Meet Aravind Gnanapandithan, our May Member Spotlight! 🎉

Alison C.

Please put your hands together for this month’s Community Member Spotlight @AravindGP! So how did it all begin? What brought this Sydney-based Community Champion to Smartsheet? Scroll down to hear his story.

Aravind is a Delivery Manager - Smartsheet at Atturra, a Smartsheet partner. While working at a previous company, a few of his clients recommended that they look into the partner program. As he tells it, from the moment he followed their advice and explored the platform, he was hooked! 

“Despite not having a technical background—and after nearly a decade of selling custom software solutions in Singapore—Smartsheet was a game-changer. For the first time, I could build solutions for clients without relying on a developer. It was both empowering and exciting. Smartsheet struck the perfect balance: Intuitive to use yet incredibly powerful.” 

Over the past six years, Aravind has worked with Smartsheet both as an end user and as an implementation specialist across a wide range of use cases—and has enjoyed every step. Currently, his favorite product feature is formulas because of the power they have in transforming data into actionable insights - especially when feeding into dashboards. 

“I’ve worked with formulas so extensively over the years that my team started calling me ‘The Formulator,’” he says. “It’s become one of the areas I’m most confident in. I’ve found the more skilled you become with something, the more rewarding and fun it gets.”

As Community Champion, Aravind says the Community has taught him just how deep and versatile the platform really is. He describes Smartsheet as an ocean - one where he’s only scratched the surface. 

“The Community has become my go-to space whenever I have downtime at work. I often browse the Unanswered section and try to help others by recreating their scenarios and finding solutions. This habit has exposed me to use cases I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise, and it's pushed me to think creatively and explore new ways to solve problems.”

In the future, Aravind hopes to contribute to the Community platform and the community at large more strategically. He was recently invited to join the Smartsheet Partner Product Advisory Council, and is excited about the opportunity to help shape the product roadmap. “I’m passionate about making the platform even more accessible and impactful for users, and I hope to use this role to advocate for features and improvements that drive broader adoption and deliver real value across different industries,” he says.

When he’s not being The Formulator, there are three major things he loves to do: 

1. Driving and taking long road trips - in just a few years, he’s driven through five of the seven states in Australia
2. Mobile gaming
3. Spending time with his daughter, whether it’s reading her stories or joining in on one of her many imaginative games

Thank you Aravind for all that you do!

👉🏻 Do you know someone in the Community who should be next month's Member Spotlight? Nominate them here (NOTE: Any Community member can nominate someone else in the Community).

Rebeca S.

@AravindGP, the Formulator is a super cool title to have. 😎

Congrats on the member spotlight, and thank you for supporting your peers. Really appreciate everything you do in Community!

Ray Lindstrom

Hi Aravind, AKA The Formulator!

What an inspiring story and approach you have. I wish you continued success, safe travels, and the best of times with your daughter.

Keep it up!

SSFeatures

Hey congratulations @AravindGP!

It's really cool that you went from being non-technical to being incredibly good with formulas. Formulas can get super complex and they force you to think like a programmer :)

Joseph Aloysias - vSaaS Global

Congratulations on the Member Spotlight! @AravindGP You're an incredible mentor, well deserved!

Julia L Rumburg

Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition, @AravindGP 💫

What an inspiring journey from custom software sales to becoming "The Formulator!" Your story perfectly captures that magical moment when you discover Smartsheet's power - being able to build solutions without waiting for developers is such a game-changer.

I love how you describe the platform as an ocean where you've only scratched the surface. Your dedication to helping others in the Unanswered section while expanding your own skills is what makes our community so special.

Exciting news about joining the Partner Product Advisory Council! Having your hands-on experience help shape the roadmap will be invaluable.

Thank you for all the creative solutions and positive energy you bring to our community. You're a perfect example of what makes the Smartsheet community amazing!

Congratulations again - would love to connect over a virtual coffee soon! ☕

meagans

Congratulations on the spotlight and success with harnessing formulas, @AravindGP!

rebecca.collins

Congratulations on the Member Spotlight!