In this special behind-the-scenes episode, DCKAP Founder and CEO Karthik Chidambaram steps away from the conference floor to share what actually drives him — and the heart behind everything DCKAP does.
From handwriting letters in Tamil every Sunday to keep his mother tongue alive, to turning an empty office into a tuition-free coding school for students in Tamil Nadu, to sponsoring a book fair simply because reading transforms people — Karthik opens up about the initiatives that might never show up on a spreadsheet but define the very culture of DCKAP.
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Hey everyone. So we are here at another conference recording a bunch of
podcast interviews with amazing people in distribution and in between
recordings. I wanted to take a few minutes and talk to you about something
that's been on my mind lately. When you are at these conferences, you meet
so many people and the conversations are great.
podcast interviews with amazing people in distribution and in between
recordings. I wanted to take a few minutes and talk to you about something
that's been on my mind lately. When you are at these conferences, you meet
so many people and the conversations are great.
We talk about technology, business strategies, industry trends, but what I
find myself thinking about more and more is what are we actually building?
Not just businesses, but communities, connections, things that matter beyond
the bottom line. That got me thinking about some of the work we have been
doing at DCKAP that most people don't know about.
find myself thinking about more and more is what are we actually building?
Not just businesses, but communities, connections, things that matter beyond
the bottom line. That got me thinking about some of the work we have been
doing at DCKAP that most people don't know about.
The kind of work that may not make a lot of sense on a spreadsheet, but
would make all the sense in the world when you think about the kind of
company you wanna create and the kind of person you wanna be. So let me tell
you something I've been doing for the past few years. Every Sunday I sit
down and I hand write a letter In Tamil. Tamil is my mother tongue, the
language I grew up speaking in Chennai.
would make all the sense in the world when you think about the kind of
company you wanna create and the kind of person you wanna be. So let me tell
you something I've been doing for the past few years. Every Sunday I sit
down and I hand write a letter In Tamil. Tamil is my mother tongue, the
language I grew up speaking in Chennai.
Now you might be wondering why hand write in 2026? Why not just type it?
Honestly, I don't know how to play a piano and I don't know how to use a
Tamil keyboard. It wasn't a part of the school curriculum. And that needs to
change. And, after high school, I stopped focusing on the language, which
looking back was a mistake.
Honestly, I don't know how to play a piano and I don't know how to use a
Tamil keyboard. It wasn't a part of the school curriculum. And that needs to
change. And, after high school, I stopped focusing on the language, which
looking back was a mistake.
My dad used to sit with me during school years and teach me Tamil. I enjoyed
it. I won prizes in electrician writing, but then life moved on - college,
career, moving to the US - and slowly that part of my identity started to
fade. So about a few years ago, I decided to reclaim my roots. These Sunday
letters, they're handwritten because that's the only way I can write in
Tamil fluently.
it. I won prizes in electrician writing, but then life moved on - college,
career, moving to the US - and slowly that part of my identity started to
fade. So about a few years ago, I decided to reclaim my roots. These Sunday
letters, they're handwritten because that's the only way I can write in
Tamil fluently.
And you know what? It's been one of the most meaningful things I do. Not for
business, not for content marketing, just to stay connected to who I am. I
actually compile these letters into a book, which means Sunday letter. And
we launched this at this 89-year-old bookstore in Chennai called Arawa
Bookstore.
business, not for content marketing, just to stay connected to who I am. I
actually compile these letters into a book, which means Sunday letter. And
we launched this at this 89-year-old bookstore in Chennai called Arawa
Bookstore.
Same place where leaders like the former Chief minister of Tamal Lado, used
to buy the books. Here's why it's important, not just for me, but for anyone
watching this. Your mother tongue carries your culture, your history, and
the way your ancestors thought about the world. When you lose your mother
tongue, you lose a piece of yourself.
to buy the books. Here's why it's important, not just for me, but for anyone
watching this. Your mother tongue carries your culture, your history, and
the way your ancestors thought about the world. When you lose your mother
tongue, you lose a piece of yourself.
In business, we talk about authenticity all the time, but how authentic can
you be if you are disconnected from your roots? So this is my small way of
staying rooted of making sure my kids see the value and where we come from,
of preserving something that matters. At DCKAP, we have the same readers,
our leaders, and we don't just say it, we live it.
you be if you are disconnected from your roots? So this is my small way of
staying rooted of making sure my kids see the value and where we come from,
of preserving something that matters. At DCKAP, we have the same readers,
our leaders, and we don't just say it, we live it.
