Some conversations don’t just fill the room; they stay with you long after they’re over.
Recently, I found myself reflecting on an episode of our Culture & Career Corner podcast where Anamika sat down with two remarkable IT By Design team members: Prince Choudhary and Nikki.
Listening to them, I didn’t just hear answers to questions.
I heard the story of ITBD: told through two people who live our culture every day.
And I want to share that story with you, in the way I experienced it.
The Journey That Began With Curiosity
Prince’s story begins with a title many might overlook: Training Coordinator.
But from the moment he described his journey, it became clear that his path at ITBD was anything but ordinary.
“From the beginning, my work naturally moved in a different direction,” he shared.
Instead of simply coordinating training, he was:
- Improving systems and processes
- Building internal learning platforms
- Partnering with MIS
- Creating AI-driven automations
- Developing tools that strengthened the way we operate
What struck me most was his sincerity when he described his first year:
“My journey has been full of growth and gratitude… and I’m genuinely grateful for how much I’ve learned.”
This is someone who didn’t wait for permission to innovate, rather he directly stepped into it.
And just as importantly, he felt trusted while doing it.
Every time he wanted to learn more, leadership said yes.
Every time he wanted to take on more responsibility, someone opened the door.
That is the culture I’ve always hoped we’d build. And hearing it through his words made me incredibly proud.
A Path That Shifted into Something Bigger
Then there’s Nikki.
She began her ITBD career rooted in client experience and operations. But as she put it, the world of events, programs, and community building somehow started calling her name.
Before she knew it, she found herself right in the center of two major initiatives:
- Build IT Live, our flagship event
- Our rapidly growing AI programs
She described handling everything from planning to logistics to full execution: a journey that stretched her, inspired her, and helped her grow in ways she never anticipated.
What I loved most was when she said:
“These programs are transformational, not just for our partners, but for our internal teams and MSP leaders across the industry.”
This is someone who didn’t just enter a new space. She reinvented how she shows up in it.
What Culture Feels Like When You’re Living It
When Anamika shifted the conversation toward ITBD’s culture, I leaned in; because this is the part that tells me whether we’re building what we always envisioned.
Prince didn’t hesitate.
“Honestly… super awesome,” he said with a smile in his voice.
For him, every day at ITBD offers something new to:
- Learn
- Build
- Explore
He sees teammates as friendly, collaborative, supportive, yet still deeply professional.
And what he connects with most are our HAPPY values.
His favorite?
Humility.
“Humility is important. It gives me the chance to learn from everyone.”
And honestly… humility defines him.
He is as grounded as he is brilliant.
Nikki, on the other hand, described ITBD in a way that truly touched me:
“A community built on trust, equal voice, and growth.”
From day one, she felt welcomed, not just as a professional, but as a person.
She felt encouraged to ask questions, to learn, and to step into bigger challenges.
She said whenever she hears the word “collaborative,” she thinks of ITBD.
If there is one compliment a founder loves hearing, it is that.
The Life Lessons That Shape Who We Become
What truly elevated this conversation for me was when both shared the lessons they live by.
Nikki’s Lessons:
- Communicate early, clearly, and with kindness. The clarity and courage to speak up can prevent most misunderstandings.
- People matter more than roles. The environment you choose shapes the person you become.
- Progress over perfection. Because forward is forward, even if the steps aren’t perfect.
As they discussed this, Anamika said something I’ve repeated many times myself:
Growth doesn’t happen in comfort. You have to give up to go up.
And she’s absolutely right. The journey matters even more than the ending.
She has perfectly embodied this philosophy in her actions. She has sacrificed comfort over growth.
Prince’s Lessons:
- Fake it until you make it, the right way. See yourself as the person you want to become… and then grow into that vision.
- Treat challenges as opportunities. Discomfort is where the real growth lives.
- Embrace AI & future tech fearlessly. Not as a threat, but as a tool that amplifies your strengths.
His perspective on AI was powerful:
“If I don’t embrace AI, someone else will. And they might become better than me.”
This is the truth many still hesitate to accept. The developments are happening at a breakneck speed. One needs to keep pace. Rather, stay one step ahead of the AI disruptions everday.
Why AI Belongs to Everyone; Not Just Tech Teams
Both Prince and Nikki touched on something I believe deeply:
AI isn’t here to replace humans.
It’s here to extend them.
Nikki said it beautifully:
“If you’re working with two hands today, embracing AI is like working with four.”
And as Prince pointed out, AI only becomes powerful when guided by a subject matter expert.
AI won’t replace leaders.
But leaders who use AI will replace those who resist it.
That’s why at ITBD, we are training:
- Engineers
- Sales teams
- HR teams
- Operations teams
- Marketing
- And every single community member
Not just executives.
Not just leadership.
Everyone.
And because of that, applicants tell us all the time:
“You’re one of the very few companies taking AI to this level.”
That’s the ITBD difference. We don’t gatekeep growth, we share it, scale it. Growth, much like happiness, expands multifold when shared.
The Culture We Built and Continue to Build Together
As the podcast wrapped up, I felt a deep sense of gratitude.
Because the culture Prince and Nikki described: the trust, the support, the opportunity, the humanity. That’s exactly the culture we set out to build when we started this company.
A place where:
- Growth is intentional
- Support is real
- Learning is constant
- Values are lived, not framed
- AI is embraced, not feared
- Every voice matters
- Every person feels seen
Prince and Nikki are proof that when you design a workplace around people, the results speak for themselves.
Their stories aren’t just inspiring; they’re reaffirming and validating.
Because Here, Growth Isn’t Just Encouraged; It’s Designed.
As I reflect on this conversation, one truth becomes clear:
IT By Design is more than a company; it’s a community.
A community of like-minded individuals pursuing growth.
Prince and Nikki’s journeys remind me why we do what we do.
And why building this culture will always be my proudest work.
Because at ITBD, we don’t just prepare people for the future.
We prepare them to lead it.
And that, more than anything, is the ITBD difference.
I’ll be back with more such inspiring and exciting stories soon. Until then, subscribe to my channel and stay tuned: https://www.youtube.com/@ITByDesign/
