<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/banner-6.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="284"><p class="text-node" id="z6j7pgkbt">This month, we shine the spotlight on the very first employee of M2P, Lekha Vasudevan- AVP-Implementation. Lekha is a wonder woman who handles the responsibility of being a mom and client implementations for M2P like a pro. In addition, she loves doing DIY projects in her free time.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="2671"><strong>What happens in your typical day at M2P?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="f70zr8rm4">My day usually begins by listing the work I have for the day, including pending and upcoming work. It helps me set priorities. I always have a habit of religiously reviewing the projects that usually have a high volume of transactions. Then I move on to the pending tasks and then finally, the upcoming tasks of the day. My simple premise is to ensure that my work moves forward minus the glitch and complications.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="2029"><strong>What do you do at M2P?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="8424">Currently, I am part of the implementation team, and my role starts right from gathering the client’s requirements to understand how the integration process should be set. I also must set up the mock environment to iron out the kinks we encounter during the process.</p><p class="text-node" id="8fe5">Once the process is complete, I will sign off on the go-live procedures and share them with the client. Then again, I will do the same process, but it will be in the Live environment and do necessary checks all over again.</p><p class="text-node" id="3061">If all is well, I will be monitoring every checklist like customer onboarding, KYC process, transactions (POS/E-com/ATM, etc..), notification, portal access behavior. I will also be liaising with our internal Operations teams and watch out for potential red flags.</p><p class="text-node" id="0bd6">In a word, I would have to be the bridge between the client and the team to ensure the smooth rollout of the program.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="54fd"><strong>Being the first employee, how has your experience been all these years?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="e4cf">To sum it up in one word, it is “<strong>Awesome</strong>.” I have been through challenges that made me pull an all-nighter. But when the issue is fixed, and you get appreciation from both colleagues and clients, that’s worth missing sleep.</p><p class="text-node" id="ef45">We had very limited resources back those days, and as I was the first hire, I witnessed things firsthand. Of course, we were in a nascent stage, and I have donned many hats back then. But our flexibility to accommodate client’s requirements coupled with work ownership resulted in great products and long-standing clients.</p><p class="text-node" id="5b6c">I have been here for a long time since it was a first-year start-up. I am inspired by M2P (Madhu, Muthu, Prabhu), and they have been instrumental in driving its growth. And the main reason would be that it feels like family rather than a workspace.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="87ee"><strong>Can you give me a quick recap of your journey at M2P?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="50d4">I started out as a fresher and was the only employee. So, I have handled all types of work starting from SQL queries, developing Android mobile apps, App testing, vendor coordination, etc. This helped me in strengthening my multitasking skills, and Prabhu always encouraged me to learn. In fact, he is my first guru, and Muthu taught me to go straight to the logs anytime I have a hiccup at work.</p><p class="text-node" id="157e">He never accepts the assumptions and always says, “Log is a source of truth.” That mantra helps me both professionally and personally.</p><p class="text-node" id="639f">My testing capabilities helped me learn the nuances of the payment industry. I am proud to say that in my journey from Trainee to AVP, I have had my share of good and bad experiences. And my bad experiences helped me reinforce my learning.</p><p class="text-node" id="75b0">When I saw one of our best solutions live, it was an unforgettable moment that I relive often. Today I am experiencing that moment often, and I am very proud of our company’s journey.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="2030"><strong>Being a new mom, how are you managing work and home?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="236e">It is really tough, so I try to complete all my household work before 9.30. Sometimes my daughter will sleep on my shoulder while I am working. And she observes what I do; whenever my mom asks her, “<strong>What is Amma (mom) doing?”</strong>&nbsp;she will say,&nbsp;<strong>“Amma, hello,helloo laptoppp.”</strong></p><p class="text-node" id="af33">Likewise, the other day I was on a call with a client, and I was walking up to her. Immediately she kept her palm near her ear and started mimicking by saying&nbsp;<strong>“yeah, yeahhhhh,”</strong>&nbsp;like how I talk. My whole family was shocked, and we burst out laughing. It is a great experience as I can enjoy working and motherhood.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="3e27"><strong>Has COVID altered your working style?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="xtgfvct2j"> Yes, having a toddler and working is a bit challenging at times. However, I really miss my colleagues and our interactions. My husband is also in WFH mode, and given my loud voice (laughs), he faces trouble in handling his calls. So, we have decided to keep our workspace as far as we can from each other. It is good entertainment too.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="f540"><strong>What are your other interests?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="f61d">I love cooking, gardening, taking on DIY projects</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="0359"><strong>Have you played a practical joke in college?