Jaysree Pande

Being in Hyderabad, specifically in the 500001 zip code, means Jaysree Pande is always surrounded by people. This place is my workspace, but it’s also where I spend most of my waking hours. It is not a corporate setup with glass walls. It is more like a lived-in space where work happens naturally. I started this because I wanted to be my own boss, even if it meant working longer hours than I used to. The building we are in is old, like most things in this part of Hyderabad. It has its charms, like the high ceilings, but also its problems, like the occasional leaky pipe. I handle most of the things myself, though I have someone who helps with the cleaning and running errands. We don't have a mission statement or anything like that. We just focus on what needs to be done today. If a neighbor stops by for a chat, we take a break. That’s the good thing about being a local business. You aren't just a number. You are Jaysree or whoever is behind the counter. Some days are slow and we just sit and watch the traffic go by. Other days are a total mess of papers and phone calls. It is just a regular life here, nothing more and nothing less. We are just here, doing our bit in the city, hoping the tea is hot and the work gets finished before sunset.