What goes behind bringing thriving businesses to life? Explore this up close from the lens of Swiggy’s AVP of Engineering, Arnav Agarwal, who highlights his key achievements and learnings upon completing five years with the company.
Taking any business from zero to one is not an easy task. It requires being passionate about creating new and innovative solutions for customer convenience. When Arnav Agarwal joined Swiggy in 2019 as a Senior Engineering Manager, he was a part of building impactful initiatives for the company. The following years led to a journey of leading path-breaking projects and managing diverse teams. Five years later, he serves as the Assistant Vice President of Engineering, where he heads Swiggy’s engineering teams for critical business lines, including Instamart and the Ads platform. Filled with inspiring anecdotes and invaluable learnings, here’s his story.
- What was your role when you first joined Swiggy and how has that evolved over the years?
I joined Swiggy as a Senior Engineering Manager and started working on two key initiatives. One was Swiggy Daily, which was on its zero-to-one journey to provide subscription-based meal plans to customers and the other was Ads platform, a tech platform in the making back then that was meant to generate Ads revenue across Swiggy businesses. Throughout my journey at Swiggy, I have had the opportunity to lead new initiatives and build multiple business lines, including one of Swiggy’s most successful flagship ventures, Instamart. Today, the Ads platform has emerged as a medium catering to multiple business lines, and Swiggy Daily has recently restarted operations in select cities after a halt during the pandemic.
- Tell us about your first day at Swiggy.
It was a thrilling start! I was the last to arrive at the induction and was amazed to experience such a well-organised process, complete with engaging presentations to cover more about Swiggy as a company. Everyone was very welcoming and helpful, and I also got a glimpse of the overall work dynamics as well as the company’s unique offerings.
- How would you describe your Swiggy journey so far?
Reflecting on the five years that have passed, I have experienced my fair share of growth, learnings, and achievements. Right from the beginning, I worked on major projects that involved building a few of our critical businesses and scaling them from zero to one and beyond. In these five years, it has been a unique experience taking up leadership positions and mentoring talented team members. The journey so far has been challenging yet immensely rewarding, and I am humbled to see my contributions being recognised in multiple ways, including the Swiggstar Award. Going ahead, I am excited about what the future holds as we continue to innovate, grow, and carry Swiggy’s vision forward.
- What inspired you to join Swiggy?
I was inspired by Swiggy’s innovative approach to revolutionising the food tech space. I felt a strong inclination to join the organisation during a coffee catch-up with my future manager as a part of the hiring process. All in all, I was excited about the company’s mission of delivering unparalleled convenience, and the opportunity to work with such a brilliant team.
- And what do you think has played an important role in your decision to stay with Swiggy?
Swiggy’s culture of innovation and continuous learning has been a highly motivating factor. Another important aspect that has made me stay is the chance to work alongside a fantastic team with brilliant and passionate colleagues, and supportive leadership. Furthermore, I genuinely believe Swiggy’s vision aligns with my own values and professional goals.
- What would you say has been your best moment with Swiggy?
There have been many such moments, some of which include working on and scaling new business lines and defining futuristic core tech platforms. However, the experience closest to me is the entire journey of building Instamart right from the initial phase to launching it as a full-fledged business unit.
- From all that you’ve learned in your time here till now, are there any lessons that you will carry forward?
A lot of them! There are several things I have learned and am still learning from some of the best people at Swiggy. I have observed that everyone has a unique way of doing things, and you must keep refining your working style. Also, setbacks are just another form of distraction. You have to keep your head down and your ambitions high to continue marching towards success.
- Coming to Swiggy’s Blended Ways of Working policy, what has your experience been like?
It’s been good so far. The policy provides a perfect blend of working from home and being in the office, which has really improved my productivity and work-life balance. I like how I can choose the environment that suits me best for different tasks. This flexibility has also made it easier for me to collaborate and stay connected with my colleagues, resulting in a more supportive and inclusive work culture.
- Which Swiggy value do you connect the most with?
Among Swiggy’s values, ‘Move Fast, Break Barriers and Deliver Results’ is the one I truly embody and rely on. It motivates me to tackle challenges with grit and rigour. Especially for Swiggy, it’s crucial to deliver quickly and overcome any obstacle on the way to ensure that we achieve outstanding results.
- And lastly, what would you say to the Day One version of yourself?
I would tell my Day One version to face any challenge or opportunity with confidence and curiosity, ask questions, meet new people, seek guidance, and provide ideas proactively even if you are a new team member. I would also encourage my earlier self to enjoy the journey, be resilient to ups and downs, and stay true to my passion and purpose.
