The benefits of returning to a former workforce is a hot topic.. And intuitively, it makes sense for employees to fit into a team and culture that are familiar to them.
But for Amit Raj, the decision to return to Intuit was not based solely on the prospect of career growth. Rather, his choice was fueled by a deep-seated purpose as he considered several critical factors:
- Am I inspired by Intuit’s tech path and culture?
- I am mentored by Intuit leaders. Can I do the same for next-gen technologists?
- Do I have the right opportunity across domains?
- Is there a purpose aligned to innovation?
The above reflects his ways of inspiring and making the right decisions as a technologist. He champions the idea ‘let’s make an impact’. “My time at Intuit marked a period of remarkable growth from a software engineer 1 to a senior software engineer. Now my transition from an individual contributor to a people manager role is to expand both the team and Intuit QuickBooks. I feel a natural inclination to give back as a people manager, fostering talent and innovation,” he says. Read on to know the whole story as he charts his path with Intuit once more.
In retrospect, there was a defining moment that made me return to Intuit
It was no surprise that I decided to return to Intuit. Knowing that the culture places high value on people, and allows us to achieve product or tech goals, regardless of hierarchy, means a lot.
The first five years were a defining moment in my career. In 2016, I was part of the team at Intuit’s India Development Center (IDC) that worked on a significant AWS project, transitioning data centers to AWS. Despite my having limited knowledge of AWS, I worked hard to learn the technology stack along with my team. Over the next six months, we owned the outcomes of the project and became proficient in AWS while discovering optimal ways to scale, leading to over 15 successful migrations in the following two years. The opportunity provided me with a unique and eye-opening experience, as I recognized how effective problem-solving that transcends domain-specific barriers can be in building tech and customer impact.
Yet, I decided to leave the company in 2018 to explore the technology industry independently. While navigating opportunities, I realized that Intuit’s inclusive approach to problem-solving and usher in innovation—was exactly what every technologist needs. This approach has an impact on the work technologists do, such as my case learning with AWS cloud, or even GenAI.
Relay my experience to next-gen technologists
Through all my roles, the focus to enable impact in both the technology and product arena, not as independent aspects but as crucial components of the larger picture, is something that I learned from my senior leadership.
I also learned that when we focus on the individual, and give them the tools they need to thrive, we create the foundation for achieving a lasting impact that can extend well beyond the boundaries of our immediate work environment. Intuit has been a tremendous springboard for my career, and I’d love to pay it forward by contributing to the next generation of technologists.
Expansive learning. Fluidly transition between roles.
The technology industry is changing faster than we can keep up with. Whether it’s the latest breakthrough or advancements in Gen AI, it seems like there’s always something new on the horizon. Gone are the days when it was beneficial for technologists to specialize in just one domain during the first few years of their career.
Intuit’s technology culture gives us autonomy and ownership that allows me to develop a versatile set of technical skills across the entire tech stack. I have been fortunate enough to work across various domains—as an automation engineer in a desktop product and later transitioned to back-end developer specializing in cloud-based development. Following my return to Intuit, I have been entrusted with managing teams that leverage Gen AI. This has expanded my professional charter to bring greater value to the table.
Defining my purpose = mastering agility
Technology can make a positive impact on the world and drive vision to create meaningful change. This aligns with Intuit’s overarching mission to power prosperity for people around the globe..
It is important to fall into the execution mode until we understand what we are fighting for. As a people manager, a significant part of my responsibility is to foster growth. This means that the focus extends far beyond the immediate impact of our products and technological advancements. I take a more holistic approach in empowering team members to develop and grow as individuals, to gain confidence in their abilities, and to work towards achieving their professional goals.
Next, as a facilitator, my critical objective is to ensure all individuals within the organization understand and take full advantage of the GenAI capabilities. This has the potential to generate substantial impact beyond the realms of technology, affecting everything from employee morale to customer satisfaction.
The prospect of using GenAI in our product development is incredibly exciting. We are transforming lives, furthering our CEO Sasan Goodarzi’s bold vision to drive prosperity and profitability to customers around the world. An example of that is my team’s focus on developing our small business mid-market product, with a key emphasis on integrating data-driven insights to drive smarter financial decision-making.
At Intuit, we take care of our own and include everyone on our journey to the top. Whether you’re a new hire or a seasoned veteran, every day is a chance to learn, grow, and reach new heights. Come join us and see for yourself what makes Intuit such a special place to work.