I’ve always believed that culture isn’t something you announce. You don’t roll it out in a deck or frame it on a wall.
You feel it: in how people grow, how they speak, and how they show up when no one’s watching.
That’s why I enjoy our Culture and Career Corner podcast so much. It gives us a window into real journeys. Not the polished versions but the honest ones.
On a recent episode hosted by Anamika Rathore, I listened to Akshay Malhotra, our Senior Technical Team Lead from the Noida office. And somewhere between the conversation about growth, AI, leadership, and learning, I found myself nodding along more than once.
Because Akshay’s story felt familiar. Real. Earned.
Starting with Intention, Not a Title
Akshay joined IT By Design in August 2024.
He didn’t come in with a checklist of promotions or expectations. What he did come in with was intention.
He wanted to understand the MSP business properly.
He wanted to grow into leadership – not be handed it.
He started with a team of four. Over time, that grew into a team of 28.
But when he spoke about it, the numbers weren’t the headline. The trust was.
What he appreciated most was something simple, but rare: being trusted, being empowered, and being held accountable at the same time.
“IT By Design builds leaders, not just roles.”
That’s not something you say unless you’ve lived it.
What Culture Looks Like When It’s Real
When Anamika asked Akshay how he would describe IT By Design’s culture, he didn’t hesitate.
People first.
Future ready.
He talked about how we invest in growth – leadership development, upskilling, and yes, AI. But what mattered was how we’re doing it.
AI, in his words, isn’t here to replace people. It’s here to help them do better work. To think more clearly. To make better decisions.
That’s an important distinction.
Technology should make work more human, not less. And when people feel supported instead of threatened, they lean in instead of pulling back.
That mindset says a lot about who we are.
The Lessons That Stay with You
One of my favorite parts of the conversation was when Akshay shared the lessons that shaped him: not as a manager, but as a person.
Three things stood out:
- Take ownership of your own growth. Especially now. No one can do that for you.
- Keep learning. AI will change, tools will evolve, but curiosity keeps you relevant.
- Never forget that leadership is human. Integrity, empathy, and gratitude still matter more than any system or process.
That last one hit home.
AI can help us work faster. But trust is still built one conversation at a time.
Why AI Isn’t Optional Anymore
Akshay works closely with customers and engineers, and his message – especially for those early in their careers – was very clear.
If you want to be future-ready, you must be AI-ready.
Not because it’s trendy. But because it helps you think better, work faster, and create more impact.
He described AI as a multiplier – not a shortcut. And that’s the right way to look at it.
The reality is, if you don’t adapt, someone else will.
So, why wait?
HAPPY Values and the Power of Staying Happy
When the conversation turned to our HAPPY values – Humility, Accountability, Passion, Positivity, and You – Akshay smiled.
For him, it came back to something simple: staying happy.
Being happy himself.
Keeping his team happy.
He believes happiness isn’t soft; it’s foundational. When people are genuinely happy at work, everything else becomes easier: collaboration, performance, and trust.
When asked about his personal values, he didn’t overthink it:
Work hard.
Stay focused.
Be consistent.
No shortcuts. No fluff.
A Training That Changed His Perspective
Toward the end of the conversation, Akshay spoke about something that truly changed him: the Collaborative Way (TCW) training.
After 16 years in the industry, moving from enterprise environments into the MSP world, he called this one of the most impactful experiences of his career.
Not because of the content alone; but because of how it made him reflect.
He spoke about how it changed the way he approached relationships, work, and even his own values. How it helped him bring out a better version of himself.
He described it as stepping out “wearing a new skin.”
If you’ve experienced that kind of shift, you know exactly what he meant.
Final Thoughts
Listening to Akshay reminded me of something important.
Culture doesn’t live in policies.
It lives in people.
In the way they grow.
In the way they lead.
In the way they stay human, even as the world around them changes fast.
We at IT By Design discuss more than just developing leaders.
Narratives such as Akshay’s show that when you believe in people, help them, and let them grow at their own pace, they not only succeed but also inspire others around them.
