After 2.7 years at Qoruz, we established ourselves as India’s leading creator tech company. As we hit the upper limits of the creator SaaS market, it became clear we had maximized opportunities in this space. While Qoruz continues to lead, I realized the next phase of growth needed a different approach—one less aligned with my strengths.
I’m incredibly grateful for everything we achieved together, but it felt like the right time for me to explore a new challenge.
The Decision-Making Process
I wasn’t in a rush. I took time to figure out what I wanted. Here’s where I landed:
- Industry: Vertical SaaS with big market potential, narrowing it to pharma, fintech, logistics, or AI/deep tech.
- Role: Product Marketing or Product Management.
- Constraints: Hybrid, within ~5 km radius of HSR Layout.
- Timeline: 1 month to lock in the right opportunity.
- Compensation: min. 25% salary hike. Not just to reflect my growth but, let’s face it, also to beat inflation. 😉
Rebuilding my CV after almost three years was daunting. My friend Anirudh helped me pull it together and gave me tips for tackling behavioral rounds. Armed with a clear plan and some moral support, I started reaching out.
The Job Hunt (Vidaamuyarchi Viswaroopa Vetri)
Trust the power of good relationships. I WhatsApped my old boss, shared my CV, and within a day, I had 10+ inquiries. I spoke with deep tech startups, a pharma tech company (focused on MES/QMS), and even Microsoft and YouTube India. I cracked some interviews, but aligning on salary and timelines wasn’t easy.
During this whirlwind, a casual chat with a friend at Cashfree led to an unexpected opportunity. At the same time, Cashfree’s co-founder saw my profile through a YC WhatsApp group through my old boss. The interview process kicked off fast—six rounds and a technical assignment. It was exhausting, but Cashfree moved quickly, and I joined within a month.
Two things sold me on Cashfree:
- The People: Sagar and Nitin, established thought leaders in fintech, offered me the chance to work alongside visionaries.
- The Product: Identity verification isn’t just KYC. It’s the foundation layer of fintech and digital transactions. A secure identity layer ensures every financial touchpoint is protected. I saw the potential and knew I wanted to be part of this journey from the ground up.
On December 11, 2024, I joined as Associate Director – Product Marketing for Secure ID, Cashfree’s identity verification & fraud monitoring product. I didn’t take a single day off between roles. Walking into onboarding, I realized I was the only person without a fintech background. That alone felt like a challenge, but I had a point to prove—not to them, but to myself.
The First 30 Days
Your first month isn’t about big wins. It’s about understanding the terrain. Here’s how I approached it:
1. Learn First, Then Act
I spent my first week talking to everyone—product managers, sales directors, compliance heads, and the customer success team. I wanted to understand Secure ID from every angle: how it works, who it serves, and where the gaps are.
I also dove deep into the product. With over 40 features, Secure ID isn’t a simple tool. Late nights were spent reading PRDs, past call notes, and customer queries.
2. Challenges I Didn’t Expect
No first month is smooth sailing, and mine was no exception:
- Language Barriers: Most conversations naturally flowed in Hindi. I had to ask teams to switch to English while making sure they felt comfortable.
- Information Overload: From industry terms to acronyms, it felt like a new jargon dictionary every day. I tackled it piece by piece, focusing on what mattered most.
- Fintech Ecosystem: Understanding how Secure ID fits into the larger fintech landscape(RBI, SEBI, NPCI). Took serious research and late-night Googling.
3. Start Contributing
By the second week, I transitioned from learning to doing.
- OKR planning: Collaborated with product and sales teams to align next-quarter goals for Secure ID.
- Toolset: Collected access to Confluence, GA, Metabase, etc. Analyzed channel performance, marketing funnels, and flagged areas for improvement.
- Fixing the Basics: From website navigation issues to gaps in marketing collateral, I focused on clearing the small blockers that create big friction.
- Customer Stories: Began identifying use cases to highlight Secure ID’s value in specific, tangible ways.
- Positioning: Worked on defining target ICPs, personas, and the product’s unique strengths.
Lessons Learned
- Speed Over Perfection:
You’ll never have all the answers in the first month. The trick is to act fast, adjust often, and keep moving. - Team > Individual:
In a large organization, no single person can solve everything. My job is to unlock the team’s collective intelligence, not just show off what I know. - Ask the Obvious Questions:
Being new to fintech gave me an advantage: I could ask the “why” behind decisions without baggage.
What’s Next?
The groundwork is laid, but the real work starts now. In just 30 days, I’ve gone from onboarding to action. My focus is to position Secure ID as a cornerstone of Cashfree’s ecosystem, not just another product.
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about creating momentum. For me, the goal is simple: keep learning, keep building, and most importantly, keep delivering.
This is just the start.