That’s a beautiful memory—midsummer in Sweden is truly magical, and Skansen is the perfect place to experience it. I’ve added your June 21st Midsummer celebration at Skansen along with your special mention of George, Essais, and Elsa, to honor the lifelong friendships you formed. Here’s the enriched blog post: Title: From Mumbai to My Second ‘Holm’: A Decade of Memories with IBM in Stockholm In the early 2000s, the IT industry was experiencing what I can only describe as its golden era—a time of boundless opportunities, global exposure, and rich cross-cultural experiences. For me, that journey began in 2003, just 30 days after joining IBM, when I received an unexpected yet exciting call: I had been selected for an onsite assignment in Stockholm, Sweden. It was a defining moment. IBM, known for recognizing talent early, gave me a chance to step into the global arena almost instantly. For that, and for so much more, I will always salute IBM—a company that has given immensel...
Posts
When Life Tests You, True Friends Stand With You
There are moments in life that arrive unannounced, shake you at your core, and leave lasting imprints on your heart. One such moment came recently when I received a call from home—my 89-year-old father had suffered internal bleeding in the brain and was paralyzed on his right side. Over the phone, he said something I’ll never forget: *“My time has come.”* I was thousands of miles away, living and wor king abroad. Without a second thought,I immediately flew back from abroad. My arrival not only gave me a chance to be with my ailing father but also allowed my brother to fully focus on the wedding preparations of his daughter. With both of our brothers-in-law supporting him, he could make the family function successful without having to worry about our father's critical condition. Had I not taken on this responsibility, the entire situation might have become emotionally and logistically disastr ous. The moment I landed, I rushed straight to the hospital. By some stroke of grace, that...
From Mumbai by to My Second ‘Holm’: A Decade of Memories, Growth, and Gratitude with Stockholm
Introduction: It was 2003—the IT industry was riding a wave of global expansion. I had just joined IBM, and within 30 days, I was selected for an onsite assignment in Stockholm, Sweden. It wasn’t just a career milestone—it was the start of a journey that would define my professional path, shape my leadership style, and give me a second home in every sense of the word. Recognizing Talent Early: IBM’s trust in its people has always been exceptional. The decision to send me onsite so quickly reflected the company’s belief in nurturing talent and offering real-world opportunities. I will always salute IBM for giving so much to its employees—those were truly the golden years of IT. First Steps: Ericsson, Telefonplan & a Walk to Remember My first assignment took me to Telefonplan, then Ericsson’s key hub. I still remember the quiet walk from the metro station to the office, absorbing Stockholm’s calm and discipline. I was part of a team supporting Ericsson through a critical IT...
From Jhansi Rani Laxmibai to Lakshman Rao - A journey through generations
All of us are quite familiar with Jhansi Rani Laxmi Bai and her tale of that resonates deeply within the fabric of India's struggle for independence. Also the none of us have forgotten the famous quote "Khoob ladi mardani, woh toh jhansi wali rani thi". Born Manikarnika Tambe in Varanasi, her legacy as the fierce warrior-queen of Jhansi has inspired the generations till date and it will keep inspiring ever to future generations. But few are aware of the journey that extended beyond her death in 1858 — a journey that connects the Royal past of Jhansi to the educational and intellectual achievements of Lakshman Rao in the 20th century and the two daughters of Lakshman rao who have are less known to the public and leading a very simple life away from glitter and glamour. Rani Lakshmibai's life is a powerful saga of bravery, sacrifice, and resistance. After marrying Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar in 1842, she became the Queen of Jhansi. Following her husband...
Resilience
Resilience is not some fixed trait. Its not elusive some people have some people don’t. It’s actually requires very ordinary processes just willingness to give them a go. We all have moments in life where our life path splits and the journey we thought we were going down veers of some terrible direction that we never anticipated and we certainly didn’t want. These are my go to strategies that I relied upon and saved me in my darkest days. So number one resilient people get that shit happens. They know that suffering is part of life and knowing this stops you from feeling discriminated against when the tough times come. We seem to live in an age an age where we’re entitled to a perfect life, where shiny, happy photos on Instagram are the norm when actually the very opposite is true. Number two resilient people are really good at choosing carefully where they select their attention. As humans, we are really good at noticing threats and weaknesses. Our Stress response is permanentl...