Winter Outfit Check : 06 december 2025

 

Reflections from My First Job: How Deloitte Shaped My Early Career

We all have those formative experiences that stick with us. For me, that was my first job out of undergrad. I’ve been reminiscing lately, and I wanted to document a few of the moments and experiences that truly shaped me before they fade from memory.

This is my reflection on my time at Deloitte in India.

The Elation of That First Offer

After graduation, I was deep in the grind of the job hunt. I was applying to companies, going to fairs, and trying my luck with firms like Cognizant and Tech Mahindra. I vividly remember the sheer number of students at the Tech Mahindra exam; it felt overwhelming, and I worried about standing out in a sea of graduates.

But then, thanks to my blog and what I’m sure was a bit of divine intervention, I got a call from Deloitte. I interviewed with Amit and Vasu, got through the rounds, and received the offer. I was elated. Sharing that news with my family is a core memory. I officially joined Deloitte on May 5th, 2011, and it was a special moment.

A Grand Welcome and a Welcoming Team

The orientation was held at Taj Krishna, and it was incredibly well managed. We were handed our laptops and backpacks, and I remember being amazed by the speeches from leadership, the food arrangements, and even running into Sunil Gavaskar in the elevator. For someone fresh out of college, it was a novel and unforgettable experience.

That welcoming spirit continued with my team. Amit was a true mentor, guiding me into the organization. He made sure to introduce me to everyone and even had me do a presentation in my very first week as an icebreaker. I have a fond memory of overhearing a couple of colleagues gossiping about the "new kid" who had just joined. It made me feel like I was part of the fold.

In many ways, my experience at Deloitte was therapy. It came after a mostly forgettable undergrad experience and gave me the opportunities I needed to thrive, make friends, and grow my skill set.

Friends for Life and Friday Hookahs

I was fortunate to meet colleagues my age who joined around the same time. Somi, Shreeja, Nadia, Pankhuri, Sindhoori, Bharat, Raghuveer, to name a few. We formed a bond that lasted for years. Our batch became a tight knit group that, I’ll admit, drew some envy from the older folks because we hung out so much.

We did Goa trips together, went to a Metallica concert in Bangalore, and traveled to Vizag. We even had a regular Friday ritual with folks from the digital and graphics teams, going out to shisha parlors. The conversations, the food, the drinks… I do not think I have had that kind of fun since.

Learning, Growing, and Making an Impact

Professionally, my colleagues taught me everything: best practices, communication, analytics, web development, and how to manage communications with executives. I was also actively involved in co-curriculars, especially photography. Our small team was tasked with taking profile photos for everyone, and we had a blast doing it.

One of the most memorable events was Impact Day, Deloitte's CSR initiative. The first one was absolutely special. I remember waking up at 5:30 AM, arriving at the event, and receiving a backpack with snacks and accessories for our activities. Teams were painting schools, picking up garbage in parks, working with inmates in jails, and visiting old age homes and hostels for the visually impaired.

As the designated photographer, I was tasked with capturing it all, carrying a DSLR with four or five lenses. The passion and energy were palpable. While the model has changed since then, here in Canada it is more of an "impact everyday" approach, nothing has matched the fervor of that first dedicated Impact Day.

Small Triumphs and Lasting Impressions

I remember the pride I felt after taking the Communication Excellence exam and scoring so high that I was exempt from further training. I also got involved with Deloitte University (DU), a fancy, sought after training floor. I even had the chance to facilitate a couple of sessions. It was a pleasant surprise to see a very similar DU setup here in Toronto years later.

The team outings to resorts, with spouses included, are memories I will keep forever. And the team dynamics were just different. In India, you made friends for life at work. I remember when a colleague lost their partner, my manager and I immediately went to the police station and stayed through the night to offer support. That camaraderie extended far beyond the office walls.

Even the small things stuck with me, like finally getting my first motorcycle, a Honda CBR, which caused quite a buzz !

A Life Changing Chapter

Above all, Deloitte brought me out of a rut. After I got the job, I slowly started buying things on installment. I bought our first refrigerator, a washing machine, a secondhand AC, and a sofa. It made a tangible difference to our lives.

I will always credit and thank Deloitte for giving me my first opportunity, that crucial confidence boost out of college. I am grateful to all the managers, teammates, friends from other teams, and the leadership. I am even grateful to the Australian executives for introducing me to Tim Tams and Vegemite!

It was, without a doubt, a classic experience that set the foundation for everything that followed.

Disclaimer: This post was converted from a spontaneous audio note transcript. As such, the tone is conversational and reflective, capturing thoughts as they flowed. Some details may be abbreviated, but the essence remains true to the original reflection. AI was used to convert the audio note to text which was then edited for language and tone. 

