Challenges, Struggles, Hurdles — None of This Was What I Wanted

The world isn’t always how we envision it to be, but we can learn from it, adapt, and take our next steps cautiously. My journey with the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been an extraordinary one, filled with countless lessons and experiences that shaped my core values. Although my time in the defense forces ended sooner than expected, but I sure walked away with stronger principles that have since guided my decisions.

After leaving the IAF, I encountered a phase of struggle and uncertainty, but every challenge brought invaluable lessons. Life led me to the world of startups, where I transitioned from being an Executive Assistant to the CEO to becoming a Manager of Operations. Today, as I live my life in a new role at a multinational corporation, I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey and share the lessons learned along the way.

From Defense Forces to Startup Life

On January 13, 2022, I interviewed with the founder of a promising startup (no names mentioned). At that point, I was eager to explore new horizons and put my skills to the test in a completely different domain. The founder was intrigued by my brief stint in the defense forces and wanted someone with defence background, who has strong principles. I was offered the position of Executive Assistant to the CEO. I saw this role as my gateway to understanding the inner workings of the company and the startup ecosystem. Full of energy and vigor, I wanted to take on some challenges, and find another purpose. So I gave it all as you will read further.

During my initial days, I focused on observing and understanding the dynamics of the company, asking myself important questions:

• How can my skills enhance the current structure?
• How can I make a meaningful impact within a small team of 10–20 people?
• Will my military training in leadership, psychology, strategy-making, and team-building be sufficient?

These questions guided my actions and decisions. Once you have understood the structure and have asked enough questions to understand the requirements, you move ahead with a clear vision. I made commitments to the company, remained dedicated, and ensured that I delivered on every responsibility assigned to me. Soon enough, within three months, I transitioned to the role of Manager of Operations and relocated to the Product Development office in Guwahati. My task was to streamline operations, ideate and lead new projects, and bring much-needed discipline to the team.

Rebuilding the startup | A Journey of Innovation

At the time, this startup had been in existence for four years, yet there was still no proper operational structure in place. My role was to set processes, build discipline, and implement systems that would enable the company to grow efficiently. Together with my team, we achieved significant breakthroughs in both the industrial biotechnology and industrial AI-ML domains. I take pride in the fact that I played a pivotal role in these accomplishments.

I believed in leading by example. Every process I implemented, every rule I set, was something I had personally experienced. My leadership approach was hands on, ensuring the teams felt supported and empowered. During my time with the startup, I stayed true to my values, living up to my expectations and honoring my commitments, even when faced with adversity.

The Toxic Culture & The Threshold

Despite my efforts, the company’s toxic culture soon became evident. Micro-management, favoritism, and a blatant disregard for hardworking individuals were the norm. The people who were actually driving the company’s success were sidelined, while friends of the leadership shared in the credits and profits. Ethical issues became more pronounced as leadership refused to listen to feedback. False promises and lies were being showered on employees while the young founders lived carefree.

Let me cite at least one issue to help you grasp the gravity of the situation I am highlighting here. Take, for instance, the deliberate exclusion of innovators from a patent, or worse, removing their names through back channels, such actions speak volumes about the integrity of these individuals. Imagine a team that has worked tirelessly to ideate, develop, pilot cutting-edge technologies, and file over 12 patents in just over 30 months. Now, imagine a founder so insecure that not a single team member is credited as an innovator in the patents filed, only his name appears. There are many ways to address this, but who wants to get entangled in a dirty game that could drag on endlessly? Instead, we leave it to God to decide their fate.

I witnessed firsthand how real contributors were ignored during celebrations, and how even the most personal matters, such as taking leave for my mother’s medical treatment, were treated with insensitivity. This is when I reached my threshold and I was probably the last to reach there among the team that I had built together with the founder. Rest all were mature enough to act fast.

I had to make a decision. Each passing day made it harder to fight against the broken system and maintain ethical standards. I had hoped things would change, but slowly, that hope faded. Finally, I made the difficult choice to leave, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision to join my new organization.

Looking Back | Lessons in Ethics, Hope, and Moving On

I do not deny that the technological advancements and vision that this startup achieved through the hard work of a few dedicated individuals, were impressive. However, it is the people who run a company that ultimately determine its future. The leadership had lost sight of its responsibility to treat employees with fairness and respect. You may notice that I haven’t mentioned any names, and I won’t, ever. I believe in the circle of life, and I know that their actions will eventually catch up to them.

At the end of the day, if the people making things happen aren’t benefiting, then it’s simply not the right place for anyone to work. I waited until my last day to be proven wrong, but the management’s actions confirmed my decision to leave. I now look forward to new challenges, new experiences, and the opportunity to reflect on what I’ve learned and move on from the sorrows that were inflicted upon me.

As I transition to my new role, I move ahead with the learnings, not the negativity. I am using this platform to share thoughts that have been on my mind for some time, especially since the founders have refused to respond to my messages, emails, or calls. That’s okay. I will continue working hard and thriving, no matter the situation. I am loving the culture and the people at my current organization, and I know that I will do justice to my role and make the best use of this opportunity.

Final Thoughts

Through this journey, I have come to understand the significance of resilience, ethics, and staying true to oneself in the face of adversity. Life may throw challenges your way, but it’s how you rise above them and the lessons you carry forward that truly shape your future.

My transition from the IAF to the startup world has been nothing short of enlightening, and I am deeply grateful for the experiences, even the tough ones, that have shaped me into who I am today.

Now, five months into my third professional role, I am loving every moment of it. As always, I am true to my moral values and I remain determined not to let age become a barrier to growth.