Stories about Anup
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From:
Siddharth Bohra
Chief Business Officer - Tech, Media, Consumer & Life Sciences | Head - Digital & Analytics
Many of us were shattered last Saturday by the news of losing a very dear friend & colleague Anup Uppadhayay. Anup was my mentor and a very dear friend. Grief is a personal emotion; but for of me, like for many of my colleagues, Anup represented qualities that we all cherish & celebrate.
My first memory of Anup was a phone call with him just after I got hired into Infosys. I knew nothing about IT and was anxious to learn a few things before I started. He was going to be my manager & I was expecting the call to end with a list of things that I must work on. The call ended with ‘take it easy & enjoy the break between the jobs, you’ll have enough time to learn’! Clearly, Anup was different.
My role was in London. This was the first time I was working outside India. It was my first exposure to with IT. Anup was then based in Chicago. Even from a distance he had sensed it all. He knew where I stood, what I could do well (which was very little at that time) & my limitations. Not a day, not even weekends, went by when he would not call and these were long calls – most of it was not just about work, but checking in on me, encouraging me & his unforgettable life lessons. I was a very small part of the business he managed, but he had time for me. He stood like a rock for me, while I made mistakes & learnt. Amazingly, he did do for so many of us!
I moved to the Bay Area as he suggested it was time for another adventure. Anup said it, so where was there a question. He wasn’t going to be my manager anymore, but his influence on my life was undiluted as a friend (& neighbor).
He still had the time for me, the patience to debate / reason, the ability to turn my small victories into special moments & find silver linings in defeat. Without telling me so, he’d leave me wanting to do better. And behind the scenes he’d root for me, fight for me but I’d not even get to know or get to know only later. By this time Anup was family, he’d be the go to guy for many of our personal decisions & needless to say he took deep interest in that as well.
In the final few years of our association Anup moved back to India. I missed him sorely, but he had shaped me enough by now. Whatever happened to him - be it the move to India, change of roles, change of jobs – he was always happy. He’d cherish the things he was doing with & for his family or at work. And the life lessons continued on phone or during my visits to India. Lessons that would take mere mortals years to learn, would come out so simply from him – I wish I had written them down! Once more, I have absolutely no doubt that I was not the only one benefitting from this ‘mentor’, someone who just keeps giving & expects nothing, absolutely nothing in return.
The sad part is that we could not connect as often the in last few months / years. And that puts things in perspective for me. Anup did not live a long life, but his life is to be measured by the smiles he brought, the lives he changed, the lessons he taught – by that yardstick, very few come close. You’ll always be with us Anup, we will always celebrate ‘Anupism’.
Anup
My thoughts are with you!
From:
Sanjay Jalona
CEO & Managing Director at LTI
Today, I mourn the loss of one of the highly positive influences on my adult life. He was a person who had my back and the backs of everyone around him. I want to remember the liveliness, friendship, no-holds-barred laughs, the sparkle of real joy, and the genuine cheer he spread around him. It is hard for me to fathom that the person so full of life is not around anymore.
This larger-than-life person came to my life two decades ago in December 2000. I had taken up a new job and wanted to hit a refresh in my profession. Everything was new and challenges were bigger. It was my first week in Building 14 at Infosys in Electronic City, Bangalore. It is never easy to get assimilated in a large organization where people have grown with the company and while I had great mentors, this guy came from nowhere, adopted me, and took me under his wings. He was a friend, a peer and he also worked for me for many years, but actually, I always felt that he was the one looking after me all this time. He fought many battles for me that I know of and many more that I probably would never know about. The real beauty of all this is that he did this not just for me, but for everyone around him. His friendship always made me feel a lot richer. While I had great managers, peers, and mentors, I have been influenced most by my team members and their selfless sacrifices and generosities... and friends like Anup who made it special and gave us a reason to love, live, enjoy and be together to make great things happen.
