Jagathish Velmunigan graduated with a BSc (Hons) Information System from Sunway University in 2016. Since then, he has charted his career with what would be considered one of the most exciting companies to work for today...  Grab!

Growing up, Jagathish has always been intrigued with the wonders of technology. He would spend hours on the computer as a kid so much so that his mother would scold him for doing so, often reminding him that investing so much time in computers might not have a future.

Suffice to say Jagathish proved her wrong, albeit in a positive way. In his own words, the computer ‘put food on the table and a shelter over his head’. He is currently the Regional Manager APEX II Engineering with Grab. However, he started his climb to success much earlier.  During his studies, Jagathish was placed with MyTeksi for his internship, which was the start-up company that would eventually become Grab, one of the biggest tech firms in the world today. Who would have guessed that what started as an internship placement could grow into such a valuable opportunity for Jagathish?

Jagathish not only found his career path through his degree but over the years, he has met some wonderful and remarkable people. His friend, Mr Yeoh Weibin was his coursemate who now works very closely as a Regional Manager at Grab too. He also remembers one of his lecturers, Associate Professor Dr Angela Lee (Ms Angela) as he fondly refers to and who supported him during his course. And last but not the least, a fellow student who now has become his wife.

Unlike most of his classmates, Jagathish only started his foundation programme at the age of 22 which meant he was older than most of his other coursemates. However, it was only after he met another student who was 36 and was wheelchair-bound that he realised that determination and passion are the only things that matter if one wants to succeed, regardless of age or life’s circumstances. Jagathish was a recipient of the Jefferey Cheah Entrance Scholarship in 2013 which was a key driver in his commitment to his studies.

Jagathish recently took up car photography with the help of online videos and tutorials. His role in Grab also captured the attention and recognition of the company where he was awarded the Grab CEO Award.

For the young people today, Jagathish advises that communication, patience and passion are attributes that should nurture if one wants to be successful. He believes that one should ‘Go Big or Go Home!’, a mantra that anyone should adopt to aim for the skies.

This article was adapted from Blaze, Issue 57