Today we’d like to introduce you to Pinky Hajra.
Pinky, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
“The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs
Ever since I can remember, innovations and aspirations have been a crucial aspect to succeed in life. True success essentially encompasses perseverance and hard work towards meaningful goals and dreams. Having been raised as a woman in India, I learned firsthand how difficult it is for a woman to achieve her dreams in a “man’s world”. Countless woman all across the country are constantly sacrificing their goals in an effort to conform to societal values and culture. However, I was extremely fortunate to have been raised in a household where the gap between females and males was simply nonexistent, as if there was no difference at all.
As a child, I had always aspired to become an engineer and entrepreneur., and as such I thoroughly enjoyed my journey throughout the realm of computer science engineering. Following my appointment as an engineer, I began working for an automobile company and it was at that moment that my professional career and life truly commenced. During the early phases of my career, I traveled to the USA for work and spent roughly 3-4 years in California working towards higher goals.
However, my career witnessed a major shift when I moved to the United States with my family in 2007, and yet I never looked back. While working for a chemical company in Pittsburgh, PA, I prepared for GMAT and was able to complete my MBA in Finance & Strategy from Joseph M. Katz School of Business. Getting my master’s degree from the United States, a country I had held in such high regard throughout my youth, had been one of my most prized achievements and I was able to obtain it with the unimaginable support of my amazing spouse and 2-year-old twins.
Along with my professional career, traveling around the world and capturing those memorable moments with the camera have always been my passion.
My perseverance and my dedication towards never giving up easily or without a fight have ultimately become my key mantra for success in life. Success in life does not come simply nor will it come toward you and knock on your door. It is something that is found only through failure and obstacles that we remove with growth and progression before we reach the end goal and breath a sigh of relief as we finally knock on its door and it greets us with open arms.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life I has never quite been a walk in the park nor a smooth ride. No matter what path life takes you on, there will always be hurdles and struggles along the way but it is not merely surpassing an obstacle that is important but how am individual manages to cope with its existence.
Being an executive woman in corporate world has undoubtedly been challenging for me and other women in a predominantly male field. At every step of the journey, I was made to prove myself despite my achievements and previous successful endeavors. Women continue to remain underrepresented at every level, starting from entry-level jobs to C-suite roles.
I have managed to remain ahead in this corporate business world simply by following my instinct and giving in to curiosity. I do not follow a traditional career path, because if life has taught me anything, it has taught me that sometimes it’s worthwhile to follow not only your passions but also your curiosities. I was once a woman who arrived solely for perfection in my initial career, constantly hesitant to fail and afraid to take risks. But to truly grow and progress, we must climb the mountain no matter how dangerous is may be. I am now a woman who always does her best to achieve more and one who will settle for nothing less than what I desire. I have removed barriers from my career path by solely shifting my perspective and creating meaningful changes in my outlook on life.
Throughout my career, I have made an active effort in building and maintaining my networks while simultaneously attempting to use such connections to uncover new career opportunities and areas of improvement.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
A digital technology and business leader with 23+ years of experience, overseeing overall customer management functions for a global portfolio of Fortune 500 clients in Oil & Gas, Energy, Services & Medical Industries with proven track record of taking organizations to the next level while creating strong team morale and collaboration. Quick to assess organizational requirements and implement action plans to optimize resources. Has created, developed, and enhanced IT organizations and has a proven track record of accomplishments in leading diverse organizations operating in both technical and non-technical environments by demonstrating the ability to
• Assess organizational needs to optimize corporate goals. Articulate the broad strategic, commercial and planning approach within Global Digital Technology to deliver global digital strategy and vision.
• Evolve the transformation agenda into an actionable multi-year roadmap with clear success milestones.
• Full P&L responsibility including revenue and profit growth, contract and relationship management, performance delivery, management, and development of professional staff, matrix leadership
• Business development and channel partners
• Lead high-tech product development, program execution and service delivery team among multiple accounts
• Identify and foresee business needs and implement real-world solutions
• Develop strategic business relationships that increase revenue and product abilities
• Develop talent pool and people management
• Industry expert with experience building and crafting the digital transformational agenda of the clients and CXO
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Life is many things and unpredictable, will never fail to be one of them. Hence, it is essential that one prepares themselves for any circumstance or situation that may arise, be it one in your professional or personal life. Though it may be easy to falter and stress over things one often cannot control, try to remain calm and seek out the solution to the problem rather than panicking and forgetting about a solution in entirely.
In life and business where everything is fast-paced, it is good to stop at times, to look around you and simply admire the journey you have traveled. Take things slow sometimes, relish in the moments spent with your loved ones and the days when the sun shines so bright it never seems to set. Life is many things and short is one of them too, so cherish the precious moments since they will not come back no matter what height of success you achieve.
Be humble and focus on your own goals rather than continuously comparing yourself to others. Build a sustainable, strong network in your personal and professional life alike so that when the time comes that you falter or misstep, as humans do, you have a network to not only catch you when you fall but wait patiently as you rise again and lift yourself back up.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hajra.pinky/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinky.hajra
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pinky-hajra/
Image Credits
Pinky Hajra
