How “Corporate” Changed Me
From hesitation to quiet confidence, this is a reflection on entering the corporate world, learning through fear, and growing without having all the answers.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
Rutuja Joshi
12/28/20251 min read
When I entered the corporate world, I was the new girl, and I knew nothing about how things worked.
My reaction was a mix of excitement, nervousness, and immense pride for where I hail from. Everything is new to me: new faces, new interactions, new expectations.
At first, I was hesitant to speak out.
Afraid of saying something wrong.
Afraid of asking questions.
Afraid of being judged.
However, the last year has altered my life in ways I had never anticipated.
Gradually, I began reaching out to people. I started to deal with conversation tasks with international clients, resolve problems, and learn about responsibilities that go beyond my task. I have been conversing with program managers and directors. This, at first, was something that I thought could never happen, but now seems to be a part of my path.
The fear didn’t disappear.
It decreased with experience.
Each call, each meeting, each small talk taught me something. I realised that confidence does not lie in knowing all the answers, but in the willingness to learn, to say, and retry.
There’s much more yet to happen.
Many things to learn.