universe falls in love with the stubborn heart when you really wish for something
heart when you really wish for something
heart when you really wish for something it always comes true I totally believe
it always comes true I totally believe
it always comes true I totally believe in this because this has happened with
in this because this has happened with
in this because this has happened with me many times in June of 1999 I was in a
me many times in June of 1999 I was in a
me many times in June of 1999 I was in a truck going from lay to Cargill this was
truck going from lay to Cargill this was
truck going from lay to Cargill this was during the war and my truck was carrying
during the war and my truck was carrying
during the war and my truck was carrying stores for the fighting troops around
stores for the fighting troops around
stores for the fighting troops around this point I heard the first artillery
this point I heard the first artillery
this point I heard the first artillery shell blast just a few hundred meters
shell blast just a few hundred meters
shell blast just a few hundred meters away I cannot tell you what that
away I cannot tell you what that
away I cannot tell you what that earth-shattering sound was like the
earth-shattering sound was like the
earth-shattering sound was like the whole town seemed to be shaking the
whole town seemed to be shaking the
whole town seemed to be shaking the truck in which I was sitting was shaking
truck in which I was sitting was shaking
truck in which I was sitting was shaking I looked at the driver and he was as
I looked at the driver and he was as
I looked at the driver and he was as shocked I was we both said nothing we
shocked I was we both said nothing we
shocked I was we both said nothing we decided to keep going in that split
decided to keep going in that split
decided to keep going in that split second I saw my entire life revolved in
second I saw my entire life revolved in
second I saw my entire life revolved in my mind I said so many things to myself
my mind I said so many things to myself
my mind I said so many things to myself like I’ve just begun I’ve seen nothing I
like I’ve just begun I’ve seen nothing I
like I’ve just begun I’ve seen nothing I want to do so many things in life God
want to do so many things in life God
want to do so many things in life God please keep me safe and I prayed saying
please keep me safe and I prayed saying
please keep me safe and I prayed saying if I stay safe
if I stay safe
if I stay safe I’ll make this life worthwhile I live a
I’ll make this life worthwhile I live a
I’ll make this life worthwhile I live a life without regrets I will go all in to
life without regrets I will go all in to
life without regrets I will go all in to pursue all my dreams there were just a
pursue all my dreams there were just a
pursue all my dreams there were just a moment since then there have been
moment since then there have been
moment since then there have been several artillery shells several life
several artillery shells several life
several artillery shells several life and death moments so many risks but
and death moments so many risks but
and death moments so many risks but nothing ever shook me I was born on 23rd
nothing ever shook me I was born on 23rd
nothing ever shook me I was born on 23rd of January and I share my birthday with
of January and I share my birthday with
of January and I share my birthday with Netaji Subash Chandra Bose every year my
Netaji Subash Chandra Bose every year my
Netaji Subash Chandra Bose every year my mother wishes me by saying happy
mother wishes me by saying happy
mother wishes me by saying happy birthday Mary Netaji and the day I got
birthday Mary Netaji and the day I got
birthday Mary Netaji and the day I got commissioned in the Army she
commissioned in the Army she
commissioned in the Army she said you were always destined to be a
said you were always destined to be a
said you were always destined to be a soldier Netaji uniform was my first
soldier Netaji uniform was my first
soldier Netaji uniform was my first dream my first love and I’m very happy
dream my first love and I’m very happy
dream my first love and I’m very happy and glad that I could pursue it I’ll
and glad that I could pursue it I’ll
and glad that I could pursue it I’ll tell you a story
tell you a story
tell you a story from when I was five years old we come
from when I was five years old we come
from when I was five years old we come from a conservative yupi family which
from a conservative yupi family which
from a conservative yupi family which which lives in a rural village my
which lives in a rural village my
which lives in a rural village my parents and I we went visiting them
parents and I we went visiting them
parents and I we went visiting them there men and women are treated
there men and women are treated
there men and women are treated differently so unlike in my own house
differently so unlike in my own house
differently so unlike in my own house where everyone eats together at my
where everyone eats together at my
where everyone eats together at my grandparents place the men eat first
grandparents place the men eat first
grandparents place the men eat first women cook serve and eat later I was
women cook serve and eat later I was
women cook serve and eat later I was hungry I went to my mother who was also
hungry I went to my mother who was also
hungry I went to my mother who was also in the kitchen and I said I want to eat
in the kitchen and I said I want to eat
in the kitchen and I said I want to eat and she just gave me some water and said
and she just gave me some water and said
and she just gave me some water and said go serve your father I did that I went I
go serve your father I did that I went I
go serve your father I did that I went I left the water there and I said I want
left the water there and I said I want
left the water there and I said I want to sit I want to eat before he could say
