For many engineering students, building a career in Silicon Valley is the ultimate dream. A degree from a top college, a job at Microsoft or Meta, and life in the United States often represent professional success.But for Balaji Gururajan, an engineering executive who spent nearly two decades in the US working for the world’s largest technology companies, success was something else.After 18 years abroad, he packed his family life into a few suitcases and returned to Bengaluru—not because he wanted a better job or a bigger salary, but because he didn’t want to see an important part of family life thousands of kilometers away.
“Next to old parents, children grow up”
Share it selection on LinkedInBalaji wrote that he and his family had just moved to Bengaluru after spending 18 years in the United States.“A month ago, my family and I packed up our 18-year-old US and moved to Bangalore – close to aging parents, growing children, and a family life we didn’t want to look away from,” he wrote.His words resonated with thousands of professionals, especially Indians working overseas who are often juggling career opportunities with family responsibilities.Balaji described the move as an emotional one, saying that the Bay Area in California provided him with his career, lifelong friendships and valuable training in technology and leadership.“To everyone who took a chance on me, taught me what I needed to hear, or just made a difficult year easier – thank you,” he wrote.
From NIT Tiruchirappalli to Meta
Balaji graduated in Instrumentation and Control Engineering from National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchirappalli.Over the years, he has built an impressive career in some of the world’s top companies.He began his professional journey in India before moving to the United States, where he worked for Microsoft on products including Bing and marketing technologies. He later spent more than eight years at LinkedIn, leading the engineering teams that developed LinkedIn Ads and business platforms.In 2022, he joined Meta, where he leads engineering teams working on marketing technology and business messaging systems used by millions of businesses around the world.For students dreaming of international careers, his CV represents years of consistent education, technical expertise and leadership.
Success is not always measured by geography
Balaji admitted that returning to India after almost two decades has changed.Finding a home, enrolling children in school and settling into everyday life has been, in her words, “a job of its own.”However, he also described the change as “humbling” and “really good.”Interestingly, instead of slowing down after the move, he used his experience to build an AI side project called Bhavitta, a project designed to help Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) manage their country’s financial, revenue and tax policies.The idea came from the difficulties he faced in preparing to return to India.Her LinkedIn post prompted many responses from professionals who had made similar decisions, with many sharing that returning to live with aging parents and raise children close to family had been one of the most meaningful decisions of their lives.
The principle of continuous engineering
For students preparing for engineering colleges, management programs or foreign jobs, Balaji Gururajan’s story offers a perspective that is rarely discussed in the placement season.International projects can open up opportunities for learning, innovation and growth. But life choices are not always driven by promotions, salaries or higher positions.Sometimes, success is being there when your parents need you. Sometimes, it’s about making sure your kids grow up with grandparents. And sometimes, after years of making a good career overseas, coming home is the next big step.Balaji’s journey is a reminder that while careers may take people across continents, the meaning of success changes with time. For today’s students, that may be the most important lesson of all education, that producing good work is important, but living a meaningful life is also important.Disclaimer: This article is based on information shared by Balaji Gururajan on LinkedIn and information available on his social media. They are designed for educational and informative purposes only.