As the year draws to a close, the LINK! office is buzzing with anticipation for 2025. Reflecting on the past year, our team is stepping into the new year with fresh energy and clear goals. From health and hobbies to adventure and self-improvement, each resolution highlights our individuality and shared drive for growth.

A Festive Kickoff: Holiday Celebrations

We welcomed the holiday season at LINK! with a warm and cheerful team gathering. The office, adorned with festive decorations, featured a hot chocolate station stocked with marshmallows, chocolate wafers, and crushed candy canes. Our Secret Santa exchange brought plenty of laughs and smiles, with quirky gadgets and thoughtful gifts adding to the joy. It was the perfect way to wrap up the year and set the tone for 2025.

Health, Fitness, and Adventure

The new year often inspires a focus on health and well-being, and our team is no exception. Vijaylaxmi, Technical Ops Specialist, plans to make fitness more enjoyable by taking up badminton, blending exercise with some friendly competition. Swaroop Joshi from the tech team is balancing gym sessions with flute practice, combining wellness and creativity. Maas, who is pursuing his master’s degree, aims to maintain a consistent fitness routine to stay energized.

Adventure is another recurring theme. Anshul Pandey, UI/UX Designer, is diving into off-roading and bike classes, while Neha Rai, QA Manager, plans to explore new travel destinations and immerse herself in different cultures. Akram is planning a solo ride from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, which will necessitate meticulous planning.

Personal Development and Lifelong Learning

At LINK!, the passion for learning and growth is unwavering. Shivam Shinde from the tech team is expanding his skill set with a data analyst course, while Hina Pathan, SQA Engineer, is diving deeper into automation frameworks. Tushar Mukherjee, a software engineer, is embracing his creative side by learning the violin, adding a new rhythm to his year. These aspirations showcase a balance between professional growth and personal passions.

Cultivating Mindfulness and Balance

In the midst of busy schedules, many on the team are focusing on mindfulness and balance. Shreya Vaidya (Data Ops) is committing to waking up earlier and reducing screen time to reclaim valuable moments for herself. Aishwarya is prioritizing mental well-being by traveling more with friends, cherishing the joy and renewal that come from shared adventures and fresh perspectives.

Fueling Passions and Building Connections

The team’s diverse interests continue to inspire. Khushbu Pathe from the QA team aims to read 12 books and travel across Europe, combining intellectual curiosity with a love for exploration. Suraj Mandal, Sr. FullStack Developer, is honing his time management skills to make room for more adventures and growth. These goals reflect a collective spirit of making the most of the year ahead through meaningful pursuits.

Looking Ahead

As we step into 2025, the LINK! team is excited to pursue new goals and create lasting memories. Our resolutions are more than aspirations—they represent our commitment to growth, both individually and as a team. Here’s to a year filled with progress, challenges, and moments to celebrate.

Let me tell you a secret: You don’t need a massive budget to get value from a trade show.

Skip the ticket; show up anyway.

Tickets can be very expensive, and as a startup founder, I couldn’t justify spending thousands. So I decided to skip the ticket and just go to the same city where the trade show was happening. The best conversations often happen outside the event—in coffee shops, hotel lobbies, and nearby restaurants. Trust me, you don’t need to be inside the venue to make excellent connections.

Do the outreach beforehand.

Before I landed, I did my homework. I contacted people I knew would be attending, set up coffee meetings, and scheduled casual lunches. This took a bit of LinkedIn outreach and some emails, but it paid off. I had meaningful one-on-one conversations, all without the noisy, crowded exhibit floor.

Work in the vicinity of the trade show.

Most trade shows and conferences have an outside zone/seating for coffee and networking. I worked in that area while keeping an eye out for people I wanted to meet for a quick handshake. You never know who you’ll meet; those chance encounters can lead to big opportunities.

Focus on Relationships, Not sales.

Since I wasn’t under the pressure of having a booth or a big-ticket expense to justify, I focused on building real relationships. I wasn’t pushing for sales—I was simply meeting people, getting to know them, and finding ways to follow up later.

Ask your customers if you can represent them.

One creative way to attend trade shows without breaking the bank is by leveraging your existing customer relationships. It’s always worth asking your loyal customers or clients if you can tag along, represent them, or attend the event on their behalf. By doing this, you may gain free or discounted access to the event while still promoting your own brand. Customers attending the trade show might appreciate the additional representation, especially if they can’t send a full team themselves. This also gives you the chance to meet potential partners, prospects, or other companies in their network while staying within budget.

