Serendipity and London

Shweta, Ansh and I have moved to London.

In 2012, I had a great job at ESPN and was establishing myself as a Product Manager in Bangalore. Out came the offer from a much smaller organisation called Nivalink to move to Mumbai. It was pure serendipity! Shweta and I had gone to Mumbai for the first time in 2009. Then we had decided that one day we will come back and live the life of Mumbaikars. I was getting the chance to live the dream. The trade-off was going to a smaller org. It was a brilliant decision in hindsight. Working with a great team, I had a white canvas to paint and got an opportunity to build teams from scratch. Mumbai is also where our son, Ansh was born, and our lives were never the same.

While building products at Goibibo, I was happy and really loved the team and the vision I have built over time. Along came another serendipity, this time from London, and our lives are changed.

I have been resisting to move outside India since 2011 because of the learnings and opportunities in India.

However, Spotahome is special. They have a mission I truly believe in and I am getting an opportunity to fulfil this with few of the smartest people I have come across. This change is also a godsend for Ansh, who we want to bring up among libraries and parks, both of which are abundant in London.

I am excited and nervous in equal measures. It is once again an opportunity to build a true and valuable marketplace for customers. I hope I do justice to it. Please wish me luck!

This was originally published at www.sharmaankur.com on 4th September 2019