How varied projects while working at Lodha Group unravelled my True Career Trajectory
Join me as I narrate my transformative journey at Lodha Group, where diverse roles and unexpected project detours unveiled my true calling. This narrative explores how the dynamic corporate landscape propelled me from traditional paths to a tech-driven future.
The Initial Foray: Diverse Roles and Challenges
My journey at Lodha Group was marked by a rapid progression through diverse roles, each presenting unique challenges and learning opportunities. Initially drawn to my areas of interest, I led significant projects such as SAP implementation, e-procurement systems, and an AI-driven sales engine. My role was multifaceted, straddling IT, project management, and new product development, illustrating the non-linear paths careers often take. Only in hindsight does the trajectory of my career at Lodha Group appear as a coherent narrative, shaped by both planned pursuits and serendipitous engagements.
The Backbone of Problem-Solving: Management Consulting
The common thread tying my experiences was the application of management consulting principles, honed under the mentorship of seasoned consultants from McKinsey, BCG, and other prestigious firms. This environment cultivated a robust framework for problem-solving, emphasizing first principles thinking and the effective breakdown of complex challenges. My colleagues and I were thrust into the company's pressing issues, applying strategic frameworks and learning from the collective wisdom of our mentors.
Exposure and Expansion: A Spectrum of Stints
My quest for exposure led me through the intricate workings of a vast real estate conglomerate. From optimizing call center operations to streamlining procurement processes and spearheading a premium sales team, each stint was an immersive dive into the microcosms within the larger corporate structure. These experiences were instrumental in understanding the real estate value chain end-to-end, from land acquisition and design to marketing, sales, and customer care.
A Well-Oiled Machine with Many Cogs:
As I navigated through these diverse stints, I realized that Lodha Group operated as a well-oiled machine, with each department playing a crucial role in the real estate value chain. Understanding this value chain became instrumental in shaping my future endeavors. In fact, I was so befuddled with the types and complexities of the projects that I decided to painstakingly map out the entire value-chain of the real-estate industry from a real-estate developer's perspective. This exercise only revealed that what I had been working on was just a tip of the ice-berg and that I had to find meaning in my own work from my own heart. Below is the flow-chart, in case you are curious:
Gravitating Towards Technology: A Personal Pivot
Over time, my interests increasingly aligned with technology and innovation. Projects like e-procurement, SAP implementation, and optimizing sales through AI not only catered to my passion but also highlighted a growing divergence between my personal career aspirations and the organization's objectives. This realization was pivotal, prompting a career shift that ultimately led me to leave the real estate sector and venture into the world of EdTech startups.
Reflecting on the Journey: Lessons and Legacies
In retrospect, my journey from Lodha Group to entrepreneurship has taught me that life is a dynamic journey filled with twists, turns, and unexpected detours. It's not just about reaching a destination; it's about the experiences, knowledge, and growth gained along the way. The detours, often unforeseen, were as formative as the planned paths, enriching my professional repertoire and personal growth. As I look back, I've come to appreciate that the journey itself is more valuable than any destination because no destination is ever truly final. It's the person you become that shapes your future journey, and I'm excited to continue mine.
