(March 20, 2026) When V. V. Sathya Teja first travelled abroad to pursue his master’s degree in the United Kingdom, the move represented more than an academic milestone. It was also his first step into a larger world beyond Hyderabad. Reflecting on that experience today, he describes it as a moment that enhanced the way he saw both career and life.
“Studying abroad broadens your perspective,” he tells Global Indian. “You get to meet people from different nationalities, understand different cultures, and see how big the world really is.”
Today, Teja works as a Financial Analyst at Electronic Arts Games India Private Limited, one of the leading video game publishers. Based in Hyderabad, he plays a crucial role in financial planning and analysis for the company’s global operations, helping manage multi-million-dollar budgets tied to game development and marketing. His journey into the global gaming industry, where finance meets creativity, technology, and entertainment is a mix of ambition, adaptability, and unexpected circumstances.
A commerce student with global ambitions
Born and raised in Hyderabad, Teja’s academic path began in familiar territory. He pursued a Bachelor of Commerce at Osmania University, developing a grounding in accounting, business economics, and financial systems. Even during his undergraduate years, he knew that finance was the field where he wanted to build his career.
But he also wanted to broaden his perspective. For Teja, studying abroad represented an opportunity not just to acquire another degree but to experience a different educational environment.
That goal led him to the University of Bristol in the UK, where he enrolled in a Master’s programme in Accounting, Finance and Management. Travelling abroad for the first time, and that too alone, was both exciting and daunting. Yet the transition was made easier by the university’s efforts to connect incoming international students. Indian students joining the programme were placed in a shared communication group before departure, allowing them to coordinate travel and form early connections.
“It was the first time travelling abroad and away from family,” Teja recalls. “But because we were all heading there for the same programme, it didn’t feel as overwhelming as you might expect.”
The experience eventually became transformative. On campus, he encountered a diverse student body representing multiple cultures and countries. Classroom learning also differed significantly from the more structured teaching style he had experienced in India. “The professors would come in, show a few slides, refer to a book, and ask you to explore the topic further in the library,” he says. “You had to put in the effort to understand things deeply yourself.”
Lessons beyond the classroom
While academics formed the core of his experience, Teja’s time in Bristol also brought important lessons outside the classroom. Living independently meant managing daily routines, from cooking meals to navigating unfamiliar neighbourhoods in search of Indian groceries. Accommodation in university residences offered private rooms and shared facilities, allowing students from different cultures to interact regularly.
Those interactions often extended beyond campus life. “We would sometimes cook together on weekends or explore new places,” he recalls. “It was also where I formed friendships with people from different backgrounds like Indians from different parts of the country, Europeans, Koreans, Chinese. That kind of exposure changes how you see the world.”
Sports became another avenue for connection. A passionate badminton player, Teja participated in inter-university tournaments during his time in the UK. His team eventually won a division title, adding another memorable chapter to his overseas experience.
More importantly, the experience strengthened his independence and self-confidence. These qualities now prove valuable in his career. “Being independent all the way through is a big part of studying abroad,” he says. “Managing things on your own teaches you a lot.”
A graduation overshadowed by global disruption Teja completed his master’s programme in 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began reshaping the global economy. Although he had secured job offers at the end of his programme, the sudden hiring freezes triggered by the pandemic meant that those opportunities were withdrawn. For many students graduating during that period, the job market had become uncertain overnight.
“It was a tricky situation,” he says. “I had offers, but they were later withdrawn because companies had put hiring on hold.” With limited prospects abroad, Teja made the decision to return to India. What might have seemed like an unexpected detour ultimately became the beginning of his professional journey.
Entering the gaming industry
In April 2021, Teja joined Electronic Arts Games India Private Limited, marking his first full-time corporate role. For a finance professional, the gaming industry presents an unusual environment. Behind every game launch lies a complex network of development teams, marketing campaigns, and global distribution strategies.
Teja joined the company as an Associate Financial Analyst in the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) function. The role involved supporting financial planning for marketing operations across different regions, analysing budgets and monitoring spending associated with game launches.
