Reshma Vittal

I mean, I attribute my success to other people, you know, feedback, like, telling me that, you know, how I have helped them and organizations succeed because of things that I have contributed to, and that's where the success is, right? I see success in other people also coming along and then succeeding, right? It's not about my personal goal. It's about being sensitive, and I think that's how I raised my kids, so that's true. For me, success isn't measured by personal achievements alone, but by the impact I've had on helping others and organizations reach their goals. When people give me feedback about how I've helped them, that's what truly matters to me. I believe in lifting others up and seeing them succeed alongside me, and I've tried to instill that same value of sensitivity and empathy in my children.

For me, it was always working with very blunt and very direct, strict leaders who would say, like, even if you're giving your best, try even more harder, right? And give it your very best. I learned that respect and things you don't actually earn just with a title in any place that you go, right? So that is one thing that I have always observed and probably learned throughout my career. There was something that one gentleman who was a very senior person told me at the very first startup that I joined. He said, do not think about materialistic things, do not worry about what's going on around you. Always keep that, you know, I know you came here for an American dream, but it doesn't mean that you can just go out of your ways without remembering where you are coming from, right? Remember your background, save for the needy days, and then just do, you know, give it your very best. Work hard when you're very young, and you can make a tremendous amount of contribution, and then you'll reap all those benefits as you grow older. And I think that was very true. That advice has stayed with me throughout my entire career and has shaped how I approach both work and life.

I mean, you know, give it your best, like, is what I would say. It's not about what anyone thinks of you, it's not about what they think of you, it's about what you think about yourself, right? So, like, have that confidence and that grit, and that can, you know, take any young lady kind of anywhere, right, to wherever you want to accomplish. So many times, you know, you're hit by so many different things, right? There are challenges, there's probably a lot of things that hit, like, especially when you are a lady trying to come up in a men-dominated society and things like that. But as long as you have that grit and, you know, that very clear goal that, no, I have to achieve this, and, you know, if that is your focus, then yeah, you know, no one can stop you from what you will achieve and how you will get there. Don't let others' opinions define you - define yourself. Keep your eyes on your goals, maintain that inner strength, and you'll overcome any obstacle that comes your way.

Oh, there are a lot of challenges, especially, you know, with this AI kind of taking over, right? And then, you know, the demand to go really fast, right? And also, like, you know, is everyone kind of adapting to that, right, to move to that faster pace? There is also everything, you know, in general, right, with everything that's going on. Like, it's not really a very, very good situation right now, right? Like, you see and hear about layoffs everywhere, you know, there's those challenges, and you also need to keep up with the technology and everything else, right? So, yeah, I mean, the critical thing has always been just competition and, you know, just keeping up and making sure that, you know, you're still earning those customer trusts and, you know, making things, you know, the execution flowing, right, with everything that's going on, because you lose people because of, you know, so many different reasons, right? There are also - I think after COVID, we have had, you know, multiple things with, like, you know, people health issues, mental issues, all of that, right? Like, so, how life used to be before has changed, you know? The landscape is completely different now, and we're all navigating these new realities while trying to maintain excellence and keep our teams together.

So for me, you know, self-respect, like, you know, leading with that dignity, right, building that relationship with people - I think those really, really kind of matter the most to me, right? Because with relationships, you can get anything done. Without that, and, you know, having that confidence in yourself, right, to communicate very clearly, right, and, you know, have earned that credibility, right? By actions, not just talking, right? So that's been my biggest motto anywhere, right? Like, do less of talking, but then more in action. That just speaks more about you, right? And why people come to you for everything, because they know that you're a competent person. I believe that your actions define who you are far more than your words ever could. When you lead with dignity, build genuine relationships, and back up everything you say with what you do, people recognize that authenticity and trust you. That's the foundation of everything I do, both professionally and personally.