Life is all about tackling and winning over challenges that come your way. In that spirit, I want to share some of my experiences with ISACA (mostly with the Chennai, India Chapter) and from my personal life – and how these two became connected.
My association with ISACA started in 2006 after college. I was working with perotsystems (now DELL). In the intranet portal of our company, there used to be a weekly article introducing the senior colleagues and their interesting stories. One fine day, I saw this name – Raman Narasimhan – with multiple degrees and ISACA certifications attached to his name. In my curiosity to know more about these certifications and how to achieve them, I met Raman, who was the chief internal auditor of perotsystems at that time. He was the first one to explain the abbreviation of ISACA and walk me through the ISACA certifications, including CISA and CISM. I then enrolled in a diploma program in information security, held in collaboration with LIBA and the ISACA Chennai Chapter. From this program, it was interesting to learn how chapter board members passionately and selflessly contribute by volunteering for ISACA. I soon understood the passion that each one of them carry toward ISACA and, more importantly, their passion for serving ISACA members. This sparked my interest in volunteerism.
I cleared CISA in 2008. It was an incredibly special moment for me, as I completed one certification that Raman had. I also started becoming more involved with the Chennai Chapter.
In 2013, I had a major challenge in my personal life as my daughter was born with acute Cerebral palsy – a severe brain disorder that has no permanent solution. It was a difficult time being newly married and attending to such a stressful situation. It took my wife and I more than two years to really come to terms with our daughter’s diagnosis. My sincere request to all readers is to show empathy toward every child with Cerebral palsy and to their parents.
Due to everything that was going on in my life, I took a pause but did not stop my association with chapter activities. In fact, my association with ISACA provided a welcome outlet for me during stressful times. The ISACA Chennai Chapter has nurtured and inspired many young professionals with volunteerism as its core principle. In early 2015, I co-managed a volunteer meeting with Chitra Murali, a chapter board member and my mentor. I also started contributing to the chapter newsletter as part of the editorial committee, and later I was elected as director of membership, as one of the youngest board members. The chapter was awarded with the Communication Excellence Award in the same year, acknowledging our member-connect efforts, especially through emails and social media. I was privileged to receive the Most Innovative Chapter Program Award in Hong Kong in 2019 on behalf of the chapter.
Another very significant event took place in 2019. ISACA Global was instrumental in conducting the first ISACA CommunITy Day. Many chapters around the world participated in CommunITy Day by engaging in volunteering activities. Our chapter organized an awareness program at Maithree – an organization (or trust, as they call it in India) that supports people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs). This event was very close to my heart, and more than 40 ISACA members volunteered by visiting one of the special schools maintained by the trust. We were told, “The participation by ISACA has further strengthened our belief that we (Maithree and the children) are not alone …”as stated by the Founder and Secretary of Maithree, Mr. John Rajkumar. It was a great moment for me and the entire chapter to receive such encouraging words.
Apart from my professional roles, I also contribute to spreading awareness regarding gho-shala (a place to protect cows) activities of a religious trust in Chennai. In Hinduism, cows are thought to be sacred and deeply respected. In India, more than 3,000 institutions provide care for old and infirm cows in the gho-shalas. Honoring the cow inspires in people the virtues of gentleness and connects them with nature. The cow’s milk is believed to refine a person and the ghee (clarified butter) from the milk is used in ceremonies and in preparing religious food. Cow dung is used as fertilizer, as a fuel and as a disinfectant in homes. Interesting, right?
Through volunteering efforts, I have raised funds, helped build engagement with the Chennai Chapter and promoted the usage of technology at the gho-shala premises. In all these experiences, there are two things in common – Volunteerism and Satisfaction. They go hand in hand, always.