I believe that extraordinary leaders emerge as an outcome of unplanned and intense experiences under

most trying circumstances. My ability to conquer adversity and indulge into the process of deep self-
reflection, is a quality that sets me apart. I look forward to questioning the assumptions, hone my
judgement and take calculated risks by incorporating new ideas coupled with a learning mindset.

During my tenure at Larsen and Toubro Ltd, I was assigned a new project site in Basavakalyan,
Karnataka. It was a Rs. 1200 crore road project where I was accountable for a team of 200 people and
responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of all the machinery employed in a 70 km stretch. My team
consisted of a mix of technical staff, operators, mechanics, and helpers with varying skills who were not
always comfortable taking directions from someone younger. Sensing this disconnect, I would not mind
getting my hands dirty and asking questions to make my team feel empowered when they helped me
look for answers. This helped us to complete our stretch (70 km) of the Sholapur-SanghaReddy Road
project in 18 months, which was way faster than earlier projects. Today, when I look back I wonder if
that was an accidental streak of servant leadership.

I have always had an inclination for coaching and mentoring. So, after two successful years at LNT, when
an opportunity came, I chose to join IIT Ashram, Baroda, an educational institution dedicated to helping
students prepare for various competitive and entrance exams. If LNT helped me focus on the micro
aspects of a project, Ashram helped me look at the macro aspects. A well-established organization with
the agility of a startup, here, I was exposed to Project Management, Marketing, Sales, Operations, and
Customer Experience. The time I spent interacting with parents and kids, gave me insights into
consumer behavior like no other. I started looking at the various products from a customer standpoint,
which helped me fine-tune operations and improve the delivery in classes. I learned to employ the
proverbial 'carrot and stick' primarily because I was dealing with three very different demographic
segments - children, parents, and teachers. Additionally, at Ashram, in the times of uncertainty, COVID
taught me Disaster Management. When a lot of other players in the market withered away, Ashram
passed the acid test. I consider myself to be lucky for having had the chance to forge myself here.