Humans of JDM: Karan Grover on His Journey

A company is better understood from the inside out. That’s how you can truly learn how it works, its environment, leaders, and employees. So, I decided to get an inside-out perspective of JDM from one of the most loved members of the team, Karan Grover.

He is one of the oldest members of the team and enjoys every bit of his time in the office. His work ethic is pretty evident to everyone in the company. I haven’t seen anyone more excited to work and learn new things. But, while his verve shines through his work, we also get to see him have fun and be the life of the party during and after office hours. And as far as the ‘growth’ aspect of JDM is concerned, there couldn’t be a better example than Karan. His journey started from being a content writer to now being the Head of Operations within a span of just three years. So, let’s take a tour of JDM through the eyes of one of the best digital marketers on the team.

What made you join JDM?

Unemployment (laughs). 

I was looking to get a job as a coastguard for a long time. It was my dream. But unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make the cut because of my health issues. So I had to look for a job and crossed paths with JDM. The HR contacted me and I decided to go through with the interview. I also had a brief session with my ‘to be’ mentor Raman Sir. I think he is one of the reasons why I chose JDM. He made a deep impression on me. The way he cares for the company and the employees is something I haven’t noticed anywhere else. 

You have been a part of the JDM team for more than 3 years now. How would you describe the environment here?

The environment at JDM is very chill. The way I interact with my colleagues is very comfortable like friends and family. The equation between different team members is something I have never experienced before. Everyone is very close. It makes everyone very approachable too. If there are issues regarding work or anything else, we always communicate and sort things out. And while we have close interactions, we make sure to work professionally during office hours. Help each other and complete the tasks as efficiently as possible. I think the best way to describe the atmosphere at JDM is ‘a perfect balance of personal and professional.’

Who do you look up to the most at JDM?

It’s obviously Raman Sir. He has been a constant support for me. He has taught me a LOT! He is the reason behind my growth and where I am today. You can always reach out to him and ask him to teach you new skills and give responsibilities. He never says no. That’s one of his best aspects. Also, he is an amazing player and we love playing cricket with him every now and then.

What’s the one thing about JDM that you didn’t find anywhere else?

Everyone in the team will agree when I say that at JDM we get the freedom to work creatively. That’s because there are a variety of things that you get to write about or explore when creating campaigns and other things. We have a lot of different clients which broadens our niche and never makes the work monotonous. Our work ranges from health and medicine to travel and home. You can never get bored with such different projects. Plus, we are always interacting with one another which is another reason why boredom never creeps in the office. So, it’s not just basic typing or designing work for us which makes the job interesting.

How would you describe your growth at JDM? How do you think it will mold your future?

I have worked with a different company before JDM. I was there for almost a year. But, my growth in both companies has been very different. I can say without a doubt that I learned more at JDM within two months than what I learned at my previous job in a year. So you can see how exponentially I have grown working here.

Basically, I was a content writer but then I slowly expanded my expertise and learned about SEO and designing too. And with every passing year, I could see my growth which I think Raman sir saw too. Now I’m the Head of Operations. It has given me a chance to explore new responsibilities while working on different projects and better interact with other teams.

In the past 3 years, my responsibilities have increased tremendously. From being just a blog writer to doing Ad Hoc and now handling operations, my role at JDM now is more than just a digital marketer. I’m a leader now too. So, my job profile has increased two-fold since I joined JDM.  

We talked about the pros, what about the cons? Is there anything you would like to change about JDM?

As much as I love the interactions and openness between the employees, it is also true that not all are comfortable mixing their personal and professional life together. Though it’s difficult to avoid it since most of our time is spent at the office and with our colleagues. But I think that if there is something that a person doesn’t wish to share with others, it should stay that way. The lines between personal and professional should not be blurred to a level where it becomes uncomfortable.

It’s clear that you have had a good time at JDM not just in terms of work but also in personal relationships. Is there something you’d like to add?

Oh, I have had a great time at JDM. It’s not that my journey was all daisies and unicorns, I have had my ups and downs. But there is one thing I have realized that “If I want a rainbow, I have got to put up with the rain.”