- Dr. Riyaztheen Najubudeen​

The Alchemy of Resilience: Turning Trials into Triumph — The Journey of Dr. Riyaztheen Najubudeen

Dedication

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.” — The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost

This biography is dedicated to all who choose perseverance over ease and humility over hubris.

To my parents, whose faith in education shaped my earliest dreams.

To my mentors, whose guidance illuminated every professional turn.

To the teams I’ve led and trained, whose growth has been my greatest reward.

And to the young hearts and minds that will read this story—may you forge your own path with courage and kindness.

Phase 1: Humble Beginnings — The Foundation of Character

“I have been bent and broken, but— I hope— into a better shape.” — Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

Dr. Riyaztheen Najubudeen’s story begins not in skyscrapers or corporate campuses, but in the verdant villages of Tamil Nadu, where tradition mingles with aspiration and every child’s potential is measured by humility and hard work. Born into a middle-class family with limited educational access, Riyaztheen was the first in his household to attend college—a milestone that carried the weight of his parents’ hopes and sacrifices.

Even as a child, Riyaztheen displayed a quiet curiosity. While classmates clamored for front-row seats, he preferred the calmer center, absorbing both lessons and life’s subtleties with equal attention. In classrooms, his teachers described him as polite and unassuming—virtues they praised even as he remained out of the academic spotlight. Yet the rigors of his schooling instilled in him a discipline that would later prove indispensable.

His love for badminton offered the first arena to test his resolve. Athletic training taught him about focus, strategy, and the value of repetition. Lost rallies and fierce opponents were as instructive as victories—each match a microcosm of life’s unpredictable rhythm.

At home, where resources were modest, his parents emphasized two nonnegotiables: respect for others and gratitude for opportunity. They taught him that true wealth was not counted in possessions but in the richness of character and the strength of relationships. These lessons formed the bedrock of Riyaztheen’s worldview, shaping a mindset that prized substance over flash.

Choosing a career path was never about chasing prestige for Riyaztheen. Despite well-meaning urgings to pursue electronics or electrical engineering, he followed his instinct: a fascination with how machines convert ideas into action drew him to mechanical engineering. It was a field where equations met tangible outcomes, and where he felt most at home.

In college, he didn’t simply attend lectures—he immersed himself in hands-on projects. One standout endeavor, a working model of a Hornicfter, demanded collaboration across disciplines, creative problem solving, and relentless testing. The university still displays this model as proof of his early commitment to practical innovation.

Simultaneously, Riyaztheen pursued a diploma in petroleum refining, balancing dual academic tracks with the precision of a seasoned production manager. Juggling simultaneous programs taught him time management, adaptability, and the art of learning on multiple fronts.

Phase 2: Learning the Craft — Education & Formative Years

“My life was narrated for me by others. Their voices were forceful, emphatic, absolute. It had never occurred to me that my voice might be as strong as theirs.”— Educated, Tara Westover

The journey from promising engineering student to confident technical professional for Dr. Riyaztheen Najubudeen was defined not by the pursuit of grades alone, but by an insatiable hunger for experience and self-mastery. While many of his peers measured success in marks and accolades, Riyaztheen’s definition of education was broader: every technical symposium, industry internship, and extracurricular project became a classroom in which he could test his abilities and expand his worldview.

Early in his undergraduate years, Riyaztheen recognized that true expertise could not be built in isolation. He immersed himself in technical symposiums and intercollegiate competitions, where he encountered the latest innovations and networked with future industry leaders. These events were more than resume-builders; they were crucibles for sharpening communication and critical thinking, skills that would later become his professional hallmarks.

 

A pivotal moment arrived in his third year with the mini project—a working Hornicfter model. This was no mere academic exercise: it demanded cross-disciplinary collaboration, from sourcing rare components to designing intricate mechanisms and coordinating team roles. The project’s success was measured not by the grade on his transcript, but by the tangible proof that he could shepherd innovation from concept to execution. The university’s decision to display the model on campus stands as a testament to his early commitment to practical, hands-on learning.

Simultaneously, Riyaztheen sought real-world exposure through apprenticeships at ONGC and ICF, two of India’s industrial giants. In these high-pressure environments, he learned that the logic of textbooks often collides with the unpredictability of the field. Amidst pipelines and turbines, he developed a mechanical intuition—learning to diagnose routine breakdowns, navigate supply chain hiccups, and understand the human factors behind every technical challenge. Each day in the workshop was a lesson in resilience: machines broke, schedules slipped, and yet the show had to go on.

Never content with a single discipline, Riyaztheen pursued a diploma in petroleum refining alongside his core engineering coursework. This dual academic load tested the limits of his endurance and time management, requiring early mornings for lectures and late nights for practical assignments. The experience reinforced a critical insight: mastery requires both depth and breadth. Technical expertise alone was insufficient; he needed to navigate complex systems, regulatory environments, and interdisciplinary interfaces.

Outside the classroom, Riyaztheen’s commitment to holistic growth led him to join the National Service Scheme (NSS). The NSS, a flagship initiative of India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, encourages students to dedicate two years to community service, contributing 120 hours annually through activities like health camps, literacy drives, and disaster management training. For Riyaztheen, organizing rural health camps and literacy drives was transformative. He learned to translate technical skills into community impact—developing empathy, stakeholder engagement, and project management under resource constraints. These experiences fostered a sense of civic responsibility and deepened his understanding of leadership as service, not status.


Phase 3: Beyond the Desk — Professional Growth & Challenges

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”— The Obstacle Is the Way, Ryan Holiday

Graduation may have unlocked doors, but for Dr. Riyaztheen Najubudeen, the professional world demanded far more than academic credentials. The leap from campus to career was both thrilling and humbling, requiring him to translate years of disciplined study into real-world results—often under pressure, always in full view of clients and colleagues.

His first role as a Mechanical Technician at Tornatech FZE was a vital primer in the realities of industry. Here, theoretical knowledge met the uncompromising demands of real customers, tight deadlines, and complex machinery that would not tolerate error. Day after day, Riyaztheen tackled troubleshooting tasks—diagnosing malfunctions, replacing parts, and ensuring after-sales service met exacting standards. Each successful repair honed his technical acumen, while each frustrated client taught him a deeper lesson: communication and empathy are as critical as technical prowess.

In 2018, he joined Viking Gulf Trading as a Technical & Product Support Engineer. This role blended hands-on diagnostics with direct customer interface, expanding his responsibilities to workshop coordination, software fault analysis for complex engines, and client updates that demanded clarity under pressure. He quickly learned that in service industries, reputation is built on follow-through: when he said, “I’ll handle it,” clients believed him.

Beyond technical support, he began shaping his sales skills, recognizing that trust is the true currency of sales—and trust is earned through knowledge, consistency, and reliability. He mastered product demonstrations, ensuring each forklift, sweeper, or diagnostics tool not only functioned but matched the client’s real-world needs. Over time, clients began seeking him out for advice before considering other vendors.

When his supervisor departed, Riyaztheen stepped up as Acting Technical Manager, navigating logistical complexities such as inventory forecasting, maintenance planning, and team training, all while maintaining quality control across workshop operations. The dual burden of technical oversight and people management tested his resilience: cross-cultural teams, tight deadlines, and high stakes required both strategic thinking and sensitivity. This period proved a crucible for his leadership, as he learned to balance operational demands with the needs and growth of his team.

 

" True greatness is not about where you begin, but how patiently and purposefully you build every step forward.”

- Dr. Riyaztheen Najubudeen