Meet Bala Kothandaraman

We thought you might like to find out a bit more about our Product Manager - A.I, Bala Kothandaraman, so we asked him our "Get to know..." questions and here’s what he said!

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Who are you?

I’m Bala; from Bangalore in India originally but I've called Sydney home since 1998. I live with my wife, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and 18 month old grandson who keeps us all on our toes. I started my career as a machinist with Bosch, then specialised in hydraulics, moved into the technical side of automotive, and here we are today working in a space that fascinates me.

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What do you do?

I lead and execute the AI vision for Titan DMS. The goal is simple - implement AI in smart & helpful ways across our systems to add value to our customers.

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What do you love most about your profession?

The unpredictability of it all. Whatever is the latest today will be obsolete by tomorrow and that provides a real energy to the space. I'm a scientist at heart so the opportunity to learn, develop, implement, measure, and improve really fits my bill.

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What do you most like about working for Titan?

I feel Titan, and the role and culture I enjoy, blends with my approach in life. I get to experiment, explore and try to do things that haven't been done before. Three of the Titan values are "Be Fearless", "Go Beyond", and "Find a Way" - these are my beliefs too, so that is a fit that suits me very well.

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What’s the best piece of advice you have for anyone in your profession?

Don't be afraid of change. Say yes to opportunities even if you don't know initially what their outcomes might be. Your best work happens outside your comfort zone.

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Can you share a recent success story that really made your day?

We have been trialing the Service AI Booking Agent with a dealership group and seeing the spark of realisation with one of their team over just how much time could be saved with this application was a big win for me. It's kicked off so many other good discussions around how AI could help in dealerships and I like seeing that enthusiasm for new technology.

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What is your superpower?

I think "adaptability". I come from a different background and a different culture, I've also had a number of specialisations in my career so I think the ability to adapt and embrace anything new has really been a benefit to me.

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What are we likely to find you doing outside work?

I'm a qualified yoga instructor (and you'll find me leading a session at 4am every morning!), I have a hobby of carpentry/ woodworking and I love getting out on my Yamaha Cruiser bike to blow away the cobwebs.

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Tell us a book we should read, a film we should watch, and a podcast we should listen to.

Film – "The Vaccine War" - It's based on India's battle against Covid and it's fascinating in the way they handled the crisis - much to their credit, showing compassion as opposed to the greed of some western pharmaceuticals. It's also excellent at highlighting the contribution of the women involved. A great movie.
Book – "The Godfather" by Mario Puzo. A great film but the book is even better. A real exploration of family and self and how life evolves.
Podcast – "Nvidia AI podcast" fascinating in-depth conversations with people right at the forefront of the AI revolution.

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In three words, sum up what makes a great team.

Dependability, honesty, and cooperation

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Thanks Bala!

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