From Retail to Building zkTLS Applications: My Unconventional Journey in Tech

You know how some people have perfectly straight career paths? Yeah, mine is totally zig-zag. Before I wrote my first line of professional code, I was literally arranging mannequins at Max Fashion. Then doing event coordination. Then working in tech support at Infosys. Each job taught me something valuable.

Arranging those clothes taught me about user experience even before I knew what UX actually was. Event management? That was just project management but with loud music. And working in tech support? That taught me how to really understand user problems. This shapes how I build products today.

The Tech Journey

Started as a designer, Figma was my everything. I thought I found my calling. But mainly two reasons why I switched.

One, the implementation. The dev's code was looking nothing like my design. It sucked, honestly. Later he switched the job and no one was there to fill the gap. I was already doing a little bit, so I just went all in.

Second, curiosity. I kept wondering how my designs came to life in the browser. One CSS tutorial led to another, and before I knew it, I was deep into JavaScript.

Reclaim Protocol

These past two years at Reclaim Protocol felt like a movie. I still remember my first day. I was super nervous joining an international team, building something that hadn't been done before. But only when you step out of your comfort zone, you actually grow.

I used to be super scared to merge code. I would check every line ten times. Now I'm building features used by thousands of users. But honestly, in an early stage startup, you don't just code. You do literally everything:

• Setting up our first hacker house in Hyderabad (actually, finding good coffee machines is very important for developers 😄)
• Hosting events and demos (nothing is better to learn your product than explaining it to others)
• Being part of the journey from whiteboard ideas to production code

The Hacker House Days

The Hyderabad hacker house needs its own story. Imagine this: a bunch of developers, designers, and dreamers living under one roof, building the future of data verification. It was not just code and commits. We were living the proper Silicon Valley startup life, just with more biryani details.

We would code during the day, but nights? Those were for adventures. We explored every pub in Hyderabad (for research purposes, obviously 😉). There was this one time after a late-night movie, someone said, "Hey, let's go to the airport?" Next thing you know, we are at the 24/7 airport lounge at 3 AM, discussing architecture over drinks. Those are the moments you can't plan.

The hacker house became more than just an office. It was our playground, our think tank, and sometimes our therapy couch. We would solve our toughest technical problems during midnight snack runs to Maggi Point, debate product decisions over chai at Nimrah Cafe, and somehow our best ideas always came after someone said "just one more drink."

Those early demo days were something else. We would be fixing bugs minutes before presentations, running through the office like crazy, but somehow always pulling it off. One time, we pushed a critical update literally as people were entering the room. The kind of stuff that gives developers a heart attack. But that is startup life. Chaotic, exciting, and somehow it always works out.

Looking back, those intense moments built more than just code. They built really strong bonds. We were not just colleagues grinding out features; we were like family, building something we believed in, and having the time of our lives doing it.

More Than Just Colleagues

Reclaim holds a special place in my heart for reasons that go far beyond the product. When my father passed away in a terrible car accident last year, I was fully broken. The trauma hit me hard, and I lost all motivation. Getting out of bed, let alone writing code, felt impossible.

What happened next showed me the true character of this team. My colleagues didn't just send the standard "take care" messages. They actively stepped in to help. My boss personally checked in daily, and when he learned about the sudden financial burden, he didn't hesitate to offer support from his own pocket. No paperwork, nothing. Just genuine human care.

For weeks, team members took over my work without complaint. They shielded me from pressures while I tried to recover. There were days when a simple message from a colleague was the only thing that got me to open my laptop.

That is when I realized Reclaim is not just a workplace. It is a community of people who genuinely care for each other. The code we write is important, but these moments of humanity define us. It took months for me to get back on track, but their full support made recovery possible.

This kind of culture can't be manufactured. It comes from the people. And I am really grateful to be part of it.

The Empathy Thing

You know what is funny? The most valuable skill I have learned is not technical at all, it is empathy. Not the fake kind you read on LinkedIn, but the real practical kind.

• Understanding why a junior dev is struggling with that PR
• Getting why a designer is passionate about that 2px difference
• Seeing things from the user's perspective when everyone else is focused on the tech

It is like having a superpower that lets you see through people's actions. And in tech, where egos can get pretty big, this stuff matters a lot.

Being a Knowledge Sponge

My friends joke that I have "main character syndrome" for learning. If I get interested in something, I go full on. Last month it was mechanical keyboards (sorry to everyone who had to hear about switch types). Before that, it was typography (did you know the history of Helvetica is actually fascinating?).

But here is the thing. This habit of diving deep into random subjects has helped me so much in tech. Because sometimes the best solutions come from completely unrelated fields. Like how studying comic book layouts helped me think differently about web design.

One thing that still amazes me is how much raw talent there is in tech. I regularly come across people who just blow my mind with their creativity or technical skills. And you know what? Instead of feeling threatened, I learned to just admire it.

Some of my best friendships started with me sliding into someone's DMs like "yo, that thing you built is INSANE!" No agenda, no networking. Just genuine appreciation. It is surprising how many amazing conversations start that way.

Mistakes I Made

• I watched way too many tutorials. Tutorial hell is real. I should have just started building.
• I stayed quiet in meetings when I didn't understand technical words. I was scared to look dumb. Now I just ask.
• I kept projects private because they "weren't ready". Honestly, just ship it even if it's broken.

What Actually Worked

• My non-tech background. It actually helps me explain technical things to non-technical users.
• Writing things down. Not for "personal brand" points, but just so I don't forget what I learned.

First Passport Stamp: Istanbul

2023 was very special. My first international trip! We flew to Istanbul for EthIstanbul (actually, my first flight ever was international 😅). Picture this: a kid from a small town, suddenly in this ancient city where Asia meets Europe, representing our team at one of the biggest Web3 conferences.

The best part? It was not simply work. Our team took a week off after the conference to explore. We wandered through the Grand Bazaar, got lost in the streets of Cappadocia, and even won a hackathon prize while we were at it. Building a location-based treasure hunt game. Mixing business with pleasure, basically!

Those late-night team dinners in Istanbul, watching the sunset over the Bosphorus, and those random strategy sessions in Turkish cafes. That is when it hit me how far I had come from my retail days. From arranging mannequins to building zkTLS applications with an international team. Life has a funny way of surprising you.

Photo Gallery: A Year of Firsts

Click to enlarge 2023 in pictures - what a year it's been!

Click to enlarge Monday blues!

Click to enlarge That magical morning in Cappadocia ✨

Click to enlarge Where the magic happens - our Hyderabad hacker house

Click to enlarge Furry friend and good food!

Click to enlarge Early morning cafe vibes

Click to enlarge EthIstanbul - Post hackathon Scene!

Click to enlarge Because sometimes you need to celebrate the small wins 🎉

What's Next?

The beauty of an unconventional path is that you never know what is around the corner. But I do know this:

• I want to keep building stuff that matters
• I want to help others who are on their own weird, wonderful journeys
• I want to stay curious and humble
• I want to keep learning from the amazing people around me

Thanks

Big thanks to the Reclaim team and my friends who helped me along the way. Couldn't have done it without you guys.

If you are looking to build something cool or just want to chat about tech/keyboards, my DMs are always open.

P.S. If you read this far, you probably need a hobby. Maybe try mechanical keyboards? (Just kidding... mostly 😄)

Used LLMs to correct grammar, typos etc 🤖