At the end of the trip, my total expenditure was a fraction of what it would’ve cost to attend the trade show officially. Flights, hotel stay, a few coffees, and a couple of lunches, but I still walked away with solid connections—and even potential deals. People want to see you in person, and showing up gives your brand credibility.

Throughout the years, fathers’ roles have changed significantly. Fathers were traditionally viewed as the family’s primary provider of income, acting as the family’s pillar. The expectations and responsibilities of modern fatherhood have been reshaped, nevertheless, by shifting perspectives and cultural changes.

Fathers are now more widely acknowledged as equal partners in raising children, actively contributing to their social, emotional, and intellectual growth. The days of dads being passive participants in the parenting process are long gone. Modern dads are taking a more involved role in raising their children, enjoying the rewards and difficulties of doing so with their spouses.

This evolution has been driven by a number of factors, including changing gender roles, a greater understanding of the importance of paternal involvement, and a desire for closer family ties. Fathers now realize the significant influence their presence and involvement can have on their kids’ development, self-worth, and general well-being.

Technology as a Parenting Tool

For modern fathers, the digital age has brought about a revolutionary shift in their parenting style. With so many tools and resources at their disposal, technology has emerged as a father’s greatest ally, enabling him to interact with his kids in ways never seen before.

Fathers no longer have to rely only on conventional parenting techniques or consult a small number of sources for guidance. They now have access to a wealth of information thanks to the internet and mobile devices, which helps them stay informed and make wise decisions about the growth, health, and general well-being of their children.

Additionally, dads now have more opportunities to strengthen their relationship with their kids through shared digital experiences thanks to technology. Dads can explore, learn, and play alongside their children on engaging platforms offered by interactive apps, educational games, and virtual reality environments. This fosters a stronger bond and understanding between the two parties.

One of the best examples of a contemporary, tech-savvy father embracing the opportunities and difficulties of raising a child in the digital age is Akshay Tomar, QA lead at LINK!. He has embraced technology as a father to improve his relationship with his child and have special moments together.

Using virtual assistants like Alexa is one way Akshay has made use of technology. He often gets his kid involved in things like watching cricket matches on their Alexa device and dancing to Punjabi music videos. These shared experiences help his child develop a love of sports and music while also exposing them to the wonders of technology at a young age.

Akshay thinks that his child’s development has greatly benefited from his increased involvement and presence at home, made possible by remote work opportunities. By spending more time together, Akshay has been able to share his passions, such as playing cricket and football, with his child. Because of his hands-on approach, his child has been able to develop a keen interest in these sports and skills, which has strengthened the bond between father and child.

Furthermore, he admits that technology plays a part in making parenting problems and questions simpler to solve. He understands that having so much information and resources at our disposal can enable parents to make better decisions and better meet the needs of their kids.

For Akshay, adopting the flexibility and work-life balance that technology provides is part of being a father in the modern digital era. He values being able to strike a balance between his work obligations and spending quality time with his child, making enduring memories and strengthening their relationship.

Work-Life Balance in the Digital Age

The digital era has revolutionized the way fathers approach work and family life. With the advent of remote work and flexible schedules, modern dads like Akshay can strike a better balance between their professional responsibilities and their roles as involved parents. Technology has empowered fathers to be more present in their children’s lives, fostering stronger bonds and creating cherished memories.

Akshay’s experience is a testament to this shift. As a QA lead at LINK, he can often work from home, allowing him to witness his child’s milestones and participate in their daily routines. This newfound flexibility enables him to be an active participant in his child’s upbringing, rather than merely a weekend presence.

Embracing the Digital Dad

For modern fathers, a transformative era has begun with the advent of the digital age. With the help of technology, fathers can now better balance work and personal life, connect with their kids through common interests, and use virtual assistants to help with parenting. 

Dads who embrace technology are better able to be involved, attentive, and aware of their kids’ needs. In addition, fathers can now teach their kids digital literacy skills so they are prepared for the future thanks to the digital landscape. Modern fathers can deepen their understanding of their children’s passions, build stronger bonds with them, and nurture their interests by skillfully incorporating technology into their parenting style.

Fathers who fully embrace technology will be in a better position to handle the challenges of contemporary parenting as the world changes. Through the effective use of digital tools and resources, parents can open up new possibilities for learning, connecting, and making enduring memories with their kids.