Some photos below:

Life Snapshot, 2025

I’ve decided to start a series of posts that are simply snapshots of my life at a given moment. This is the first. The goal is to capture how things are - the setup, the hobbies, the state of mind - so I can look back later. If you’re reading this, welcome. You’re getting a genuine look.

The Professional & Personal Foundation

I live in Canada, where I work as a consultant with Deloitte. I’ve been with the company for about three and a half years now. My path here started when I moved to Canada for my Master's in Information Studies at McGill University. I graduated in June 2021, briefly joined McGill's web services team on a short contract, and then left early to join Deloitte after a manager approached me.

On the personal front, a major milestone: I got married in 2024. My wife is a dentist and is currently in India.

The Apartment on Sherbrooke

I’ve been living in the same apartment on Sherbrooke Street since 2023 - the same year I got my PR. It’s a small 2 1/2 studio on the 14th floor, and the view of Mont Royal and the Montreal skyline is a consistent hit with visiting friends and relatives.

I’ve carved the space into zones: a sleeping area separated by a large curtain, a dedicated work setup, and a bench by the window for projects. There’s a small children’s cot I’ve modified to act as a couch for guests, though I rarely have any these days.

The first thing anyone would notice is the sheer amount of electronics. The heart of it all is a white TV cabinet I got from the Bunz trading group on Facebook. On it, you’ll find:

• A desktop with a total of 4 screens.

• 4 projectors (two active) in various configurations for video streaming.

• An ensemble of 4 speakers, a record player, a Bluetooth receiver, and an amplifier.

I also have a decent number of books scattered around.

The kitchen is small but adequate for my use. The bathroom is tiny but has a tub - a non-negotiable feature for any apartment I live in. The laundry, however, is a bit of a chore. It’s in the basement, necessitating three trips downstairs for a single wash. The cost isn't fun either, so an in-unit system is a must for my next place.

As for climate control, heating is through a central water pipe. There's no air conditioning, so I’ve installed a small window unit in a hole in the wall, which gets covered and insulated during the winter.

Hobbies & How I Spend My Time

My current hobbies are a rotating cast of hands-on projects:

• Leathercraft

• Tinkering with thrifted electronics

• Writing AI solutions using vibe coding

• Thrifting (though I’m cutting down on expenses now)

I have a history with other hobbies like urban sketching, but I haven't touched it in two years. I still dip into sewing, designing, and 3D printing small projects for around the house, with some photography now and then.

In my spare time, I’ve mostly replaced Netflix and Amazon Prime with YouTube Premium. My feed is a mix of news outlets and wonderfully unconventional hobby channels. Favorites include one where military rations (MREs) are tested and another featuring an electronics genius in the UK who repairs vintage audio/video equipment. I’ll probably dedicate a future post to my favorite channels.

The "Why" Behind This Blog

I used to blog frequently during my undergrad, but the habit faded after I started working, with gaps stretching into months and even years. Other social media like Facebook and, more recently, Instagram, took over. I’ve since realized that running after external validation isn't the goal. I’d rather focus on journal-style entries here, on my own space.

Going forward, I have a few values for this blog:

1. Blog Frequently: To keep the momentum going and make it a habit.

2. Embrace the Unpolished: No fancy write-ups or scripted, aesthetic shots. The focus is on how things are.

3. (Try to) Write My Own Way: I’ll occasionally use AI to structure my thoughts, but the writing will be my own. We rely on AI so much at work; this is a place to keep my own voice alive.

4. Avoid the Noise: I won’t post about politics or general rants. The world has enough political opinion and doesn’t need another product or restaurant review from me. This isn’t for engagement; it’s my open journal, one I’m comfortable letting the world see.

This post is the first of many where I’ll share a snapshot of my current life and the things I’m into at that point. 

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Disclaimer: AI was used to give structure to my word vomit. The content and voice remain my own.

Small Leather Holder for Winter Accessories

• Toques/Beanies are essential for surviving Canadian winters and I recently realized I have lost at least 3 favorite beanies and a couple of pairs of gloves due to carelessness or bad pocket design. I reflected on the losses and concluded they are the most vulnerable when they're not in use i.e. in my hand in a bus or car or when I'm putting them away in my coat pockets that can sometime prove inadequate for the volume.
• I decided to design a small accessory to solve this problem. The idea is to have a single small accessory that can hold on to my beanie and gloves, that I can then fasten to a belt loop on my jeans or the carry handle on my backpack.
• Also added some leather hoops to two beanies and two pairs of gloves. Used scrap shell cordovan leather sourced last year from Lonsdale Leather in BC.
• Results below:

• This works great so far on both backpacks and jeans. It does add some bulk and looks kind of odd at least on the jeans but I value functionality over aesthetics right now.

Go-to Eatout Option in Canada

- I moved to Canada in 2019. 

- I started off with basic meals at Tim Hortons on Brother's suggestion but moved to McDonalds after a bit.

