I started my first proper job at a food tech company, initially joining as an intern for three months. After that, I received a double promotion to Senior Quality Executive. My manager played a pivotal role in guiding me, as I was completely unfamiliar with the workings of the corporate world how to communicate with colleagues, escalate technical issues, present my ideas to team leaders and reporting officers, and navigate career growth. They imparted both technical expertise and valuable corporate insights.
With his excellent people management skills, my manager never discouraged me despite my mistakes. In fact, his approach encouraged me to excel in my workspace and pushed me to strive for perfection in how I think, act, and prioritize tasks.
Once I became a senior, I carried out my responsibilities effectively. Along the way, I made mistakes, but my manager helped me learn from them without reprimanding me harshly. They were understanding, even allowing me to take leaves when I wasn't capable of giving my 100% at work.
This experience transformed me not just because of the work I did, but because of the structured communication and effective knowledge sharing within the team. It reminded me of leaders like Harsh Mariwala, who, as a young employee at Bombay Oil Industries, initially struggled to understand customer needs. However, thanks to constructive mentorship by senior executives, he refined his marketing strategies and eventually launched Parachute, now a brand that is recognized in the most parts of Asia.
Inspired by such mentorship, I made it a point to support my juniors whenever they needed guidance. I aim to continue doing so throughout my career.