<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/12/Blog-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="253">2022 is drawing to a close. And this year's last star of the month series is here!So, buckle up folks!Pave the way for Aditya Narasimhan, our VP of Product and Client Delivery.A table tennis coach, superjock, and fintech product delivery champion, Aditya is an inspiration to many. Master at the art of work-life synergy, this sportive M2Peer is a staunch believer of the fact that life never stops teaching, and he must never stop learning.Curious to know what makes Aditya shine? We were too.We got into a candid conversation with him to uncover his secret to success. But what we heard was even more amazing.Spoiler alert: Fun revelations ahead!Here you go!<h2 class="heading-node" id="t9kuaqxvj" style="text-align: justify">How do you usually start your workday?</h2>Learning is my passion. Each day I look forward to greater learning. I start my workday with simple prepping that involves breaking targets into smaller, digestible bytes and jotting down pending tasks in my to-do list. Then I get into action by completing a couple of tasks and sip heavenly coffee with a sense of accomplishment.Later I sync up with my team, understand and discuss their queries, ensuring that there is constant interaction irrespective of whether its work, fun, or travel.<h2 class="heading-node" id="cc258asf0" style="text-align: justify">What are your main responsibilities as VP - Product and Client Delivery?</h2>I recently moved to the role of leading development and delivery of Fleet Payments product. My responsibility here is to build the product by collaborating with various stakeholders like banks, fintechs, aggregators, and regulators.Hailing from a background in banking and commercial vehicle finance, it is exciting for me to blend my experience to create innovative payments methods around FASTag, fuel, and driver expenses. I enjoy helping commercial vehicle businesses by providing a bankable financial layer to endorse products like fleet payments management for fleet owners, fuel and toll credit systems for lenders, and neobanking for drivers.<h2 class="heading-node" id="a8gouebna" style="text-align: justify">How have you grown through the years as an M2Peer?</h2>It was a big gamble for me to join M2P. And I’m loving every second spent in the office. It's been a little more than 40 months in this organization. The experience has been great.I am thankful for being one of the first set of hires in Business Development (BD) and Product roles. Probably the only handful of people to have experienced the BD role, implementation, account management, bank interaction, and product development. I feel both proud and humbled to have contributed to all victories and new learnings.<h2 class="heading-node" id="dkrxqjhcj" style="text-align: justify">Is there a quote/saying that motivates you?</h2>Being a sports person, there are many quotes that motivate me. The most addictive one is this.‘The more you sweat in practice, the lesser you bleed in the battle.’And this is something I experience and correlate with M2P. They constantly re-engineer to improve the client’s experience. And so, we manage and thrive irrespective of the disruption.My next favorite quote is this from Benjamin Franklin.&nbsp;‘Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.’And finally, another one of my favorite sayings is, ‘Everything happens for a reason.’<h2 class="heading-node" id="znst90n7h" style="text-align: justify">What's that one thing your colleagues don't know about you?</h2>I am usually an open book. However, there is some behind-the-scene action I’d like to share now.I enjoy acting and have played a few roles in Tamil cinema and soaps during my college days.<h2 class="heading-node" id="qwueyr54m" style="text-align: justify">Have you played a practical joke in college/school?</h2>Oh yes. I was a total prankster during college. Here's one of the pranks I recall.Now this was the time when pizzas were delivered to a location over just a call. My group of friends and I sneaked into the staff room when no one was around and ordered 3 large pizzas in the name of the principal from the landline there. It became a huge embarrassment to the school, and the principal had to pay for it. However, the information was leaked, and we were caught a week later. 😊<h2 class="heading-node" id="s7z5uoq8h" style="text-align: justify">What inspires you the most about M2P?</h2>The team of founders, across M2P and the recently acquired brands. Their quality of giving complete freedom with responsibility inspires me the most. Other inspirational traits M2Peers exhibit are great respect, constant learning, and ownership over their jobs.<h2 class="heading-node" id="zdoyk0bf0" style="text-align: justify">What's your idea of a perfect day?</h2>For a day to be perfect, it must be filled with as many insights as possible. And that makes me look forward to the next day.<h2 class="heading-node" id="hv0buv63g" style="text-align: justify">What was your career path before joining M2P, and how has it changed?</h2>Right from my school and college days, I was a passionate table tennis player and competed at the national level. So, during my master's degree, I was conflicted between going pro in table tennis or taking up a campus offer from Federal Bank.It was like a toss of a coin, and I’ve never regretted my decision.&nbsp;I started my career with Federal Bank and moved on with Cholamandalam Finance in the commercial vehicle lending space. That’s when I got introduced to M2P.&nbsp; My journey as an M2Peer has been both blissful and exciting so far!<h2 class="heading-node" id="blcy2d9vd" style="text-align: justify">What are your hobbies/interests?</h2>I’ve still kept my passion for Table Tennis alive. I coach these days and participate in events representing M2P, be it a corporate, state, or national event.I also train the Tamil Nadu Senior State Table Tennis Team every year. For this reason, I am grateful to M2P for allowing me to pursue my passion.<h2 class="heading-node" id="mjhb0wdve" style="text-align: justify">Anything else you want to share about M2P?</h2>M2P is an incredible place to learn and grow. You need to be curious and updated on the regulations, bank strategies, and fintech ideas to make necessary changes to your products and platforms. M2P has come a long way in identifying problems and developing innovative approaches to address them. This marks a significant milestone in its journey.I am grateful for the faith and exposure that M2P has offered me. I look forward for the great journey ahead.Kudos to all M2Peers!Stick around, until we get back with an awesome story of another M2P star.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Meet Aditya Narasimhan, our Product Delivery Champ

