What's one piece of advice you wish you'd received earlier in your career?

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Deepa Sreenivasan
Head of Service Integration Mgmt and IT Operations at IT

Own your voice, speak up, even when your voice shakes. Your perspective is powerful and needed. Say Yes to Strech Role- Expand your comfort Zone- Say YES before you get ready! Always set Boundaries Without Guilt , this will protect your time and energy, saying “no” is a leadership skill You are confident and you deserve, never doubt it. You’ve earned your place — and you’re just getting started.

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Anat Heilper
Director, Software & Systems Architecture for AI and Advanced Technologies at Intel

Ask the questions that no one asks. Built a critical perspective and be able to have an independent opinion that is derived from first principles. That allows you to bring up your arguments and justifications with no need to be loud and vocal as truths and facts are much easier to get accepted even within a challenging audience.

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Astrid Auer-Re…
ITech Lawyer at AUER BUSINESS & IT LAW

Always be yourself! If you don't have a good gut feeling about something, don't do it – regardless of what others think or whether they will be disappointed. Don't fight an internal battle with the intention of ‘being liked’. You will never be able to please everyone – so why not just be yourself, especially for yourself! And keep in mind: ‘no - is a complete sentence’

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prashanthi chinthala
Cloud Support Engineer at AWS

Building meaningful connections in your industry before you need them is invaluable - it's about creating genuine relationships rather than just collecting business cards. If you find yourself in a role or career path that doesn't feel right, remember that changing direction isn't a failure - it's often the smartest decision you can make. Your mental health should always be a priority, not an afterthought, because no job is worth compromising your well-being. Take on those challenging projects that make you slightly nervous, keep learning new skills, and embrace opportunities for growth - these moments of discomfort are often where the most significant professional development happens. The workplace is constantly evolving, and staying adaptable while taking care of yourself is key to long-term success.

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Pooja Varshneya
Senior Engineering Manager at Lyft

Always focus on the big picture and understand why and how your work matters, take time to understand its impact. This will also motivate you to give your best. Take ownership and accountability for solving the problem - raise your hand, don't be afraid of trying new things, learning skills and ask questions. "Asking for help shows strength and courage - it's not a weakness."

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shiphrah wairima
VP at Global Council For responsible AI - Kenya

Don't underestimate the power of your own story and experiences. Every challenge you overcome, every lesson you learn, and every perspective you gain shapes who you are. Embrace your authentic self, trust your instincts, and remember that your unique journey is what truly sets you apart. The path to success isn't about fitting into someone else's mold, but about forging your own with courage and conviction.

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shiphrah wairima
VP at Global Council For responsible AI - Kenya

Don't underestimate the power of your own story and experiences. Every challenge you overcome, every lesson you learn, and every perspective you gain shapes who you are. Embrace your authentic self, trust your instincts, and remember that your unique journey is what truly sets you apart. The path to success isn't about fitting into someone else's mold, but about forging your own with courage and conviction.

...Read more
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Sheetal Dash
Vice President - Fincrime Data Product Lead at Barclays

“Be curious enough to ask the bold questions no one else is asking.” Curiosity is one of your greatest superpowers; therefore, asking bold, sometimes uncomfortable questions not only drives innovation but also sparks important conversations that lead to meaningful change. It shows leadership by challenging the status quo and inspiring others to think bigger. When you dare to question, you create space for new ideas, solutions, and perspectives. That courage to be curious and challenge norms is what sets you apart — you need to lead progress and not just follow it.

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Raywa Singh
Frontend Developer

Don’t wait until you feel ready — start now, and grow along the way. Everything will fall into place with time. The journey isn’t about having it all figured out from the start, it’s about learning, evolving, and showing up as your true self every step of the way. Embrace who you are, stay curious, and trust that growth will follow.

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Nimisha Mehta
Senior Software Engineer at Confluent

What makes you stand out as a top achiever is not intelligence, technical depth or even hard work - it's taking ownership and responsibility. Ultimately, what your peers and managers are looking for is a trustworthy and reliable individual who can get things done. Volunteer to work on hard problems and identify force multiplying solutions that make your team's lives easier.

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Nunurai Mukarati
Educator - EdTech Enthusiast at Education

I wish I had built meaningful connections earlier. And I wish someone had given me the mindset that your first job won’t define your entire career.

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Madhumitha Srikanth
Director of Technology at Expedia group

Right from childhood days, we are always taught to focus on our limitations and get better at it. No one talks about how to take advantage of our strengths to excel at what we do. Kathryn Bishop’s “The Strength Model” has been a huge eye opener for me. She explains how all of us should work with our natural & potential strengths, find opportunities to use them at work for great results as it also blends very well with our personality. This model also provides the convenience to build a successful team that can collaborate very well to make best use of everyone’s natural strengths and provide great value to the organisation.

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