Raju Vegesna from Zoho: High School Graduates Receive Free Education through Zoho University – and 1800 Secure Jobs at Zoho

When I first heard about Zoho University, I couldn’t believe it. Here was a company offering free training to high school graduates, giving them the opportunity to learn and grow without the burden of tuition fees. It seemed too good to be true, but it was real.

A Unique Approach to Education

Zoho University takes a different approach to education. Instead of focusing solely on academic degrees, they prioritize practical skills and hands-on experience. They believe that education should be accessible to all, regardless of their financial situation. With Zoho University, they make this belief a reality.

How It Works

So, how does Zoho University work? It starts with a rigorous selection process. High school graduates who are passionate about technology can apply for the program. Those who are accepted embark on a journey of learning and growth.

No Tuition Fees

The best part? There are no tuition fees. Zoho covers the cost of education for all students in the program. This removes the financial barrier that often prevents talented individuals from pursuing higher education.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

At Zoho University, learning goes beyond the traditional classroom setting. Students are exposed to real-world projects and challenges, working side by side with experienced professionals. This hands-on approach ensures that they acquire practical skills that are in demand in the industry.

Securing Jobs at Zoho

But Zoho University doesn’t stop at providing education. The ultimate goal is to create job opportunities for its graduates. And they have been incredibly successful in doing so.

Since its inception, Zoho University has helped 1800 students secure jobs within the company. These graduates are now working in various roles, contributing to the success and growth of Zoho.

A Life-Changing Opportunity

Zoho University is more than just an educational program. It is a life-changing opportunity for high school graduates who may not have had access to higher education otherwise. It empowers them to pursue their dreams, improve their lives, and make a meaningful impact.

I am amazed by the dedication and commitment of Raju Vegesna and the entire team behind Zoho University. They are creating a pathway to success for so many talented individuals, showing that education can truly change lives.

Want to learn more about Zoho University or apply for the program? Visit their website and take the first step towards a bright future!

I’ve been really into the idea of doing good and doing good in business lately. It’s amazing how it can benefit everyone involved, especially small businesses. It’s a way to create meaningful relationships and make a positive impact. During Zoho Analyst Day this week, they talked a lot about what’s coming up for the company and how it will benefit their customers. But what caught my attention the most was their corporate culture and philosophy. Zoho does things differently, and one example of that is Zoho University.

Zoho University is a special place that gives kids who can’t go to a traditional university a chance to learn important math and technology skills. And guess what? It’s totally free! It’s pretty incredible, don’t you think?

So, I had a chance to sit down with Raju Vegesna from Zoho and learn more about their program. It was really interesting to see how it aligns with their overall culture and philosophy. What’s even more impressive is that this program has actually resulted in Zoho hiring 1,800 graduates from Zoho University. Can you believe that? That’s about a quarter of their entire employee base!

This is a perfect example of how doing good in business can lead to a win-win situation. It’s great to see a company that values both their employees and the community.

Now, let’s get into the details. Below is a transcript of my conversation with Raju. If you want to watch the full interview or listen to it, you can use the embedded SoundCloud player.

Interview with Raju Vegesna:

USamerica.US: I just want to start by saying congratulations on the success of Analyst Day. This year has been bigger and better than ever!

Raju Vegesna: Thank you! We’re really excited about how it’s turned out. Thanks for joining us.

Let’s have a chat about what you guys are up to with Zoho Academy (University) and all the cool things you’re doing for social good. Sound good? Great, let’s dive in!

Raju Vegesna: Absolutely! Zoho University has been around since 2004, so it’s been quite a journey. The whole idea behind it was to do things differently. You see, we have a few beliefs that set us apart. One of them is our strong opposition to student debt. We just don’t think it’s fair for students to start their lives burdened with debt and become slaves to it. So we asked ourselves, What can we do to change that? And that’s where it all began.

So here’s the thing. Sometimes, how well you do in school doesn’t really have anything to do with how good you’ll be at your job. It’s true! And that got me and my buddies thinking. We were like, Why are we even looking at people’s resumes and college degrees when we’re hiring? What if we just didn’t do that and hired people anyway? It was a crazy idea, but we were serious.

