Taking challenges head on

My manager called me and asked which business I’d like to move to; he also mentioned the two businesses which had expressed the desire to have me.

This happened in August 1995. I was in Siemens Ltd, Mumbai at the Head Office in a Corporate FC&A function, post my MBA.

He was surprised by my response when I rejected those two options and instead opted for joining the telecommunication business though I had no knowledge or prior experience. When asked why, I said that I found the challenge of a new industry exciting and was ready to take it on.

I moved to New Delhi and joined the Telecom Division (Public Networks) of Siemens in Nov 1995 and was a part of the core team that started the private operator telecom business for Siemens in India.

In the 34 years in the industry and having taken on many such challenges, in my advice to the professionals I mentor/counsel, I tell them:

• Whilst you should know what you know, it is critical to know what you don’t; and then do what it takes to get the job done.

  
  

• If your fundamentals are sound and you have the ability and reputation of applying your mind, you can do anything; it is important that you enjoy doing it.

(This was a post in LinkedIn on 10th June 2025)