to sit I want to eat before he could say
to sit I want to eat before he could say anything my grandfather said you eat
anything my grandfather said you eat
anything my grandfather said you eat later with the ladies I immediately
later with the ladies I immediately
later with the ladies I immediately asked both of them why is it that the
asked both of them why is it that the
asked both of them why is it that the ladies have to cook serve you guys and
ladies have to cook serve you guys and
ladies have to cook serve you guys and eat later
eat later
eat later why is it that you eat first why is it
why is it that you eat first why is it
why is it that you eat first why is it that I can’t join you so when I asked so
that I can’t join you so when I asked so
that I can’t join you so when I asked so many questions
many questions
many questions my father said go get your plate come
my father said go get your plate come
my father said go get your plate come sit eat with us
sit eat with us
sit eat with us so my first fight for gender parity or a
so my first fight for gender parity or a
so my first fight for gender parity or a seat at a table started when I was 5
seat at a table started when I was 5
seat at a table started when I was 5 years old I guess I just started asking
years old I guess I just started asking
years old I guess I just started asking the right questions without fearing for
the right questions without fearing for
the right questions without fearing for consequences and I continued to believe
consequences and I continued to believe
consequences and I continued to believe that I was an equal or at times better
that I was an equal or at times better
that I was an equal or at times better to make sure I work hard enough and
to make sure I work hard enough and
to make sure I work hard enough and always be meritorious having said that
always be meritorious having said that
always be meritorious having said that coming from a family from a rural
coming from a family from a rural
coming from a family from a rural background our lives could have been
background our lives could have been
background our lives could have been really different but for my parents
really different but for my parents
really different but for my parents there was a
there was a
there was a when relatives told my parents don’t
when relatives told my parents don’t
when relatives told my parents don’t educate the girls so much focus on the
educate the girls so much focus on the
educate the girls so much focus on the boy the logic being we will not find
boy the logic being we will not find
boy the logic being we will not find good guys to marry fair overqualified
good guys to marry fair overqualified
good guys to marry fair overqualified I’m glad my parents never paid a heat to
I’m glad my parents never paid a heat to
I’m glad my parents never paid a heat to any such advice and they always believed
any such advice and they always believed
any such advice and they always believed that Bieber had power with my brother my
that Bieber had power with my brother my
that Bieber had power with my brother my brother has remained my idol and a
brother has remained my idol and a
brother has remained my idol and a mentor all through our lives so not just
mentor all through our lives so not just
mentor all through our lives so not just me I would say my entire family worked
me I would say my entire family worked
me I would say my entire family worked hard they went all-in to make sure we
hard they went all-in to make sure we
hard they went all-in to make sure we are who we are any short people play
are who we are any short people play
are who we are any short people play basketball in this group awesome so I’ll
basketball in this group awesome so I’ll
basketball in this group awesome so I’ll tell you a story from when I was 13
tell you a story from when I was 13
tell you a story from when I was 13 I’m 5 2 I wanted to play basketball and
I’m 5 2 I wanted to play basketball and
I’m 5 2 I wanted to play basketball and everybody told me it’s a game for tall
everybody told me it’s a game for tall
everybody told me it’s a game for tall people you are wasting your time you’ll
people you are wasting your time you’ll
people you are wasting your time you’ll never do well better study I wanted to
never do well better study I wanted to
never do well better study I wanted to play so I realized that I could do only
play so I realized that I could do only
play so I realized that I could do only well at this game if I practiced long
well at this game if I practiced long
well at this game if I practiced long distance shots the three-pointer shots
distance shots the three-pointer shots
distance shots the three-pointer shots and that’s exactly what I did every free
and that’s exactly what I did every free
and that’s exactly what I did every free minute of my growing years was spent in
minute of my growing years was spent in
minute of my growing years was spent in a basketball court shooting and
a basketball court shooting and
a basketball court shooting and practicing 3-pointer shots
practicing 3-pointer shots
practicing 3-pointer shots and with my 5 2 I managed to represent
and with my 5 2 I managed to represent
and with my 5 2 I managed to represent the school Region three times at the
the school Region three times at the
the school Region three times at the national meet consecutively for three
national meet consecutively for three
national meet consecutively for three years when I joined the army Academy I
years when I joined the army Academy I
years when I joined the army Academy I was captain of my basketball team and
was captain of my basketball team and
was captain of my basketball team and not just that but I was very happy about
not just that but I was very happy about
not just that but I was very happy about was that I was the only lady cadet with
was that I was the only lady cadet with
was that I was the only lady cadet with lemon gentlemen cadet to represent the