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="0848">Yes,, there are a lot. For example, I have teamed up with my hostel mates to get snacks from the hostel kitchen. And once I put a lot of salt into my warden’s lunch just because she made fun of me for missing home. And the list of pranks is just endless.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="9f74"><strong>What’s that one thing your colleagues don’t know about you?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="a0e0">I am highly short-tempered, not many people have experienced it, but I am. I am also a good dancer and have participated and won in many college events. Today I am spinning and twirling around with my little one.</p><p class="text-node" id="037axacxm"><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/"><strong><em>Subscribe</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.</em></strong> </p><p class="text-node" id="h29xvrj1z"><strong><em>Follow us on&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/"><strong><em>LinkedIn</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech"><strong><em>Twitter</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.</em></strong></p>

Meet M2P’s Implementation Specialist

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-8-17.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="284"><p class="text-node" id="hhia9tpo1"><em>Meet Maathavan, our VP- Architecture, whose mantra is to never stop learning. With varied interests ranging from agriculture to technology, Maathavan is well-known in M2P for analytical thinking and humble nature. Read on to know more about him and what drives him to be his best at work every day.</em></p><h2 class="heading-node" id="9bf2"><strong>What happens in your typical day at M2P?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="8z7b9j4vc">When I get inside the office, the first thing I do is clean and reorganize my workspace. The level of cleaning often depends on my mood and the time I reach the office. Once the cleaning is done, I start working as per the list I had already drawn up the previous day. While all this happens, I also take a little break to brainstorm and discuss new and existing projects with my colleagues. Often these Eureka ideas happen at the Mulberry tea shop, which is our favorite place to regroup and chat about our plan of action. Those discussions have sometimes gone for two or three hours at a stretch.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="8f39"><strong>Have you always wanted to be a developer?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="gbehv7204">No, not exactly; I wanted to be in so many professions just like every other kid out there. But when I saw my dad, I wanted to be an architect who designs impressive buildings, but in school, I had an aptitude for solving problems. So even though I wanted to opt for Civil Engineering, the popular choice at home was Electronics and Communication Engineering. I also wanted to learn the CORE STEM of Electrical or Computers, so it was a comfortable choice. Soon, software development became my cup of tea, and today I am a Solutions Architect.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="9972"><strong>If you had your heart set on being a developer, how did fintech become a part of it?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="8lay0eluz">Working in the fintech industry happened purely by chance, and I didn’t exactly have any thoughts about which industry I should make my mark.&nbsp;Then, as a fresher, I got an opportunity to work with FSS, where I was exposed to both closed and open-source platform projects that helped me master many software languages. So my learning has been huge in this industry, along with opportunities as well. And then, as they say, the rest is history.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="a7a0"><strong>What drew you to M2P?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="9uhvl81h3">I was working in the gaming industry for some time, but I lacked the drive to be my best during that time. So, I was actively searching for opportunities to be part of the fintech industry again. And as per tradition, we usually turn to our friends when we face professional troubles. Those conversations led my friend to introduce me to Muthu, our CTO. After an insightful discussion, I found out that my thought process had found a match with M2P. It has been a great ride till now.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="8cd1"><strong>Has COVID altered your working style?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="ku2kzkj28">Yes, it has tremendously, and I think like everything else, there are two sides to a coin. I am enjoying the flexibility of choosing my work hours. I also get to spend time with my family and often attend team calls with my little helper (son). But I do miss my co-workers and our interactions. We would brainstorm, discuss and argue about our ideas, solutions, and the next step. It was also fun. I want to get back to physical work as soon as possible (laughs)</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="af94"><strong>Do you see any change in the fintech code community pre and post-pandemic?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="gudp3cr14">Yes, there has been a significant change. Earlier, people were not so trusting with a card, UPI, or NFC payments. With COVID on the rise, people were willing to try out different payment methods. For example, there has been a massive increase in online shopping today, so it creates a demand for payment gateway and other allied services; it is sort of a ripple effect that creates a need for innovative means of payment and so on. In fact, fintech is moving way faster than it was before the pandemic.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="9873"><strong>Have you played a practical joke in college?