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Uber Director's Rocket Rise: 6 Years to Senior Leadership
12 Mar
Summary
- Madan Thangavelu advanced to senior director at Uber in six years.
- He took on management responsibilities before a formal title.
- Strong relationships and timely ideas fueled his career growth.

Madan Thangavelu, a senior director of engineering at Uber, achieved a rapid career progression within the company, moving from senior software engineer to senior director in six years. This swift advancement significantly increased his salary compared to his initial earnings.
Thangavelu proactively took on leadership responsibilities, such as project management and mentoring, even before receiving a formal management title. He officially entered management in March 2017 and experienced successive promotions, eventually overseeing a global team of approximately 530 engineers across seven locations.
His success was driven by building strong relationships with managers and demonstrating initiative. Thangavelu emphasized the importance of timing when presenting new ideas, believing that successful leaders identify and propose solutions precisely when they are needed most.




