When Neelam Showed Up on a Sunday Morning and Stayed for Ten Years to Lead the Advisory Services Team
- by: Harsha Bhurani
At eChai, we've been capturing stories of founders and the people who stood with them at the very beginning. These are the first hires, the ones who took responsibility early on, grew with the company, and shaped the founder's journey in ways far beyond their job description.
Here's how Maithili Shah, Founder of Syntelligence FinTech, remembers her first hire, Neelam:
Day 1— and I had to hire a team for my very first prospect.
It was a Saturday when I picked up the phone and called my college professors, asking if they could arrange campus interviews the very next day.
Sunday morning, five candidates showed up—not at a formal office, but at a temporary co-sharing workspace.
That’s where I met Neelam.
And there was something about her.
From the very first interaction, I could see it—dedication, curiosity, and a quiet, powerful grit. Over time, what stood out even more was her meticulousness. Give her a responsibility, and she would own it end-to-end—with structure, discipline, and deep accountability.
The early days were not easy.
A new industry. Global clients. Zero playbooks. Everything had to be built from scratch.
But where there is intent, there is always a way.
Marriage, motherhood, even major illness—nothing dimmed her spirit. She kept showing up. And not just showing up, but showing up with consistency and purpose.
I still remember those long nights onboarding new clients—figuring out processes, tools, software… often from scratch. Through it all, she brought a calm, methodical approach—and delivered beyond expectations, every single time.
Somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like just work.
We started enjoying the build—the chaos, the challenges, the small wins, and the satisfaction of getting it right.
She joined as a fresher, and today she is leading the Advisory Services team. Over these 10 years, she has grown tremendously.
And today, as I look back, I feel immense gratitude.
From answering interview questions about hobbies… to now driving strategy, setting direction, and owning outcomes—it’s been quite a journey.
On 21st March, we complete 10 years of working together.
Upwards and onwards 🚀
Day 1— and I had to hire a team for my very first prospect.
It was a Saturday when I picked up the phone and called my college professors, asking if they could arrange campus interviews the very next day.
Sunday morning, five candidates showed up—not at a formal office, but at a temporary co-sharing workspace.
That’s where I met Neelam.
And there was something about her.
From the very first interaction, I could see it—dedication, curiosity, and a quiet, powerful grit. Over time, what stood out even more was her meticulousness. Give her a responsibility, and she would own it end-to-end—with structure, discipline, and deep accountability.
The early days were not easy.
A new industry. Global clients. Zero playbooks. Everything had to be built from scratch.
But where there is intent, there is always a way.
Marriage, motherhood, even major illness—nothing dimmed her spirit. She kept showing up. And not just showing up, but showing up with consistency and purpose.
I still remember those long nights onboarding new clients—figuring out processes, tools, software… often from scratch. Through it all, she brought a calm, methodical approach—and delivered beyond expectations, every single time.
Somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like just work.
We started enjoying the build—the chaos, the challenges, the small wins, and the satisfaction of getting it right.
She joined as a fresher, and today she is leading the Advisory Services team. Over these 10 years, she has grown tremendously.
And today, as I look back, I feel immense gratitude.
From answering interview questions about hobbies… to now driving strategy, setting direction, and owning outcomes—it’s been quite a journey.
On 21st March, we complete 10 years of working together.
Upwards and onwards 🚀
