From a Small Town to Big Dreams: Quick Rewind

Hello, I’m Kris, and my story begins in a small, bustling town in southern India. Growing up in a humble family, I quickly learned the value of challenging the status quo. Opportunities were scarce, but my curiosity and passion for computers and technology were boundless.

My journey started with an Electrical Engineering degree (the most accessible and affordable one), but I soon found my true calling in software engineering. This path led me to the world of Solution Consulting—a perfect blend of sales, technology, and people skills that felt like home. Yet, my aspirations didn’t stop there. I dreamed of broadening my horizons and pursuing further education in a country like Canada (a lifelong dream!).

With determination and diligent saving, I took a bold step and enrolled in a Marketing Management program in Canada. This was more than just an educational pursuit; it was a challenge to myself to grow and adapt. Marketing, I discovered, was the perfect complement to my sales background. The hard work paid off when I graduated with a silver medal for the highest academic standing among my peers. My experience at Intuit, where I completed a digital marketing co-op, provided invaluable insights into product marketing and corporate operations in Canada. The people I met and the experiences I had there are memories I'll always hold dear!

My career took a significant leap forward at SurveySparrow and Freshworks (the first SaaS company to reach unicorn status in India). At these companies, I was able to consistently meet and exceed sales goals, drive profitability initiatives, and maintain a high client retention rate. Whether working independently to solve customer needs or thriving in collaborative environments under mentorship, I honed my skills and made meaningful contributions.

One of my proudest achievements has been closing deals that generated over $4 million in revenue from SMB and mid-market sectors. I implemented strategies that tripled ARPU while maintaining customer churn below 2%. My experience selling tools like Freshdesk, Freshchat from Freshworks, and SurveySparrow opened doors to working with various SaaS tools such as Zendesk, Salesforce, HubSpot, Intercom, and APIs. I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of a great customer service SaaS tool.

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work under leaders who believed in my potential. Their support and guidance have been instrumental, and I’ve strived to reciprocate with authenticity and dedication. I am extremely grateful for those incredible individuals!

I look forward to sharing more insights and experiences from my journey in the SaaS industry. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.