The Cloud-First Network with a People-First Soul

Adam Smith is known for pioneering many of the principles of market economy in his famous work “The Wealth of Nations”, establishing that any individual that pursues his self-interest under conditions of justice “unintentionally promotes the good of society” and therefore “self-interested competition in the free market benefits society as a whole”. This sentiment still fuels our modern economy and our drive for innovation and profitable enterprise.

But it is also very important to note that Adam Smith was worried about the ongoing balance between self-interest and human empathy, and thus emphasized the need for continued balance between the two. That is evidenced in this quote from “The Theory of Moral Sentiments”: “To feel much for others and little for ourselves; to restrain our selfishness and exercise our benevolent affections, constitute the perfection of human nature.”

Aryaka, in Sanskrit, means “The Noble”. Personally, I love to work for Aryaka both because (a) I get to work with a lot of extremely smart people that create innovative, could-first network technology every day, and (b) the fact the company and its people indeed display a noble soul.

Today Aryaka announced its continued commitment to three awesome initiatives:

• ChildFund International’s mission is to help deprived, excluded and vulnerable children have the capacity to improve their lives and the opportunity to become young adults, parents and leaders who bring lasting and positive change in their communities. Aryaka believes society at large cannot make progress without education. And children are the bedrock of society. Continuing its commitment to this cause, Aryaka has pledged $50,000 to support ChildFund’s education programming for underprivileged children and youth.
• Green Initiative: We are ensuring our HQs in Bangalore and San Mateo become models in environmental friendliness. Already, we have saved 185,000 pieces of waste by implementing a no paper cups policy within the company.
• Women in Tech Initiative: This year also saw the formation of Aryaka’s Women in Tech Initiative, which consists of a group of employees that share a drive to reach out to and collaborate with women in tech organizations around the world.

And that’s just today’s announcement, but of course that’s not all. Our CEO, Matt Carter, stood up for equality in a powerful interview that inspires other high-tech executives in Silicon Valley to join the initiative for social change and justice.

I also want to add something personal, and I emphasize the fact no one asked me to add this to my blog, which I am always given a refreshingly free hand to add my very own twist to: Aryaka has been exemplary in its support for employees during these anxiety-fraught pandemic times.

We have frequent town halls as well as virtual happy hours that -especially for people that live entirely by themselves (well, my cat just reminded me I am not entirely alone)- provide for some much-needed social interaction. And while a lot of it is about connecting and having fun, we have also had awesome guest speakers that have provided invaluable advice on how to better cope with a work-from-home (or, as some people are starting to call it, live-at-work) environment: the importance of an ergonomic work station, stretching, overall wellness, meditation…

In another blog, I wrote about witnessing the improvements in remote work environments around me, and I attribute a lot of it to the experts that Aryaka invited to our virtual meetings.

Oh, and the extra days off are also great. ? We also engage in fun projects that bring us together in other ways, as evidenced by our over-the-internet collaboration to perform “Stand By Me”.

In a nutshell, it is very clear that -indeed- Aryaka cares. About its customers, employees, community and environment.

To go back to Adam Smith, in another quote, he stated: “However selfish man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it.” I am sure he would approve of Aryaka’s corporate culture.