3 weeks ago
Founder Hires Taxi Driver As First Employee, Risk Pays Off
A long time ago, a man named Sravanth Gajula started a company in Hyderabad, India.
He needed someone to help him with his work.
He decided to hire a taxi driver as his very first employee.
The taxi driver had only studied until Class 9 and did not speak English very well.
He also did not have any experience working in an office.
Many people thought this was a strange choice.
But Mr. Gajula saw that the man was honest and really wanted to succeed.
The company helped him by giving him English classes and important work.
Ten years later, that same taxi driver is now an important leader at the company, handling buying across all of India.
This story shows that believing in people can help them grow into great workers.
Hyderabad-based founder Sravanth Gajula shared on LinkedIn that he hired a Class 9 pass taxi driver as his company's first employee 10 years ago.
The taxi driver had no English skills, no corporate experience, and no resume that would attract a traditional hiring manager.
Many people questioned the decision, but Gajula said he saw the driver's hunger to succeed and his honesty.
The company enrolled the employee in spoken English classes, gave him meaningful and impactful work, and genuinely believed in his potential.
After 10 years, the former taxi driver now heads procurement at the company and handles pan-India responsibilities.
- Who
- Sravanth Gajula, a Hyderabad-based founder, and the taxi driver he hired as his company's first employee.
- What
- Gajula hired a taxi driver with no corporate experience as his first employee; the former driver now heads procurement with pan-India responsibilities.
- Where
- Hyderabad, India.
- When
- Ten years ago, as recounted in a recent LinkedIn post.
- Why
- Gajula saw the driver's hunger to succeed and his honesty and decided to take a chance on him.
Key facts
- Founder
- Sravanth Gajula
- Company location
- Hyderabad, India
- First employee background
- Taxi driver, Class 9 pass, no English skills or corporate experience
- Time since hiring
- 10 years
- Training provided
- Spoken English classes and meaningful work
- Current role
- Head of procurement with pan-India responsibilities
- Platform
Quotes
Sravanth Gajula
Founder of the Hyderabad startup
““10 years ago, I hired a taxi driver as our first employee. Class 9 pass. No English. No corporate experience. No resume that would make any traditional hiring manager look twice.””
indianexpress.com
““He didn’t just grow. He flew.””
indianexpress.com
Sources
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