Rising above the storm…

Can something feel impermanent and eternal at the same time? 

I sit in the hospital feeling a million things that can’t be expressed but feel equally burdened by a lack of them to justify my predicament. I experience an inexplainable numbness brought upon by devastating news about someone I cherish, someone I look up to, and someone who will always be a part of me regardless of what life throws at us. 

This blog is my whole-hearted and hopeful attempt at navigating through this storm and in doing so, I can’t help but feel grateful for the unconditional support, trust, and belief that Maersk has showered on me during these challenging times. It is only now that I’m understanding the impact that unconditional support can have on someone navigating one of life’s many talked about ‘life-altering’ crisis. For this I’m truly thankful. 

Looking back on what it might be that allows Maersk to be there for its people, I am transported back to March 15th 2018, when it all began. 

A small incubation space with 6 other people beside me does not sound like the big dream, does it? But for me, this was my opportunity to create a Goliath, an opportunity to truly create something meaningful with an organization that inspired me and so, my journey at Maersk began.  

On the very first day, I picked up the phone to make my first successful recruitment and was hit by an unexpected realization that passion alone cannot make up for everything. Trying to build a presence for a logistics company in a city which hadn’t seen anything remotely close to our containers or ports was a far more challenging task then what I’d initially hoped. 

Had I bitten off more than I could chew? No. 

Maersk has challenged me in ways without which I would not be who I am today.  

From being surrounded by vintage systems aspiring to be cutting-edge technology to knowing what we wanted to achieve but lacking the clarity on how to achieve them, truly, those were the days of both promise and uncertainty. 

Days solely controlled by an overpowering sense of passion to make an impact, bring people together, and create a meaningful difference, something that Maersk had been doing for years but now, it was our time to take it up a notch. 

What helped me through it all was the unconditional support I received from unexpected corners across the world. There was this burning need to be vocal, vulnerable, and truthful and this support empowered me to slowly be that change. No, we didn’t have the fanciest technology, nor did we have a large team of experts, but what Maersk did have were brilliant people who had your back no matter what.  

When I reflect on this 5 years later, it all seems to fall into place. Maersk showed me that there is no replacement to unconditional trust and support, and the impact that they can have on the overall well-being of a person.  

‘Trust’ and ‘support’ - deceptively simple words whose meaning I truly only learnt after becoming a father. Words which began to make sense during the toughest times and words which have slowly become an inseparable part of everything I do. 

With a pinch of guilt and privilege, I confess that the pandemic was a blessing in disguise for me. Days seemed to stretch beyond 24 hours almost as a way for the universe to allow me to find that balance between roles of that of a devoted father in the sanctity of my home, and that of an accomplished professional in the demanding realm of work. 

Being a father taught me a lot of things, it taught me about work-life balance, about patience, about flexibility, about empathy, care, and everything else which I had only experienced from the outside, but now, were somehow manifesting from within me with an intensity like never before. 

It also taught me that I needed more than a week to father a new-born and I would need more time to spend with my changing family. It taught me about things that truly matter in life and about the importance of choice, the choices that shape the human you are today. 

It was at this time that my purpose began to evolve, and it was no longer about the numbers or the visual results, but it became something much more meaningful than that. 

It is now more about the journey, it is about supporting, trusting, and empowering everyone around me to explore and find their true potential. Perhaps it sounds a little idealistic, but since when did striving to be better become such a sour thought? 

I have been blessed to meet the people I have, be given the opportunities that I have, and be supported and empowered to do more, take more risks, and solve bigger problems. If anything, these experiences have shaped the person I am today and transformed me into a more vocal and perceptive individual. 

When I think about what my life has been like for the last five years, I am filled with a sense of pride in the strides I have made towards standing up for my beliefs and supporting those around me. From openly discussing topics that constantly oscillate between taboo and controversial such as menstruation and LGBTQIA+ advocacy, to sharing my views on platforms that were once frowned upon, I have endeavored to empower others to find their own voice and fight for what they believe in. 

Despite the difficulty in encapsulating the richness of my experiences and the profound impact they have had on me within the confines of this blog, I still write to shine light on some of the most pivotal moments that have shaped me into the Gautam I am today. For it is through these moments, where I have stood up for my convictions and encouraged others to do the same, that I have discovered the true power of speaking out and advocating for positive change even though I might not have the best oratory skills. 

These moments of catharsis have shaped my clarity and further evolved my purpose and here’s what I’ve figured out – Talent Acquisition is my calling; it is a part of me and will continue to play a major role in all of the career decisions I take.  

Having received so much love and support from those around me, I wish to give back in a way that’s closest to my heart. This translates to supporting young and aspiring minds to gain clarity about their careers, offering them mentorship, guidance, and anything else they might need to thrive in the work world. 

These last 5 years have been filled with the most genuine form of love, support, and kindness exuding from everyone I’ve met and has only made me look forward to what lies ahead. Never had I imagined that fatherhood, would play such a significant role in shaping the lens through which I view the world today. Through this new lens, I am compelled to acknowledge that the world has taken on a vibrant and promising hue like never before.  

I have also realized that it’s easy to get lost in the pursuit of success. I used to be someone who was driven by the desire to achieve more, and while I was able to reach my goals, it wasn't until I discovered the transformational power of empowering my team that I found true fulfilment. 

The feeling of pride and purpose that comes from watching my team put forth their best work is indescribable. It's a sense of accomplishment that will be forever etched in my heart and mind. Through this journey of empowering others, I've come to understand the true meaning of leaving a meaningful impact. It's not just about achieving goals for oneself, but about inspiring and supporting others to achieve theirs. And that, is something that will endure the test of time. 

Thus I conclude my blog, it somehow feels as though the storm is taking its last lap and will settle down to unleash the silver lining. In search of the silver hues amongst the grey hospital walls, here’s the unexpected rainbow that found me – “Yes, life can be confusing at times, it can be simple yet complex, lively yet feel stagnant, and impermanent yet feel eternal. Having said that, this is what makes it beautiful and can’t wait for what lies ahead!” 

And to all who reached out congratulating me on my 5th Year milestone, here's me expressing my gratitude and cherishing the good times we spent going #alltheway