As we move forward with our lives and progress in our careers, many a time, physical distances make it harder to stay in touch with friends, but we know we’d always be there if and when needed. While I regret that I did not make more efforts to be in touch with him as friends should be doing, today I want to celebrate life, I want to celebrate the amazing personality, and most importantly, I want to celebrate a real and authentic friend that I and so many of us found in Anup Uppadhayay.
Love you man, miss you.
- Sanjay and countless lives you touched
From:
Mohit Joshi
President, Infosys; Non Executive Director at Aviva
I woke up this Saturday morning to the insistent buzz of messages on my phone. I got up and saw numerous text and WhatsApp messages - Anup had passed away earlier that day.
I can still see him - his compact frame, high forehead and swept back hair, an irrepessible smile and leonine grace. Anup had preceded me by seven years at Infosys and in the early 2000's, I only knew him by his reputation. A Delivery leader who had proved himself as a giant killer on multiple deals. He'd been everywhere - California, Chicago, Amsterdam and run some of our largest and most significant relationships before returning to a senior delivery management role in India.
We got to working closely together in 2012 when he joined the Financial Services practise as our Delivery Head. Two specific incidents stand out for me. The first was a road trip that we did together in late 2013. I had just taken responsibility for our FS business and Anup suggested that we visit our India Development centers to give the teams a perspective on our priorities and get their feedback.
We travelled together to Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Chandigarh over a crazy week. You could see how the team adored him. You would marvel at how articulate he was at detailing the finer nuances of our business plan. And after hours, he was so much fun as he regaled us with his anecdotes and his mimicry. These were not new stories - I'd heard them dozens of times. Each story, polished like a fine gem but I would laugh, almost on cue. You could not help yourself as you saw his body shaking with laugher and his eyes sparkling with amusement.
The second memory is from the time, Anup was heading our BPM business and a pursuit had gone awry and a deal was lost. I remember Anup walking up to the Executive floor with a calm smile on his lips - he would not push the blame down to his team. He would not throw a junior colleague under the bus - he took responsibility as the business head and was respected for it. This sense of responsibility and ownership is what made him such a great leader.
At the end, ambition, achievement and all the trappings of a corporate life fall away. Only the way, you have conducted yourself and the kindness that you have shown survive. This is why Anup's memory will live on in the hundreds of people he mentored, trained and worked with.
From:
Ramesh Padmanabhaiah
Site Reliability Engineer at Twitter
Anup was true to his name - incomparable! One of the most balanced colleagues I have encountered in my work life. We usually see two extremes in software services leadership - some are business focused and some are tech focused. I believe Anup maintained a balance between these two, mixing it with a warm human touch, and hence he was loved by all. His sense of attire, clear communication, and above all humor, would be remembered forever. Amazing to read the kind notes written by so many.
Farewell my friend!
From:
Kimberly M.
Sr Director - Client Partnership
I am sorry to hear about his passing and your loss, along with his family’s. I recall indirectly working with you fellows. May God rest his soul and those he left behind comfort from our Heavenly Father. It is tragic to loose such a highly blessed and warm soul.
Respectfully, Kimberly
From:
Dennis Gada
Senior Vice President, Head - Financial Services - North America, Digital Transformation Leader
Anup was a natural leader and made very strong connections with people in all his roles... he was my first Manager at Infosys and there is so much that I learnt from him that shaped my career in the industry... he will stay in our hearts forever...
RIP Anup
From:
Sachin Arora
Partner | Digital Advisory | FinTech | Wharton
Really sorry and shocked to read this. Dennis I share similar memories of Anup at ABN and later. He inspired many our journeys. Often many virtues get outdone with corporate ambitions. Not for Anup. His memories live on. A very touching and heartfelt tribute Mohit- keep inspiring with your kindness
From:
Rakhal B.
