Country of origin?

India

Role:

Senior Manager

Which company do you work for?

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solution Private Limited

Kindly share a bit more about your background with us

I, Padmini Navalgund was born in 1978 in a village called Varur, 17KMs from Hubballi city, which is 450 KMs away from the Bengaluru city (Silicon Valley of India), Karnataka, India. My primary schooling happened in Bengaluru as my father Shri S. B Navalgund was serving in the forensic dept. of Karnataka Police. He was deputed to SPG (Special Protection Group) in New Delhi for Prime Minister Office and My middle and higher secondary schooling was completed in New Delhi. I came back to Hubballi to study at P.C. Jabin College, the then renowned Science College. I started my journey of being an Engineer by pursuing my bachelor’s degree B.E (Instrumentation Engineering) from the college BVBhoomraddi College of Engineering, Hubballi, currently known as KLE Technological University, Hubballi. I completed my Engineering being a Gold Medalist.

What are some of the challenges you have faced?

1. There were no computers, no Google support.

2. The college used to provide books on loan every semester, we used to make notes, even taking a photocopy felt expensive, and so everyone used to write the notes with an ink pen to minimize the expenditure.

3. Travel to college from home was through public transport. We used to get the bus pass (subsidized amount to be paid) only during the college working days, during vacations if we were to travel to the college library, then we had to pay for the bus ticket, hence we used to cycle to college to minimize the expenditure. During my engineering days, as Bangalore was the silicon valley of India, yearly there used to be an event called IT.COM, here all esteemed companies within Karnataka, India and World used to participate.

4. Once, as students, we had visited the event, and I was amazed by the girls from Bangalore having command over English and asking questions to the exhibitor. It is then realized that self-confidence is an important aspect. At college, a workshop for soft skills was conducted and then helped to boost confidence. I joined Bosch (RBEI) in 2000 as a fresh engineer graduate, with all the necessary technical skilling I started to independently perform my job.

What’s your recipe for success?

21 years have passed by and it has been a great learning at Bosch. (RBEI). Being updated with technology is a key to growth. After a gap of 20 years, I have resumed my student life. I am currently pursuing my Master in Engg. by Research in the field of Computer Vision. I have completed my first semester and looking forward to writing my thesis.

What or who inspired you to join the industry?

I was inspired by many leaders in the domain I work in, their dedication and hard work has motivated me to give my 100% to whatever I work on. My father is a great motivator, he encourages me to spend time effectively and to make use of the available opportunity. He is a #Lifelonglearner. He wakes up at 3:00 A.M every day to study religious books. He cooks his own food. Cleans the home and get back to his studies, His day ends at 9:30 P.M by listening to the preaching of religious leaders.

What keeps you going?

My mantra in life is to #experiment, #volunteer.

There are many advantages to volunteering, you get a good network to stay connected and learn things that you alone might find difficult to do it. Life experiences are gathered by volunteering. The hardship or challenges you are facing will pass. The need is the courage to stand by and allow it to pass. Failures help you to attempt better next time.
Each education field has its own beauty, we need to appreciate and use it for serving human kind.