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/11/Star-of-the-month_Star-of-the-Month-Rajesh-Word-Press.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="447">The Star of the Month series is back! This November, we shine the spotlight on Srikrishna Thota, our business development champion. A shuttler and a movie buff, Srikrishna is a go-getter with a penchant for identifying strategic opportunities, nurturing relationships, and closing deals. His love for goal setting, learning, and exploring has enabled him to grow in leaps and bounds. As we spoke to him about what makes him the star he is, he took us along his amazing five-and-a-half-year journey from being a marketing executive to becoming a business development ninja at M2P. Curious to know what makes him a star M2Peer? Then, just swipe down. You may even find his secret to success.<h2 class="heading-node" id="466swiyhx" style="text-align: justify">How do you usually start your workday?</h2>I believe health is wealth. So, I start the day with a brisk 45-minute jog, which keeps me energized and productive. Then I catch up on current events and kickstart my work mode with a cool to-do list where I factor in client calls and meetings for the day. After that, I connect with my team to ensure we clear roadblocks and thunder into business expansions.<h2 class="heading-node" id="igiq7f834" style="text-align: justify">What are your main responsibilities at work?</h2> My major responsibilities include setting business expansion goals, formulating and steering strategies for revenue growth, overseeing lead generation and sales, negotiating client pricing, and implementing new market initiatives. Then I train and motivate my team to implement high-growth strategies and help them remove blockers if any.<h2 class="heading-node" id="tep698r34" style="text-align: justify">How have you grown through the years as an M2Peer?</h2>My journey as an M2Peer began five years ago with Syntizen. Learning curves were immense and still prove to be challenging, considering the market dynamics. I had a brief stint as a marketing executive in a media company before I started out as a BD manager at Syntizen. The role opened great learning opportunities in dealing with challenging clients, boosting sales, and making sure a solid foundation was laid for the growth of the business. Being in the startup environment, I was given the capacity to work in several roles and responsibilities. My hard work, consistent learning, and attitude to take responsibility provided the impetus for me to move forward very quickly. Learning new things every day is something I liked doing as a student and at work. I'm grateful to everyone for their understanding, constant support, and willingness to teach me new things. Learning is the biggest secret that made me grow over the years.<h2 class="heading-node" id="ufeqbbclb" style="text-align: justify">Is there a quote/saying that motivates you?</h2>I am passionate about learning. So, these quotes motivate me. “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” —&nbsp;Anthony J. D’Angelo Nonetheless, it’s the people around me that inspire me the most.<h2 class="heading-node" id="yuahvk4wp" style="text-align: justify">What’s that one thing your colleagues don’t know about you?</h2> I’ve been an open book most of my life. If there is a secret, then it is meant to be kept so.<h2 class="heading-node" id="qpxd42ywn" style="text-align: justify">Have you ever played a practical joke in your school/college days?</h2> Not actually.<h2 class="heading-node" id="9fz75gezh" style="text-align: justify">What inspires you the most about your workplace?</h2>My colleagues inspire me every day, especially the founders. I'm lucky enough to get the opportunity to work with them from day one. I’ve been with the organization through thick and thin, and the experiences have moved me to excel both in my personal and professional life. Thanks to my colleagues and founders for all the inspiration and support. &nbsp;Special thanks to Mr. Siddharth, who is such a lovely person to work with. He is very supportive and never stops motivating me. M2P is a great place for all new entrants to learn and develop their careers.<h2 class="heading-node" id="ya6vt0650" style="text-align: justify">What’s your idea of a perfect day?</h2> My day will be perfect when I close the best deals and contribute towards revenue and profits.<h2 class="heading-node" id="vue9fxu95" style="text-align: justify">What are your hobbies/ interests?</h2> I enjoy playing badminton and catching up on movies. Whenever I get free time, I reach out to spend quality time with family and friends.<h2 class="heading-node" id="k9pmhxvj8" style="text-align: justify">Anything else you want to share with your peers?</h2>I’m glad that Syntizen has joined the M2P family. The organization has grown tremendously over the years and still has a lot to achieve! Here are my recommendations to fellow M2Peers who are looking to achieve goals in life.<ul class="list-node" id="mg6g46abz"><li>Internal motivation is the key</li><li>Don’t depend on anyone</li><li>Try to handle any situation on your own</li><li>Learn from your mistakes and improve</li></ul>Cheers to the M2P family! <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Meet Srikrishna Thota, our Industrious M2Peer

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/10/Star-of-the-month_May-Star-of-Month-Medium-Bolg.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="358">It’s Star of the Month time again. The time we take to recognize outstanding people at M2P. This October, we shine the spotlight on the charming and illustrious Akshatha, our Engineering Lead. Akshatha is an eternal optimist who enjoys pushing limits and resolving challenges. Be it breaking complex puzzles or engineering fintech products. She never misses an opportunity to shine. We wondered what makes Akshatha shine the way she does. We got into a candid chat with her to get to know her secret to an efficient and productive workday, along with her interests and her wonderful journey as an M2Peer. Here you go!<h2 class="heading-node" id="g2n8sbwru" style="text-align: justify">How do you usually start your workday?