Client Partner at Capgemini
I had seen Anup in his delivery leader role while in India, back in early 2000. I remember him as a charismatic leader and a people person. He lead several open employee forums where people sometimes ask cheeky questions. Not once would you see Anup stumped by a surprise. Always thinking on his feet, charming with his wit.
Its a great loss for everyone who knew him. May his soul rest in peace and may his family have the strength to live through the difficult time.
From:
Ashiss Dash
SVP and Segment Head at Infosys
Mohit - A very touching tribute that captures the essence of who Anup was to most of us.
This shocking and tragic news will take a long time to sink in.
I have had the opportunity to work with Anup for a few years. He would always rise above the official role and be the friend you need at work and outside. He has touched so many of us in multiple ways - he will be terribly missed.
From:
Rahul Deshpande
Delivery Project Executive at IBM; AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional
I am shocked to know that Anup is no more. I have so many memories of him. He was positive and could get along with anybody.
From:
Kush Sharma
Vice President at Infosys
What a befitting tribute to Anup. Talks a lot about you and your human side as well Mohit !It has been a shocking news to read !!I had very little work related interactions with him but what ever little I had , I found him to be an amazing person - full of fun and full of life and laughter. Distinctly remember when he had called me on a Saturday morning during his large deal role days on a deal which was going north - all he said was - “Kush , help me understand what it takes to win it , I shall make it happen “ - outcomes matter , but how he conducted and made me feel was what came to my mind when I read this !! While corporate life is full of inconsiderate manifestations of extreme ambition - what is remembered as Mohit said is how one makes people feel . RIP Anup - gone too soon , feels v strange to write this. May god give peace to your soul and strength to your loved ones to bear with this irreplaceable loss .
Kush
From:
umamaheswararao M
Associate Vice President & Sr. Director
During my stint at IPS, I happened to work with him and had party time couple of times. He is a great, a solid personality for social time. Very symbolic to be a “Raymond, the perfect man”. Sad, he is no more. The Rat race, illusive corporate hang-over must go away. There is an end to all, but the Rat-Race life takes that-little time away from our beloved parents and family. Best tribute to Anup is “Be kind to fellow professionals & stop chasing crazy goals at the cost of each other’s life”. At least make genuine efforts.
From:
Karthik Sarma
VP Human Resources at Levi Strauss & Co.
I was gutted when I heard this tragic news. I couldn’t but remember all the wonderful years. Anup was zest and courage defined and refined!!! A person Unafraid to speak up and a role model on courage yet so refined and articulate! A light in every relationship he had be it friends, colleagues or teams. A person all of us loved to just hang out with discuss serious work challenges or just shoot the breeze.
So many memories under the pergola, recruitment trips, strategic workgroups, fremont days, the WENA days, EMEA early on and then again later in his career, so much and so much sadness . . . And such a harsh reminder to all of us how suddenly our lives can be taken away!
Truly tragic!
Courage
Optimism
Empathy
He was their role model!
From:
Sudhindra Murthy
Product Marketing - Finacle Corporate Banking | EdgeVerve | An Infosys Company
That's right Mohit. Anup gone so soon, and its so heartbreaking. He was full of energy, inspiring, caring and respectful of all. Some of us were new entrants into the industry/company and starting our careers. In his various roles in FS, he connected very well with us. As a DC-EC member back then, I also had an opportunity to work closely with him when he headed Bangalore DC. He was always empathetic, encouraging, logical and outcomes oriented.
From:
Venkatesh V.C.
Director & Industry Principal at The Strategy Labs
Mohit Joshi You have represented Anup accurately. The best parts of Anup was his ability to regale us with hilarious anecdotes. My interactions with Anup first was during my orientation in June 2003 when he came to address the new Joinees to Infosys. And later we worked closely in 2007 when I was part of the ABN team managing the testing service line. During our regular F2F meetings and also on our one-to-one calls, he would regale me and those around with hilarious events and anecdotes with his characteristic style of rendition which by itself evoked humour.
He surely had a great impact on me and on many folks who were part of the ABN team or have worked with Anup.