“Electronic Arts is a multinational organisation with studios across the world,” he explains. “My role was to support marketing budgets and connect with teams in different regions to track how those investments were performing.”
Early in his career, he worked closely with European teams managing marketing budgets for racing game franchises such as F1, WRC, Grid Legends, and Dirt Rally. The role required constant collaboration with business leaders across time zones to analyse campaign performance and forecast financial outcomes.
Working in such an environment also meant operating on unconventional schedules. “At one point my work timings were from 2:30 in the afternoon to 11:30 at night,” he says. “That was mainly to overlap with teams in the US and Canada.”
A defining milestone early in his career
One of the most defining moments in Teja’s early career came just six months after he joined the organisation. His organisation was transitioning its reporting systems from traditional tools to Power BI dashboards, a shift that required teams accustomed to older systems to adapt to new technologies.
Despite being relatively new to the company, Teja took the initiative to lead the transition within his team. “People were used to working with Excel and the older systems,” he explains. “So naturally there was some hesitation about switching to a completely new tool.”
Drawing on his experience with Power BI, Teja began training colleagues including senior team members on how to use the new platform. Over time, the training sessions expanded into collaborative workshops where teams worked together to rebuild existing reports using the new system.
“It was challenging,” he admits. “Some of the seniors who had trained me when I joined were now learning the tool from me. But eventually we were able to make the transition smoothly as a team.” The initiative earned recognition from leadership and became a major milestone in his early career.
From analyst to finance partner
As Teja gained experience, his responsibilities within the company expanded. He later transitioned from marketing finance to working directly with EA’s Hyderabad game development studio. The shift allowed him to engage more closely with the creative and technical teams responsible for building video games.
A game studio, he explains, operates in many ways like a film production house. Multiple teams of software engineers, designers, artists, testers, and audio specialists work together to develop a single product. “Think of it like a movie studio,” he says. “But instead of shooting scenes with cameras, you have coders, designers, and artists working together to build the game.”
Within this environment, Teja acts as a finance partner to the studio teams. His responsibilities include managing operational budgets, forecasting costs, analysing revenue potential, and supporting leadership decisions related to new projects. The role requires constant collaboration across departments. “I work closely with studio directors, development teams, and designers to understand how the budget is being used and how we plan for future projects,” he explains.
At times, the work also brings unexpected moments. During one marketing project earlier in his career, Teja found himself on a video call where Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton appeared while signing a promotional contract related to a racing game. “It was quite a cool moment,” he recalls.
Balancing numbers with personal interests
Outside the world of spreadsheets and forecasts, Teja maintains a strong commitment to physical activity and sports.
Fitness is a regular part of his routine, with gym sessions forming an important balance to long workdays. He continues to play badminton several times a week and has recently taken up pickleball as well. “Sports have always been a big part of my life,” he says. “Whether it’s badminton, pickleball, or football, I enjoy staying active.”
He also spends time reading and exploring emerging technologies, particularly developments in artificial intelligence and how they may influence finance and data analytics in the future.
Looking ahead
After nearly five years with Electronic Arts Games India Private Limited, Teja now finds himself reflecting on the next stage of his career.
His immediate goal is to step into a managerial role where he can lead teams and contribute more directly to strategic decision-making within finance operations. “My focus now is to move into a manager position,” he says. “That way I can take on more responsibility and create a larger impact.”
At the same time, he continues to develop his technical expertise in financial modelling, analytics tools, and emerging technologies that are reshaping the finance function globally.
Navigating career crossroads
Looking back, the journey from a commerce student in Hyderabad to a finance professional working within a global gaming company has been shaped by both careful planning and unforeseen events.
The pandemic disrupted his early career plans, but it also redirected him toward opportunities closer to home. And if there is one lesson he shares with students considering a similar path, especially those thinking about studying abroad, it is the importance of preparation.
“Studying abroad is a great experience,” he says. “But you should do proper research about the course, the market opportunities, and your financial plans. If you plan well, it can open up many possibilities.”
From Bristol’s lecture halls to the dynamic environment of a global gaming studio, Teja’s career journey reflects that progress often comes not from perfectly planned paths, but from how one responds to change along the way.