Reflecting on a Year of Transformation

As we bid farewell to 2023, I find myself pausing to reflect on a truly transformative year filled with invaluable learnings, experiences, and exciting endeavours. Over the past 12 months, I had the privilege of leading and delivering Microsoft #CoPilot experiences, navigating the complexities of leading global teams, setting up my own organisation ZayStack Intellizence and immersing myself in the wealth of knowledge brought forth by exceptional product managers, designers, engineers, mentors, coaches, leaders, customers and partners.

Learning 1: Surround yourself with talented humble people

The richness of talent, intellect, and humility exhibited by my remarkable team and colleagues became a constant source of inspiration, propelling me to approach each day with tenacity and focus. We chose to do things not because they were easy, but they mattered, were complex and were right things to do.

Learning 2: Culture is the core for nurturing talent and ambitions

My tenure with #Microsoft has been nothing short of extraordinary. The exposure to world-class design teams, product managers, engineers has enriched my professional journey in ways I could not have imagined. This journey also paved the way for a bold decision—to part ways with Microsoft and embark on a new adventure with #Zaystack.

Lesson 3: Disrupt and challenge yourself, embrace and plan the future

From the Internet to mobile to #AI, my journey spans roles in #Consulting, #CTO, and leading products. Continuously challenging myself to explore new areas, this year marked the establishment of my organisation—a testament to my commitment to perpetual learning and growth.

Lesson 4: Prioritise stages of your life

Six months ago, I made a conscious decision to strike a balance in my life, and I am deeply grateful for the warmth and support extended by leaders at #microsoft, as I embraced a new chapter focused on family, a new home, and the joy of witnessing my children grow. That is my goal for next couple of years.

Lesson 5: Be bold, continue to learn and find a ways to give back

Zaystack is more than just a venture; it is a commitment to professional growth, a dedication to prioritising life balance, and an ongoing pursuit of collaboration with brilliant minds across industries. I am humbled to have had the opportunity to meet and engage with exceptional individuals, some of whom have become not just colleagues but friends.

Lesson 6: Gratitude

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all my friends, colleagues at Microsoft, my new partners, and customers for making this year an exceptionally blessed one. Your support and collaboration have been instrumental in shaping the success and meaningful impact of this transformative journey.

Lesson 7: Optimism

As I step into the new year with enthusiasm and optimism, I look forward to continued growth, learning, and the exciting challenges that lie ahead. Here's to a remarkable 2024 filled with shared successes and collaborations! #NewBeginnings #Gratitude #ProfessionalJourney

Thank you all for making this year such a wonderful experience.

My ex MSFT Team - Nithin Ismail Sarah Zaki Amya Rai Rishabh Singh Pankaj Jain Saurabh Agrawal Gaurav Chaula Mohit Anand Hitesh Ghandwal Amit Bajaj Shawn Villaron Kim Denny Rolly Seth Rahul Gupta Neeraj Sharma Harshit Kapoor Ankuj Gupta Ridhima Gupta Aparna Jethani Dhruv Dahiya Lakshay Gupta Utkarsh Verma Sandeep Srivastava and many more.. Thank you!

My mentors/coach, team, partners, customers and community - Avishkar Mehrotra Himani Agrawal Amit Rajput Sumit Kumar Singh Manpreet Singh Ahuja Namita Rajnikant InterviewClub PMx - The Product Management Mixer Club Bhavna Agarwal Masters' Union Sudhanshu Garg Ankur Sethi Swati Ganeti Neo Navigate PUNEET AGARWAL Rajiv Gupta Rajiv Arora NEERAJ BANSAL Aparna Gupta Gopi Srinivasan Sudhir Sadhoo Puneet Jain Paramdeep Kour RATHI RANJAN DASGUPTA and many many more... Humbled to have you all as my guiding beacon !!