A very Profound loss so early.
RIP Anup
From:
Anand Iyer
Ready for a second inning - are you ready for me?
So many lives touched positively by this wonderful human being! Such a terrible loss (and needless to say, too soon). My most recent encounter with Anup was in transit at a European/ Middle-eastern airport shortly after I had left Infy - he was traveling with his family. Yet as always, he spent time to understand how I was doing, and had only the most positive and inspiring insights to share... May his family find the strength and peace to deal with this loss. Anup's kind words and actions will live well beyond him
From:
Amit Ahuja
Senior Sales Director at HCL Technologies
It was this line that stood out for me as well: a clarion call to the reality we live with but often do not acknowledge...
From:
Prahlad D.N.
Non Executive Chairperson at Surya Software Systems Private Limited
Anup started as one of my favourite freshers that reported to me and till date remains that. Devudtt, Anup and I dug in into a single man operation in Holiday Inn which later paid off. Anup's doggedness was legendary. This was when he was barely out of college and in Infosys. I have very fond memories of the day he became the head of BPM. He called and conveyed this news himself. It was an extremely sad moment for me when I heard the news about Anup. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family. Mohit Joshi thanks for writing this about Anup. Well articulated.
From:
Ajay Vij
Senior Vice President & Industry Head, EMEA - Financial Services and Public Sector, Infosys
Very thoughtful post Mohit. I did not have much overlap with Anup, but the few times I interacted with him, he was incredibly warm and generous. And I will remember him like that!
The news rattled me and when I checked the veracity of the news with you on Saturday - it’s “heartbreaking” you said and Indeed it feels like that.
RIP Anup and prayers for his family’s
From:
Sunil Mishra
Banking Technology | Fintechs
Very shockng news and a touching tribute. Quoting from the post
"At the end, ambition, achievement and all the trappings of a corporate life fall away. Only the way, you have conducted yourself and the kindness that you have shown survive."
From:
Radhakrishnan Anantha
Exec.Vice President ,CEO & MD at Infosys BPM Ltd
So So True...a Touching Tribute to a Thorough Human Being Par excellence .Fun , always seing the brighter side of life even under the most difficult circumstances , a smile that could melt away worries and a genuine friend .Made a great impact on me as a leader .God takes away lovely people sooner it seems .May he rest in peace but his sweet and postively impactful memory lives on .
From:
Siva Nandivada
VP - Product Engineering - Platform, Data and AI at athenahealth
Shocking news!! Well said - “At the end, ambition, achievement and all the trappings of a corporate life fall away. Only the way, you have conducted yourself and the kindness that you have shown survive. This is why Anup's memory will live on in the hundreds of people he mentored, trained and worked with...”
From:
Gaurav Rastogi
Founder + Executive + Yogi | Communities, Reinvention, Transformation
A beautiful note to memorialize a beautiful life. Anup touched all of us deeply. Every meeting with him at the Fremont office was to run into an old friend. That face beamed with recognition every single time and that smile forced you to respond likewise. A friend has left this world, but his stories will always be with us.
From:
Kamal Biswas
President & Chief Operating Officer at Xybion Corporation
How can such a friendly, smiley, and always happy person leave us so soon! This world needed you to stay way longer, my friend.
Rest in Peace, Anup!
From:
Ramkumar Srinivasan
SAP S/4 HANA | ECC FICO CONSULTANT AND ARCHITECT | MASTER DATA MANAGEMENT | DATA MIGRATION | TESTING | CUT OVER | INTEGRATION | PROCESS EXCELLENCE | - On the look out for Opportunities WITH BASELINE CLEARANCE
Wonderful tribute and message for everyone “At the end, ambition, achievement and all the trappings of a corporate life fall away. Only the way, you have conducted yourself and the kindness that you have shown survive. This is why Anup's memory will live on in the hundreds of people he mentored, trained and worked with.”