- With McDonald's there is no need of tipping and it helps me avoid the rather steep tipping expectations of most restaurants these days. I'm not averse to tipping (I always tip well). Just avoiding it if possible due to my current financial situation.

- My favorite meal combo : Fish filet burger + Fries/Poutine + Soft drink (Diet Coke + Root beer)

- The location I frequent the most is the one near De Castelmeau metro station right next to the Renaissance thrift store.

- The thrift store used to be my favorite before Pie IX and Centre Domaine.

Leather Wallet Update

- I have been working on small leather projects for more than 3 years now

- I still work on small projects but definitely getting the hang of stitching now

- In January of this year I ordered some natural veg tan leather from Lonsdale leather in BC

- Made an ID card holder for Pappa which he's still using in November.

- For myself I went for a bifold wallet with a focus on easy use of my transit pass (STM). Its very inconvenient pulling the pass out during winters with thick gloves on

- the design was prototyped in thick papwr before cutting the leather.

- It is said leather in natural color patinas beautifully. The current look is a little dirty for my liking but the color is definitely developing quite well.

- Some photos I've taken over the months, below.

Rain and village inspired water feature

 - Found a small submersible pump for $3 at a thrift store

- I've always wanted to build a small water feature...like one of those relaxation tabletop fountains you get on amazon

- I love villages esp my Dad's hometown Lingampet and I also love rains. I wanted to see if I can incorporate these two ideas.

- Started off with a rough design of what I wanted to build.

- Designed some parts on Fusion and 3d printed them.

- Bought a base container for the fountain

- First trial was great but there were several things that needed to be fixed as well as the roof design to be finished (most important, I wanted it to look authentic).

- Ordered miniature clay tiles from aliexpress.

- Designed and printed reinforcements for the design including a height increasing base to bring the rain unit and the house together.

- Spray painted the house with primer, painted the window, and installed the tiles once they arrived.

- Went for a bigger tray from Dollarama and put the unit together.

- Love the result. Likely I won't hold on to this toy for long but happy now!

Pics and vids below:

Focus on Projectors - Part 1

I have always loved projectors. My first I bought in 2017 before moving to Canada. It was a cheap chinese model with, If I remember correctly, a 640x480 resolution and an LED light source. Not the best quality but I was content.

Here in Canada, I picked up a Sanyo PLV Z5 from fb marketplace in 2020. It's an old, discontinued model but it still blew me away. It had optical zoom, decent lens shift, and the colors just popped. I had to sell it to save up for my first trip home after COVID. I regretted it until I spotted the same model years later at a thrift store and immediately picked it up.

I currently own 5 projectors. I just like tinkering with them and making them work. I only pick up a thrift store projector if I see some promise for a use case at home or if I'm looking to gift it. Have given away three projectors already like this.

Will briefly discuss a few in my collection right now.

The afore mentioned PLV z5. The image is still bright but the polarizers have burned leading to a very yellow image. Like the mexico filter in Breaking Bad. Still a decent product and I will hold on to it for a while. Bought for $24 for Renaissance.

This next one is a steal. The model is Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 5020UB. Picked up for $35, I immediately noticed the lamp was super dull, almost dead. This is an enthusiast level projector with industry leading specs such as high brightness, very flexible zoom and lens tilt, and 3d support. So I decided to invest in a bulb and tey my luck. I first tried an AliExpress replacement but it made no difference...same image quality. I wondered if its a ballast issue or if the image block itself is degraded. Found an ebay Epson replacement for $140 and went for it. Too pricy I know but having scored a $3000 projector for peanuts I reasoned its an okay spend.

The bulb didn't make a difference so sent it back and lost $50 in return fees.

Then,

- I decided to open it up to see what was going in. It took me a great deal of effort and watching multiple videos on other models to muster up the courage to disassemble it. It was a complex operation and I used an ice cube tray to hold all the screws with notes on what goes where. The insides were absolutely filthy and it took me forever to clean.

- I had to order an air blower for assistance on hard to reach corners and between the glass surfaces.

- The polarizers seemed safe from burn damage but I couldn't be too sure.

- Ordered new grease and applied it to the gears and moving parts.

- couldn't clean the insides of the lcd assembly between the glass panels and lens unit as the gap was too narrow. I used a micro fiber cloth and a  visiting card as best as I could but was sure there was still dust. 

- once I was content with the cleaning, I slowly put it back together. Even with the notes and pics I was taking, some parts took me forever to figure out how to put back but taking breaks I was able to put the projector back together. Realized I missed one small metal bracket but it wasn't a critical miss.

- moment of truth - powered it on and connected it to my computer. The image is much brighter now. I would say its a 70%  recovery. The colors look great on test videos but there's definitely a halo or haze on the full display that is still a bummer.

- No big deal for my daily random videos though. I should be able to make this my daily driver now.

I will discuss my other projectors in another post. Will add some pics of the project here.