Hit Refresh

I left Johnson and Johnson(J&J) last week. After an adventurous journey of little over five years, it was an emotional yet exciting exit. I joined Johnson and Johnson (J&J) India on 1st June 2016 as Management Trainee(MT) and right from day 1, I felt at home. I have met some most amazing and smart individuals in past five years. I have got chances to manage roles in two different sectors and three different functions.?The culture, at J&J, has honestly been the best delight of working here, among many others.?The past 5 years have been an incredible roller-coaster ride for me - from having great leaders who mentored and coached me, to having done work of scales and responsibilities which I would not have imagined otherwise. I got the privilege to lead projects, engage with customers and various internal stakeholders across my roles in cross sector Deliver function and Janssen Planning function and as a Management Trainee.

I want to break my journey with Johnson & Johnson into three themes:

1.??????Discovering your Why

a.??????There is a concept in many non-fiction books on what should we pursue in life. In famous book called Ikigai, they mentioned about this sweet spot. It’s an intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for. When I was doing my post graduation in Industrial Engineering from NITIE, I was lucky to identify two pieces of it: What you love and what you can be paid for i.e. Supply Chain. Supply chain is at the heart of any business and I give this example anywhere if you compare any Business with a 7 course meal, Supply Chain is the Salt in it, without which you can’t enjoy it.

b.?????Then I joined J&J as Management Trainee in 2016. Fresh out of campus with my desire to change world and I am introduced to amazing world of Johnson and Johnson and right from day 1 I felt at home. I am introduced to the concept of Credo and our Purpose and I have seen them as a DNA for any individual I have interacted. I realized the impact my decisions are making in someone’s life out there. Over the period of time I discovered the missing pieces of What I am good at(I will talk more on this in next theme) and what world needs i.e a future where disease is a thing of past.

?2.??????Discovering your What or the Hedgehog concept

Hedgehog is an animal species hunted by foxes. Fox are fast, smart and knows thousand ways to attack a hedgehog but hedgehog knows only one thing, whenever attacked, they can roll up to a perfect ball full of spikes. Their strength lies in profound simplicity.

When I joined Johnson and Johnson in 2016 as management trainee, during my initial days, there was a team building activity and few of you were even part of it. In this activity, one blank paper will be pasted at your back and people have to give feedback, you will not know who will give what feedback but you will know the feedback.

I always believe you are what you reflect and you can’t fake that. People have innate ability to see through you. I have still that piece of paper that I preserved till this day. Have a look below:

Some common skills that emerged from that feedback session was approachable, team player, question bank, hardworking and dedicated. Few days back I had taken a cliffton strength test and even after 5 years, my top skills remains same. So the biggest takeaway for me from this exercise was identify your strengths and work on them to develop your character. This is where I discovered my hedgehog concept. ?

3.??????Discovering your How

I think this is the toughest part and here entire J&J community is an integral part of my journey. I think having the right people around who can groom you, guide you and back you when you go wrong is the best thing that can happen to you in an organization. I remember when I joined my first role in transportation after 1 year of Management Trainee, I was given responsibility to Manage transportation budget of $8 Million along with projects. My manager always supported me with my decisions and backed me when things go wrong. It has taught me to make decisions without worrying on outcomes because I knew there is someone to back me up or guide me if I am going wrong.

When I wanted to transition to Plan function from Deliver function in J&J, there were always people (manager, mentors, leaders, teammates etc.) who supported me make this transition. I am blessed to have an equally amazing team in Janssen during my second role in Plan. And I will cherish of our times together.

Having a clear why and what coupled with having people around who believe in you has helped me discover my how and this is iterative process and a continuous learning process which will continue till lifetime.

Now, what next? I have joined Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT), Boston to pursue higher studies in Supply Chain. It is in line with my process of discovering that sweet spot. Supply Chain is ever evolving field and Covid has taught us to live with uncertainty. What the world need in future might be very different and preparing yourself for that future is what I think is need of the hour.?Honestly it was not an easy decision and I am still scared but I am sure with my hedgehog concept, all will fall in place in the end ??

Thank you gain to entire J&J Fraternity for making me feel at home and accepting me as a part of J&J family and I will still say it’s not a Good bye but a See you later and I will wish for us to cross our paths in future career.??

I want to leave you with a Poem by Walter Wintle which is so close to my heart:

“If you think you are beaten, you are, If you think you dare not, you don't,

If you like to win, but you think you can't, It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost, For out of the world we find,

Success begins with a fellow's will, It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,?You've got to think high to rise,

You've got to be sure of yourself before,?You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go, To the stronger or faster man,

But soon or late the man who wins,??Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!”

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