So long IBM, and thanks for all the fish

20 years ago, I walked into an IBM office in Philadelphia to interview for a role is the SAP analytics team. The interview was not hard at all and when I was asked whether I had any questions, I asked “Why should I join IBM instead of one of your competitors?”.

The interviewer said “If you want to build toys and do the same thing over and over, you have many options including our competitors. If you want to help land a man on the moon – you should join IBM”.

That was it – I was sold right then and there and I joined IBM. I can’t say I managed to do anything that can be compared to putting a man on the moon – but I did some pretty amazing work here for my clients.

IBM is not the kind of place you run away from – the primary reason being the IBMers who make this place special. Some of my best friendships are with the people I have met here – colleagues, clients, partners etc. My value system is closely aligned with the high standards IBM is well known for. So it did take a great opportunity to run towards – and a lot of tossing and turning and introspection- before I decided to move on. I will talk more about that next week. My last day in IBM will be December 7th,2025

I hardly ever did the same thing twice in my time here – I just looked at LinkedIn and realised that I had 12 different roles and 12 different managers in the last decade or so – including some that I did in parallel. Crazy as it sounds now – I can say that it was the ride of a life time and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I worked in all our commercial markets in various roles across consulting and technology, did a global stint, was CTO, ran multiple large businesses and learned so many different technologies along the way. I was mentored by some of the very best leaders in IBM, and I in turn was lucky to play a small part in the careers of several IBMers (and some outside IBM too). One of the most satisfying parts of my time here was sponsoring and teaching Bee school and T-school when they first started. Several of my “students” are now senior executives 🙂 . Those sessions are what gives me hope that one day I might be able to live my dream of teaching math and physics to high school kids!

My daughter has only ever known me as an IBMer. Look at what she wrote in her first grade journal about the job she wants to do 🙂

In the first part of my time in IBM, it was Ken Englund and the late John Leffler who took me under their wings and taught me everything I know. No words will ever be enough to thank them.

In the second half, there have been multiple leaders that I have learned from. I will refrain from listing them because I am sure I will forget someone. If I could pick the best manager I ever had in my life – in IBM or outside – that would be Marianne Cooper. She was my boss only for a year or so but she was several notches above everyone else that I have to give her a special shout out.

I have fond memories of solving very hard problems for our clients and the high highs and low lows that inevitably had to be experienced. A few I remember vividly – writing a costing application for the entire supply chain of a F100 semiconductor company from scratch, solving a complicated planning problem for a mutual fund where the chief investment officer had the fancy idea of “infinitely flexible model”, helping an FS client create their first machine learning platform …. and so many more. The reason I remember them are because of the engineering geekiness, but the real challenge was never the technology. All those projects tested my ability to bring together the right people and keep them focused through the ups and downs.

IBMers are a very special kind of people and I will terribly miss working with you all every day. If I have offended any of you along the way, please accept my sincere apologies. I will always be grateful for our time together!

I will always be an IBMer in spirit – and I am sure I will meet you all at some airport somewhere on the globe 🙂

And Pranab – I never thought you and will both join and leave IBM together. Wish you nothing but the very best dada !