lemon gentlemen cadet to represent the
lemon gentlemen cadet to represent the Academy basketball team I think for a
Academy basketball team I think for a
Academy basketball team I think for a small person that gave me a lot of joy
small person that gave me a lot of joy
small person that gave me a lot of joy and what also makes me happy is my 12
and what also makes me happy is my 12
and what also makes me happy is my 12 year old son today plays basketball he
year old son today plays basketball he
year old son today plays basketball he says he draws inspiration from his
says he draws inspiration from his
says he draws inspiration from his mother and he’s
mother and he’s
mother and he’s shortlisted for state trials under 13 I
shortlisted for state trials under 13 I
shortlisted for state trials under 13 I guess that’s a very proud moment for me
so I joined army when I went to the
so I joined army when I went to the Academy from several thousand applicants
Academy from several thousand applicants
Academy from several thousand applicants in the last 35 it was a proud moment I
in the last 35 it was a proud moment I
in the last 35 it was a proud moment I remember going all in
remember going all in
remember going all in I remember that Chennai heat mental
I remember that Chennai heat mental
I remember that Chennai heat mental physical emotional rigor didn’t feel
physical emotional rigor didn’t feel
physical emotional rigor didn’t feel like anything because I was so driven I
like anything because I was so driven I
like anything because I was so driven I loved it so much and I remember when my
loved it so much and I remember when my
loved it so much and I remember when my parents came and saw me after six months
parents came and saw me after six months
parents came and saw me after six months I look like this small dark tanned boy
I look like this small dark tanned boy
I look like this small dark tanned boy they couldn’t even recognize me
they couldn’t even recognize me
they couldn’t even recognize me I cannot explain that feeling it was so
I cannot explain that feeling it was so
I cannot explain that feeling it was so tremendous getting used to the curious
tremendous getting used to the curious
tremendous getting used to the curious looks in uniform it was interesting it
looks in uniform it was interesting it
looks in uniform it was interesting it took some time because in 1996 the
took some time because in 1996 the
took some time because in 1996 the women’s Commission was still very
women’s Commission was still very
women’s Commission was still very nascent people often wondered and they
nascent people often wondered and they
nascent people often wondered and they gave those looks wondering if I could be
gave those looks wondering if I could be
gave those looks wondering if I could be as good as my male colleagues I wasn’t
as good as my male colleagues I wasn’t
as good as my male colleagues I wasn’t surprised as a male-dominated
surprised as a male-dominated
surprised as a male-dominated organization I knew one thing if I run
organization I knew one thing if I run
organization I knew one thing if I run hard if I shoot straight and I do my
hard if I shoot straight and I do my
hard if I shoot straight and I do my professional work right which was
professional work right which was
professional work right which was handling supply chain logistics for the
handling supply chain logistics for the
handling supply chain logistics for the army I knew I would never be treated as
army I knew I would never be treated as
army I knew I would never be treated as anything else but a lieutenant a captain
anything else but a lieutenant a captain
anything else but a lieutenant a captain and a major and that’s how it was in 98
and a major and that’s how it was in 98
and a major and that’s how it was in 98 I Wallen teared for Underdark posting
I Wallen teared for Underdark posting
I Wallen teared for Underdark posting those years they never posted women to
those years they never posted women to
those years they never posted women to high altitude unless they were Lin
high altitude unless they were Lin
high altitude unless they were Lin tiered I loved Ladakh it was
tiered I loved Ladakh it was
tiered I loved Ladakh it was breathtakingly beautiful peaceful and
breathtakingly beautiful peaceful and
breathtakingly beautiful peaceful and there were no tourists in those days
unfortunately the Kargil war happened as
unfortunately the Kargil war happened as a young 22 year old for the first time I
a young 22 year old for the first time I
a young 22 year old for the first time I experienced
experienced
experienced loss of life lack of resources critical
loss of life lack of resources critical
loss of life lack of resources critical deadlines not knowing what to do I
deadlines not knowing what to do I
deadlines not knowing what to do I remember working day and night not
remember working day and night not
remember working day and night not sleeping a wink keeping in mind that
sleeping a wink keeping in mind that
sleeping a wink keeping in mind that they were those brave colleagues in
they were those brave colleagues in
they were those brave colleagues in active combat in that whole inhospitable
active combat in that whole inhospitable
active combat in that whole inhospitable terrain and us as a service organization
terrain and us as a service organization
terrain and us as a service organization had to put in our best to support them
had to put in our best to support them
had to put in our best to support them with all our might
those are the memories that I saw good
those are the memories that I saw good and youth both in the dark I had friends
and youth both in the dark I had friends
and youth both in the dark I had friends who never came back from the war for the
who never came back from the war for the
who never came back from the war for the work that I did then I found honorable
work that I did then I found honorable
