A mid-career woman on a Covid-induced break. It was a perfect combination for career hara-kiri? It seemed so till I joined Avtar. India’s premier DEI solutions firm converted a recipe of disaster into a brand new chapter in my career. For someone who dabbled in reporting and writing for over 14 years, it seemed like I had reached a dead-end during the break. But when I embarked on the Avtar journey 8 months ago, mentored by Dr. Saundarya Rajesh, founder-president of Avtar group, I realized that restarting in a new direction can be an accelerator.
I entered a new world, where hectic deadlines and chasing bylines were replaced by lessons on diversity, equity, and inclusion, which I knew as only concepts then.
The rigor has imparted content and time management skills, where the how of doing a task is as important as the outcome. Planning and execution have been my assets, but unless channelized, it could have achieved very little. Here is where experienced co-workers have shaped my approach with insights and mentoring to steer me towards outcomes.
Hard work, focus, and attaining goals become a habit when we know they are acknowledged. Enter the Friday puja meetings where we say a prayer to continue our successful journey. It is also a time for camaraderie, as co-workers endorse our work on the pillars of excellence, teamwork, innovation, and customer focus (ETIC Fridays). Having been in an industry where pushing your way ahead in a rat race has been the norm, such moments, where appreciating and acknowledging a team worker for pulling no stops to accomplish a task, is heartening. And, if that is not motivating enough, we listen to colleagues when they describe their journey in Avtar– how it has transformed them personally and professionally. The candor and openness about the struggles, and the untamed spirit to succeed, finding the best opportunity in the organization have been overwhelming and inspiring. The sessions Dialogue with Avtar Ambassadors, a team of veterans that has made a mark in DEI across industries, not just enrich us with ideas but also offer a lot to reflect on, drawing lessons on DEI and life.
It is not only work and work-related stuff here. We make the time to do things that we all love to—sing, talk and listen to stories.
-Did anyone say we work from home? We work here with zest because it is like home!
-In a nutshell, what it is to work for Avtar:
-Learning hands-on
-Growing in your career amid a healthy environment
-Being inspired by mentors
-Achieving goals through coordinated teamwork
-Challenging yourself in a dynamic workplace to bring out the best in you
-Striking work-life balance with flexible working
-Talking, discussing, and simply laughing out aloud
