This year, Women’s Day at Kovai.co started with a heartwarming gesture. Every woman at Kovai.co was welcomed with a personalized greeting card with their name, a red rose, and chocolates even before everyone arrived at their desk. The surprise brought instant smiles, setting a lovely tone for the day. Soon, social media was filled with posts as everyone shared their happiness, making the moment even more special.
The Women’s Day card felt incredibly personal. It was a lovely, unforeseen gesture. Sharing the moment with our colleagues and seeing their genuine reactions was a special experience.
Says Pavithira Rajendran, Senior Data Scientist and Aishwarya Myilsamy, Data Science intern.
A Story That Inspired Action
This year’s Women’s Day at Kovai.co was made even more special with a session by Parameswary Annamalai, our Manager of Product Support, who shared her incredible journey—from a small village to a career at Microsoft.
Born in Nagamannaiyakapatti, around 15-18 kilometres from Tiruchirappalli city, she later moved to Erode due to her father’s job. Growing up in a village, continuing education was never easy. One of the teachers even suggested that she take up work instead of studying. But her father believed that education was the greatest asset and encouraged her to keep going.
Her breakthrough moment came when she secured the second-highest score in her 10th grade, missing the top spot by just one mark – a milestone she never expected. This achievement helped her get into a better school in Gobichettipalayam, approximately 40 kms from Erode city and opened new opportunities.
For college, she was expected to take teacher training as it was financially secure, but she had different plans. Though she initially considered metallurgy, she ended up in IT, a field just gaining popularity at the time.
During her placement and jobs, she faced multiple rejections despite attending training programs. Eventually, she took a technical support role in Bangalore, working in a call centre for a year. It was this experience that shaped her communication skills, preparing her for the next big step—a role at Microsoft.
Parameswary says,
Words have power. That one transition—from ‘Hi, this is Param on behalf of Microsoft’ to ‘Hi, this is Param from Microsoft’—meant everything.
For someone who once struggled to speak English fluently, securing a job at a globally renowned company was life-changing—not just for her, but for her entire family. Learning English changed her family’s future, enabling her to travel to the U.S. and even built a house for her parents before marriage.
The city life I had in Bangalore and Hyderabad gave me the freedom to explore, while my village roots kept me grounded in values and culture.
After the career comeback, she initially aimed for an individual contributor role, life took unexpected turns. She ventured into business, gained valuable experience and eventually transitioned into a managerial position.
Read her full Career Comeback story!
Accelerating Action: The Key Takeaway
Parameswary’s journey aligned perfectly with this year’s Women’s Day theme—”Accelerate Action.” Her story was not just about overcoming struggles; it was about taking bold steps forward despite challenges.
Parameswary says,
Life prepares you for what’s coming next. Everything happens for a reason, and only the best things happen.
Her story was a powerful reminder that small actions lead to big changes, and when you keep moving forward, the right opportunities will come your way.
More Than Just a Celebration
Beyond the inspiring session, the day was made special through thoughtful gestures. The personalized gifts, shared conversations, and the feeling of being appreciated made a lasting impact.
Taking that first step, no matter how uncertain, is what truly accelerates change.
#TogetherWeGrow
