Have you ever grappled with the decision to stick to your values or chase a glittering new opportunity? Neeraja Ganesh's story of tenacity during the topsy-turvy days of the pandemic will affirm your faith in integrity. As we unravel her journey of passing up a prestigious offer to honor a commitment, we are reminded that authenticity isn't just a buzzword—it's a steadfast companion through life's trials. This episode isn't a mere recount of Neeraja's experiences; it's an invitation to measure the weight of our own principles and the sometimes invisible, yet invaluable, currency of genuine connections.
Witness how simple acts, like forwarding an email to a junior colleague, can cement alliances stronger than corporate hierarchies. Neeraja Ganesh leads us through the maze of maintaining authenticity in the face of restructuring and the resilience required to thrive. It's a testament to patience and the enduring nature of good deeds that often-come full circle, even if not immediately apparent. Tune in and let these stories inspire you to cultivate your own garden of transparency and trust, where your professional relationships bloom with the authenticity of your character.
Have you ever grappled with the decision to stick to your values or chase a glittering new opportunity? Neeraja Ganesh's story of tenacity during the topsy-turvy days of the pandemic will affirm your faith in integrity. As we unravel her journey of passing up a prestigious offer to honor a commitment, we are reminded that authenticity isn't just a buzzword—it's a steadfast companion through life's trials. This episode isn't a mere recount of Neeraja's experiences; it's an invitation to measure the weight of our own principles and the sometimes invisible, yet invaluable, currency of genuine connections.
Witness how simple acts, like forwarding an email to a junior colleague, can cement alliances stronger than corporate hierarchies. Neeraja Ganesh leads us through the maze of maintaining authenticity in the face of restructuring and the resilience required to thrive. It's a testament to patience and the enduring nature of good deeds that often-come full circle, even if not immediately apparent. Tune in and let these stories inspire you to cultivate your own garden of transparency and trust, where your professional relationships bloom with the authenticity of your character.
Hi, and I'm back with the seventh episode of the podcast series Unpacking Authenticity. Technically speaking, this is the second part of the conversation with Neeraja Ganesh. The number of downloads has definitely been encouraging and it also tells me that you guys are enjoying her stories, as I have enjoyed. In fact, when you listen to Neeraisha, there is a lot of content, a lot of peace in the way she speaks and also a lot of pride that she has been able to keep herself authentic and genuine despite the situations.
Moumita Gokhale:
In this episode, some of her sequences, or some of the stories that she shares, also tells us that there would be consequences of being genuine or being authentic. I hope you love this episode as well as you love the other one. And yeah, I mean I am unpacking a lot of exploration around being authentic and with this episode, I'll be taking a break for at least the next two Thursdays. So people who have not tuned in, not heard the early episodes, this is the time to get in back and touch with all the episodes that have been aired on Unpacking Authenticity. So stay tuned in and listen to Neerja as she continues her storytelling on authenticity.
Neeraja Ganesh:
Now another one, which is more recent, is where I was working at this educational institution. So my role was to build the Industry Academia Connect and since I'm so well-networked, they had asked me to become part of the educational institution. They said bring all your corporate connects so that they can review the curriculum, they can suggest changes, they can bring their courses, they can offer us projects as internships, etc. So it was a fantastic role and you know, educational institutions really will not really pay too much, but I enjoyed the role because of the impact that I was able to create. But it was in year 2020. So not too many companies were really open to have the conversations also with us.
Neeraja Ganesh:
So it was going at a very, very slow pace and I was feeling very guilty because this college has trusted me to be doing something miraculous and they are paying me something every month which was big money for college. It may be small money for me, but it was big money for college. So every month I would be talking to the trustee of the college and saying that maybe you know you should just kind of end my contract and once things are better I'll come back, because I'm not really giving you value. I'm not giving you value. And all he said was COVID is not your doing. So you know, I can't do such things to you because COVID came, because that is impacting your performance. I can't just such things to you Because COVID came, because that is impacting your performance. I can't just end your contract or send you home, so I will continue to pay you. You keep trying what you can.