So we came up with a plan. We decided to start hiring young kids right out of high school. But not just any kids. We wanted to find kids who might not have thought about going to college, either because they didn’t have the money or because they didn’t think it was an option for them. We talked to the folks in charge at some high schools and asked them to recommend kids who fit that description. And you know what? They actually did!

USamerica.US: Alright, hold on a second. So, basically, you’re looking for kids who may have had a hard time getting into college for various reasons. It could be because of money troubles, or maybe their grades weren’t good enough. But now, you’re giving them a chance to learn a valuable skill and trade in technology-

Raju Vegesna: Technology. Yeah.

USamerica.US: And not only do they not have to pay tuition, but they actually get paid while they’re learning.

Raju Vegesna: Yeah. Yeah.

Paul Greenberg: Wow.

USamerica.US: I just want to make sure I understood correctly. Can I sign up for this?

Paul Greenberg: You know what? I was thinking the same thing. I want to go back to school. Can I get my MBA here?

Raju Vegesna: And when you really think about it, you’ll understand that every person has their own unique talent. Yes, that’s right, every single one of us has something special that we’re good at. Now, it’s up to the team, the manager, or the young technician to really see that talent and give the person a chance to shine. See, when a company hires someone, they usually just hire them for a specific job. And if they don’t meet the requirements, they just find someone else. But we don’t look at it that way.

We hire people who are amazing programmers, but then we discover that they have other talents too. Maybe they’re an artist, or a musician. Sometimes, they’re really great at public speaking. So, guess what? We say, Hey, why don’t you do that too? And that’s just how we do things around here.

Alright, let me tell you something important. When we bring someone into the Zoho University program, we don’t just focus on programming. Nope, it’s not just about that. We teach them all sorts of things like math, science, communication skills, and yes, programming too. But programming is just a small part of it all. Here’s the thing, sometimes these young folks have hidden talents and they don’t even know it themselves. So we help them figure out what they’re good at, and one way we do that is by looking at their skills in marketing. It’s like a special field for us that helps us identify their talents. Our goal is to help them succeed by putting them in the right place. We want them to realize their true potential.

Let me share something cool with you. It’s all about Zoho University. This place is pretty special because it started off with just six people in the first batch. Can you believe it? Now, in 2019, we’ve got two batches running. And you know what? Each batch is much bigger now, with about 200 to 250 people each. It’s pretty impressive, right? Oh, and get this – out of our 7,000 employees, around 1,800 of them actually came through Zoho University!

Now, here’s something amazing. You see, about 1,800 of our employees don’t even have a college degree. Nope, no college debt either. And you know what? They love what they do. The best part is, you wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference between someone with a fancy college degree and someone who went through Zoho University. Isn’t that amazing?

Raju Vegesna: I’m 18 years old. Yeah. Yeah. That’s correct.

Paul Greenberg: One thing that caught my attention was how you’re inspiring your team to use their other talents and skills. It reminded me of a story shared by Sridar, your CEO, about a farm he owned. He was conducting experiments with a dozen ancient grains to determine their sustainability. I found this incredibly fascinating. What surprised me even more was when he mentioned that the person in charge of the farm used to be a Zoho programmer. Upon discovering her knowledge and background, he made her an offer that allowed her to pursue her dream and lead the farm. Not only did this decision benefit her personally, but it also improved the farm’s productivity and had the potential to advance humanity in significant ways.

Wow, there’s something that really amazed me. I remember someone, maybe you or Sandy, telling me that you have your own dance troupe. Can you believe it?

Raju Vegesna: We actually have our own dance troupe, along with so many other incredible things. We have our own musicians, artists, construction team, designers, architects – you name it, we have it! And that’s not all. We even have our own farm where we grow food for our campus. Our employees can pick up the food and take it home!

Paul Greenberg: That’s absolutely incredible.

USamerica.US: And actually, Raju himself had a hand in designing this very office!

Raju Vegesna: You know what? Sridar pointed out something interesting about me. He noticed that I really like design. So, he approached me one day and said, Hey, why don’t you give designing a try? I actually had a design ready, but then I realized something important – designing is a learning process, and what I learn can benefit other departments too.

So, once again, the space should mirror the essence of the company.

Once again, the space should embody the character of the company.