Ravindra Simhambhatla on education
From Discovering Passion Beyond Code with Ravi Simhambhatla of Avis Budget Group | Indianness Ep.14 · · The Indianness Podcast
“My parents were very supportive when I struggled during my first year at RIT in the US. I was physically sick and mentally despondent due to the cold weather, unfamiliar environment, and lack of support system. They gave me moral and mental support and helped me realize that sometimes you have to change your environment to succeed. I transferred to Richmond College in London, where I thrived and graduated with the best performance medal in computer science.”
On , Ravindra Simhambhatla, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital & Innovation Officer at AVIS BUDGET GROUP INC, spoke about education during Discovering Passion Beyond Code with Ravi Simhambhatla of Avis Budget Group | Indianness Ep.14 on The Indianness Podcast.
About Ravindra Simhambhatla
In a September 2024 podcast appearance, Ravindra Simhambhatla discussed his career journey, including his roles at Virgin America, Tesla, and Avis Budget Group. He described Elon Musk as "the most determined human being I have ever encountered" and said Musk "never asked people to do what he was not ready to do himself." Simhambhatla also characterized Richard Branson as "a very astute business person" who licenses his brand. He reflected on his early struggles as a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he said he was "physically sick and mentally despondent" before transferring to Richmond College in London, where he graduated with the best performance medal in computer science. Simhambhatla emphasized the importance of mentoring, stating that "people in positions of power should" mentor the next generation and that mentoring allows one to "pay forward" knowledge. He said he mentors both within his corporate roles and informally, adding that "if you don't bring new people into the fold mentoring them, then you also can never rise up." He advised that people should "work hard, listen to understand not to respond, be humble," and "have fun in life," adding that if an activity does not make one smile "once or twice a day," one should "probably do something else."