When I first started working for a Fortune 500 company straight out of college, the 18-year-old me still believed wholeheartedly in the saying "your work speaks for itself" only to realize that it's all a myth.

I used to shy away from bureaucratic matters, focused solely on my work, and expected respect and credibility to follow. I was always there to help people, often going the extra mile to ensure their success. I thought people appreciated me as I was often the first to lend a helping hand on so many projects.

The scales fell from my eyes when I started asking for opportunities with broader scope and leadership roles. People came up with lame excuses to label me as something I never expected to hear. I didn't realize I was in a toxic environment until the people around me started to label me as 'aggressive' for standing firm in my opinions, or 'easily influenced' if I was open to suggestions.

Quickly, whether I agreed with them or not, those comments and labels became my persona across the organization. There’s so much more to contend with beyond corporate bureaucracy when trying to progress in my career. This took a big toll on my confidence and made me question my abilities.

And why wouldn't it? I was raised to think that way. Growing up in a small town in South India, I was brought up in a humble environment. Culturally, my sisters and I were always taught to prioritize humility over self-pride, no matter how impeccable our academic achievements were. We were never encouraged to talk about our accomplishments and were taught that "if you do good, recognition follows". And guess what, it did. I was famous in my school, got scholarships for higher studies, and was highly regarded for my academic performance.

However, things were different once I started working. I realized when I was in school/college, I had the support of teachers and coaches who guided and rooted for me. But at work, I was on my own!

In the introspection,

• If I had taken time to present my contributions/work in a way that I'd like myself to be seen and had a conscious awareness to measure how my motives/desires align with my actions, I wouldn't have had this false persona created in the first place.
• If I had a clear understanding of who I am and what I am capable of, I wouldn't have let those comments/labels tank my confidence.

It took years for me to comprehend the importance of building self-awareness and using that conscious knowledge to know my worth as a person, a woman, and an engineer. I read a lot of books and case studies of the people I admire to formulate a methodical approach to building my own brand and show the world that I'm more than a 9-5 engineer.

Build self-awareness: I took time to reflect on my daily experiences, projects, and interactions. My mantra was "Put everything in writing”. I wrote what went well, what didn't, and what I could learn from each situation. Eventually, this practice became second nature to me and helped me to identify the patterns in my behavior and thought process.

Seek help - mentorship: I realized I needed support or sometimes just a sounding board—a non-judgmental EQ coach who had the expertise to guide me toward my goals. I leveraged online platforms like Coach.me to find someone who resonated with my goals and ideology.

Know your worth: I used a technique I learned from my EQ coach to craft a concise statement summarizing my unique skills, strengths, and values. This served as a reminder of my worth and boosted my confidence. I call this the "Self-Mission Statement" and use it to set healthy boundaries and avoid over-committing to work that doesn't align with my values or goals.

Lastly, the most important piece of the puzzle,

Become a self-advocate & Build a reliable network of people: A renowned personal brand influencer that I follow always says, "There's no magical career fairy that notices your talent and plucks you out of the crowd," – I’ve experienced this firsthand! Although it's not really in my nature to promote my work, I made it a practice and consciously built the muscle for it. I started being more vocal, talking about my achievements and my past mistakes with confidence in public and sharing the knowledge I acquired in this process.

I started meeting new people in my field by participating in community learning, collaborating with other engineers, and joining advisory boards to both learn and share my knowledge. I made these connections last longer and more meaningful by focusing on "giving more".

This process helped me transform from a person filled with self-doubt into a person who is empowered, confident, and trusted by many. It enabled me to secure high-impact roles and evolve into a leader. It was reassuring to realize that, regardless of what others may think or say, recognizing my strengths and areas for improvement allowed me to navigate my career path with clarity and purpose, ultimately positioning myself as a thought leader. It prepared me to face life's challenges with strength and assurance!

Last year, I was at the peak of my career and having the best time at Twilio. My entire team and I were laid off just after I returned to work from my maternity leave. The struggle to find another job being on an H1B visa managing a little baby was beyond words! If it weren't for my "Self-Mission Statement" and the supportive network I had built, I wouldn't have secured a decent job within the 60-day grace period.

And, that's my story of how I built resilience and continue to thrive in this corporate tech world. I’m sharing it today in the hope that it might help others who are struggling to find purpose and navigate their careers.

Do you have more suggestions or effective ways to be seen as a Thought Leader? I'm all ears. Let's uplift each other and create impactful change together! 💪