It's been a year...

Wow !! It's really been an year since I have been hit by the LinkedIn wave. All this started with Starley sending me an InMail about an opportunity in the Sales Development team. And I was torn between the situation of letting go my recent promotion and moving to my dream company. Luckily I was just confused for fraction of a second before I made up my mind to attend the interview.

My first reason to accept the offer and join LinkedIn was this video which had gone viral, and the second reason was Philip Roy. I have been to a lot of interviews in my career span of 5 years, but there was this person who didn't follow the traditional interview pattern. There were no typical interview questions asked but just a regular conversation about my personal life, career aspirations, etc. That was the first experience of #LinkedInLife, and I knew this is where I want to be.

My friends have always envied that I work at LinkedIn and that facilities that are offered to the employees. But what they don't know is the actual #LinkedInLife where it's way beyond the materialistic benefits, its about the people, culture, relationships and most importantly work-life balance that has awed me. I have worked in a couple of multi-national companies earlier but none have been close to how LinkedIn have made Culture and Diversity the pillars/fundamentals of the organisation rather than a CSR activity.

Diversity and Inclusion + Belonging = Employee Engagement

That is what I have felt in the last 365 days, being included in such a diverse landscape. I have been surrounded by rockstars in my team:

• Philip - An inspiration for everyone who knows him professionally and personally. Am lucky that we have connected way beyond regular work calls and he has constantly pushed me when I am down and challenged me to set benchmarks
• Somya - I don't know how you killed the numbers day in and day out. You are still the benchmark being spoken in the team for #results and #transformation.
• Asjita - I hate you for what you are. Why can't I be like you, and be sorted in what I want. I will take revenge by bothering you for the rest of your life.
• Mansi - My cab-mate and the wikipedia of LinkedIn. I prefer asking to her than checking Cinco for any (insider) information on LinkedIn. Am super proud of your recent #transformation, am sure there is many more to come.
• Anuj - If there is someone I love listening to apart from Philip about work is him. He inspires me to be humble and grounded always.
• Sohini - Rockstar to the true essence. Everyone is jealous of the talents you possess and how you try to master everything that you get into.
• Abilasha - A pure soul who is ready to help everyone and is busy working her way to the top.
• Havovi - The symbol of SD-AE partnership, a great mentor and supporter. Hopefully I can be 10% of what you are someday in my career. I still remember how you flipped a strong NO to a YES and got the deal in a single call.

The list is never ending and the article too if I continue to write about LinkedIn or the people around me. I will reserve that for some other day or some other occasion.

Till then keep selling and as David Sandler said in Sandler Rules: 49 Timeless Selling Principles and How to Apply Them -

“Selling is a Broadway Play Performed by a Psychiatrist”