make a career out of it, let alone one that would take me to America.
Macromedia in Singapore was my big break. Suddenly the lines I'd drawn by hand could live on a screen, for people I'd never meet. Everything after it, from SunTrust and AT&T to Yellow-pages, IHG and Florida Blue, grew out of that one yes.
For years, I believed the secret was to work harder than everyone and figure it all out myself.
That belief nearly broke me.
I once led the setup for a usability study that was far too ambitious. It had video feeds, eye tracking, and simulated displays. I was in over my head, but I tried to handle it all alone. By the time I asked for help, it was too late, and I stepped away from the project.
It was one of the hardest moments of my career. It was also where I changed.
I stopped trying to be the smartest person in the room. I started naming my limits early and asking for help before problems became emergencies. Under-promise, over-deliver.
I also learned to protect my peace. People will judge you, and there will be drama along the way. You don't have to react to all of it. Not everything deserves your energy. Now I choose where my energy goes, the way I choose where the light falls in a portrait: with intention, toward what matters.
Some of it still goes to the studio. Studio portraits are my specialty. I love the lens, the lighting setup, and the moment someone forgets the camera and lets their real face come through. With AI generating faces in seconds, I sometimes wonder what the point is.
But no prompt gave me that moment. I earned it, the same way I earned every line I ever drew by hand.