</h2>I start my day on a joyful, positive note. I begin my work by making a to-do list for the day. Then, I organize my work schedule to carry out my responsibilities with greater efficiency. Finding challenging things to work on is my passion. Solving issues that come my way and helping fellow teammates with their tasks makes my day.<h2 class="heading-node" id="qjwthdj8e" style="text-align: justify">What are your main responsibilities as Engineering Lead?</h2>I lead the Micro Finance product at Finflux. My responsibility lies in understanding client requirements, coordinating product design, and planning product development. Managing the complete product lifecycle from requirement gathering to go-live falls under my purview. I also develop certain product features to be in touch with core technical concepts. The mantra that helps me add value to whatever I do is “Build the product right and build the right product”.<h2 class="heading-node" id="w8nbftwew" style="text-align: justify">How have you grown through the years as an M2Peer?</h2>I joined Finflux as an intern almost 3 years back during college campus placements with no experience in the software domain. From there, I started my internship in the final year and after graduation, I continued as a full-time employee. Even though I started out at Finflux, looking back as an M2Peer, I am proud of myself for how far I have grown.&nbsp; My responsibilities have helped me mature not just as a tech person but also as a leader. The nurturing nature of the leadership team helped me explore my strength in different fields of the product and not restrict myself to just being a software developer. The technical exposure, challenges, and guidance from my mentors helped me grow in my professional life. I strongly believe that when we put in our hard work &amp; efforts at something, we will surely see the growth intended. I look forward to a long and fruitful journey as an M2Peer.<h2 class="heading-node" id="ve1dfauyz" style="text-align: justify">Is there a quote/saying that motivates you?</h2>Yes, there is one. Steve Jobs's quote always inspires me, ‘You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.’ I connect myself to the saying because everything I work on might not have an immediate impact. But I trust the process and take up every opportunity that comes on my way.<h2 class="heading-node" id="dtb3sxie3" style="text-align: justify">Have you ever played a practical joke in your school/college days?</h2> I have not played any practical jokes during my school/college times.<h2 class="heading-node" id="ps8kbprqk" style="text-align: justify">What’s that one thing your colleagues don’t know about you?</h2>Well, nobody knows that I was an emcee and writer during my college days. I hosted several events and was an editor of my monthly college magazine. I love anchoring events and I'm very fond of reading and writing articles.<h2 class="heading-node" id="q7fwoznm9" style="text-align: justify">What inspires you the most about your workplace?</h2>It's the people. M2P is a space where you can share your thoughts and suggestions in an open-minded way with everyone, right from founders to your peers. There are no barriers to communicating new ideas and this motivates me a lot. I also get complete freedom to take individual decisions and own them. This ability inspires me to keep improving by analyzing the outcomes of every decision I take.<h2 class="heading-node" id="wkxq6k3s1" style="text-align: justify">What’s your idea of a perfect day?</h2>A perfect day for me is executing my tasks as planned and accommodating ad-hoc tasks in the best way possible. If I finish my work on time and get quality time with my friends and family, I would call it a perfect day.<h2 class="heading-node" id="0b5jkfrux" style="text-align: justify">What was your career path before and how it has changed?</h2>I started this amazing journey as an intern to become what I am today. M2P is a place with lots of positive vibes that motivate one to keep improving.&nbsp; When we are surrounded by positive people and goal-oriented mindsets, accomplishing great things and scaling new heights becomes possible. My seniors in Finflux were very supportive and always guided me to sharpen my leadership skills. Here I'd like to shower a special mention to Dhiru, because of the way he comes up with innovative solutions for any issue. This inspires me to think in a unique way, make things possible and develop the 'never to give up' attitude. Working on various segments like gold loans, microfinance, and other fintech products gave me a lot of exposure to understanding how every product works.&nbsp;I started to inculcate this knowledge into anything I design based on the target customers. The maturity of understanding how each customer would require the feature or product to work is a big learning I acquired. Now I step into the 4th year with M2P. It's amazing! It's indeed an incredible step-by-step journey to reach where I am today. I look forward to greater experiences and learning.<h2 class="heading-node" id="sjootmbfo" style="text-align: justify">What are your hobbies/ interests?</h2>Basically, I am a classical singer and I never miss indulging myself in extracurricular activities. As an Abacus graduate, solving puzzles is my passion. Though traveling is my hidden interest, I haven't gotten the opportunity to explore that area. In future, I hope I get to travel a lot more.<h2 class="heading-node" id="bb7rs11t9" style="text-align: justify">Anything else you want to share with your peers?</h2>It has been 3 wonderful years at Finflux. I would like to thank all my peers for this amazing and wonderful opportunity. Special mention to Nayan Ambali who always keeps motivating me to take my own decisions and retrospect on the results. I believe that with the combined effort and efficient communication between teams we have achieved a lot already and there is so much more to achieve. Since we are always motivated, we are growing tremendously and nothing is out of our reach.&nbsp;I can grab every opportunity out there and make it fruitful for us. M2P has enabled me to learn, explore and grow in a better way. Looking forward to a lot more learning opportunities from each and everyone in the future. Keep inspiring, team M2P!😊 <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Get to Know Akshatha, our Engineering Whiz

