The Road less traveled

This picture goes back to Dec 2012, taken at Kenya, where I was for a customer’s GIS implementation across the continent. At places that back then did not yet have a postal address, there were people struggling with something as basic as food. The same people were soon anticipated by the customer to be in possession of a cell phone. 

Being in this industry has expanded my life in a way very few professions can, reminding me of my privileges day after day. However, where did it all begin? 

This journey, which started back in 2001, at the time of my admission to be a Computer Science engineer, could not have begun without my mother’s vision. 

First, she instilled in me the need to be a self-sufficient member of society. Then, she analysed that our family has zero engineers and decided that I will be the first one. Finally, she talked to several people in our social circle to understand what each discipline entails in order to conclude the most pragmatic choice for a career.

Mom, as I fondly address her, has given me both roots and wings, and along with my elder brother Piyush, relentlessly encouraged my every pursuit. This, by far, is my biggest blessing in life. Throughout this path, my family and lately, my childhood friend Shubhra have walked alongside; cheering, listening and being the wind beneath wings. The gratitude that I feel towards them is immeasurable.

The customers, seniors, colleagues and team members at the organizations I associated myself with have motivated me to go further in daily work. They form a significant part of this experience, and I thank them for it. Amongst some of us, friendship too has been discovered over the years, and that is serendipity.

I have also been very fortunate to find kind people in the workplace, specifically Samrat Roy at IBM, who has helped me hold onto the belief that our responsibility to one another as human beings wins at least few times in this urban jungle.

With thoughts of humility and optimism, today completes 15 years of my stepping into the IT industry, and hopefully the same road continues to the next 15.

Bhawna