Beyond the Office: Gururaj's Impactful Mission to Empower the Underserved

Gururaj M. | Software Quality Principal Engineer | Bangalore, India

Originally Published: November 17th, 2023

My name is Gururaj, and I have been at Dell for eight years now. I serve as the Technical Leader of Power Protect Data Management (PPDM) Oracle Quality function at Dell Technologies. I lead a team of seven talented quality engineers to deliver top-notch features that elevate the overall customer experience. I also shoulder the responsibility of overseeing the organization's hardware and security requirements, including critical areas that are pivotal to its functioning.  Yet, my commitments extend beyond the corporate landscape. With a strong desire to give back, I partnered with the Aviratha Trust, which is on a mission to empower rural and remote students on their educational journey.

Did you know – giving away notebooks can change lives! 

The Aviratha Trust's story began with a simple notebook distribution drive for a government school in Byalalu, Bengaluru Rural. My personal experiences during my school days ignited my passion for this cause. I understand the profound impact that providing basic educational necessities can have on underprivileged children. 

Over the years, the Aviratha Trust has grown and evolved, and I am grateful to have been a part of this journey. What initially began as a notebook drive expanded to include support for college graduates seeking career opportunities. Under the banner of 'Jagate Group,' my colleagues and I provided invaluable job placement assistance, recognizing the significance of both technical knowledge and essential soft skills in today's competitive job market. 

Recognizing the need to instill these skills from an early age, we extended our efforts to schools, conducting technical and soft skills sessions.

Most people want to help – just ask! 

During our travels, we noticed something else - tourists' lack of local knowledge and environmental consciousness. To tackle this, we formed 'Charaniga,' a team dedicated to helping people explore various destinations in Karnataka and across India. Simultaneously, they organized cleaning drives to preserve the natural beauty of these areas. 

In hindsight, I don’t really know why I was surprised to learn that my leaders at Dell were more than willing to support us. With their support, more and more team members became involved in the notebook drives. An opportunity at the weekly business unit (BU) huddle became a spotlight moment, leading to increased engagement across the entire department. 

When the school year kicks off, I spend my weekends supporting notebook drives. With the support of my team and leaders, I can manage this commitment without any overlap with work.

My thank you for Dell’s support - Referrals 

Once the drives are over, it’s time to lend a hand in putting together career counseling sessions for 10^th graders and training sessions for college students. The cherry-on-top is that I can refer these students and get them jobs at Dell Technologies. I am extremely proud to share that two of them have been successfully hired, and I’m sure this number will only increase in the future. 

I am sharing my story to let people know that balancing professional success with a desire to serve the community is possible with passion, determination, and a supportive community, like the one at Dell. Let us continue making a lasting impact.

To learn more about life at Dell, visit our stories.