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/09/May-Star-of-Month-Blog.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="253">It's time for our Star of the Month to shine!This September, we spotlight Karan Modi, Tech Lead as the Star of this Month.Karan is an optimistic techie with a passion for learning and exploring. He began his career in the financial sector from scratch and has grown in leaps and bounds by setting exciting benchmarks.But that's not all. We wanted to know what makes this remarkable M2Peer shine the way he does.So, we got into a candid chat with Karan to uncover his motivations, interests, and his secret winning mantra.Curious to know more? Keep reading then.<h2 class="heading-node" id="g48btrhdr" style="text-align: justify">1. How do you usually start your workday?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Many may think otherwise. But trust me. This is an interesting question.Because the way you start off sets the tone for the rest of the day.Be it a workday or weekend, I always start on a positive note. Then I list my responsibilities and schedule everything for the fantastic day ahead of me.I connect with my team and ensure we navigate the workday as per our plan. But before anything, we quickly grab a cup of steaming coffee.<h2 class="heading-node" id="1vmihoedw" style="text-align: justify">2. What are your main responsibilities as Tech Lead?</h2>As Tech Lead, the first thing I do every day is gather and understand client requirements. Then it's all about teamwork.We collaborate to analyze requirements, sort out challenges and define solutions. Since I handle the payments segment, managing security is my key responsibility.I believe team happiness and motivation are crucial to productivity. So, I interact with my team to resolve issues, if any.<h2 class="heading-node" id="ikensee0d" style="text-align: justify">3. How have you grown through the years as an M2Peer?</h2>I started out as a developer in the BSG family, and it's been a wonderful journey for the past 5 years. I had immense opportunities to explore technologies and grow my skills by setting exciting benchmarks.All thanks to the top-notch people I’ve worked with over the past few years, I was able to learn a lot about the industry, products, technology, and people. Special mentions to my peers for being there for me both personally and professionally. Today, I’m thrilled to be an M2Peer and look forward to greater accomplishments.<h2 class="heading-node" id="we61rho1b" style="text-align: justify">4. Is there a quote/saying that motivates you?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Whenever I feel a bit stressed or low, I tell myself - “Karan, keep calm!”Taking some time off helps me relax. Once I relax and feel rejuvenated, I start working with greater vigor.<h2 class="heading-node" id="r8gw7nepr" style="text-align: justify">5. What's that one thing your colleagues don't know about you?</h2>I loved athletics back in my school days. In fact, I was sports representative for Kho-Kho in Surat.<h2 class="heading-node" id="wd29b1c0p" style="text-align: justify">6. What inspires you the most about your workplace?</h2>People I work with inspire me. Their out-of-box solutioning, work ethics and communication style galvanize me into action. &nbsp;I’m grateful for the amazing learning and growth opportunities M2P offers me.<h2 class="heading-node" id="o95rlrwyy" style="text-align: justify">7. What's your idea of a perfect day?&nbsp;</h2>A perfect day to me entails a healthy work-life balance. I am the happiest when I spend quality time with family and give my fullest to work without any compromise.<h2 class="heading-node" id="p6nwcfgut" style="text-align: justify">8. What was your career path before, and how has it changed?</h2>There was a time when I didn't know anything about finance. Even basic definitions of credit or debit were Greek and Latin to me.But today I’m a seasoned professional in the financial industry. I feel proud to look back and realize how much I have grown in the past few years.I began my career journey in an implementation team for a private company. My growth trajectory skyrocketed from Senior Software Engineer to Tech Lead when I joined BSG. Today we have spread our wings and are soaring with the wonderful M2P family.<h2 class="heading-node" id="l62ixyb0f" style="text-align: justify">9. What are your hobbies/ interests?</h2>I like to spend quality time with my friends and family. I also enjoy playing cricket whenever I find the time. I have recently developed a keen interest in traveling and exploring breath-taking destinations!<h2 class="heading-node" id="om98pkskz" style="text-align: justify">10. Anything else you want to share with your peers?</h2>I'm glad to be working and learning new things among the great minds here! I have learned, improved, and grown in numerous ways here. Grateful to all the remarkable peers I have.Keep rocking, Team M2P! 😊<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Catching up with Karan Modi, our Alpha Geek

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/08/Goutham-Arunagiri_May-Star-of-Month.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="253">As we continued exploring the stories of different stars at M2P, we stumbled upon another one this month. &nbsp;Give it up for the Star of this Month - Goutham Arunagiri, our very own Senior Software Engineer👏&nbsp;Goutham is a very curious person. You can always find him with his peers learning and exploring to widen his horizons. Starting his career as an electrician, Goutham took a turn to become our favorite tech support avenger at M2P. And yes, he has an inspiring story that he's been keeping to himself. &nbsp;Well, we tried to uncover some from our little chit-chat on his career, interests, and inspirations. So read on as we discover more about our inquisitive M2Peer! &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="5ev5uinth">How would you start your workday?&nbsp;</h2>First off, I want to thank you all for this wonderful recognition.&nbsp;&nbsp;Coming back to the question, I love starting my workday with heaps of positivity in it. Usually, I go in a placid mode and maintain a calm mindset, ready to embrace the learning every day has to offer. &nbsp;Be it fun or stress, I grab it wholeheartedly and just accept it.&nbsp;&nbsp;That's how it is, my little secret to surviving stressful days, hahaha😊.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="suf7g4trd">Can you describe your responsibilities as a Senior Software Engineer?&nbsp;</h2>First and foremost, I need to ensure that the client faces no issues. In case of any technical or server issues, we resolve them at the earliest.&nbsp;The goal is to have ZERO issues at all times. That's my primary responsibility. In addition, I also handle ad hoc requirements.