I’m Ashish Bagdane. I live in Nashik City, where I design the future.

After completing my engineering in 2014, I began preparing intensely for the GATE-2015 exam, but a health issue following appendix surgery disrupted my plans. The treatment took years, and I faced a difficult period of isolation and depression. Despite doctors advising me to avoid stress, including programming, I couldn’t stay away from coding for long. Six months into recovery, I began exploring competitive programming and gradually worked to fill the growing gap in my career. By the end of 2016, I had achieved Global Rank 1 in Java on HackerRank and Global Rank 7 on HackerEarth’s Data Structures Practice domain, becoming a much stronger programmer than I had been in college.

With my health improving in 2017, I set my sights on securing a job to support my family and fulfill my dream of working at a top product-based company. However, the significant career gap made it difficult to even get shortlisted for interviews. Despite multiple rejections, I remained focused on self-improvement, upskilling through online courses, personal projects, and constant learning. My perseverance eventually paid off when Neptune Ubicom offered me a position that aligned with my aspirations.

Since then, my career has taken off. The key qualities that helped me succeed were resilience, adaptability, and a hunger for knowledge. I learned to embrace challenges and adapt to the fast-paced world of technology, which became crucial in my professional growth. Leading a team today, I focus on creating innovative solutions and providing opportunities for others, never forgetting the value of the struggles I faced along the way.

Even now, I continue to face challenges, but I remain committed to growing and learning. I’m exploring new technologies, software architecture, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship, while working on side projects aimed at making a positive impact on society and improving lives.