Curiosity Fueled, Code Driven: From Dreamer to Developer

By Roopak Chugh

Where It All Began

Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far this journey has taken me. It all started in Sirsa, Haryana, where I was raised with humble beginnings. The turning point came in 2010, a moment I’ll never forget—my mother, through sheer determination and hard work, gifted me my first computer, a Pentium 3 system. I was in 7th grade, and that single act opened the door to a world I never knew existed.

What started as simple curiosity soon transformed into a full-blown passion for technology. From taking apart systems to figuring out how they worked, I spent countless hours exploring the endless possibilities of that little machine. It didn’t take long for me to realize what I wanted to be—a software engineer. That dream, sparked by curiosity and nurtured by determination, only grew stronger as I moved through school.

In hindsight, it’s clear that a single moment of opportunity can ignite a lifetime of purpose. 💻✨

A Journey Fueled by Passion and Curiosity

My journey into coding began in 11th grade when I discovered C++, and I was instantly hooked. By the time I joined JMIT Radaur for college, my love for technology had only deepened. I dived into languages like Java, Python, and JavaScript and even explored Raspberry Pi projects. One of the most defining moments came during the 2018 Smart India Hackathon, where our team won an award from the Government of Maharashtra. That achievement solidified my belief that I was on the right path.

Starting my career at IBM gave me a solid foundation in professional software development. But I quickly realized that I craved more—more challenges, more growth, and more opportunities to innovate. That’s when I found Safe Security, a company that offered not just a job but a chance to contribute to shaping the future of cybersecurity.

Rising to the Challenge

Joining Safe Security was a turning point in my career. From day one, I was immersed in challenges—not roadblocks, but opportunities to grow and innovate. Instead of a soft start, I was thrown into the deep end, taking on critical integrations for the Safe platform. Navigating legacy code, adapting to new requirements, and evolving processes became part of my everyday routine. Each day brought a new challenge, and that’s exactly what fueled my excitement and drive.

Safe Security didn’t just challenge me—it empowered me to grow, adapt, and push boundaries. And that’s what makes this journey so rewarding. 💻🚀

Pushing Boundaries

In Safe’s fast-paced environment, I played a key role in achieving Safe’s first certified integration with Wiz as part of Team Phoenix. From scaling integrations to standardizing API implementations and enhancing the user experience, each challenge pushed me to grow. With the support of my incredible colleagues, I even earned my AWS Developer certification, cementing Safe as a place where growth and learning go hand in hand.

The Game-Changer

My journey took a pivotal turn when I transitioned to Team Shield, shifting my focus from inputs to impactful outputs. This brought me to one of the defining projects of my career: the development of GAMA Service.

At a critical moment in Safe’s evolution, GAMA enabled customers to calculate risk at a group level, making Safe’s platform more precise and powerful. Guided by the vision of Hitesh Sethi, now Director of Engineering, we developed GAMA using clean code architecture, CQRS, and Event-Driven Architecture—a first at Safe. Not only did GAMA elevate our product scalability, but it also set a new benchmark for coding practices across the company, creating a foundation for future services.

New Horizons

Building on the success of GAMA, I joined a new team under Devesh Rajput to take on one of the most ambitious projects yet: Safe’s Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) initiative. This AI-driven, zero-trust solution helps organizations prioritize and manage third-party cybersecurity risks with a risk-based approach.

An essential part of my role has been advancing Safe’s outside-in assessment capabilities, allowing organizations to identify vulnerabilities and potential threats proactively. From optimizing performance to enhancing user experience, working on TPRM has been one of my career’s most rewarding and challenging experiences.

Looking Ahead

Safe Security has been more than a workplace—it’s been a launchpad for growth, innovation, and impactful contributions. Every project, from Wiz to GAMA to TPRM, has reinforced my belief that challenges aren’t obstacles—they’re opportunities to shape the future of cybersecurity. 🚀

The road ahead may not always be easy, but it’s filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and innovate. With every challenge comes the chance to push boundaries and make a difference. I’m eager to take on whatever comes next, and I couldn’t be more excited for the journey that lies ahead. The best is yet to come! 🚀 #FutureForward #GrowthJourney #Innovation