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="1xn0do0zj"> Nothing much in college, but I did have my share of fun in school. It was my friend’s birthday, and we were celebrating it at another’s friend home, which was near our school. Incidentally, it was the day of our final exams. So, when the whole school was diligently writing exams, we were busy partying. Needless we got caught in the act by our principal, who suspended us for a day. Like these, there are many instances of us playing hooky in school.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="67e2"><strong>What’s that one thing your colleagues don’t know about you?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="tog5ihz3k">I used to write poems during my school and college days</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="7c3a"><strong>What are your other interests?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="sf5w7c369">I love to go on treks, solving puzzles, and play chess and shuttle. Also, I am a hard-core foodie who loves to taste a variety of cuisines.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="3e46"><strong>What will you love to build/develop in case you have unlimited resources and time?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="20d8">It is more of a thought process rather than an idea. I would like to explore different ideas like multistoried farming, different techniques of farming, and devise ways to create a self-sustaining energy source.</p><p class="text-node" id="3zaibs108"><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/"><strong><em>Subscribe</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.</em></strong> </p><p class="text-node" id="ys21ga6ic"><strong><em>Follow us on&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/"><strong><em>LinkedIn</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech"><strong><em>Twitter</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.</em></strong></p>

Meet M2P’s Solution Architect

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/banner-4.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="284"><p class="text-node" id="dp8rdr71o"><em>A product developer and coder at heart, Naren Viswanath is our AVP- Product Development. A die-hard fan of Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad, Naren is a quintessential character who loves playing chess and video games.</em></p><h2 class="heading-node" id="8655">What happens in your typical day at M2P?</h2><p class="text-node" id="a857">I start my day by checking emails, and any actions to be taken will be pinned for review and response. I will prioritize the tasks for the day and begin to work on them. I review pull requests and approve tickets if needed. Sometimes, I seek advice on tasks or related to the projects, join meetings with clients or internal to discuss problems, and arrive at solutions. Every alternate day everyone on the development team will get on a call to discuss tasks we are working on, achieved, blocker which needs help, etc. At various points, we will ship code to UAT with new features or fixes.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="1140">Have you always wanted to be a developer?</h2><p class="text-node" id="f1cb">Yes, I started learning programming in 5th grade, started with (C, C++). My mom was the principal of my school at that time. Usually, she will be the last person to leave. I would wait for her in the computer lab. And as I was fond of playing video games since childhood, the computer lab was my playground. One day, a teacher noticed me lingering in the lab and wanted to know what mischief I was up to. When he noticed my interest, he taught me C language instead, which ignited my passion for programming. I still remember my first program. It was a telephone directory with details of my family members who can be looked up using names.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="d606">If you had your heart set on being a developer, how did fintech and <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/">M2P</a> become a part of it?</h2><p class="text-node" id="9586">I started my career at IBM, but I had a desire to work in a startup that does not restrict my role only to specific tasks. So, I was on a secret lookout for the same where I would be able to develop my skills in a well-rounded manner. That’s when a friend of mine, who is a co-founder of an App Development company, referred me to Muthu (Co-Founder — M2P), and the rest, as they say, is history. Also, I was a complete novice in fintech before I joined M2P. With the help of founders and seniors, I have learned a lot related to FinTech. In short, what I get here at<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/"> M2P</a> is conceptual knowledge, not procedural.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="31cb">Has COVID altered your working style?</h2><p class="text-node" id="721d">Yes, No one would have expected 100% working remotely, but we pulled it off. The number of meetings and calls is up, and we have been before our screens more than usual. So, I block my calendar sometimes for intensive coding sessions that help me maintain focus. Also, recently I came down with Covid, and the team supported me all the way when I was recovering.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="92b7">What are your other interests?</h2><p class="text-node" id="4e68">I love to play chess, table tennis, video games, and watch YouTube, Netflix. I am a huge fan of the Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Silicon Valley, and Suits series.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="3b9a">Have you played a practical joke in college?</h2><p class="text-node" id="bb2d">Of course, I did. Once, we texted our entire department to come in black attire, which was (to show opposition to the ruling party that time) as a joke, but everyone got called to the principal’s office, and it got myself and my friends suspended. It was one of those pranks that had horribly gone wrong!</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="0dde">What’s that one thing your colleagues don’t know about you?</h2><p class="text-node" id="b9aa">I’m a left-handed person. Most people only notice when I write.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="8701">What will you love to build/develop in case you have unlimited resources and time?</h2><p class="text-node" id="7b1d">As a fan of Elon Musk, I would love to build and develop electric vehicles, solar homes, etc., which average Indians can afford.</p><p class="text-node" id="4jbvdguzg"><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/"><strong><em>Subscribe</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.</em></strong> </p><p class="text-node" id="kbkulo524"><strong><em>Follow us on&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/"><strong><em>LinkedIn</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech"><strong><em>Twitter</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.</em></strong></p>

