Early Life & Foundations
I grew up in a regular middle-class Bengali family in
the late 80s in the small town of Jamshedpur. My father worked at Tata Steel,
and my mother was a homemaker. My elder sister and I had a secure childhood,
though never an extravagant one. The values of appreciating small joys were
instilled in us from an early age.
We never made lavish demands of our parents, but we
always remember how they cared for every need, often before we could express
it. Education was considered the foundation of success in our home, and
academic excellence became my core ambition. We lived in a small two-room
house, and I dreamt of one day building a bigger home for my parents. For the
longest time, we didn’t own a car, and I promised myself I would someday gift
one to my parents—a dream that motivated me to study harder. I was consistently
a topper throughout school and college.
One of the most important values we learned at home was
to be respectfully expressive. If we disagreed with something, our parents
encouraged us to voice our opinions respectfully and understand their
perspective. I also saw my parents apologize when they realized their mistakes,
and that humility shaped me deeply. To this day, I believe in accepting my
mistakes openly and apologizing when needed. Equally, I do not appreciate
forced ideologies and always express my views strongly, but respectfully. These
values have played a vital role in shaping the person and professional I am
today.
Turning Setback into Strength: Redefining
Success Beyond IIM
Education always held the highest importance in our
home. Like most middle-class families of that era, we believed that academic
brilliance was the surest route to success. I worked hard, enjoyed studying,
and strived to excel. One of the biggest turning points in my academic life
came when I appeared for the CAT and secured admission to the prestigious IIM
Ahmedabad.
However, on the day of joining, due to some operational
delays from my graduating college, I could not fulfill one of the key
eligibility criteria for IIMA—and I lost the opportunity. It was a huge setback
for me, but perhaps an even bigger one for my father. For any parent, seeing
their child at IIM is a matter of immense pride, and it came so close to
reality.
I still remember what the then Director of IIMA told me:
“Sougata, IIMA is a great institution, but it’s not the
only way to have a great career. If that were true, every CEO in the world
would be an IIM graduate. Your college may get you your first job, but it’s
your knowledge and your hunger to learn that will take you ahead.”
Those words became my guiding light. I promised my
father that I would still be successful—perhaps even more than many IIM
graduates. Today, I don’t know how life would have unfolded had I joined IIM,
but I am truly happy with what I’ve achieved, including the full-circle moment
of visiting these very institutes later—to offer jobs on behalf of my company.
Choosing Passion Over Paycheck: A Decision
That Defined My Path
After completing my MBA, I had two job offers from
campus. One was from a multinational company offering a high-paying role, and
the other was from an Indian retail organization offering half the compensation
but aligning perfectly with my interests.
It wasn’t an easy decision for a 22-year-old to make,
but I chose passion over paycheck. My parents supported my decision
wholeheartedly, reinforcing the family value of following one’s gut. Have I
ever regretted it? Not even once. That choice shaped my career, my learning,
and my identity as a professional who values purpose over comfort.
Walking Away with Integrity: Choosing Values
Over Comfort
One of the toughest chapters of my professional journey
came when I was working with a leading organization in my industry. Though the
role was rewarding and the pay substantial, over time, the workplace culture
became extremely toxic.
At one point, I was asked to do something that went
against my personal ethics. It was a defining moment—to choose between my
conscience and corporate conformity. While the latter might have advanced my
career, it would have compromised my integrity. I chose instead to have an
open, respectful discussion with my manager and walked away.
I left with gratitude for the learning and relationships
I had built, and without carrying emotional baggage from the negativity. Moving
on without bitterness allows one to flourish faster and more freely.
Even today, I hold no remorse for that decision—only a
deep sense of satisfaction. I understand that organizations sometimes make
difficult choices that may not align with every individual’s principles, and
it’s up to each person to decide their boundaries. For me, staying true to my
values mattered most.
Leading with Empathy and Authority: Building
the Future with Purpose and People
In my current role, we are building a “1-to-5 business”
model—an initiative that merges strategy with operations and leverages
technology in transformative ways. We’re creating a business that could
redefine how customers shop in the future, and that mission fuels my passion
every day.
I have always believed that empathy is one of the
strongest leadership qualities. An empathetic leader inspires honesty and
commitment—two traits that define great teams. My leadership philosophy is a
balance of empathy and authority.
We work with humans who have good and bad days, and it’s
crucial to recognize that. However, authority must come not from demand but
from command—built on a deep understanding of the business and its
deliverables. This ensures empathy is respected, not mistaken for leniency.
As a leader, I focus on coaching and developing other
leaders, valuing attitude over skill. When ownership gaps arise or repeated
lapses occur, I do not shy away from making difficult decisions. The honesty
and integrity I bring to my role have helped me build strong interpersonal
relationships—with colleagues, mentors, and team members alike.
True to Myself, True to My Team: The Power
of Honest Leadership
At work, I am very open about my life—as a partnered gay
man and a father. I believe expressing this side of myself with pride has
helped me earn greater professional respect. There was a time when I hid this
part of my identity out of fear—fear of judgment, exclusion, or professional
repercussions.
Today, I firmly believe that bringing your authentic
self to work allows you to perform at your best. When you no longer carry the
burden of hiding who you are, your energy and focus align entirely with your
purpose.
My dream is to be remembered as a leader who was honest, contributed meaningfully to every organization he was part of, and most importantly, a humane leader who created many more leaders. On the personal front, my family remains my anchor—I want to share every success and every challenge with them.