Neeraja Ganesh:
And I know once things are better, you will do things for us. And this was one of the few colleges who were still paying their you know, faculty and many, many actually cut down their staff and stopped salaries and stuff like that. Now, during that period, I was called by one of the very senior leaders saying that there is the role of a managing director in one of the most prestigious women-led organizations you know, women platforms. It's a very well-known name and she said the MD role is vacant and I'm going to refer you. You should come for the interview. And I said see, I have picked up this role at the college and I need to do something. I can't just, you know, come away. It's very exciting what you're giving me, but without delivering value I don't want. And she said it's okay, no, nirja, we will find some replacement for you Between you and I we'll find somebody else and we'll give that person to the college you come for.
Neeraja Ganesh:
This I refused. I said my value system does not permit, because here is a college For them. Whatever monthly salary or fee they are paying me means a lot. And still they're paying me that, despite the fact that I'm not able to deliver the value. So I will stay on till I can generate some value for them.
Neeraja Ganesh:
It's okay if this particular role goes away. And this lady told me neerja, in my eyes you've really gone a notch higher because you're so true to your value systems. Okay, and uh, that that meant that if I had again gone back to her later whenever, she would have still considered me for something. So it's the holistic thing and I think all of us are very short sighted. Things will come our way in the long term. I know it's sounding gyan and people say at 50, you can say such things, but I am also telling you what I did at 20, which is what has taken me. You know this farther. So I think give it a very holistic view and then take your decisions true to your values, because your values will absolutely stay with you. They will always get you the desired results yeah, I kind of.
Moumita Gokhale:
Of course it is not um in gyan. This is all you've lived, my experiences, and you started from ninth student, right so all experiences.
Moumita Gokhale:
I I think every story is just building the phantom.
Moumita Gokhale:
The more you are true to yourself, the more you carry yourself and just be honest and share what you're going through, what you're feeling. I guess there are receivers around you, there are people who will accept, they will understand and possibly, whatever demanding the situation is, there will be a solution, best, whatever it is. And I love the way you say you know, the ability to say no, that this is what I want to do now and this is where I am booked right. I guess that's something that not everyone has, that courage. So one more part of being authentic is being courageous. You know, one is being humble, but the second is being courageous. So my question to you, neerja, is maybe the way you are beneficent, the way you have been brought up, the way you are leading life, and everything around you has fallen in place because you have led it that way People may not always have that support system. So what is your take? Maybe two, three things that one can start to create, being a little more authentic than what you are today in their scenarios.
Neeraja Ganesh:
So how do you get that support system, how do you build that network right? So I was also just one and I'm talking about the days when I was so meek, timid, shy that nobody ever knew me and over a period of time, today everyone knows me and I have a large network. I think, by definition of networking you have heard this enough times it's about giving. By definition of networking you have heard this enough times it's about giving, it's not about receiving right. So if you were to give, you automatically are getting someone on your side and that person stays on your side forever. So I'll give you a few stories again. So once you know when organization, a lot of organization restructure happened in my 25 years of corporate and each one has been more painful than the previous one. Okay, so here was one where there was a team that I had grown, you know it was a team. For the first time they were experimenting with 24 bar 7 production support. So we put in a team which was working 24 bar 7, three shifts, and I really had to take a lot of flack with some of the people in the team because I wouldn't go night shifts because there was also, you know, labor laws in place, women can't go after eight and then tons of things right. So I would be able to kind of look at the other two shifts, but the night shift, the 10 to 6 or whatever, I wasn't there physically present. So there was this guy who was one of the experts who used to write me emails in the night saying that you don't understand what pain we are going through. You know the number of mosquitoes we have and you know you don't know all of this. And how are you going to evaluate us when you are not there in person? You would write lots of crap because I would not see him in the morning, he would have gone off and I will see him only after two weeks because he'll come in that other ship. But I always sat down and, you know, spoke to him to say, ok, tell me there are mosquitoes, I will try, and you know, bring a repellent or you know, tell me what the problems are, I try to fix it. But he would not be very open and cooperative.
