The Next Challenge - TBD !

Originally posted (w/ pictures ! ) on Facebook. Thank You Appirio !

https://www.facebook.com/narinder.singh/posts/10153748666760815

One of the first significant memories of I have of Appirio is scurrying to prepare for Dreamforce 2006 to publicly launch the company. It seems only fitting that concluding my tenth Dreamforce would also conclude my day to day role at Appirio.

I love Appirio. The company, its people, and the ecosystem of friends and colleagues I’ve had the good fortune to cross paths with the last nine years have made a mark on me forever. It’s been a difficult process to decide to move on, but it’s made easier because I know the company is in great hands with Chris Barbinand the leadership team. There is no question that Appirio will remain an industry leader and grow its presence in my absence. I can’t wait to see what comes next - and I will have a front row seat! I’ll continue to help the company however I can through serving on Appirio’s board of directors.

Earlier this year I took a sabbatical to have some time to work on philanthropic causes I care about. It has been incredibly rewarding to have an impact on these emerging organizations. Over the same period, I spent time getting deeper on some of the amazing things happening on the bleeding edge of technology. The combination of the two helped me see that I want to figure out a way to apply innovation in technology to improve people’s lives (in a more direct sense than normally used in tech ). I don’t know exactly how that will manifest itself, but I have decided to begin this journey.

The sheer number of people I should thank make me realize how truly blessed I have been. Hundreds of people at Appirio have changed me. Hundreds more have inspired me through their work. We created the core values of the company in the first year - customers, team and fun. In the next nine I was humbled to see all of Appirio embody those values and create the heart and soul of the company.

I also have been fortunate to have an extended team of amazing friends from some of the greatest companies in the world. They helped us be our best and led the cloud computing revolution - Salesforce, Google, Workday,Cornerstone OnDemand, Amazon Web Services, Sequoia Capital, GGV Capital, General Atlantic, Fidelity Investments, FinancialForce.com, Harvard’s Nasa Tournament Lab, the World Economic Forum, Singularity Hub University, Whitney Fusion Events, Diginomica, RedMonk and so many more.

Most of all I have to thank Chris Barbin, Glenn Weinstein and Mike OBrien. I could write a novel on what you’ve meant to me. Outside of Supreet Kaur, you’ve impacted me more in the last decade than anyone else - and if you hear her tell it you’re winning in terms of where I spent most of my waking hours. I know the memories we’ve created together will be amongst my favorites to share for as many years as I am fortunate enough to have.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Narinder

PS - I’ve shared some of my memorable moments from Appirio, but missed so many that I couldn’t find. I hope you’ll use the comments section to share pictures and memories you have of our time together through the Appirio years.

PPS - Chris, you can’t post the censored pictures / memories of me, I dutifully held back more than a few of you smile emoticon