Meet M2P’s Code Expert

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-8-14.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="284"><p class="text-node" id="znpm68dbh"><em>Say hello to our employee of the month, Narasimman. He manages </em><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/"><em>M2P</em></a><em> tech infrastructure end-to-end and is responsible for banks, networks and InfoSec functioning smoothly and safely.</em></p><h2 class="heading-node" id="piaxdbmbx">Hi Narasimman! Tell us something about yourself?</h2><p class="text-node" id="mq931mb4g">Hi! I’m a very jovial person but I know many people think I am short-tempered! However, the only thing I get very passionate about is work. I love what I do and I’m in a very happy place. I used to be a cricketer and volleyball player in my younger days.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="001a">What drew you to M2P?</h2><p class="text-node" id="047f">I was involved with M2P before as a service provider and did Hardware security mechanism (HSM) implementation at M2P’s Data center. So, I had a very good working relationship with them prior to joining. My expertise in HSM was noted by Prabhu, our cofounder and he offered me a position. Also, I felt that I can better contribute here and grow as a seasoned professional.</p><p class="text-node" id="l6p45pozp">Prabhu was very encouraging and gave me many opportunities like implementing Mastercard and Visa hardware implementation single-handedly. I also learnt many new things about infrastructure and Information Security along with Data Center Management. His trust in me was crucial to my decision to join the <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/">M2P</a> family.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="9145">What is your professional motto?</h2><p class="text-node" id="b237">To love what I do. Everything I do, I make sure I have fun with it. Be it sport, farming or my job in networking and security, I don’t see them as tasks or chores but as enjoyable activities.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="d2f9">What are some of your memorable experiences here at M2P?</h2><p class="text-node" id="a5e3">Bank audit and PCI-DSS audit helped me learn the ropes of the industry. I familiarized myself with the rules and regulations over a period of six months. Along the way, I also got into a lot of friendly disagreements with the audit and bank staff which we laugh about today when recounting those experiences. I have also spent a lot of nights at the office as I was responsible for the primary infrastructure set-up and it was learning experience.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="61d4">How has COVID changed your working style at M2P?</h2><p class="text-node" id="5433">Yes! For the last one year, I have been working from my native village. As I had no internet signal at home, I created a workspace in my field, complete with a tent and a lamp. It was inconvenient when it rained or when the sun was blazing. Thankfully, I set it right this year.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="4c02">What are your thoughts on the future of <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/">M2P</a>?</h2><p class="text-node" id="6a0f">I am very excited. We are going global and hope to touch 27 countries. Infrastructure must be set up in a big way and I look forward to it. The future will have plenty of adventures. I trust our founders in helping us get through all of them.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="2d54">What do you think about M2P’s culture?</h2><p class="text-node" id="7100">I enjoy the flexibility in terms of timing, dress code etc. No one micromanages anybody and there is a lot of respect and responsibility involved. I enjoy that.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="f900">What will you love to build/develop if you have unlimited resources and time?</h2><p class="text-node" id="9680">I have not really thought about it. My mind doesn’t even go there to be honest. I am really passionate about my field at the moment. Also, I am kept busy firefighting various issues at work, so I haven’t really thought about it.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="f7ed">What are your hobbies?</h2><p class="text-node" id="6932">I like reading. Especially about my fields of infrastructure, networking and security. If I encounter a problem at work that I don’t understand, I will go home and patiently read about it and increase my knowledge. Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep! Apart from this, I enjoy farming, and playing volleyball.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="f974">What is your favorite quote?</h2><p class="text-node" id="793a">Whenever I feel down or dejected, I always look up to&nbsp;<strong>CUP</strong></p><ul class="list-node" id="2ph0i8uyn"><li><p class="text-node" id="lpi5kl23u">C - Concentrate</p></li><li><p class="text-node" id="xgcz4k930">U - Understanding</p></li><li><p class="text-node" id="jdoptrvpg">P - Practice</p></li></ul><p class="text-node" id="3310">Success doesn’t teach you much but failures do….</p><p class="text-node" id="kumyy4ks2"><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/"><strong><em>Subscribe</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.</em></strong> </p><p class="text-node" id="xaq0ll4mm"><strong><em>Follow us on&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/"><strong><em>LinkedIn</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech"><strong><em>Twitter</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.</em></strong></p>

