My Journey with CARS24: Growing Up

I’ve been with CARS24 for almost 8 years now. In the startup world, that’s a long commitment. And whenever people ask me about CARS24 and what made me stay here, I have a very clear answer: I literally grew up here and this has become my home. A more endearing reality for me is I am still learning, I am still growing. I like to think of myself as a child figuring stuff out from scratch, making mistakes, winning some, and (figuratively) getting a few knocks along the way, but at the end of the day, I go to sleep knowing that I did my best. 

Support system

From being a Talent Acquisition professional to leading Business Partnering (with zero clue about it at first), to managing India and setting up international markets, CARS24 has been like a parent that kept believing in me. It nudged me, pushed me, most importantly, trusted me, and gave me the space to figure things out. And it has always looked out for me during times of personal hardships. 

In fact, when I was going through rough patches in life, it held my hand and said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ That’s why I’ve always felt at home here. But honestly, from writing long, emotionally charged responses on Slack and emails to learning how to empathise and find solutions (instead of giving into frustration), the transformation has been very real for me. From always overthinking before putting my point forward or staying silent, to confidently speaking up and firmly expressing my perspective, I’ve learned to trust my voice. To sum it up, very few places allow you to grow up both personally and professionally.

Turning point

I still remember a moment that changed my perspective: our founder once asked me why there were boxes at the entrance of our office. In my head, I thought, "That’s not my job." But then he added, "If this was your home, wouldn’t you ask?" And that hit me with a relevant lesson on ownership. Ever since, I’ve looked at CARS24 as home. Sure, sometimes you get annoyed at family, but you always stay together. And even as my role shifted from India to the UAE, I never stopped cheering for my home team, celebrating their wins, and standing by them through challenges.

Global learnings

I had also launched Saudi, which was an entirely new learning experience: new laws, new cultures, and fresh challenges. Similarly, moving to the UAE brought new practices that shaped my understanding of international markets. Payroll and compliances were another ocean I had to navigate, but learning the art of not just doing it myself but getting the right help and driving results through others has been one of my biggest growth lessons. This journey has truly helped me become a better individual.

I’ve seen the highest of highs too. That surreal moment when we became a unicorn (what a flex!) and the absolute pride when the UAE became profitable, proving that our belief, hustle, and strategy paid off. And of course, the lows: from COVID, demonetisation, tough separations, and even country closures. But through it all, I’ve gained confidence, a voice, and an ability to execute with impact.

One team

I’ve met my biggest cheerleaders here, had my biggest arguments (let’s just call them ‘debates’), and looking back, I see how much I’ve grown. From obsessing over titles and hierarchy to realising learning from everyone is more important, from getting defensive over feedback to listening, reflecting, and improving; it’s been a wild, wonderful ride.

The best part? Along the way, I’ve helped so many colleagues (or at least, I’d like to think so!), and it means the world when they remember me, no matter where they or I have moved. That’s the sort of impact and experience I want to keep creating at CARS24. Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just a workplace; it’s a place you call your own.