work that I did then I found honorable mentions in the history book in two
mentions in the history book in two
mentions in the history book in two places one for doing extremely well
places one for doing extremely well
places one for doing extremely well during the Kargil operations and two for
during the Kargil operations and two for
during the Kargil operations and two for perhaps being the first woman officer to
perhaps being the first woman officer to
perhaps being the first woman officer to have faced enemy firing in actual
have faced enemy firing in actual
have faced enemy firing in actual operations I very humbly take those
operations I very humbly take those
operations I very humbly take those experiences and continue to learn and
experiences and continue to learn and
experiences and continue to learn and move so my 10 years with the army were
move so my 10 years with the army were
move so my 10 years with the army were coming to an end and I started thinking
coming to an end and I started thinking
coming to an end and I started thinking what next I had no idea what the
what next I had no idea what the
what next I had no idea what the corporate world is like with nobody in
corporate world is like with nobody in
corporate world is like with nobody in business in my family I didn’t know what
business in my family I didn’t know what
business in my family I didn’t know what people at the airports do with those
people at the airports do with those
people at the airports do with those laptops and this is as of 2006 I could
laptops and this is as of 2006 I could
laptops and this is as of 2006 I could shoot with all kinds of machine guns
shoot with all kinds of machine guns
shoot with all kinds of machine guns throw grenades fire pistols but I didn’t
throw grenades fire pistols but I didn’t
throw grenades fire pistols but I didn’t know how to start a computer game of
know how to start a computer game of
know how to start a computer game of throne
throne
throne awesome so it was like wanting to know
awesome so it was like wanting to know
awesome so it was like wanting to know what’s behind that wall and I knew
what’s behind that wall and I knew
what’s behind that wall and I knew nothing like Jon Snow so I decided that
nothing like Jon Snow so I decided that
nothing like Jon Snow so I decided that I want a corporate career I landed an
I want a corporate career I landed an
I want a corporate career I landed an offer with Wipro and I went to Bangalore
offer with Wipro and I went to Bangalore
offer with Wipro and I went to Bangalore I went to a big city with chaos
I went to a big city with chaos
I went to a big city with chaos traffic pollution noise technology
traffic pollution noise technology
traffic pollution noise technology emails powerpoints exhales and a soldier
emails powerpoints exhales and a soldier
emails powerpoints exhales and a soldier who had lived in a closed ecosystem was
who had lived in a closed ecosystem was
who had lived in a closed ecosystem was making a small beginning with two little
making a small beginning with two little
making a small beginning with two little boys I said I will give this 100% let’s
boys I said I will give this 100% let’s
boys I said I will give this 100% let’s see what this life is all about
see what this life is all about
see what this life is all about my first assignment you know what it was
my first assignment you know what it was
my first assignment you know what it was about it was about talking to fake
about it was about talking to fake
about it was about talking to fake resume a candidates or employees and
resume a candidates or employees and
resume a candidates or employees and interrogating and taking confessions
interrogating and taking confessions
interrogating and taking confessions from them and if found guilty exiting
from them and if found guilty exiting
from them and if found guilty exiting them out the typical stereotype that a
them out the typical stereotype that a
them out the typical stereotype that a major from the Army is perhaps best
major from the Army is perhaps best
major from the Army is perhaps best suited for a CBI like investigation I
suited for a CBI like investigation I
suited for a CBI like investigation I guess I came a long way from there in
guess I came a long way from there in
guess I came a long way from there in the last one decade since then I’ve
the last one decade since then I’ve
the last one decade since then I’ve headed learning and development people
headed learning and development people
headed learning and development people practices consulting channel operations
practices consulting channel operations
practices consulting channel operations several kind of rolls across MNC family
several kind of rolls across MNC family
several kind of rolls across MNC family businesses ecommerce startups travel
businesses ecommerce startups travel
businesses ecommerce startups travel startups I took a lot of risks with my
startups I took a lot of risks with my
startups I took a lot of risks with my career and I can tell you 99 percent
career and I can tell you 99 percent
career and I can tell you 99 percent paid off I found my mojo beyond the
paid off I found my mojo beyond the
paid off I found my mojo beyond the routine nine to six jobs I volunteered
routine nine to six jobs I volunteered
routine nine to six jobs I volunteered to run community programs women
to run community programs women
to run community programs women empowerment cells fitness clubs when I
empowerment cells fitness clubs when I
empowerment cells fitness clubs when I was at Myntra
was at Myntra
was at Myntra I remember traveling to far-flung
I remember traveling to far-flung
I remember traveling to far-flung delivery centers just to build a connect
delivery centers just to build a connect
delivery centers just to build a connect and bring in the common culture all over
and bring in the common culture all over