Meet M2P’s Personal Firewall

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Artboard-1-copy-7-1-2.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="5dyid3ffz" width="100%" height="356"><h2 class="heading-node" id="bf40"><strong>Welcome to Team M2P Star Highlight</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="4ba6">This month, we are unraveling the hidden facets of our ever-elusive genius Kurukshetran or Kuru (as he is fondly called by his colleagues). Known for his quiet and observing nature, Kuru is a dedicated developer who also dabbles in part-time game development.</p><p class="text-node" id="7407">When discovering Kuru’s facets, we also realized that he is a hopeless romantic. He had serenaded his love interest with the songs of the Maestro Ilayaraja. With a vision to build his own Startup, Kuru shares his aspirations, inspirations, and ambitions in life right from untangling a complex code to his journey in <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/">M2P</a> so far.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="d349"><strong>What is your job, and how would you describe a typical/busy day at M2P?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="c6d5">Officially a developer but a game nerd, I handle code development and product integrations. One of my primary responsibilities is to write and iterate the code that completes the puzzle. I also handle a team of four and monitor the code progress. Our core systems are my specialty, and I can answer any queries that arise on the same with my eyes closed. My typical day at M2P starts with our team meeting, answering any emails or queries that have risen from the client or bank, and monitoring our product integrations.</p><p class="text-node" id="1e4a">Along with other team leads, I often get into discussions about code, and brainstorm solutions. I have a candid chat regarding any random conversations that pop up on our radar. On a busy day, the routine remains the same, but you will find me and the team huddled in the conference room discussing the ways to sort out the issue.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="e45b"><strong>Did you always want to be a developer, and how did fintech become a part of it?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="6e03">Mostly, yes. I wanted to be in this field primarily because of my Uncle. He is a technical architect and is almost a walking Wikipedia in his domain. His enthusiasm and passion inspired me to choose this field. Coming to the fintech part of the question, I actually kind of stumbled into it. Game development was my focus, but due to a couple of setbacks in college (laughs it off), I worked as a temp in many companies. Through a common friend of my father’s, I got placed in M2P as a full-time employee and to date has been…</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="0f0a"><strong>What was your first challenge in M2P?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="9638">I faced my first challenge in <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/">M2P</a> during the sixth month of my employment. I had to simultaneously get certified and build a solution for the MasterCard Switch. I didn’t have much insight about MasterCard protocol or the TCP/IP working during those initial days. Also, MasterCard was placed in Singapore; I had to come into the office early, say by 5 or 6 am, which was quite a big challenge for me as I was never an early bird. But, I am proud today to say that I conquered the challenge in a month as opposed to the stipulated time of 2 months. During that process, I got a better insight into the fintech domain and how my role as a developer plays an important part.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="3fb5"><strong>What is your personal satisfaction with this job?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="537b">Continuing from my last answer, my personal satisfaction in this role is that I enjoy complete autonomy. Our company founders have given the concept of ownership to each and every individual in the company. I don’t need to feel apprehensive while putting forth my solution or thoughts. They are welcomed. My personal feeling is that I am working in my own company. That’s the freedom my lead has given me in terms of the technical perspective.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="340c"><strong>What will you like to do outside of M2P?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="a1f1">Before coming to M2P, I used to go to my Uncle’s office and try to understand development’s nuances. They were primarily into game development. I observed them and understood their working methodology, right from their thinking process to the tools they use to launch a game. Based on those observations, I will try to imitate the game build. For example, I modeled a game after Super Mario, and it is now in its 2D form. I mostly mimic the gaming mechanics. Game development is my passion, and I am also a part-time gamer. You will often find me experimenting in both.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="1f3a"><strong>What’s something that most people don’t know about you?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="1ddc">I am a hopeless romantic and a die-hard fan of the Maestro Ilayaraja. I relentlessly pursued a girl during the four years of college. Then, one day I worked up the courage to propose to her. I came to the college early, by 7 am, and with my friends’ help, I decorated the classroom with flowers and streamers. I burned a list of Ilayaraja’s most romantic songs on a DVD and played them as she entered the classroom. Sadly, she never said yes or no but left me clueless till the final year.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="20b3"><strong>Is there any difference in the way you work pre and post-pandemic?