When I said I Do!

Today marks 9 years of me working for S&P Global. 9 YEARS. When I graduated, the plan was simple…Work in a good company for ~2 years, head out for my masters in marketing and eventually start my journey into the creative marketing world. Albeit I had a degree in Computer Sciences and I loved that, I wanted to couple that up with creativity and fun, hence the focus towards marketing.

Fast forward 9 years, I get this question a lot especially from people who know me well. Was it a trade-off between passion and security? NEVER. I could never make that deal with my life.

As I sit here with a blank word document in front of me and a cup of tea and almost 4 months of working from home, I began reflecting about my experience working here at S&P Global. After a lot of pondering, it finally hit me that my work anniversary is actually a bigger deal to me than I thought. It's a big deal to me for many reasons that I’d like to share with you today.

My job is still challenging me EVERY SINGLE DAY. I joined as a humble associate in the SNL Data Feeds team and looking back 9 years, in addition to doing my job and moving up, I was able to do so many things I was passionate about. I ended up training people on leadership, built marketing plans, handle branding, managed external client events, taught people how to manage their managers, did LEAN and automation projects, global leadership, represented my team on so many global fronts, managed extra-curricular activities and most importantly, led sessions on emotional and mental health and played my part in breaking that taboo and so much more. Still building global leaders for the future and ensuring that I still am on top of all the technology shifts. I don’t know many people who have done EVERYTHING they wanted to do in one job. I guess I just got lucky or S&P was where I had to be!

Finding happiness at work is something incredibly important to me. I did not want to wake up and be grumpy because it’s another Monday. As hard as it is to believe, I actually get excited. I forgot what to do apart from this because this is so much fun. At S&P, I am heard. I am respected. I am trusted. I am self-accountable for my work. I am not micro-managed. I am mentored. I am coached. I ask questions. I provide feedback. I receive feedback. I am encouraged to expand my knowledge so that I can be the best I can be, not only professionally, but personally too. I am constantly learning and striving to achieve excellence every day.

A very important aspect to all of this is the leadership I had throughout. Started off with my first manager, Elizabeth Juge . As someone who was stepping into the corporate world for the first time with the first job of the career, I was anxious and nervous. The binge watching of both Horrible Bosses movies did not help at all. I was anxious to prove myself to you and nervous because of the fear that you would not find me good enough. But I am what I am today because of you. You taught me that a manager can be compassionate, caring, and empathetic and still get the results. I'm beyond grateful to know you personally and professionally. You taught me so much about not only my job, but life in general.

Moving over to My current manager, Alexis Aleta (someone who cannot handle compliments well). Alexis, you have inspired me since the day we met and to be honest, I am still in awe. The plethora of knowledge, the quick thinking and being on top of almost everything. This on top of your exceptional people skills. You have always inspired me to think beyond the normal conventions. You have always motivated me to value and express my opinions. You have always encouraged me to learn and grow.

Lastly, but certainly not the least Jahanzeb Ali Khan (Mr JZ). Thank you for pushing me to do better. You have always given me that space and encouraged me even when I came up with the most stupid ideas. I know I’ll get an earful but you don’t limit my risk-taking ability. In fact you encourage it. The failures, the scars made me the person I am today and I have you to thank.

My team. I can’t do quarter of what I do if I did not have this amazing, diverse set of individuals. In all of you I have found a family. You have transformed me into the person I want to be. I am becoming stronger, smarter, and happier every single day. All with you by my side. Thank you for doing that for me. Thank you for being my team. Thank you all for your commitment to our tribe and working to let our love be known.

Although my post today may make it seem that my work is all sunshine and rainbows, it’s not. I have also at times felt like burning the candle at both ends but the environment, the people, they all just make it worth it.

Lastly, the only issue I have is it gets very difficult when you’re sitting with friends over the weekend for coffee and you really can’t find anything to bitch about regarding your work where everybody else has plenty to share. But I am glad to have this problem. I’ll kill to have this problem any single day.

Thank you S&P. Here’s to many more!