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Global digital technology and IT services giant UST employs 30,000+ people in more than 30 countries. But it began as a startup with just one two-room office in California and a second location in India. Its CFO, Vijay Padmanabhan, who has been with UST from the beginning, spoke with CFO Brew about his role and what he’s most proud of.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
You’ve been with UST from the beginning. How did you originally start working there?
I started in 2000. I joined when we were a startup. I had the good fortune to move to the US and work from our headquarters. It was a small, two-room office in Aliso Viejo [California] when I initially joined, and the good part for me was that I got to work directly with the CEO. And then we grew…and I was able to see the journey from zero to $2 billion, how the decision making happens, how the business works, being next to the nerve center.
I had a good exposure across various [areas]. At a startup, you do everything; you do the accounts payable, receivables, payroll. After the first five or six years, I slowly moved more into the business-facing roles, like business finance and financial planning and analysis, and I enjoyed it, because you are always working with the business leaders. And that, to me, was way more interesting—to be part of a team that is influencing sales or winning deals and then subsequently making sure that you’re able to meet the committed margins and all the margin improvement steps…My role was never a back office type of a role. It was always in the front with the business, working closely with the CEO and CFO through my career.
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You’ve been with the company for 24 years now. That’s a little unusual in this day and age. What made you stay?
That’s not true, I would say, of our company! Many of our folks have stayed with the company for a long time, and even if you look at the management team, we have two COOs, both with us for more than 20 years. Our chief delivery officer has been with us for 20 years…When we tell our story, they all feel that’s a big differentiator.
Our CEO tells an interesting story that, a few years back, he was distributing awards for the folks who completed 20 years. It was more than 200 or 250 people [who] had completed 20+ years. I think it goes back to the foundational elements of the company. We have always focused on our employees and our customers, and that customer-centricity always has helped us grow.
What’s one career accomplishment that you’re most proud of?
Within my finance group…I think I’ve been able to bring up a lot of leaders who have come up and taken responsible roles within the company. I’ve hired a lot of people much smarter than me…and I’m proud of the fact that many of them have come out extremely well.