Neeraja Ganesh:
It went on for a while and then a reorg happened and in the reorg what happened was I was handling this team and I was handling one more team and when the reorganization happened, this team stayed in this vertical and the other team went off to another vertical and what my boss did was he pushed me with the other team into the other vertical and so for this team, this guy who used to be so naughty with me, he was called out as the team lead. Now, usually, what would you do like? First of all, I'm very depressed that you know my team has been divided and I've been given a small game, I've been sent off and this man has been so very difficult with me. Right, okay, fine, I just you know, for the name, they do some small handover and I can get going. But I did such a detailed handover and that's me, and sometimes you know people tell me, you're telling your inner secrets, also the way you're running the team and why the team is running so beautifully. You're telling everything. You're giving those excels, you're giving those tools. I said it's okay, because for me, it's not me, it is the team and the organization that needs to succeed. That is what is paramount for me. It's succeed. That is what is paramount for me, it's not mean. So I did such a detailed handover and handed everything to him. He told me nirja, never has anyone done such a handover and I didn't expect it from you.
Neeraja Ganesh:
One more thing happened.
Neeraja Ganesh:
So I was at a grade higher than him, so obviously that's why I was a lead till then, and in the company you will have these mailing lists right by grade, because there are certain emails that only the managers should get.
Neeraja Ganesh:
Then some will come to all staff. So he was because he was at a grade lower. He was not getting some of the most important mails because he was not yet so till such time he got promoted which took at least six months I used to forward every email that came to this mailing list. Every email, whether it was useful, not useful, I would send it to him. And that has built such a level of respect to this guy who used to write such stupid emails to me in the night. The man respects me like anything and now he's by my side, right if something were to happen and he's grown in his career. Like he's by my side, right If something were to happen and he's grown in his career like he's some big shot today. And if I need something, I can always go to him. And that's how you build those allies. You bring those networks.
Neeraja Ganesh:
So, it is very important. Don't have that insecurity. And I would like to give an analogy of kids right. Why do kids lie as a small kid? Why does a kids lie as a small kid? Why does a kid lie? Because the kid is scared. Why is the kid scared? Because they know they're doing something wrong and that they will be punished If the parents or the teachers get to know that something wrong has been done, but maybe the kid thinks it is right. The kid still wants to do it. So it is that fear which is making them lie.
Neeraja Ganesh:
Similarly, as adults, there is some fear and insecurity in us. The insecurity could be that maybe my job will be taken away, I will not get a promotion, my peer will get promoted. We are in this facilitation industry. I will not get the contract, somebody else will get the contract, and things like that. But let me tell you, each of us has a capability and we all get what we are capable of. That is for sure. It's not lesser, it is not more, and this is very spiritual, philosophical. But we get what we deserve based on our capability. And hence, if you are authentic and you serve someone else because of your authenticity, from that someone else you will get many, many more. So keep that in mind and again, it will take some time. Right, it's today I do a good deed. Tomorrow it's not going to pay me back. It may pay me back after six months, um, so you know, I don't know how we are doing for time.
Neeraja Ganesh:
But one more story I want to say I've said only good stories till now where things worked for me. I'll talk about a story where things didn't work for me. So I was, um, in another uh, restructure organization, restructure uh, where what they decided was um, they, they were decentralized teams, they centralized everything. So these functions like quality, etc. Right One form will be that every team has a quality person. Next is there's a central quality person and then you kind of send them to all the projects.
Neeraja Ganesh:
So here was one where each of us was heading our vertical. I was heading that function for Asia Pacific and they centralized it, which meant that we were six of us. And heading our vertical, I was heading that function for Asia Pacific and they centralized it, which meant that we were six of us and they centralized it. So there was one leader which I knew I wouldn't get that role, but under him he was going to define a structure and we were waiting. What will we get in that structure? Okay, for the first time in that organization, they did something called as a spill and fill, which means that through they threw all of us out of the rules. So we none of us had a role. We had to apply for a role in that new structure. So far, so good. But the new structure had only five roles and we were six of us, which meant one of us would not get a role. That is also okay.
