A Fabulous Friendship, Diversity, and Corporate Lessons

Happy Sunday everyone! Today I've got a story to tell, a tale of friendship that spans four decades, five cities, and two continents. It's the story of my childhood school friends. We are a group of five…we couldn't be more different but are as alike as five peas in a pod!

First up, we have Suman Chaudhuri - Shetty - a banker in Mumbai who can brighten up any room with her smile and laughter. But don't let her happy-go-lucky demeanor fool you, she's a force to be reckoned with! This tough lady has overcome more challenges than we've had hot meals - from supporting her family single-handedly to losing her father at a very young age, losing elder brother to cancer and fighting her mother's health issues. Today she is a supermom and successful professional. Whatever challenges life is handing out to her, she's always got a twinkle in her eye and is the life of the party!

?Next, we have Aditi Mukherjee - the epitome of organization and Assistant DPC (Diploma Programme Coordinator) in a reputed international school in Chennai. This lady knows Shakespeare like the back of her hand and is a master of planning and execution. She has a penchant for taking care of people and making it easy for everyone but herself. She's the emotional backbone of her family. She manages her two boys, her work and her family duties as if she was born for this!

And then we have onkita adhikary - a doctor in Bengaluru who is as versatile as a person can be! She is a natural-born helper and is often found making house calls and treating patients for free. Else she can be found at her laptop delivering researched content to the Ministry of Tourism for their portal. She paints while she cooks, she sings as she lovingly tends to her green corner at home, and solves her daughter's math problems in casual conversation. She's got a talent for making anything and everything better. And…she's always up for a 3am chat!

? Debjani Dasgupta , our techie friend from London has a relentless pursuit for perfection. She is the shining example of hard work and determination and my lifelong inspiration. From building a career against all odds, to supporting her family, planning unforgettable vacations to cooking delicious recipes and capturing stunning photographs, she sets the bar high and never fails to exceed expectations. She inspires not only her children but everyone around her to chuck mediocrity and aim for the sun!

Now, let me tell you why I'm sharing this story with you all on LinkedIn. Apart from the fact that I love to brag about my friends at every opportunity, I want to share some valuable corporate lessons that I've learned from this friendship.

Lesson 1: When it comes to recruitment, a resume is important, but the connect also counts. My friends have been the best recruits in my life. I found these super achievers when we were learning nursery rhymes, and they've contributed so much to my life and whatever I've made out of it.

Lesson 2: Diversity is a valuable asset in any team. Different people from different backgrounds bring different perspectives and ideas, and you never know where the winning solution will come from.

?Lesson 3: Your old team is your best bet when it comes to big decisions at work. They know you and the organization inside and out, and they know what will and won't work. So, always treat your team with respect and value.

?Lesson 4: Communication is key, especially with remote teams. Despite living in different cities, we never miss a day without connecting over our WhatsApp group, and it keeps us close. So, keep in touch with your remote teams regularly!

?Lesson 5: Support your team through thick and thin. The market conditions may change, new policies may be drawn up, and there may be difficult deliverables, but always have each other's backs. If we can put aside our egos and selfish interests, we can build high-performing teams and achieve great things together.

?And there you have it, folks! My story of friendship with some serious takeaways for the workplace. That's us in the picture. Left to right it's Aditi, Debjani, me, Onkita and Suman. We still can't resist lining up like we did in our school assemblies!

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