My ''Emily in Paris'' moment

Last week was one for the books—filled with moments that remind me why stepping out of the comfort zone is so rewarding.

First off, I completed my Executive Program in Strategic Human Resource Management from Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (who knew those few months of intense learning are well worth of such a prestigious milestone). Adding to the excitement, receiving the Women Restarters award in HerRising 2024 by HerKey feels like a crowning achievement, especially given the incredible women who were nominated alongside me. I’m taking a moment to savor this achievement—just a tad!

Then there’s my family time, which is always a treasure. Such as the occasional cycling with my son or the post-dinner stroll with my husband—our mini-escapes that are more about enjoying each other’s company than speed. It’s a reminder that while the world keeps spinning, these small pockets of joy matter the most. And speaking of joy, my daughter and I performed a semi-classical dance last week with a group of amazing women, bidding farewell to Ganesha with our Aarti dance—a divine tradition led for many years by the wonderful and versatile Ananditha Khamkar. While I’m no great dancer (let’s not kid ourselves), there is something truly magical about being part of such tradition and the sense of communal spirit it brings along. For me, these experiences are about creating cherished moments with my family and celebrating the joy of participation over perfection.

I share this not to boast—okay, maybe just a little—but mostly to encourage others like me who are constantly balancing, juggling, stretching—to step out of their comfort zones. We don’t have to be perfect. We just have to keep trying, pushing ourselves to upskill and grow in ways we never thought possible.

I’ve often beaten myself up for not being able to balance work and life well enough, and my family might echo this sentiment, but hey, at least they don’t need to worry about me turning into a couch potato! The truth is, for some of us, work will always demand more and I’ve finally made peace with that. Watching the last episode of Emily in Paris Season 4, both Sylvie and Emily, with their relentless drive, reminded me of…well, me.

On the work front, it’s been equally exhilarating. We found a fantastic leader for Papa Johns Global Capability Center (GCC) and we’re off to a strong start with our first five selections for the GCC of Overhead Door. Onboarding these roles within a month of starting was no small feat. Being part of inception teams for the past six years has given me a front-row seat to the growth some of the great CIOs/CTOs and Site leaders have fostered. Finding the right leaders is crucial, particularly for a company in its early stages, as they drive its success. With GCCs playing a significant role in shaping India’s future growth, ensuring we find the right leaders has never been more important. So, there’s a certain thrill, a personal satisfaction, when we get it right as TA professionals. TA folks, are you with me?

Here’s to more moments of growth—personal, professional, and everything in between. And to all the women out there—keep going. You’re doing great, even if it doesn’t always feel that way at that time.

By the way, watch Emily in Paris on Netflix for two reasons: first, it’s a visual delight, offering a virtual tour of Paris and parts of Europe (one of the reviews says that it is stacked with more stunning aerial shots of Paris than the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony and I agree); second, you'll enjoy the subtle (and not-so-subtle) humor about cultural differences in workplaces between the U.S. and Europe. Of course, it will up your fashion quotient too. Santé :)