When I lived in different parts of the US, I could walk to a library within
two to three miles, sign up for a free membership and take out dozens of
books, dozens, for free, and you can return them and then get even more. My
kids would set up little libraries at home and lend books to other kids. It
was this beautiful culture of sharing knowledge.
two to three miles, sign up for a free membership and take out dozens of
books, dozens, for free, and you can return them and then get even more. My
kids would set up little libraries at home and lend books to other kids. It
was this beautiful culture of sharing knowledge.
Then we would visit India and we would ask ourselves, why don't we have this
kind of access to books? Why isn't reading as ingrained in the culture? So
in January, 2020, we did something unusual. DCKAP became the first
technology company to sponsor the Chennai Book Fair. People might ask us
why? You are not a publisher, you don't sell books. What's the business
case?
kind of access to books? Why isn't reading as ingrained in the culture? So
in January, 2020, we did something unusual. DCKAP became the first
technology company to sponsor the Chennai Book Fair. People might ask us
why? You are not a publisher, you don't sell books. What's the business
case?
To be honest, there isn't one, at least not on a spreadsheet, but there is a
direct alignment with our culture, and we thought we would find like-minded
people who would want to join our team. And maybe we would promote a larger
cause. We created this initiative called - Lit's Meet - Literature Meet,
with the tagline which means 'let's read' in Tamil.
direct alignment with our culture, and we thought we would find like-minded
people who would want to join our team. And maybe we would promote a larger
cause. We created this initiative called - Lit's Meet - Literature Meet,
with the tagline which means 'let's read' in Tamil.
We set up at Booth 160 and did this take a book, leave a book program. Bring
a book you have read, swap it for the one you haven't. Free library sharing.
And something amazing happened. People loved it. The media covered it. Other
people started asking how could they contribute to this initiative?
a book you have read, swap it for the one you haven't. Free library sharing.
And something amazing happened. People loved it. The media covered it. Other
people started asking how could they contribute to this initiative?
Reading transforms, people reading transforms organizations, just like ours
at DCKAP and reading even transforms Nations. At DCKAP, we make it a part of
our culture. We co-own. We discuss books, we encourage everyone, not just
leaders to read, but when you read, you are exposed to different
perspectives, different ways of thinking.
at DCKAP and reading even transforms Nations. At DCKAP, we make it a part of
our culture. We co-own. We discuss books, we encourage everyone, not just
leaders to read, but when you read, you are exposed to different
perspectives, different ways of thinking.
You become a more complete person, and this is something we are really proud
of. When we went fully distributed in 2021 and closed the Chennai office, we
had this building sitting empty. Most companies would just sell it or lease
it out, right? Well, we decided to turn it into a school. DCKAP Palli. Palli
means school in Tamil.
of. When we went fully distributed in 2021 and closed the Chennai office, we
had this building sitting empty. Most companies would just sell it or lease
it out, right? Well, we decided to turn it into a school. DCKAP Palli. Palli
means school in Tamil.
Here's how it works. We recruit students from Tamil Nadu who are smart, who
have completed their 12th grade or diploma, but who can't pursue college
education because they don't have resources. Financial constraints are
holding them back from their potential. We give them one year of software
training coursework that makes them employable and we give them a monthly
stipend so finances don't become a hurdle while they are learning.
have completed their 12th grade or diploma, but who can't pursue college
education because they don't have resources. Financial constraints are
holding them back from their potential. We give them one year of software
training coursework that makes them employable and we give them a monthly
stipend so finances don't become a hurdle while they are learning.
Then they do a 6 months internship. After 18 months, these students who
couldn't afford college are now software developers, employable building
careers supporting their families. This isn't corporate social
responsibility check boxing. This isn't charity. This is investment and
human potential. Because when you give someone the tools to change their
life, they don't just change their life, they change their family's life,
their community's life.
couldn't afford college are now software developers, employable building
careers supporting their families. This isn't corporate social
responsibility check boxing. This isn't charity. This is investment and
human potential. Because when you give someone the tools to change their
life, they don't just change their life, they change their family's life,
their community's life.
And honestly, some of our best people have come through programs like this.
Because when you give someone an opportunity they never thought they have,
they show up differently. They work differently. They are grateful, but more
importantly, they are hungry and work hard to prove that they belong. If you
know smart students in Tamil Nadu who are being held back by financial
constraints, send them our way.
Because when you give someone an opportunity they never thought they have,
they show up differently. They work differently. They are grateful, but more
importantly, they are hungry and work hard to prove that they belong. If you
know smart students in Tamil Nadu who are being held back by financial
constraints, send them our way.
DCKAP Palli, let's change some lives.
Being in conferences like this reminds me why relationships matter so much
in business. Look around. Yes, we are here to learn about industry trends.
Yes, we are here to talk about technology integrations and data, but really
we are here to connect with people.
in business. Look around. Yes, we are here to learn about industry trends.
