Career Reflection Artifact: How My Mentors Have Shaped My Career Identity

Growing up, I was fortunate to be surrounded by highly innovative and influential role models whose career paths and values shaped my understanding of success. Their experiences in leadership, advocacy, and resilience have deeply impacted me and served as a foundation for my own career identity. Reflecting on their journeys has allowed me to see both the connections and departures between their career paths and my aspirations.

My Early Role Models

One of the most impactful figures from my high school years was Nita Singh Kaushal, the founder of Miss CEO. Nita often shares her experience studying Electrical Engineering at Stanford, where she walked into her first day of classes to discover she was one of only four women. Her story of navigating a male-dominated industry inspired me to think critically about the environments I want to foster in my own career. Nita’s decision to transition from engineering to founding Miss CEO underscored the power of creating spaces where others can thrive. Through her leadership, she has empowered over 50,000 girls and women worldwide with the tools and mentorship to succeed. As a direct beneficiary of her work, I am motivated to carry forward her vision of fostering inclusive environments.

Another role model who left a lasting impression was Avni Barman, founder of Generation She. Avni’s ability to blend technical insight with bold leadership stood out during our work on Generation She’s first virtual makeathon. As a product manager at Atlassian, she already exemplified technical excellence, but her courageous decision to leave a secure job to pursue Generation She full-time taught me the importance of taking bold leaps of faith. Under her leadership, Generation She has grown into a community of over 150,000 women, providing invaluable career advice and support. 

Both Nita and Avni embody a unique combination of technical excellence and visionary leadership. They inspire me not only to remain engaged in technical fields but also to channel that expertise into creating meaningful change.

My Emerging Career Identity

While my mentors laid the groundwork for my understanding of leadership and innovation, my career identity has evolved in distinct ways. Their stories have reinforced my commitment to engaging in technical fields, but I find myself gravitating toward strategic roles that leverage my understanding of business strategy, consumer behavior, and problem-solving to drive impactful solutions.

For example, my interest in product management stems from a desire to integrate technical insights with user-centered solutions, ensuring that products not only address real-world problems but also resonate deeply with users. Similarly, my enthusiasm for consulting reflects a drive to use data-driven analysis and strategic thinking to tackle challenges across diverse industries. These paths allow me to combine technical expertise with collaborative problem-solving to deliver innovative results.

While my aspirations diverge in focus, the values my mentors embody remain central to my vision. Like Nita and Avni, I aspire to create inclusive environments where teams feel empowered to succeed. Nita’s emphasis on mentorship and equipping others with tools for growth is a lesson I intend to carry forward, whether I am leading a client workshop or guiding a product team. From Avni, I have internalized the importance of working tirelessly toward ambitious goals and fostering a shared sense of purpose within any team I lead.

As I continue to build my career, I hope to honor their legacies by blending technical knowledge with strategic thinking. My goal is to create a meaningful impact in fields that demand both innovation and collaboration, ensuring that my work inspires and uplifts others.