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Every day, I challenge myself to identify client issues and enable a smooth and happy transaction journey for them.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="pwh7vfbp5">What was your career path before joining M2P, and how has it changed?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>As a fresher, I was unsure of my career direction. But, ever since joining the M2P family, my life changed. Learning, exploring, and growing are now my way of life.&nbsp;From being an electrician initially, to learning about Ops and thriving in Tech Support, it is one heck of a journey. &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="fqvg746ax">How have you grown through the years as an M2Peer?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>FOUR YEARS ALREADY! Time really flew.&nbsp;All I can look back to is a lot of learning, growth, and fun. &nbsp;As I said earlier, I was a complete fresher with zero knowledge about the payments industry. My journey started out as an Operational Engineer at M2P, where I initially used to sit with people and observe how things are handled.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thanking my pals and mentors, Preethi Parthasarathy and Vasantha Kumar Jayachandran, for helping me grasp the nuances of the payments industry.&nbsp;I was always curious about Tech Support and wanted to give it a try. When I was fully ready, Muthu and Prabhu gave me the opportunity to move to Tech Support. And here I am, growing my wings at M2P.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="s6yqfsxb3">Is there a quote/saying that motivates you?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Yes. There is one.&nbsp;&nbsp;I like telling myself, "Let's face it" (in Tamil, 'PATHUKALAM'). It motivates me to accept anything I'm facing and helps me to get over it.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="4475fnppa">What's that one thing your colleagues don't know about you?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Well, surely most of them won't know that I was an electrician. That's how it all started.&nbsp;&nbsp;And I'm also a little chef of my own, who is especially fond of cooking non-vegetarian dishes. &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="zo6f1iarm">What inspires you the most about M2P?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Wow. There is a lot that inspires me here. Thanks for asking that.&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, can I reveal the secret? It is the PEOPLE, my fellow M2Peers!&nbsp;&nbsp;People are so kind, knowledgeable, and helpful here. Most of my learning outcomes are from the amazing peers I have. &nbsp;Nobody says NO to new learnings! Well, this might be a little confusing, but people will never say no to my questions. They answered them all. For beginners, this is the dream to learn, explore and understand the industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="8cn1imi1v">What's your idea of a perfect day?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>There isn't one. The mantra is to face and resolve every issue in tech support.&nbsp;&nbsp;But wait. There is actually something that could make our days a little more perfect.&nbsp;&nbsp;That's an appreciation from our client.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="tv09a0zhf">What are your hobbies/ interests?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>I love to travel. And most of the time, I am very fascinated by movies. So watching them on the First Day, First Show (FDFS) makes me feel amazing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I also love playing cricket, indoor games, and spending quality time with friends and family.<h2 class="heading-node" id="5ts8x5dpv">Anything else you want to share about M2P?&nbsp;</h2>M2P is a great place to learn, and it brings out the best in you! There is a lot to learn, share and explore here.&nbsp;&nbsp;A huge shoutout to all the M2Peers out there. Keep rocking you all!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Everybody starts from scratch, and everyone has a different story to share!&nbsp;Stay tuned until we are back with an amazing story of another M2Peer next month!<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Catching up with Goutham Arunagiri, our Software Avenger!

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/07/Star_of_the_month__July_2021_V1_Star_of_the_Month_Word_Press1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="317">Yay, it’s ‘Star of the Month’ time again!This July, we happily spotlight Gokula Krishnan, our industrious and dynamic M2Peer. We had a heart-to-heart chat with Gokul and unearthed his enigmatic fun side when he confessed his love for acting, bikes, rain, and Maestro Ilayaraaja’s music. He also took us on a quick fascinating trip down his career path, his motivations, and the work he adores.Well, we know you are curious now.Here are some nuggets from our chit-chat.<h2 class="heading-node" id="99ad">1.&nbsp;How do you usually start your workday?</h2>The moment I reach the office, the first thing I do is relax. This helps me to turn on a positive mindset to start a bright and fun workday. Then I proceed with my work schedule.After a quick catch-up with the admin team, I understand the requirements for the day. I then follow up on the admin tasks across all office locations.<h2 class="heading-node" id="da8b">2.&nbsp;What are your main responsibilities as an admin?</h2>The fun part about my job is that there are no set works or limits. Every day is a new day, and so are the incoming requirements. So, there are a lot of new learnings here.Right from managing couriers, laptops, identity cards, and other ad hock requirements, I need to ensure the tasks are completed on time. Once my admin-related works are completed smoothly, I will collate data to report to my team.For better understanding, let me breakdown the work process into three steps:· Understand the requirement· Coordinate and come up with solutions· Execute themIn a nutshell, I handle the planning, coordination, and execution of day-to-day administrative activities at M2P.<h2 class="heading-node" id="383e">3.&nbsp;How have you grown through the years as an M2Peer?</h2>My growth curve has always been an upward one. I have learnt and am learning, and there is still a long way to go.At M2P, I started out in the packaging section, then moved across teams and learned to develop my coordination skills for all requirements. Handling multiple requirements helped me learn about admin, finance, and HR departments. It is ideal to say that over the years, I grasped many things that still motivate me to bring the best out of me.