From India to the USA: Saran looks back on his experience with Laketricity
In this employee testimony, you will discover Saran Kumar Komari’s experience on his first experience outside his native India. Before joining Laketricity, Saran obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Saveetha Engineering School and a Postgraduate degree in renewable energy technologies at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. He then worked for Ciel & Terre for almost 3 years as Technical Support Engineer before joining Laketricity in September 2022. He now oversees project development activities for projects in California, from the office based in Petaluma.
Saran’s journey has shown that it is entirely possible to integrate not just into a team, but into an entire new culture. Indeed, when Saran arrived in the United States in 2022, he was discovering a foreign country for the first time. The support provided by the company and by his colleagues, along with his drive to discover new horizons, enabled him to adapt to this new environment and to thrive in it.
Read Saran’s answers to our questions in this interview and learn more about his vision of Laketricity and how diversity is encouraged and respected within the company.
Local Integration and Expatriate Experience: Saran’s experience with Laketricity
How has living in California enriched your personal and professional life ?
Living in California, especially in San Francisco, has significantly enriched both my personal and professional life. The city’s natural beauty and vibrant community have offered me a wide range of opportunities to explore new hobbies and connect with people from around the world. Through local friendships, I’ve been introduced to activities like camping, road trips, and hiking, including a memorable 16-mile hike at the Grand Canyon. In 2023, I also learned kite surfing, which has since become a favorite hobby during the spring and summer months.
How did Laketricity support you when you arrived in a new country and helped you to settle in locally?
The U.S. is the first country I’ve visited outside of India. Everything was new to me, and I didn’t know anyone here when I arrived. Laketricity helped me during my initial days, assisting with my settling in and introducing me to the city of Petaluma (CA), where the office is located. I particularly remember Jason from the Petaluma team as he helped me during my first two weeks by picking me up from my place and driving me to the office, then bringing me back in the evening. Free Uber rides 😉.
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Everyday life at Laketricity USA office for Saran Kumar Komari
What aspects of working at Laketricity do you enjoy the most?
I love being a part of the team whose mission is to develop smart projects to support the local environment. At core, Laketricity creates smart projects with Innovative floating solar technology. With that, my work contributes to a greener future and this is Incredibly rewarding for me.
What is your best memory with the team since you joined Laketricity?
It’s hard to choose only one as there are a lot of best memories. For instance, pickle ball tournaments are one of the best fun memories following with some beers after 🍻, we won, lost sometimes.
I also really enjoy the moments when we have potlucks and cooking competitions with colleagues.
Saran’s role and missions as project manager for Laketricity USA
Can you describe a typical day in your role as an engineer in the floating solar industry at Laketricity?
Most of the days I support project development activities which includes, whenever necessary, to introduce floating solar technology to pond owners along with project developers, work with sub-contractors (biologist, Electrical and Structural professional Engineers), local planning and building department team to understand their requirements and to later get project approvals.
Can you share a moment where you felt your contributions made a meaningful impact on a project?
With the help from my manager, for the first time we did in-house building permit ready designs for a project. Starting from the fundamentals helped me learn, understand, and create our internal guidelines for future projects. It was a very demanding and rigorous task, but it was also very rewarding.
How would you describe the team culture and work environment at Laketricity?
I like the diversity we have in the teams, with the various opinions on the subjects, it influences team dynamics and encourages innovation.
Collaboration is one of the team’s strength at Laketricity. My team is always there to support when needed towards a common goal.
I also appreciate the open-mindedness of our management team. They are receptive to my ideas and seek my input on various matters. This inclusive approach creates a friendly and supportive work environment.
Transparent communication is another key aspect I admire about Laketricity. Open and honest dialogue between team members and management helps to prevent misunderstandings and fosters trust.
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Autore : Saran Kumar Komari