Chetanya Rastogi on TechKareer's My First Crore Podcast Series

Chetanya Rastogi: From Hesitant Programmer to Tech Visionary

Welcome to TechKareer’s My First Crore Podcast series! Here, we bring you the real-life journeys of tech professionals who’ve carved unique paths in the industry. Today, we’re excited to share the story of Chetanya Rastogi, a software engineer at Bravian and our very first podcast guest. From being unsure about programming in high school to becoming a tech leader, his journey is proof that persistence and curiosity can lead to incredible achievements.

Early Days: From Apprehension to Curiosity

Chetanya’s journey into programming didn’t start with enthusiasm. In high school, he opted for physical education over computer science, worried about how tough programming might be. But his mother encouraged him to give it a try, suggesting he attend the class for just a week. That week changed everything. His teacher’s engaging approach made programming less intimidating and more intriguing. What began as a reluctant decision became the spark for a passion that would shape his future.

Cracking JEE and Choosing IIT Roorkee

With a deep love for mathematics, inspired by his grandfather, Chetanya dove into the challenging preparation for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). While he didn’t have a fixed preference for a specific engineering stream, his goal was clear: get into a top-tier college.

At IIT Roorkee, he chose Electrical Engineering over Computer Science at other IITs, prioritizing the strong community and opportunities the institute offered. This decision turned out to be pivotal, exposing him to a diverse environment and new challenges that prepared him for what lay ahead.

College Life: Growth, Learning, and Mathematics

Life at IIT Roorkee wasn’t just about academics, it was a time of exploration and personal growth. The first year demanded focus, but as time passed, Chetanya found ways to balance work and play, even learning tennis in his final semester. He also started watching online series and came out of his OG Shaktimaan era !

Among the many subjects he studied, discrete mathematics stood out. His fascination with numbers led him to intern at ISI Kolkata, where he explored how prime numbers contribute to cryptography. For his studies, he relied on library resources, PDFs, and borrowing materials from friends, a practical approach that helped him focus on learning without spending unnecessarily (Typical Engineering stuff lol).

Career Journey: From Samsung to Stanford

After graduating, Chetanya initially planned to pursue higher studies and gained admission to the University of Texas at Austin, but financial challenges made him delay those plans (which eventually became a blessing in disguise for him in future). Instead, he joined Samsung, where he worked for two years and gained valuable experience in the tech industry.

He reapplied for his master’s program and received an acceptance letter from Stanford University on Pi Day, no less! At Stanford, he deepened his knowledge of mathematics and innovation.He also had a nice experience with an Indo - American family who hosted him under a program. Major expenses for him were tuition fees, food, and travel.

Alongside his friends, he co-created a course called CS25, which became a highlight of his time there. After completing his degree, Chetanya joined startups like MoveWorks and Brevian, enjoying the fast-paced and innovative nature of startup environments.

Financial Milestones and Career Lessons

Chetanya’s journey isn’t just about technical achievements; it also includes valuable financial insights. He discussed the differences in salary opportunities between graduates from Indian and international universities and highlighted the importance of gaining work experience before pursuing a master’s degree.

A major milestone in his career? Earning his first crore within just 6–7 months after graduating from Stanford. When it comes to investing, he keeps it simple, focusing on index funds and well-known stocks like NVIDIA and Meta.

Advice for Aspiring Technologists

Chetanya’s story is filled with lessons for anyone looking to make their mark in tech:

• Pick the Right College Over the Right Stream: A strong community and network can open more doors than focusing solely on the discipline (College branch trade off).

• Work Before Master’s: Real-world experience gives you clarity and better opportunities when you go back to doing masters.

• Be Open to Change: Life doesn’t always go as planned, embrace the twists and turns to discover new possibilities.

• Importance of Connections and Referrals in the Job market : A good connection network helps you in finding more opportunities. Both these factors play a very crucial role in the US Job market.

Rapid-Fire Round with Chetanya ( Burrito Lover )

Question: His favourite tech movie ?

Answer: The Social Network 2010

Question: His favourite US City ?

Answer: New York

Question: His favourite Sports ?

Answer: Badminton

Question: One word for his Stanford Experience?

Answer: Imposter Syndrome

Question: His take on AI and humans in future?

Answer: Chetanya has a very optimistic take on AI and humans, he feels that in future people will have their personalized AI assistants who can help them to do tasks more efficiently (quite fascinating).

Conclusion

From a hesitant high school student to a confident software engineer, Chetanya Rastogi’s journey is an inspiring reminder that growth comes from pushing past fears and seizing opportunities. His story shows us that the path to success isn’t always linear but is always worth the effort.

Want to hear more stories like this? Catch the full episode on TechKareer’s YouTube channel, where we bring you the real-life experiences of tech professionals who are shaping the industry!