Self-Reflection: 2023

As per ritual it’s time for reflecting on last year and self-reflection on my fourth year in leading Grameen Danone.

?To my utter surprise I have noticed that I am suffering from extreme procrastination in writing down anything. The probable root cause is that 2023 has been extremely challenging for me. One of the most happening year of my entire life.

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The year started with a high note backed up by strong growth in 2022. However, 2023 did not go as planned with internal inefficiencies and macroeconomic volatility. We were able to barely survive the year while setting the basics for 2024 at the last couple of months.

? The phenomenon that differentiated the year completely is the extent of “networking with purpose”. I have connected in so many dynamics at so many different levels. These connections and interactions have fueled?my evolution and strengthened the clarity of purpose.

The senior leaders of industry and community embraced me with open arms, peers supported on tough transitions, teammates and the young talents from Excellence Bangladesh, NUSDF and university clubs reverse mentored with beautiful enthusiasm.

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Few key takeaways while stepping in 2024:

?Compliance: by advocating and applying high ethical standards everyday. In our country context and the way we are groomed this does not naturally come to us. We need to give special care and importance to compliance to build a value driven culture in the organization.

?Focus: by prioritizing and making things happen with urgency. In the time of enormous disruption and information clutter it’s critical to stay focused and cater priorities.

?Simplicity: by self awareness and self regulation. It’s mandatory to know self, accept who we are, admit mistakes and continually strive to learn and develop further.

?Digitalization: by championing digital tools. We need to stay focused on the purpose of using the tools rather than getting caught into the idea of using the tools itself.

?Diversity and Inclusion: by enabling high performance teams with equitable environment that endorses difference in perspective, competencies, styles and ideas.

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Altogether a journey towards sustainability is resilient and takes different shapes in different contexts. It’s pivotal to continue learning as what worked for me yesterday will not work for me today. I am committed to strive further together in 2024 and beyond, with the insights from support systems around me and extend support to the ecosystem in every possible avenues.

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Dipesh Nag

January 11, 2024