Neeraja Ganesh:
All the roles were at a grade which was lesser than what I was at. All the others were at a grade lesser than I was. I was the only one which was at a higher grade. Now, it was such a terrible thing. I don't want to apply for a role which is lesser grade.
Neeraja Ganesh:
But if I didn't apply, it meant that they were going to take three days for us to apply, then another three days to make the decision. If I had not applied, then I would be thrown out of the company in three days. That was how they were running this. If I applied and I didn't get selected, I would be thrown out of the company in six days. If I applied, I got selected and I said no to a role because everything is at a lower grade. Right, why will I go and say I want a role at a lower grade? Still, I will have to leave the company. Maximum. I had six days.
Neeraja Ganesh:
I was feeling pathetic and I had been with this organization for 14 years, so I was feeling really bad about this. But everyone advised me to buy time, even if it is three days, six days, buy time. So I applied and I got one of the roles. Also. Now I didn't have a job waiting for me outside, so I said okay, though I hated it, I took it up. The only good part was my salary was protected. They were not going to bring down my salary, which means, uh, that for the next whatever number of years it takes me to get back to the original role, I'll not get a hike also, but at least you know the salary is the same, but the grade is one.
Neeraja Ganesh:
Now, what would people usually do in this? Like you can cry, you can crave, you can. Easiest thing is not perform right intentionally, not perform because you're unhappy or you're so depressed that you really underperform, and none of these things will work for you. Okay. So I chose. I did two things. One is I went to the MD and I spoke to him and I said I'm feeling really upset about this and I kind of poured it out to him. Second, nobody would know that I have gone through this because my quality of work was impeccable. There were some people who got to know about it later. They said nirja, I can't just believe it that you went through this and still you were like every day coming, smiling and delivering whatever you were delivering, and so well you didn't have to really do so well, you could have just done what was expected and not gone above that.
Neeraja Ganesh:
Right. The beauty of this is that the the team which I was in, it was called workforce management, where we were, um, you know, we used to get all the vacancies. Any new project, any vacancy to be filled would come to this workforce management team and then we will kind of find the right person. Okay, one vacancy came which was the role of a leader, which was at a grade higher, the original grade of mine. Now I said I'm going to apply for this myself. So I told my manager I'm applying myself because I'm also a person in this organization who can apply and you know, move Right. So I applied and I got that role and I went back to you know that grade and you know a good role. So, yes, it took me a few months, but what is my authenticity here? My value is that I will deliver work and I will deliver it. Well, I did speak up. I went to the MD, I told him this is not the way you treat us.
Neeraja Ganesh:
I've been here for 14 years and there was a lot of other good advice that the MD gave, which is for next episode. But this is the most important thing, right, you are there in the place of work because you are wanting to do something good for the organization. You will get your salaries, you will get your bonuses, you will get your promotions. They are byproducts. What is your most important reason for doing something? Today? I can still be in a tech organization, I will get jobs, but but I'm not doing that Because today, my passion is to ensure that I help women reach their career aspirations and hence I mentor, coach and do these women's leadership programs.
Neeraja Ganesh:
So each of the roles that you've taken on is because of a larger purpose. So be authentic to that and I will tell you it will come back. Whatever are the shortcomings will get fulfilled over a period of time. So it's not that my life has been great, with all good things happening Enough, and more bad things have happened. I mean we need another episode to talk about all my other stories. But the bottom line is that if you're true to your values and you are authentic in terms of why are you doing something, your belief system, you stay true to that. Things will work out for you in the long run, for sure.
Moumita Gokhale:
I don't want to break. This Episode can continue. You know this story, and especially with this, and it's always. You know, people fear out of sharing such experiences and you're being so candid in sharing that there was a challenge and where you did not feel great. I'm sure those days were not easy on you as a person, but now, when you sit back and reflect and I love the way when you say that what you deserve you get it's just a matter of time yeah and, at the same time, speak up.
