Team Spotlight: Chai Vemprala

RAPID FIRE:

• RAPID FIRE:
  • Grew Up In: Hyderabad, India – I was there until i was 25 and moved to the US for my master’s
  • Currently Lives In: Santa Clarita, CA
  • Star Sign: Pisces in Western astrology, in Indian astrology I’m Aries. 
  • Favorite food: Back home in India, I’ll always want biryani or an Indian-Chinese street-food called hakka noodles.
  • Beer, wine, or spirits: I actually don’t really drink anymore, but if forced to choose, my choice would be a good IPA.
  • If you could have a superpower, what would it be: The one superpower I wish to have is the ability to absorb information as a sponge and be able to retain it.
  Who is someone that inspires you?
  • I don’t know if there is one person that inspires me – but there are things that I learn from different people. There is a saying in my native language that says ‘you can seek knowledge from every individual’ and I believe in that
  What do you most enjoy about being an engineer and  your role as a manager?
  • For me it’s mostly based on working with the team and having the common understanding of a shared goal. I like seeing where I can help facilitate the team and generate consensus about our direction and expectations
  What’s a favorite memory from your time at PickTrace?
  • The very first payroll we ran on 3.0 – it was a mess for me because I accidentally updated the wrong thing and it caused an issue- but NO ONE placed blame on me. We just worked forward to address the issue and move on. That for me was one of the most impactful moments- it’s something that resonates with me as a manager – it’s okay to make mistakes, just learn from it and don’t make it again
  What do you most enjoy about working at PickTrace?
  • What makes working at PickTrace enjoyable for me is working with people who all have diverse opinions but who are interested in pooling all of their great ideas. It’s not about one person’s ideas, but a team effort. That stands out here at PickTrace. From what I have seen, having that in a smaller team is possible, but having it across a whole organization is very rare. I think that’s where PickTrace stands out. I appreciate it and pray that it stays and grows organically.
  What are your hobbies and passions outside of work?
  • There is an old language called Sanskrit that I’m trying to learn as a hobby – there are so many texts written in Sanskrit and I wanted to learn to read them.
  • The other motivation is teaching the language to my children since learning multiple languages is great for their brain development. I’m learning so I can teach it to them
  • The second thing is – I’m always reading a lot of fiction just to pass time.
  What would your life’s purpose be:
  • I strive to make progress in my own modest way, underscoring not just the necessity of access to education but also its importance, particularly for those who are underprivileged.
  What’s the best advice you’ve ever received – or do you have a mantra you live by?
  • Maybe it will change, but for the past few years it has been:  “Try to be a help for everyone and if you can’t help, then never be a hindrance”. It’s something I try to be very self-aware about
  If you were a fruit or vegetable what would you be and why?
  • Coconut resonates with me – They have strong exteriors and soft interiors, and are relatively healthy. They are also one of my favorite fruits alongside mangos and oranges.