We had the fantastic opportunity to interview Mayur Nagarsheth, an inspiring entrepreneur in the world of tech. Mayur has held multiple roles, from corporate organizations to his own startups.
Johnson: Welcome! Please give us a brief overview of your personal and professional background. How did you come to be the person you are now? What inspired you?
Nagarsheth: Thanks for having me. I grew up in a traditional Chawl in Mumbai in a Gujarati family. Every small achievement felt huge due to our humble conditions. As a kid, even affording a bicycle was a big accomplishment for my family, and we often had to cut down on basic needs to save up for healthcare and education costs. Growing up in this environment made me resilient and also helped me value my family as I grew older.
If you want to talk about inspiration, mine was definitely my father! When I was young, he left his career to start his own business in aluminum and plywood. His inspiration and my technical skills combined to help me pursue my own entrepreneurial journey.
Johnson: Do you have any heroes or role models in your life?
Nagarsheth: As I mentioned, my father is both my hero and role model. His drive for success and his dedication to helping others greatly influenced me. He taught me that success comes from helping others, not personal gain, which has been a big perspective for me in my personal and professional life.
Johnson: You’ve faced some significant personal challenges, especially your father’s illness. That must’ve been hard for you. How did these challenges shape your professional outlook?
Nagarsheth: My father’s illness was a turning point for me. I was forced to become resilient quickly. Balancing family responsibilities in India and my growing career in the US was tough. Everything changed, but I did my best to keep my eye on the prize. My father added value to the world, and I plan to do the same by following in his footsteps.
Johnson: From working at Oracle to co-founding startups, you’ve taken on a lot of duties. Recently, you’ve begun taking on advisory roles. That’s a pretty big change in your career trajectory. What drives your choice of projects and ventures?
Nagarsheth: Each of my choices is driven by a combination of market potential and personal passion. For example, at Glib.ai, we tapped into the AI chatbot market early. As an advisor for companies like Bitwage and Matchbook AI, I focused on areas where I could make the most significant impact – how can I help these corporations scale from initial stages to substantial annual revenue? That’s always my question.
Johnson: Speaking of impact, can you elaborate a bit on your career journey and achievements at your current company, MongoDB?
Nagarsheth: Certainly! Joining MongoDB just days before it went public was an exhilarating experience. I have learnt and keep growing a lot at MongoDB. I quickly climbed the ranks from Senior Solutions Architect to Director, which gave me the opportunity to lead teams and develop new solutions that align with corporate strategies. It is an excellent place to deeply understand how to scale operations and tech in a growing company.
Johnson: Have you had the opportunity to work or study with any notable figures in your field?
Nagarsheth: Though I haven’t studied with famous individuals, my time at Oracle and MongoDB gave me the opportunity to collaborate with many bright minds in the tech industry. These were excellent experiences that gave me new insights that greatly helped in my career.
Johnson: What are some lessons you’ve learned from your entrepreneurial ventures?
Nagarsheth: One key lesson has been the importance of adaptability. The tech landscape can be incredibly volatile, so you need to be able to pivot and embrace change regularly. Perseverance is also essential – every entrepreneur experiences setbacks, but persistence will keep you going every time.
Johnson: What would you consider your biggest contribution to the technology field and why?
Nagarsheth: I would consider building innovative solutions for companies and developing an AI-driven risk management platform to be two of my biggest contributions. One project to mention is Informatica, where I provided a solution and performed a comprehensive Proof of Concept evaluation to move their Master Data Management platform over to MongoDB Atlas. The process included a deep understanding of their complex data needs and architectural challenges. This had major significance to Informatica’s operations as it allowed them to achieve 20x performance improvement, along with a tremendous infrastructure cost reduction. Using my technical and business expertise, I have been able to help hundreds of such companies like Informatica, First Republic Bank, Cisco, Tesla, Apple, HP, and many others save millions of dollars, grow exponentially, and increase revenue which has positive implications for the U.S. economy. The second contribution of the AI platform allows businesses to proactively manage and respond to risks by connecting the dots in different areas, including reputation, security, and compliance. The framework’s AI backing changes how companies anticipate and mitigate risks, helping them address issues before they escalate. Companies that have implemented it see further growth, and it’s been recognized by several industry leaders.
Johnson: Have you received any awards in your educational or professional career?
Nagarsheth: Yes, I’ve received many MVP awards throughout my career. These awards were from my contributions to revenue growth and strategic customer relationships in my field.
Johnson: What are your professional plans for the future? Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?
Nagarsheth: In the future, I hope to expand the applications of AI in enterprise risk management further. More predictive analytics and machine learning models can improve decision-making processes in large organizations. This can streamline how businesses manage risks and improve their overall operations in the face of global challenges. However, I also hope to mentor young tech entrepreneurs to help them learn from my experiences.
Johnson: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Nagarsheth: Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Networking is crucial too. You should connect with mentors and peers who can offer you guidance and a new perspective. Do not chase success, follow excellence and let success follow you.
Johnson: Finally, what is the most important thing you want people to know about you?
Nagarsheth: I believe in living in the present and maintaining self-awareness and consciousness. Success is about enjoying the journey and making a positive impact along the way. I practice meditation daily, and encourage others to focus on their inner growth and peace for long-term success.
Alicia Johnson is a journalist specializing in technology and entrepreneurship. She brings a decade of experience uncovering and interviewing the innovators shaping our world. She hopes to continue this work on various blogs across the web.