Lady Rajinikanth - Part 4- "A Young Mother, a Lone Leader, and a Big Dream"

Just a few days after my 25th birthday, I entered a whole new chapter of life: I became a mother. With my newborn in one arm and a laptop in the other, I soon found myself back in the workforce, thanks to my company’s in-house crèche. I missed working.

So there I was—a young mother, coding every spare moment, determined to keep up in a fast-paced world. My mornings started at 5 a.m., juggling work and baby duties before diving into the office day at 9:30. It wasn’t easy, but I kept pushing, and soon enough, I found myself promoted from novice to team lead… in just 2.5 years.

But with that promotion came a harsh reality. My team, who’d once been like friends, suddenly saw me differently. I was the youngest in the room, the only woman, and those early team meetings were tough. My voice felt small, my authority questioned. I still remember those mornings when I’d fight to hold back tears as I faced criticism, often harsher than it had to be.

But I wouldn’t let go of my dream.

Every day, I would wake up before sunrise, working hard for two hours, then caring for my baby, setting up home, and starting the day with my team. It was the ultimate test of patience, resilience, and my belief in myself.

After a few months, a breakthrough moment came. I was invited to present our team’s work to the VP. I decided to introduce my team in a new way—not just by their names and titles, but by their unique skills and strengths. That little touch changed everything. My team felt recognized, leadership took notice, and the support I’d been longing for finally began to come through.

By the end of that year, I was among the company’s top performers—one out of 1,500 people. And with my growing succes, I made an investment that would turn out to be life-changing. I bought a villa in an area of Hyderabad that seemed empty back then. But I trusted my instincts. Today, that area has become one of the most sought-after locations in the city.

Each early morning, every struggle, and all the sacrifices were worth it. Throgh it all, I’ve learned that our true strength shows when we lean into discomfort, believe in our path, and stay unshaken by doubt.

PS. I was lucky to have a supportive family and no so supportive team to mend me 💪💪 stronger