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="2859">No, not much, actually. I have always been a self-motivated person and like to finish my work on-time. The only difference I see is the absence of the office’s physical presence and working with my colleagues. But I have improved myself a lot during this lockdown. I have enhanced my language and communication skills.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="7e5f"><strong>What would you love to build/develop if you have unlimited resources and time at your disposal?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="476e">I have already done, I think. I have used Machine Learning techniques to build a signature Video KYC solution. This COVID-19 had brought forth a unique solution for account openings: video KYC, and I was intrigued by it. I wanted to build a better version of it and have used AI-ML techniques to build a crude version, and it is still in the works.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="0605"><strong>Anything else you want to share?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="28b9">When I came to<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/"> M2P</a>, I was basically an individual contributor, and all I thought was that my job is just coding. But, today, I have learned managerial and leadership skills that have molded me into a better person.</p><p class="text-node" id="6wajglo1v"><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/"><strong><em>Subscribe</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.</em></strong> </p><p class="text-node" id="doqf3z524"><strong><em>Follow us on&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/"><strong><em>LinkedIn</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech"><strong><em>Twitter</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.</em></strong></p>

Meet our Tech G(K)uru

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/banker.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="45u491evk" width="100%" height="356"><p class="text-node" id="72b0">It was a much-awaited holiday season and the beginning of the new year. Without any surprise, the entire <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/">M2P</a> team was geared up and raring to go! As we started interacting with our colleagues to know more about them and their teams, here’s what we got, an impromptu interview with our Accidental Banker, Vivek.</p><p class="text-node" id="ccf4">Engineer by education and Banker by profession Vivek Prashanth has deep expertise in branch banking, managing alternate payment channels, liaising with program partners, and working with card networks. With an innate flair for constant learning and as a curious person by nature, he made a pivotal shift to Fintech just to experience the best.</p><p class="text-node" id="515e">As he treks his program management career, he realized the technological facets of modern financial organizations. He sees what it is to be in the world of API-led banking or payments and to be in a new role of program frontrunner. So, let’s see how he describes his journey with M2P and how it helped him discover his hidden expertise and celebrate his realm of interests.</p><p class="text-node" id="2d7f">Before that, a small gold pick for your read! Vivek is a dedicated family man and an avid cricket fan who gets up early in the morning just to see a perfect square cut or a jet-speed Yorker.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="36c6"><strong>So, what brought you to M2P?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="606a">As a client, I partnered with <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/">M2P</a> for a QR payment project. During those interactions, I got to experience the work-culture prevailing at M2P and got inspired by the same. It was also a happening start-up, which offered loads of cross-functional learning opportunities and more choices than banks and other traditional roles do. And again, I was quite interested in working in a fast-paced start-up environment, and M2P was a perfect fit.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="4b82"><strong>I heard that you’re the one behind every program that runs on the M2P platform. So, what’s your role at M2P, and what’re some of your key responsibilities?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="60a4">Here at M2P, I lead the operations from banking, card ops to finance operations. Managing BAU (Business As Usual) and providing post live support to banks and partners are some of my primary responsibilities. For instance, once a program goes live, it comes to my radar. From then on, I manage the E2E (End-to-End) lifecycle from accounting, reconciliation, and settlement to customer service.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="6743"><strong>Any favorite project at M2P, and why?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="f24e">In fact, my first assignment happens to be my favorite project. We were building a Forex product with YBL, and I was the go-to person for new products like cross-border payments at that time. And I am happy and fortunate for the chance to lead the same!</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="93c5"><strong>Is there any difference between working in a bank and working at a fintech?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="f72d">Yes, absolutely. Firstly, you get more insights into the Fintech industry. Secondly, there are umpteen and unique learning choices that traditional positions might not or cannot offer. Banking by itself has a lot of restrictions that limit your latitude widely. Thirdly, when you are in this space, you understand how technology, business, and other back-end banking systems work. It is not only about being in a program partner role; actually, you are on the other side of the hustle, interacting with clients and business executives. Not only could you receive requirements, but also see how the product shapes up from scratch and through its lifecycle.