This time, we decided to do something different.
Instead of a conference room…
Instead of slides, agendas, or technical deep dives…
We chose a café
A meetup in a café sounds a little unusual, right?
But experimentation has always been part of our journey. And this time, we experimented again.
The idea was simple:
-No presentations
- No predefined agenda
- No technical discussions
Just humans meeting humans, with open hearts and without judgment.
Expectations vs Reality
Honestly, both Weber and I thought the timing might work against us.
It was vacation season, winters had just started, and people usually prefer staying in.
We expected maybe 4–5 people, or at best 10.
But slowly… chairs started filling up.
One by one, people walked in.
And before we knew it, 20+ members had joined us.
At first, we were hesitant.
Then we were surprised.
And soon after, we were genuinely happy.
How It All Started
We didn’t begin with introductions.
We started with feedback — feedback about the ServiceNow meetups so far.
That itself opened the door to honest conversations.
Then came introductions.
But what was supposed to be a small intro turned into something much bigger.
People didn’t just say their names or roles.
They started sharing their journeys.
How they started their careers.
How they entered the ServiceNow ecosystem.
What they struggled with.
What changed their lives.
And that’s when the meetup truly came alive.
Stories That Stayed With Us
One story was from a member who came from a non-technical background and started his career in a BPO.
Breaking into ServiceNow wasn’t easy for him. He struggled a lot before finally getting an opportunity.
Interestingly, his first project was already in a mess.
What looked like a problem turned into a blessing in disguise.
He worked day and night, sat in war rooms, helped stabilize the project — and slowly built his confidence.
Over time, he became an HRSD expert.
Today, he proudly works as an HRSD Architect and confidently says:
“HRSD is my baby.”
That pride was visible. And inspiring.
Another powerful story came from someone who was laid off during the COVID period.
Instead of giving up, he started attending our meetups, learning, connecting, and staying consistent.
That consistency paid off.
He eventually got a job in the ServiceNow ecosystem.
A reminder that sometimes, all you need is hope, patience, and the right community.
Then there was a woman who shared her journey — starting her career in a BPO, moving into project management, leading teams, and eventually transitioning into ServiceNow.
Today, she works closely with CXO-level stakeholders.
Her story reminded everyone that growth doesn’t happen overnight — it happens step by step.
We also heard about someone who is highly in demand within his organization, simply because he keeps experimenting, researching, and working deeply in the AI space.
Curiosity, once again, proved to be a career superpower.
A Funny (Yet Powerful) Twist
One of the most interesting — and honestly funniest — stories came toward the end.
We realized that people sitting at the same table had once rejected each other in interviews.
Yes.
Interviewers and candidates — now laughing together over coffee.
And here’s the twist:
Today, the person who was once rejected is working on the project from the client side.
Life has its own way of teaching lessons.
One clear takeaway:
Never underestimate anyone. And never destroy bridges.
A Café, A Feeling, A Memory
On a personal note, something felt familiar.
Whenever I spend time in Germany during winters, sitting in cafés, there’s a certain calm vibe — slow conversations, warmth, and reflection.
That same feeling came alive in Indore, on a winter evening, in this café.
From small conversations, we ended up sharing big stories.
No slides could have created this impact.
No agenda could have planned this depth.
Final Thoughts
This meetup reminded us why communities matter.
Not for content.
Not for certifications.
But for connection.
Sometimes, the most meaningful conversations happen when you remove structure and just let people be themselves.
And this café meetup proved exactly that.
We didn’t just host a meetup.
We created a space.
And that made all the difference.
-Vijendra
