Two decades of career , Awe feeling !

It gives me immense happiness to have completed two decades in the IT industry. Work is worship and to this date, i have followed that.

Being Human: We work with humans and no Robots. It goes a long way in learning to empathise , showing willingness to extend support, listen, share accolades and build a positive, not a competitive culture. People can forget everything else but they do remember how you made them feel.

Don’t be afraid to Test/Experiment : Working with some of the best global companies, if there is one thing in common which sets high performers apart is their ability to dive deep and willingness to experiment …there is no comparison to getting hands dirty, understanding nuts and bolts in order to bring quality to processes and value to business. It is hard work but then you need to run the mile to gain the experience. Even a failed experiment is worth much more than opinions , including your own.

Acknowledge you will never be the smartest one on the team : You can be a Subject Matter Expert, an industry influencer or the most successful Sales person but in corporate world you meet diverse people who may know more than you and remember no one appreciates a know-it-all . Life is an ever-growing, ever-changing, and experience-rich process. This means that we are going to keep on learning forever. So, seek help , ask for mentor-ships and be willing to reciprocate on such requests.

Dealing with Emotions : Corporate life can be hard and at times things don’t always go as planned. Most of us have tight deadlines and dealing with multiple pressures which can lead to situations that trigger emotions. Take a moment, go for a walk, or even sleep over it …before you decide to make that phone call or write that email in response. As it is said words once spoken can’t be taken bank ( Emails have even a slimmer chance 😊)

Have high standard of Integrity : It doesn’t matter what industry or sector you work in, if you want to succeed, you need to have self-esteem and self-respect. Have a high standard of integrity and follow the code of conduct. Be clear on what things you should, and what you shouldnot. Having a good moral fiber ensures that no doubt can be cast on you or your actions.

Have a hobby: Corporate life is all consuming and then there is family , house and kids that take a lot of our energies hence its natural to feel burn out. Especially for women who are laden with guilt so for prioritizing career above family. To have the zeal and take each day head on, Having a hobby helps. It creates the mental space and sense of relaxation. It also helps to build networks beyond work and rejuvenates body and soul.

For those who made it this far in reading “Thank-you”. I feel fortunate to have come this far in life/career and thankful to all the great friends and mentor along the way...