That Great Feeling ! Going back to college to receive an award - Superstars (IT Excellence)

It is a great feeling going back to your roots - School, College, Town where you grew up et al. On 9th April 2022, I went back to my MBA college - Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research - this time to receive an award. I was the recipient of Superstars 2021 (IT Excellence) award. It was a hugely emotional moment for me. As I accepted the award, my mind wandered to 1997 when I quit a great job at Siemens only to enter less known territory of post graduation in business administration. As I look back at 23 years career, it dawned on me that awards like these make you realize the achievements but also give you an opportunity to thank everyone who has helped you to get there. I want to thank great minds that have shaped me as a person and professional. Thank you Prof Pyarelal Arya, our beloved Director of the institute, Rajesh Bhave, Ashok Hegde, Mohit Shenoy, Suresh Chakravarthy, Ashok Bhat, Rajneesh Malviya.

Let me take the opportunity to share what helped me in my career:

1. Discomfort leads to growth - Every time I did something outside of my comfort zone, I grew as a professional. Everyone who wants to excel needs to find ways of doing things that are not in their comfort zone. If you hear palpitations while accepting a new responsibility, that's a sure giveaway :)
2. Passion or nothing - While money, recognition is important, I always did work with passion. Passion brings ownership and Ownership brings responsibility. No passion, no excitement, no fun. Work suddenly becomes a big drain.
3. Business of people - Its funny. I write this after receiving IT excellence award. but I strongly feel, I am in the business of people. I like to believe, I have improved many of my fellow colleagues while working with them. By making them realize their responsibilities or standing by them when they were failing or challenging them to realize their potential, I made it my business to work with people. That's what gave me the leverage to achieve things that I could not have done on my own.

I accept the award with great humility but with a sense of pride for what I have done so far.

Will cherish those moments forever.