<blockquote class="block-node" id="n4rv26itx">I am grateful to one of my mentors, Balakrishnan Elumalai, who helped me learn new things in finance.</blockquote><h2 class="heading-node" id="dff7">4.&nbsp;Is there a quote/saying that motivates you?</h2>I usually try to take an out-of-the-box approach to many things.Motivational Quote? Nothing of that sort.But music? Definitely!I am a huge fan of Maestro Ilayaraaja Sir. Whenever I feel like I need motivation, I listen to his melodies and get back on track instantly.<h2 class="heading-node" id="62b5">5.&nbsp;What’s that one thing your colleagues don’t know about you?</h2>Ah well, here it goes. I haven’t revealed this to my peers yet.I love trying my hands at acting in films. In fact, I’ve played an actor in a Tamil film that’s yet to be released in theatres.<h2 class="heading-node" id="de03">6.&nbsp;What inspires you the most about M2P?</h2>It’s the way the co-founders drive the organization. The culture they aspire to develop and the immense opportunities they create to learn and grow. They inspire me to hustle every day.Not just that. All M2Peers are equally welcoming and very helpful. They’ve reached out and helped me to learn many things from scratch. This empathetic and warm culture inspires me a lot 😊<h2 class="heading-node" id="a62a">7.&nbsp;What’s your idea of a perfect day?</h2>Each day is perfect for me. Going to bed with a dream and waking up with a purpose. But whenever possible, I love spending time with my family. Spending quality time with my dear ones is a perfect topping on my perfect day.<h2 class="heading-node" id="7a4e">8.&nbsp;What was your career path before joining M2P, and how has it changed?</h2>It wasn’t all easy when I started my career. Initially, I worked in the packaging section of a company. Then I went on to act in some films.But the real magic happened when I started my journey at M2P. I saw a new dimension unlock for me and a wonderful opportunity to learn. From the packaging section, to finance, and now admin-related works, I have learnt a lot of new things here at M2P. From the learning stage to exploring new horizons, I can see my career and personal life grow here.<h2 class="heading-node" id="b894">9.&nbsp;What are your hobbies/ interests?</h2>I love riding bikes alone. Driving in the rain while listening to Illayaraaja’s symphony is heaven on earth to me. I also love to play cricket at times.<h2 class="heading-node" id="fe7d">10.&nbsp;Anything else you want to share about M2P?</h2>M2P is the best place to learn, grow and have fun. As simple as that.I have never faced stress at work, as there are so many wonderful people around.<blockquote class="block-node" id="hkxiyaj4x">One word can sum up my journey at M2P — AMAZING!</blockquote>Cheers!<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Get to Know Gokula Krishnan, our Admin Hero

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/07/B2B-Experience_Main-Banner.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="529">Enhancing customer experience is imperative for any business. Even if the products and services are feature-rich, they can still be undervalued if the interface is boring and navigation inefficient. Poorly designed interfaces can lead to poor customer experiences that result in increased overhead costs and customer attrition. Whether you are in the B2B or B2C space, boosting customer experience, cutting cost and minimizing churn is crucial for survival.To drive customer loyalty, boost revenue, and maximize value proposition, great Experience Design (XDE) is vital.But how can you implement XDE without compromising security and compliance?We got expert help here.Catch Mahalakshmi, our Experience Design Lead, share her perspectives on how smart design thinking and a customer-centric approach can enhance user experience. Drawing from her experience, she implores deep into the compelling need for XDE in B2B space.<h2 class="heading-node" id="bd0d" style="text-align: justify">Breaking complexities</h2>Most of us have had frustrating experiences with mobile or web-based applications. One classic example is the company-mandated software we use to make expense claims. Imagine the last time you went on an HR portal to make an expense claim. The maze of forms, confusing terms and unnecessary steps makes you want to give up on even hoping for a refund. The next time you think about reimbursement, it feels like it’d be easier to spend your own money or give up on the expense altogether.B2B applications such as these have the potential to deliver huge value but are difficult to unlock. In simple terms, they are feature rich but complicated to use. Most B2B products are notorious for lousy user experience (UX) and lack customer support, even for common tasks. Though B2C products started out the same way back in the nineties, today their designs are more customer-centric, evolved, and matured.To break the complexities in the B2B design, the focus needs to shift towards “Experience Design” from just providing pure tech solutions.<blockquote class="block-node" id="mlljz4lwk">Offering a reasonably good user experience is now a basic necessity and not a luxury anymore.</blockquote><h2 class="heading-node" id="ecd9" style="text-align: justify">What is experience design?</h2>Experience design is the process of crafting products, services, and interactions that create enhanced experiences for users. The design should focus on solving customer problems, eliciting positive emotions, and driving repeated usage and references.<h2 class="heading-node" id="9007" style="text-align: justify">Why B2B companies lag behind in XDE ?</h2>Most B2B products have still not prioritized experience design. Some of them were built when the internet was in its infancy, and the technology required to provide rich experiences was non-existent.In the race to acquire customers, more focus is often given to features over experience during product development. To deliver quick go-to-market speed, product teams usually develop and code without a concrete experience design in hand. In most common cases, product teams are fully comprised of engineers and technology lovers and the product is solely built by them. Their focus is to ensure that the product provides many features and is functionally reliable.In cases where product teams try to understand user needs, usually, they tend to believe in “we know our customers” and rely on good intentions to set the direction for the product. The gut feeling makes some product teams skip user research, thus failing to dig deeper into user needs and goals.This happens due to a common misbelief that bringing UX to development adds time, effort, and resources to budgets. Other challenges B2B companies often face are getting access to users, the right resources, or acquiring the required data.