This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Vaiyapuri “Vai” Thiripurnathan. Vai’s collaborative leadership style, commitment to continuous improvement, and customer-first mindset are integral to GDT’s success. In this employee spotlight, find out what inspires and motivates Vai inside and outside of work—and learn a little more about life at GDT.
How long have you been with GDT, and what does your role entail?
Vai: I will celebrate my third anniversary with GDT in September 2026. In my current role, I lead a team of 12 talented professionals across transition & transformation, project management, pre-sales, and client experience management. Together, we focus on enabling successful customer outcomes by aligning strategy, solutioning, execution, and customer experience.
Can you describe your team, your team’s role at GDT, and what makes your team dynamic and impactful?
Vai: Our team plays a critical role in the customer journey, supporting everything that happens before steady-state service delivery. We are responsible for solution design, proposal development, implementation, transition, and the seamless handoff into managed services. In many ways, we represent the front half of GDT’s delivery organization.
What makes this team exceptional is its commitment to going above and beyond for our customers. Every team member brings a strong sense of ownership, collaboration, and a relentless focus on delivering value, which ultimately strengthens GDT’s position as a trusted partner.
Your team recently went through some organizational changes. What part of this strategy excites you most?
Vai: The inclusion of the pre-sales and client experience management (CEM) teams within my organization has been both exciting and rewarding. It has strengthened alignment across the customer lifecycle, enabling closer collaboration between strategy, solutioning, delivery, and customer success. Ultimately, this helps us make better decisions, move faster, and deliver greater value to our customers.
What goals or initiatives are your team focused on in 2026, and how do they support GDT’s broader mission?
Vai: A key focus for our team in 2026 is the adoption of AI-driven capabilities across our day-to-day tasks. By automating repetitive tasks and improving efficiency, we can spend more time on strategic initiatives and delivering greater value to our customers. This aligns closely with GDT’s mission of driving innovation while maintaining an exceptional customer experience.
What’s a recent win—big or small—that made you proud?
Vai: I believe success is best measured by the positive impact we create for our customers. One recent accomplishment that stands out was the successful transition of a large retail customer into GDT support. The customer had previously managed their environment internally, with varying levels of standardization and operational maturity.
The dedication and collaboration demonstrated by our teams during the transition helped quickly stabilize and optimize the environment. Most importantly, it earned the trust and confidence of the customer’s IT leadership, who recognized the value and expertise that GDT brought to their organization.
Who or what inspires you in your career, and why?
Vai: My inspiration comes from the people at GDT. Across every role and function, there is a shared commitment to customer success and a genuine desire to make a positive impact. When an organization is united by a common purpose, it creates an environment where both individual and collective success can thrive.
What’s one professional goal you’re currently working toward, and how are you approaching it?
Vai: My goal is simple: to become better every day at what I do. I believe continuous improvement is one of the most important drivers of long-term success. By consistently learning, adapting, and challenging myself, I aim to create meaningful value for my team, support my leaders, honor the trust of my mentors, and contribute to the success of our customers.
What’s your favorite GDT core value, and how do you see it in action—either in your work or across the company?
Vai: While all six of GDT’s core values are important, accountability and collaboration resonate with me the most. For me, accountability is about owning outcomes rather than simply completing tasks. When individuals take ownership of results and collaborate toward a common goal, it creates an environment where teams can achieve extraordinary outcomes.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Vai: Two destinations high on my list are Greece and Paris. Greece appeals to me for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and cultural heritage, while Paris offers a unique blend of history, art, architecture, and innovation. Both destinations provide an opportunity to experience some of the world’s most iconic cultures and landmarks.
Tell us more about yourself outside of work, what are your hobbies and interests?
Vai: Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family. One of my favorite hobbies is going on long drives with my wife and children, exploring new places and experiences together. I also enjoy playing cricket and badminton with my kids, who are actively training and developing their skills in both sports. These activities allow me to stay active and maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.
Thank you, Vai, for sharing your story and for the leadership, collaboration, and commitment you bring to GDT every day. Team members like Vai help strengthen our culture, support our customers, and make GDT a great place to work. To learn more about GDT’s culture and explore our career options, visit Work at GDT.
