EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Urvashi Agarwal
DEVELOPMENT TEAM LEADER
Meet Urvashi – a rockstar Developer on the FastTrack team since early 2017. A runner and outdoor enthusiast on the weekends, Urvashi has earned the role of Team Lead for one of FastTrack’s largest clients: The Standard.
What is your current position with FastTrack? How long have you been in it?
I work in Development as a Team Lead for one of our biggest clients: The Standard. I have been in this position for over a year now.
What has your career path been like within FastTrack?
I started working here as a Developer in May of 2017. Initially, I would do work for every carrier we support. After a year, I started working exclusively on projects for The Standard. I was promoted to The Standard Team Lead in October of 2019.
How has FastTrack helped your personal and professional development?
Apart from learning the use of newer technologies and growth in technical skill sets, I have learned to understand the business perspective of projects, people management, and time/resource utilization. On a personal level, I learned the virtues of perseverance, patience, active listening, and believing in myself.
What is something you love about working at FastTrack?
FastTrack offers a friendly and co-operative environment for growth. Everyone’s got each other’s back; I have often experienced people going out of their way to help. FastTrack provides a perfect work/life balance.
What is your favorite book, TV show, movie, or podcast?
I like historical/period dramas, crime shows, and Game of Thrones. I enjoy watching the Toronto Blue Jays, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, and Manchester United in the Premier League.
I also read To Kill a Mockingbird recently.
Do you have any pets?
I have a betta fish. His name is Dory. He doesn’t like talking to me much, but he’s a great swimmer. Jokes aside, he is very beautiful and likes to see me walking around him.
What are your favorite hobbies and interests?
I like to play piano (I’m terrible at that, but it’s a great stress reliever). I like to go for long runs. I’ll sometimes read a book before going to bed, but—I won’t lie—it’s not very often. And recently I’ve started checking Zillow quite often.
What type of activities are you mostly likely to be up to on the weekends?
Hiking, running, or anything outdoors; I hate staying home on weekends. I also enjoy watching a movie and hanging out with friends (not so much with the pandemic, though). I have started cooking more and trying new recipes. I make sure to find time to FaceTime my niece and nephew.
What is your favorite vacation destination? What’s one you haven’t visited yet but would like to in the future?
I loved New Orleans. I was there during Mardi Gras. I liked Hawaii (Oahu), too. I loved my visit to Taj Mahal, India. One of the seven wonders of the world (one down, six to go!).
I want to visit Bora Bora in French Polynesia. And I want to visit France, too.
What person would you most like to switch places with for a day?
If I were given a chance to switch places with someone, I would switch with my fish Dory. It would be wonderful to be under water, not worrying about breathing and swimming like him. Especially because I can’t swim.
What’s the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?
If the amount is huge maybe I’d buy a restaurant. I would save some for myself for when I turn old. And I would invest some part of it on financing an under-privileged child’s education.
What is your favorite 21st century innovation?
GPS. For a directionally impaired human being like me, a GPS is a godsend.
What is something you loved doing as a kid? Do you still do it now?
I loved to dance as a kid, though I never took any classes or pursued the passion in any way. Sometimes I still try dancing.
I also used to play badminton at district level in high school and college.
Do you have any hidden talents?
My hidden talents are really talented at hiding themselves. I am still looking for them.
That said, it doesn’t take too long for me to spot out liars.
Who is one of your personal heroes?
My parents. I have seen them working hard, sacrificing so much to give me and my sister a life where we can stand up on our feet and face the challenges of the world. I still have a long way to go, but whatever I have achieved in my life—big or small—all the credit goes to them. They have always been my lifeline; supporting me during bad times and patting me on the back during good times.
Have you ever encountered anyone famous?
I met former president of India Dr. A. P. J. Kalam. I attended one of his motivational speeches on Youth Vs Politics in Niagara, ON, Canada.
What is your motto for life?
Live and let live.
Do you have any nicknames?
A billion. I have a really long and complicated name. Urru, Uri, Uro, Uropa, Ushi, Ushu, Urvi, Urrrr, Ursh, Urshi…the list goes on, and has a million pronunciations.
Connect with Urvashi on LinkedIn
