What shaped me was a series of quiet disruptions

In Class 9, when girls were expected to choose needlework and boys chose commerce, I picked commerce. It sounds trivial now, but it taught me my first lesson in leadership: when the script doesn’t fit your purpose, write a new one.

Early in my career, I built a CBSE-affiliated school from the ground up in a small hill town raising capital, hiring, getting approvals, convincing parents to trust a new idea. Later, I moved into large corporations, where I learned to shift from an owner-mindset to influence without authority, aligning diverse teams, respecting process, and making inclusion a daily practice. When language became a barrier, I learned a new one to belong to. When speed met structure, I leaned on purpose and persuasion.

Sport taught me grit; work taught me grace. A favourite line I carry from school days is: “Winners don’t quit, and quitters don’t win.” I’ve failed, recalibrated, and moved again, always asking, “What did this teach me?” I’ve also learned to keep joy non-negotiable. I tell every candidate: skills can be taught, not attitude, so, it matters.

At Recykal, technology is at the core where AI drives business guided by human intelligence. While data brings traceability and trust; it is the people who bring empathy and add momentum. The circular economy isn’t just about closing material loops, it is about the human commitment to make a real impact. That’s not a tech output; it is what you earn when you invest in innovation and people, every single day.

To women navigating their own ladders: don’t chase perfect, chase progress. Build an inner circle that tells you the truth and roots for you anyway. Be a team player because together you can solve the most complicated problems with ease. Success is not measured just by titles, but by the teams you’ve grown, the courage you’ve modelled, and the doors you’ve opened for others.

I live a few years ahead in my mind visualising what a better Wednesday looks like and then I work backwards. That future focus keeps me grounded in the present. Purpose sets direction, people create momentum, and perseverance delivers compounding returns. The rest is just noise.