Moumita Gokhale:
I also like that bit that you did not stop or you did not stay within. You went and spoke, but I'm not happy, but I'll still be there and I'll do it. I think that's yeah, that's awesome to do. And one, of course, uh, we are on, I mean, a little overshoot on time, but I'll take one more because, since you're working so closely with women, uh, nature and you see a lot of, of course, march is all women's day and a lot of celebrations around and I'm sure you are engaged there. Do you gender also play some role in terms of carrying yourself to places professionally, personally?
Neeraja Ganesh:
in terms, in terms of being authentic, yes, um, I think now again, um, I don't have facts, but but I'm just kind of looking at the mindsets of women. Largely right, because a woman is not always confident about herself. She always thinks that I just managed to get here because of some luck, the imposter syndrome, and she wants to be a perfectionist. So, 120% out there. Only then she will put up her hand and apply. Because of this kind of a mindset that women have and I'm generalizing most of them have, I think she's still authentic Because she's authentic in saying that I have to learn a bit more, only then I am ready's still authentic Because she's authentic in saying that I have to learn a bit more, only then I am ready for that role, while a man he'll be 50% there and he'll claim he's 120% there. He's the person to be sent to Mars or no.
Neeraja Ganesh:
Next, okay. And in my you know facilitation, in my coaching, I tell women it's okay if you're 50%, 60%, 70%, because there is no job which needs that 100%. The job description will say everything that is required, but the job itself will change in the next six months. Half of the things which they have asked for will never be needed in the next six months. Half of the things which they have asked for will never be needed. So if you feel that you kind of are fitting 60, 70 percent of their job description, go for it.
Neeraja Ganesh:
Um, so to your question, I think because of this, I'm not saying the men fake it, fake it up. It's their personality and it's their mindset, and we are advising women also to get to a mindset, to say that it's okay, let's go for it, let's put up our hands, we'll see, we'll deal with it when it comes. Yeah, okay. So I think, um, because of this, maybe it appears that women are more authentic and men may not be authentic, but it's just that mindset, in the way they then, you know, take actions. But otherwise I don't think gender has got anything to do with authenticity. It is the person, because of their experiences, because of the way they have been, you know, brought up, they behave in a particular manner.
Moumita Gokhale:
Yeah, I, I, because this one this was one of the questions that came up. You know, as women, you know you are, y'all can do anything and y'all can go. So from that perspective, I thought why not ask you, because you are working so closely with so many of them? Right yeah, it was a power-packed conversation. Uh, people will ask your number and I'm sure they would ask what you eat. Uh, on a daily basis how do you?
Moumita Gokhale:
who's out so much of authenticity and being so genuine? But I'm so glad that we could do this together. I am definitely not surprised by the way you talk, because I've met you in person and I guess everyone should meet you in person just to feel that authentic aura. You know, just be yourself, chilled out. I love that spirit and please be this way. Thanks a ton again. And, of course, your stories. Keep building them, keep noting them. You never know. I'll call again and we can. Yeah, definitely.
Neeraja Ganesh:
Thank you, but I love to be on, you know, such platforms, because what does it do? While you know we enjoy the conversation, each of us has a learning. I really hope that people take away at least one thing from this and implement in their lives. That's the last thing I tell during every podcast interview that I get invited to, that I know it is full entertainment by Savasul, that is for sure. But if you can only take one thing out of it not even all the 10 things and implement it in your life, then it's worth the time that you spent on it, right? So please do that, and it will definitely benefit you all.
Moumita Gokhale:
Wonderful. Thank you so much again. I'm sure you loved the episode on unpacking authenticity. Yes, it does make one reflect on the various perspectives shared by the guests today. Do share in your suggestions, your feedback and all the social medias which will help me improve this show for you. Look forward to more and keep watching this space for unpacking authenticity with formato.