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="930f"><strong>Having said that, what’s the most exciting thing about working in the banking and payments sector?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="f76a">The evolution of banking and payments is something that fascinates me. New product development and different use cases in the payment sector that solve niche challenges make it even more enjoyable. By working in this domain, we could make an impact.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="9379"><strong>If you want to highlight what M2P means to you, what would it be?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="6004">M2P is like a must-be-cherished soundboard for me. Indeed, it has taught me flexibility, role diversity, and growth. Agility, quick turn-around, and instant product roll-out are three phrases that accurately capture the essence of M2P. Significantly, the pace at which a solution gets formulated, designed, and delivered is quite impressive.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="586a"><strong>What’s your preferred working style or culture?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="b915">As I said earlier, in an environment like M2P, agility and dynamics are inevitable elements. To nourish the same, I prefer not to confine myself to a fixed routine but often set or reset priorities keeping flexibility in the nearshore and schedule workdays around projects!!</p><p class="text-node" id="36f1">And usually, I don’t opt for rigid timelines. Instead, I would list the tasks at hand, approach folks to plan a timeline for the project, and motivate the team to commit to the deadline. This approach, indeed, builds accountability within the group. By pushing them to explore and pursue new projects, I allow them to learn something new and implement something incredible beyond their comfortable palette.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="d2f6"><strong>What skills have you best mastered over the years?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="4058">As a banker, I have been working with and managing large teams for a while. So, without a twist, team management is one of my strengths. Other competencies include developing professional rapport, effectively communicating and negotiating with cross-functional groups, engaging customers, and rendering them quality service. At M2P — I have fortunately had the full vicinity of how a back-end banking system works.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="c5f5"><strong>What fascinates you about payments and the work you do?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="bc38">It’s an evolving industry. The business, products, and everything in the company is changing. It might be a regulatory change or a newly coming out company or a product that brings something new to the ecosystem. It is happening and fast-moving. These developments motivate me to learn more than whatever we know now, as we might get outdated in a month or two.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="7028"><strong>Tell us anything about you that we don’t know?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="29c5">I don’t usually sugarcoat anything! Sometimes I may not sound like a soft-spoken person since I’m a reality checker. I was a zonal level runner-up for volleyball and badminton. I listen to music a lot, especially lyrical melody music.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="5651"><strong>How do you keep yourself updated about payments and card transactions?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="8c4e">I talk to people, especially in M2P. When you talk to people, you get to know about current affairs. When you talk to clients, you get to know about the industry and how it works. I do read, but maybe not that much. I get more information from people than paper.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="b8ba"><strong>How do you motivate your team?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="9d18">Firstly, Learning is one thing that I always look for. So, I insist my team members to keep learning and rise above themselves on every possible occasion.</p><p class="text-node" id="a66d">Secondly, you have to talk to them, empathize with what they’re going through. Regarding their career and growth, you have to push them by saying, ‘You can do it!’. I will let them figure it out themselves, revert to me for any show-stopper, guide them in the right direction, and provide resources.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="5138"><strong>How have influences like Bill Gates influenced you as a banker?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="428c">To be frank, I got influenced by our company founders rather than thought leaders. This is because they have achieved great heights, starting from a humble background and always value family and culture.</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="30c9"><strong>One favorite memory after joining </strong><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/"><strong>M2P</strong></a><strong>?</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="8a6e">One was the elevation in my career last year. Second is when we go out to meet clients or to a bank, people recognize me. Those moments are my cherished memories!</p><h2 class="heading-node" id="6fd2"><strong>Three words to describe Vivek</strong></h2><p class="text-node" id="1067">Organized, shrewd, and bankable</p><p class="text-node" id="nf1usvxgg"><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/"><strong><em>Subscribe</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.</em></strong> </p><p class="text-node" id="jg3127rp4"><strong><em>Follow us on&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/"><strong><em>LinkedIn</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</em></strong><a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech"><strong><em>Twitter</em></strong></a><strong><em>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.</em></strong></p>

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