Dear Friends and Students
Recently I read an article on LinkedIn: “No degree? No problem. Here are the jobs at Top Companies you can land without one”. We know many founders of amazing companies are College dropouts: Uber, Dell, Facebook, Apple, Dropbox, Whatsapp, WholeFoodMarket, Twitter, Microsoft, Wipro, etc.
Apple CEO Tim Cook visited the White House on March 6, 2019, and made the following comment: "About half of our U.S. employment last year were people that did not have a four-year degree,". “Hannah Maddy, a UX designer at Netflix, ranked No. 11 among this year's Top Companies. "Not only I do not have a four-year, degree but I’m also a high school dropout and worked the graveyard shift as a baker until I landed my first design gig," Maddy told LinkedIn.” (linkedin.com)
Having said that, it is not an easy path to get into premium companies through the hiring process without a proper college degree. It needs extraordinary skills. Today, I am going to present one such story!! Read the story of Kotireddy Saripalli.
I am constructing the words, not the grammar as each word embedded the emotion.
Childhood
Born at Budameru, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Father: Farm Labour and owned 0.5-acre land. 2 elder sisters. Land sold for marriages. Back to square: Father became a Farm laborer. During his 9th standard, his father took 16 acres lease for 2.5 lakhs. If there was a good yield, Kotireddy would have studied Polytechnic and MCA or Doctor using that money. Incessant rains washed the field. Lost money. Father became sick. Spent more money on health.
That year, he got 1st in 10th Std at Mandal level but cannot go for higher studies. Became farm laborer. Once father gave him 1000 rupees for Pongal dress. He went to Gudivada, a nearby town to buy clothes. Saw an Ad saying “PGDCA for 1000 rupees @ DataSoft”. This Ad changed the life. Joined the course even there is resistance at home.
In 3 months, he completed the C Programming. Seeing his skill, the DataSoft founder recommended him for a Data Entry Operator in a nearby Cloth shop for 750 Rupees salary. He used to start with a lunchbox in the early morning from his village, commute to the town and reach home late in the night!! In 2 years’ time, he became the faculty of C Programming and Data Structures in the same institute. However, he used to communicate in TELEGU: Local Language. Students loved his pedagogy. In 6 months’ time, owners leased the institute to Kotireddy.
Father initially resisted but took 15000 loan and gave it to Kotireddy. He used to be Invited by Vijayawada C Point as a Guest Faculty. Later he moved to Hyderabad for better prospects. At that time, he was barely 15-16 years old. Rejected by many companies and coaching centers. Finally, a small training institute recruited him as a tutor for C Programming.
Here is the twist!! He taught to 2 Govt. employees. One of the employees appreciated him and recommended him to ZEDNTT Software Company. They tested him on Graphics work and gave him 4 hours’ time to complete. Kotireddi completed it in 45 minutes. Got job. However, he was not well encouraged by other colleagues as he was not good at English communication. On top of it, he is the only 10th Passed. He took it as a challenge. In 1.5 years, he mastered English communication.
He learned Java on his own by buying old books at Koti Jn in Hyderabad. He became Youngest Java Programmer and also 2nd Level at Asia level. He became a core team member for Reliance's low-cost Phone. Upon successful completion of this Reliance Project, he got a call from Microsoft for a job. After 12 rounds of an Interview, he was asked to submit certificates and profile. He has only a 10th Std Certificate and TC!! He was rejected. Then he challenged, “if Bill Gates (a dropout) can become chief, why not me?” The next day, he got an offer letter. He is the First Indian with no degree to join Microsoft.
In 2 years’ time, he moved to the US. Reached to highest level award winner (only 0.01% employees get it)- Golden Star Achievers Award. Bill Gates praised him!!
In 2014, he decided to be on his own. He started Koti Group of Ventures which is into Education, Health, Media, Wellness, Finance, etc. Started Digital Education Ecosystem at Sri Venkateswara University. This company crossed 1000 crores turnover in 4 years itself!! Today it is clocking almost 1600 crores turnover. Kotireddy spends 33% of this income on Social Service!!
Today, the Kotigroup group is working towards deep-rooted innovations in AgriTech, ConstructionTech, EduTech, FinTech, HealthTech, MediaTech & QualityTech. Finally, Kotireddy completed his MCA through distance education and became Dr. Kotii Reddy Saripalli.(the University of Washington gave him Research Doctorate)
Dear Students
The world recognizes the true skill. A degree only gives you the Entry. If you are not the real worth, your own Degree becomes a thorn on your head. Degree with Skill will only make you to survive.
Degree (Plus) Skill= Guarapo (The Liquid Extracted from Pressed Sugarcane)
Degree (Minus) Skill= Bagasse (The dry pulpy fibrous material that remains after crushing sugarcane)
Are you a Guarapo or Bagasse, Decide!!!
Your Well-wisher
Ravi Saripalle
Join Inspire to Innovate Storytelling Movement (i2itm.blogspot.com)
Source Inspiration: Eenadu Sunday Editorial 31-Jan-2021
www.linkedin.com/pulse/degree-problem-you-can-still-land-jobs-top-companies-joseph-milord/
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