Anniversary Series: Vishak Seshadri
As Enova celebrates its 20th Anniversary, we will share stories from some of our most tenured team members to highlight their contributions and reflect on the company’s journey.
Name: Vishak Seshadri
Years at Enova: 12
Starting Year: 2012
What were your first impressions when you started, and how have they evolved over time?
I started at Enova as a second-shift Operations Support Engineer supporting our US and Australia businesses. I started my shift at 4 P.M. which meant my day basically started after everybody else’s day ended. Though I didn’t realize it then, working the second shift was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed me to learn a ton about Enova’s core business away from the daily hustle and bustle. Initially, I wore multiple hats, progressing from leading a small second-shift team to managing a 16-member Technology Operations (TechOps) team, before transitioning to an individual contributor role. Moving to an individual contributor role has allowed me the opportunity to tackle new projects every day. This position has continued to throw new things at me over the last 12 years and has been one of the most interesting parts of my job. I continue to wear different hats, and I am now part of our Enterprise Architecture Group, but Operations remains my prime focus as it allows me to do what I do best!
What have been the most significant changes in the company since you joined in 2012?
I have been fortunate to have seen many significant changes at Enova, but the core of the company’s identity has never seemed to get lost. When I started at Enova, our Chicago office spanned eight floors and required utilizing two different elevators to get around. The move to our current offices allowed us to be closer and still embrace our culture. In addition to the move, there have been so many more changes I have seen over the 12 years I have spent with the company: successfully going public, record-breaking performances, acquiring three additional companies with offices across the US and an office in Brazil. We have also successfully moved our entire contact center to remote work, and transitioned successfully to a hybrid workforce across all offices. In spite of these changes (and more), I am proud to see how much we continue to stick to our values and continuously work on doing what we say we are going to do.
What projects are you most proud of, and why?
Over the past 12 years, there have been two projects that I am extremely proud of. Being in TechOps has taught me a lot about how the various payment methods work. This knowledge allowed me to head two critical projects around our payment processes. Both projects crossed over to different departments and my work on both earned me nominations, and a win for the “Biggest HIPPO award.” I think the second project sticks out more to me as it came about from a casual call during the pandemic.
How would you describe the culture at Enova?
In one word: family. Enova shares many qualities with my family. We can have healthy discussions about ideas, and regardless of the outcome, mutual respect is evident, no matter their position in the company. This respect and camaraderie exists on the executive leadership team and spreads through the rest of the organization. Like a family, we hold each other accountable, and together we strive to provide the best service possible to our customers. Also, I have to mention that, like family, Enova makes sure our kitchen is stocked with enough ice cream for everyone.
Any advice for new hires starting their journey with us?
Keep it simple, have an open mind and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Every question you ask can teach not just you, but also the rest of your team.