and bring in the common culture all over the country we grew from barely 200
the country we grew from barely 200
the country we grew from barely 200 people to about 6,000 people in the time
people to about 6,000 people in the time
people to about 6,000 people in the time that I was heading people practices for
that I was heading people practices for
that I was heading people practices for the supply chain all that mean from all
the supply chain all that mean from all
the supply chain all that mean from all of that has been a great learning and
of that has been a great learning and
of that has been a great learning and I’ve learned so much by just taking
I’ve learned so much by just taking
I’ve learned so much by just taking those risks I the message I want to give
those risks I the message I want to give
those risks I the message I want to give you today is that do not work on
you today is that do not work on
you today is that do not work on resuming I believe and I have always
resuming I believe and I have always
resuming I believe and I have always worked on an epitaph how do we want to
worked on an epitaph how do we want to
worked on an epitaph how do we want to be remembered I take a lot of joy in
be remembered I take a lot of joy in
be remembered I take a lot of joy in spreading this message to young minds
spreading this message to young minds
spreading this message to young minds and say live free I meant there a lot of
and say live free I meant there a lot of
and say live free I meant there a lot of young startup founders I work with
young startup founders I work with
young startup founders I work with college institutions to look beyond
college institutions to look beyond
college institutions to look beyond academic excellence what I have learnt
academic excellence what I have learnt
academic excellence what I have learnt is that always do what makes you happy
is that always do what makes you happy
is that always do what makes you happy have a life beyond work move out of your
have a life beyond work move out of your
have a life beyond work move out of your comfort zones I have traveled across the
comfort zones I have traveled across the
comfort zones I have traveled across the world and a lot of times solo just to
world and a lot of times solo just to
world and a lot of times solo just to fight my fears just to fight my
fight my fears just to fight my
fight my fears just to fight my anxieties out of curiosity to see how
anxieties out of curiosity to see how
anxieties out of curiosity to see how people live in other countries how
people live in other countries how
people live in other countries how empowered of women are they similar
empowered of women are they similar
empowered of women are they similar towards are they different and I’ve made
towards are they different and I’ve made
towards are they different and I’ve made friends I have learned so much and in
friends I have learned so much and in
friends I have learned so much and in the bargain I have also been able to
the bargain I have also been able to
the bargain I have also been able to test my support system back at home life
test my support system back at home life
test my support system back at home life is a marathon do not sprint it take
is a marathon do not sprint it take
is a marathon do not sprint it take risks I can tell you the best of
risks I can tell you the best of
risks I can tell you the best of opportunities that I had always came
opportunities that I had always came
opportunities that I had always came when no one else was willing to take
when no one else was willing to take
when no one else was willing to take them when they was chaos when they were
them when they was chaos when they were
them when they was chaos when they were critical deadlines I grabbed those
critical deadlines I grabbed those
critical deadlines I grabbed those opportunities
opportunities
opportunities and that’s when I got recognized it’s
and that’s when I got recognized it’s
and that’s when I got recognized it’s very important to build a network of
very important to build a network of
very important to build a network of family support and strength and
family support and strength and
family support and strength and celebrate life celebrate your gender do
celebrate life celebrate your gender do
celebrate life celebrate your gender do not be afraid live free my right has
not be afraid live free my right has
not be afraid live free my right has been worth it
been worth it
been worth it I’ve always believed that fortune favors
I’ve always believed that fortune favors
I’ve always believed that fortune favors the brave
the brave
the brave good luck comes to those who work hard
good luck comes to those who work hard
good luck comes to those who work hard and take risks I believe it’s one life
and take risks I believe it’s one life
and take risks I believe it’s one life make it worthwhile
make it worthwhile
make it worthwhile I believe go all-in lock stock and
I believe go all-in lock stock and
I believe go all-in lock stock and barrel grit and perseverance always pays
barrel grit and perseverance always pays
barrel grit and perseverance always pays after two successful careers and 20
after two successful careers and 20
after two successful careers and 20 years of work I still believe there’s so
years of work I still believe there’s so
years of work I still believe there’s so much more to do and I continue to
much more to do and I continue to
much more to do and I continue to believe I know nothing like my friend
believe I know nothing like my friend
believe I know nothing like my friend Jon Snow and the journeys just started
Jon Snow and the journeys just started
Jon Snow and the journeys just started and I have miles to go before I sleep
and I have miles to go before I sleep
and I have miles to go before I sleep thank you so much
thank you so much
thank you so much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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