For many engineering students, building a career in Silicon Valley is the ultimate dream. A degree from a top university, a job at Microsoft or Meta, and life in the United States often represent the pinnacle of career success.But for Balaji Gururajan, an engineering leader who spent nearly two decades in the US working at some of the world’s biggest technology companies, success came to mean something else.After 18 years abroad, he packed his family life into a few suitcases and returned to Bangalore, not because he wanted a better job or a bigger salary, but because he didn’t want to see an important phase of family life from thousands of miles away.
“Closer to aging parents, growing children”
Sharing yours decision on LinkedInBalaji wrote that he and his family had recently moved to Bangalore after spending 18 years in the United States.“One month ago, my family and I packed up 18 years in the US and moved to Bangalore, closer to aging parents, growing children and a stretch of family life we no longer wanted to observe from a distance,” she wrote.His words resonated with thousands of professionals, especially Indians working abroad who often find themselves balancing career opportunities with family responsibilities.Balaji described the move as emotional, saying the California Bay Area had given him his career, lifelong friendships and valuable lessons in technology and leadership.“To everyone who took a chance on me, taught me something I needed to hear, or just made the tough years easier, thank you,” she wrote.
From NIT Tiruchirappalli to Meta
Balaji graduated in Instrumentation and Control Engineering from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchirappalli.Over the years, he built an impressive career among some of the world’s leading technology companies.He started his career journey in India before moving to the US where he worked at Microsoft on products like Bing and retail technologies. He later spent more than eight years at LinkedIn, leading engineering teams that built products for LinkedIn Ads and business platforms.In 2022, he joined Meta, where he leads engineering teams working on advertising technologies and enterprise messaging systems used by millions of businesses worldwide.For students who dream of global careers, their resume represents years of constant learning, technical excellence and leadership.
Success is not always measured by geography
Balaji admitted that returning to India after nearly two decades has been an adjustment.Finding a home, enrolling the children in school and settling into everyday life has been, in his words, “a project of its own”.However, he also described the transition as “humbling” and “genuinely good”.Interestingly, instead of slowing down after the move, he channeled his own expertise into building an AI-powered side project called Bhavitta, an app designed to help non-resident Indians (NRIs) navigate financial planning across countries, currencies and tax systems.The idea came directly from the challenges he experienced while planning his own return to India.Her LinkedIn post prompted hundreds of responses from professionals who had made similar decisions, with many sharing that returning home to spend time with aging parents and bringing children closer to family had become one of the most meaningful choices of their lives.
A lesson beyond engineering
For students preparing for engineering colleges, management programs or careers abroad, Balaji Gururajan’s story offers a perspective rarely discussed during internship season.Global careers can open up extraordinary opportunities to learn, innovate and grow. But life decisions are not always guided by promotions, salaries or prestigious positions.Sometimes success is about being there when your parents need you. Sometimes it’s about making sure your kids grow up surrounded by grandparents. And sometimes, after spending years building a successful career abroad, returning home becomes the next big milestone.Balaji’s journey is a reminder that while careers can take people across continents, the definition of success evolves over time. For students today, this may be the most valuable lesson of all: that building a successful career is important, but building a meaningful life is just as important.Disclaimer: This article is based on information publicly shared by Balaji Gururajan on LinkedIn and details available on his public professional profile. It is intended for educational and informational purposes only.