After 18 years in the US, he left Meta and returned to Bengaluru. His reason had nothing to do with money
For many engineering students, building a career in Silicon Valley is the ultimate dream. A degree from a top college, a job at Microsoft or Meta, and life in the United States often represent the pinnacle of professional success.But for Balaji Gururajan, an engineering leader who spent nearly two decades in the US working at some of the world’s biggest technology companies, success eventually came to mean something else.After 18 years abroad, he packed his family’s life into a few suitcases and returned to Bengaluru—not because he wanted a better job or a bigger salary, but because he did not want to watch an important phase of family life from thousands of kilometres away.
“Closer to ageing parents, growing kids”
Sharing his decision on LinkedIn, Balaji wrote that he and his family had recently moved back to Bengaluru after spending 18 years in the United States.“A month ago, my family and I packed up 18 years in the US and moved to Bangalore—closer to aging parents, growing kids, and a stretch of family life we didn’t want to keep watching from a distance,” he wrote.His words resonated with thousands of professionals, especially Indians working overseas who often find themselves balancing career opportunities with family responsibilities.Balaji described the move as emotional, saying California’s Bay Area had given him his career, lifelong friendships and valuable lessons in technology and leadership.“To everyone who took a chance on me, taught me something I needed to hear, or simply made the hard years easier—thank you,” he wrote.
From NIT Tiruchirappalli to Meta
Balaji graduated in Instrumentation and Control Engineering from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchirappalli.Over the years, he built an impressive career across some of the world’s leading technology companies.He began his professional journey in India before moving to the United States, where he worked at Microsoft on products including Bing and retail technologies. He later spent more than eight years at LinkedIn, leading engineering teams that built products for LinkedIn Ads and enterprise platforms.In 2022, he joined Meta, where he leads engineering teams working on advertising technologies and business messaging systems used by millions of businesses worldwide.For students dreaming of global careers, his résumé represents years of consistent learning, technical excellence and leadership.
Success isn’t always measured by geography
Balaji admitted that returning to India after nearly two decades has been an adjustment.Finding a home, enrolling children in school and settling into everyday life has been, in his words, “its own kind of project.”Yet he also described the transition as “humbling” and “genuinely good.”Interestingly, instead of slowing down after the move, he channelled his own experience into building an AI-powered side project called Bhavitta, an application designed to help Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) navigate financial planning across countries, currencies and tax systems.The idea emerged directly from challenges he experienced while planning his own return to India.His LinkedIn post sparked hundreds of responses from professionals who had made similar decisions, with many sharing that returning home to spend time with ageing parents and raising children closer to family had become one of the most meaningful choices of their lives.
A lesson beyond engineering
For students preparing for engineering colleges, management programmes or careers abroad, Balaji Gururajan’s story offers a perspective that is rarely discussed in placement season.Global careers can open extraordinary opportunities to learn, innovate and grow. But life decisions are not always guided by promotions, salaries or prestigious job titles.Sometimes, success is about being present when your parents need you. Sometimes, it is about ensuring your children grow up surrounded by grandparents. And sometimes, after spending years building a successful career overseas, coming home becomes the next big milestone.Balaji’s journey is a reminder that while careers can take people across continents, the definition of success evolves with time. For today’s students, that may be the most valuable lesson of all—that building a successful career is important, but building a meaningful life matters just as much.Disclaimer: This article is based on information publicly shared by Balaji Gururajan on LinkedIn and details available in his public professional profile. It is intended for educational and informational purposes only.
