We had the good fortune of connecting with Mahalakshmi Venkatesh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mahalakshmi, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
The definition remains conventional in my view: “You give as much of your time to work, as you do to that something, which creates a balance in your life”. The only thing that I have tweaked is the way I work. By dedicating a couple of extra hours to work every day, I smuggle a few free hours into my Friday afternoon. Along with my weekend, this gives me the freedom to explore another place of my dreams. By scrupulously planning my backpacking trips and my time at work, I have managed to travel to 49 countries, in the last 4 years. I like counting experiences more than countries, so the number used here is to explicitly give you an idea about the perks of managing your time wisely. I also don’t regret the extra hours that I invest in work on weekends/weekday evenings, because I have been fortunate to have a job that I love. However with my strategic approach, I am starting to like how “work-life balance” is not a utopia anymore!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am just another software engineer, among millions. Yet I have a journey that sets me apart, because of how I have crafted it in my favour. Right from childhood, I have enjoyed creative writing. I remember how excited I was as a child, to see my first poem get published! So, when I finally completed my degree in engineering and landed a job, I was conscious of setting my career goals. Thanks to the cozy, creative space that I have been able to establish for myself on the internet, I feel content in ways that I can’t describe in words. My new found love for travelling and the old joy of writing help readers from around the globe live my adventures vicariously, through my travel blog. Carrying out the logistics of my solo trips and relating compelling, memorable experiences to a diverse audience have redefined success for me :’) I am excited about growing my reader space, as I continue to be recognized by relevant forums, and let my curiosity and eagerness guide me on to new experiences, around the globe. Someday I hope my travel blog will be a one-stop shop for everything-travel, as Google is today, for everything-everything 😀

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My list would probably start with going on a leisurely stroll or a cycling trip in the neighbourhood. Next I would take them on a drive to show them the best of the city – farmer’s markets, shopping malls, and restaurants serving local cuisine. Also depending on their interests, I would organize day trips to national parks, beaches, or more city attractions. Lastly, I will force them to tag their blogger bestie on Instagram stories, before they run away 😛

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Despite having come from the generation that they have, my parents have been immensely supportive of my choices. So they deserve all the credits, for being there for me. In spite of their anxiety about the perils of solo travelling, they never let their agitation get in the way of my dreams. I would also like to take some credit myself for cheekily making them wonder about my safety as a solo female backpacker in places like Egypt, only to convince them to come on a trip with me. The people we met and the places we visited in Egypt, totally transformed their perspective, and for that, I am grateful to the universe, for showing them, what a beautiful world it is! It totally lessened their anxiety and reinforced their belief in my safety, during my solo escapades😀

Website: https://mahalakshmiv93.wixsite.com/website

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_my_travel_story/?hl=en

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