Yes, we are here to talk about technology integrations and data, but really
we are here to connect with people.
I bootstrapped DCKAP starting in 2005 from a small apartment in Chicago,
Illinois. Two people, two computers, and two desks. And you know how we
grew? Not through aggressive sales tactics. Not through slick marketing
campaigns. We grew through word of mouth, through referrals, through
relationships. We have a lean sales team because we focus on our clients and
partners instead.
Illinois. Two people, two computers, and two desks. And you know how we
grew? Not through aggressive sales tactics. Not through slick marketing
campaigns. We grew through word of mouth, through referrals, through
relationships. We have a lean sales team because we focus on our clients and
partners instead.
When you treat people right, when you deliver on what you promise, when you
care about their successes as much as your own, they tell other people, and
those people become clients, and those clients become partners, and those
partners become friends. This is why we sponsor book fairs that don't have
an immediate ROI.
care about their successes as much as your own, they tell other people, and
those people become clients, and those clients become partners, and those
partners become friends. This is why we sponsor book fairs that don't have
an immediate ROI.
This is why we run a school for students we may never hire. This is why I
spend time writing letters in Tamil that maybe a few hundred people will
read. Because business isn't just about transactions. It's about building
something that truly matters. It's about being a part of a community. It's
about leaving things better than you found them.
spend time writing letters in Tamil that maybe a few hundred people will
read. Because business isn't just about transactions. It's about building
something that truly matters. It's about being a part of a community. It's
about leaving things better than you found them.
When we launched my book at the 89-year-old bookstore in Chennai, that was
about honoring a place that's uplifted hundreds of thousands of people for
decades. That's about using whatever small platform I have to shine light on
businesses and people who deserve recognition. The majority of our business
comes from referrals, not because we ask for them, but because we have built
real relationships.
about honoring a place that's uplifted hundreds of thousands of people for
decades. That's about using whatever small platform I have to shine light on
businesses and people who deserve recognition. The majority of our business
comes from referrals, not because we ask for them, but because we have built
real relationships.
Because when someone trusts you with their business and you take care of
them, they remember that while I'm here at this conference, yes, I'm
learning. I'm networking. Yes, I'm recording podcasts. But more than
anything, I'm investing on relationships because these relationships, they
are the foundation of everything we have built at DCKAP.
them, they remember that while I'm here at this conference, yes, I'm
learning. I'm networking. Yes, I'm recording podcasts. But more than
anything, I'm investing on relationships because these relationships, they
are the foundation of everything we have built at DCKAP.
So why did I wanna share all of this? I think because in business,
especially in technology, we get so focused on growth metrics and quarterly
results and market share, which are all important things. But somewhere
along the way, we can forget that we are building more than just companies.
We are building communities, we are shaping culture.
especially in technology, we get so focused on growth metrics and quarterly
results and market share, which are all important things. But somewhere
along the way, we can forget that we are building more than just companies.
We are building communities, we are shaping culture.
We are either making the world a little better or we are just taking up
space. For me, staying connected to Tamil, my mother tongue reminds me where
I come from. Promoting reading culture reminds me that knowledge transforms
people, driving education through programs like DCKAP Pali reminds me that
potential exists everywhere.
space. For me, staying connected to Tamil, my mother tongue reminds me where
I come from. Promoting reading culture reminds me that knowledge transforms
people, driving education through programs like DCKAP Pali reminds me that
potential exists everywhere.
If you give people a chance and building relationships instead of just
closing deals reminds me that business should be about people, not just
profit. None of this is perfect. We make mistakes. We learn, we iterate, but
we are trying to build something that matters beyond the bottom line.
Something that our team can be proud of, something that makes our community
better.
closing deals reminds me that business should be about people, not just
profit. None of this is perfect. We make mistakes. We learn, we iterate, but
we are trying to build something that matters beyond the bottom line.
Something that our team can be proud of, something that makes our community
better.
So if you are watching this and you're thinking about your business, your
own career, I would just encourage you, don't lose sight of what matters.
Stay connected to your roots. Invest in people, build relationships, read
books, give back to your community. The spreadsheet might not always justify
it in the short term, but I promise you it's what creates businesses, and
even more importantly, lives worth having.
own career, I would just encourage you, don't lose sight of what matters.
Stay connected to your roots. Invest in people, build relationships, read
books, give back to your community. The spreadsheet might not always justify
it in the short term, but I promise you it's what creates businesses, and
even more importantly, lives worth having.
Alright. I got some work to do, but thank you for spending time with me, and
if you're watching this on our Driven channel, welcome, subscribe, comment
your feedback. Let's build this community together.
if you're watching this on our Driven channel, welcome, subscribe, comment
your feedback. Let's build this community together.
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