<h2 class="heading-node" id="e281" style="text-align: justify">Do B2B companies not care about UX at all?</h2>Of course, they do! The good thing is that most B2B companies care about offering a good product experience. But tend to stay away from focusing on UX because of the above reasons. These days very few companies seem to not have overlooked the value of UX. However, even when companies are partially convinced about the need for good design, they don’t practice it actively or tend to procrastinate.<h2 class="heading-node" id="df7f" style="text-align: justify">Need to prioritize experience design</h2>Prioritizing experience design is now more important than ever, as business (B2B) buyers are also everyday users of consumer (B2C) digital products that, as a general rule, deliver a great experience. From the perspective of user expectations, the lines between B2B and B2C are getting increasingly blurry.Users spend an average of 6 hours daily online, constantly surfing the web and making decisions using consumer websites or mobile applications. This gives them the opportunity to compare any design with other services. Thus, even an average user is accustomed to high levels of experience, and this leaves them in a position to judge UX critically.Products with bad user interfaces and experience have difficulty meeting basic metrics like task experience, engagement, clarity, and satisfaction. The end result is loss of trust and loyalty, which takes a toll on brand value and is irreversible. Brands that earn a bad reputation find it very expensive to improve.<h2 class="heading-node" id="fd50" style="text-align: justify">Experience design, a strategic investment</h2>People who believe ‘XDE is expensive’ need to understand that including UX design in product development simply means a shift in investment that ultimately leads to more efficient project timelines. Through an upfront investment in prototyping solutions, testing them with users, and then iterating on the designs before development, a company can avoid expensive rework after the product is built.<h2 class="heading-node" id="03b6" style="text-align: justify">Fasten development, satisfy users</h2>A clearly defined UX process can speed up development by providing developers with well-defined and tested requirements and style guides. Rather than building and fixing a product, solutions can be created, rapidly tested, iterated upon and validated, and then developed with confidence.Developers can work faster because they don’t have to guess what it should look like since all their deliverables are clearly illustrated and documented.A well-designed product will undoubtedly result in higher user engagement, greater system efficiency, and satisfied customers.<h2 class="heading-node" id="bf29" style="text-align: justify">Align business goals and user needs</h2>UX designers should always strive to create a strategic user-centered design plan that enables them to understand and connect the overall strategy with the business goals and user needs while maintaining a positive balance between them. The plan should help establish active collaboration between cross-functional teams, a core requirement for any product to become successful.<h2 class="heading-node" id="bf18" style="text-align: justify">Boost loyalty, engagement, and sales</h2>User’s experience in business apps is as important as the value they deliver. The importance given to high-quality user experience (UX) is increasing exponentially, not just in the B2C context but in B2B as well. B2B companies find great user experience a powerful instrument to increase customer loyalty, engagement, and sales.And good UX doesn’t happen by accident.<blockquote class="block-node" id="ue5bqe39k">It is always a result of careful planning, diligent research, analysis, investment of time and money, and continuous improvement.</blockquote>Want to know more about implementing UX in your products?Write to us at&nbsp;<a class="link au mn" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">business@m2pfintech.com</a><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Elevating B2B Experience Design

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/wordpress-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="5hz84v7cu" width="100%" height="317">Friday vibes just grew stronger post lunchtime. M2Peers geared up for their exciting weekend escapades.And Devang, our fintech fanatic too had 'exciting' plans. He was waiting impatiently to spend his weekend on all things fintech, while sipping his fresh glass of juice.&nbsp;That's Devang Mehta, our Vice President of Business Development in a nutshell.&nbsp;&nbsp;Devang is popular among M2Peers and industry peers for his fintech-fused mind. He is the go-to person for anything related to fintech and beyond.We feature this whiz kid and ex-banker as our Star of the Month this June.&nbsp;Curious to know what inspires Devang and keeps his going?Keep scrolling.<h2 class="heading-node" id="pwnuthg73">How do you usually start your workday? &nbsp;</h2>I ensure my mornings have a positive start to set my day right. My mornings are filled with prayers and news reading rituals.&nbsp;LinkedIn is my favourite spot to get the hot and happening news around the globe.&nbsp;When we are fast asleep, other countries are up, so there is a lot to catch up on when we wake up. This is my routine before I go to bed as well. &nbsp;The to-do list is my saviour for the day. I list all my tasks and ensure those are checked on the same day. Time is limited for all, so I put everything I want to do on my calendar.&nbsp;Recently, I have added yoga, workouts and swimming to the morning activities for about 30 minutes daily, which helps me a lot with energy and stamina throughout the day.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="y351ehfie">What are your main responsibilities as VP of Business Development? &nbsp;</h2>The list below pretty much sums up my typical workday.&nbsp;<ul class="list-node" id="ojq9ghvpf"><li>Client meetings&nbsp;</li><li>Understanding client requirements and offering solutions&nbsp;</li><li>Brainstorming innovative business ideas, tricks and strategy &nbsp;</li><li>Competitor analysis&nbsp;</li><li>Communication of new product developments to potential clients&nbsp;</li><li>Providing management with feedback&nbsp;</li><li>Developing entry-level salesforce&nbsp;</li><li>Collaborating with other companies (M&amp;A)&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="mu95ncss7">How have you grown through the years as an M2Peer?   &nbsp;</h2>Before I started my innings with M2P, I was a banker. I worked with banks like Citi Bank, DCB Bank and RBL Bank, where my core responsibility was managing customers and growing inorganically. In the banking sector, the groundwork was established and all set.But when I moved to M2P, the environment was completely different.&nbsp;I was one of the few early joiners in the M2P family.&nbsp;I got a lot of exposure to managing difficult clients and ensuring that the business relationship was built firmly. One of my best learnings after stepping into the fintech ecosystem is knowing how to build and manage relationships.&nbsp;This helped me to become a "Rainmaker", i.e., someone who is not just being transactional but following a "Cockroach Startup Approach" (to keep moving and thriving despite changing market conditions, environments, or investment scenarios).&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="ayfoc0qlr">Is there a quote/saying that motivates you?   &nbsp;</h2>I follow two sayings:&nbsp;"Dear self, never try to defeat people; just try to win them."&nbsp; &nbsp;Another one that motivates me greatly in my career is "Sales Department isn't the whole company, but the whole company better be the sales department."&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="hhktcakit">What's that one thing your colleagues don't know about you? &nbsp;</h2>My friends almost know everything about me, but they were surprised to see my dance video. Most of them don't know that I&nbsp; hold a Brown Belt in Karate.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="tvlajp4x3">What inspires you the most about M2P? &nbsp;</h2>My daily dose of inspiration comes from our very own founders. They taught me three important things.<ul class="list-node" id="gk35j502m"><li>Thinking and driving the business forward</li><li>Setting the business expectations right</li><li>Staying grounded in difficult situations</li></ul>I always think of our founders as the sun, that radiates incredible energy. It's all about how people absorb this energy. When taken positively- people can feel a spark (motivation to grow) and receive vitamin D. If taken negatively, people would feel burned out. &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="6i27u2ty2">What's your idea of a perfect day?   &nbsp;</h2>Perfect day? I would rather say the perfect start for the day is to wake up without an alarm.&nbsp;&nbsp;Recently one piece of advice helped me a lot. And I would like to share it with you too.Find a peaceful place in your house and sit there for 10-15 mins every day to meditate. This has brought good results, and I'm sure you will realize it too.  &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="akmnja20o">What was your career path before joining M2P, and how has it changed? &nbsp;</h2>I was in the banking sector before starting my journey with M2P. I am proud to say that I was the best in our team but not in banking. I feel that banks will restrict you to only one ecosystem until you don't reach the management level, whereas fintech gives you a holistic view of the business.&nbsp;While in banking, I received much recognition from the senior leadership team at times like town hall meet or annual days. But vice versa happened in fintech, where you don't need an award, just learning and working towards improvement is high enough. &nbsp;Everyone in the team will recognize you due to your hard work, irrespective of your position.I go by the ideology that, 'the day the market knows your company because of you, that day will be your career-changing moment'.&nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="v8llna9bv">What are your hobbies/interests? &nbsp;</h2>I love grooving and dancing whenever I feel like it. I also like to drive and explore new destinations. In addition, learning new is how I spend most of my leisure time.&nbsp;   &nbsp;<h2 class="heading-node" id="a7wa4zfx5">Anything else you want to share about M2P? &nbsp;</h2>M2P will have incredible velocity in the coming days! We are very proud of that.We are expecting to be Unicorn and Decacorn very soon. In M2P, the best part is right from founders to all our M2Peers, everyone strives to learn new every day. M2P gives you a platform to perform, but it's up to us to decide if we want to crawl, walk, or run.  So come on M2Peers, let’s have fun and grow together!<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

A Candid Chat with M2P's Fintech Fanatic, Devang Mehta

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Main-Banner-Better-Half-2000-x-1000.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="7jtekie6y" width="100%" height="253">Better Half means SO MUCH to me. In my previous role in hiring, I always wondered why it was difficult to resume one’s career after a break. After all, knowledge and experience doesn’t diminish right?M2P’s Better Half Program not only asks this very question but also backs it up. When I came across the Better Half program, I hovered over the link for a while with so many questions flashing through my mind. Isn’t 11 years too much of a break? Will I find the right role? Will I have to compromise?It was a while since I had a CV done so I just filled in the online form and hit ‘Submit’ After a few days, I was sidetracked with moving home from one state to another when I got a call from <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/">M2P</a>!What struck me straight off the bat was that this did not feel like an interview. It was more like a friendly discussion that set my mind at ease. One thing led to another and I progressed to further discussions with the larger team. Before I could realize it, I was an M2Peer, with a configured laptop and mails rolling in (Just like how it was)Today, as I head to the office with my laptop bag slung over my shoulder (and a packed lunch of course!) I feel at home after more than a decade. I understand my responsibilities, and where I fit in. It feels like I’m picking up where I left off — Not an easy thing to do in today’s world. I’m grateful to my team members and the People Success team for playing a massive role in this. I’m eager to learn and grow. Every day.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

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