Gratitude To Mothers Around the World for Their Lessons on Life

As we head into this Mother’s Day weekend, I find myself reflecting on the aspirations and lessons my mother instilled in me, on my role as a mom, and how this has continued to shape the way I show up at home and at work.

I grew up in an era in India where most women didn’t work in business. Your path was largely already paved out as a mother and as a wife. And while those are both honorable and meaningful roles in life, I saw the world through a broader lens – the lens of my mother who went against the grain, and who pursued a career in business. My mother, who worked as a public relations professional for a Canadian company, as we grew up in Bangalore, set an example that set me on a path to meaningful success far beyond what I would have imagined then.

She instilled in me three simple, but poignant life lessons:

1.      “Alive at 25” – This might sound dramatic, but growing up in India, and in a world where kids are exposed to too-much-too-soon, this was a very real mantra of survival and setting your kids up with the right values and skills to have the best shot at a good life.

2.      “Be independent” – Again, this might sound obvious in today’s world, but it was almost a radical notion in India. She meant be independent financially and emotionally. Live by your own values and your own standards.

3.      “Make a contribution to the society” – I always knew I wanted to bring my own unique brand of value to my professional pursuits…

During this pandemic, there have been many teachable moments, for all of us. I went from an executive traveling 250,000 miles a year, to finding more equilibrium at home as a mom and as a wife.

You could say I had an ah-ah moment (perhaps several of them). All the lessons my mother instilled in me came full circle. The pandemic was just the forcing function. I realized that the example she set for me, I would set for my daughters. I realized you can find balance – continue to deliver at work and be a lot more present with family. I realized that if I could re-discover my connection and presence at home, I would show up as a better version of myself at work.

I also realized that I needed to carry my ‘ah-ha’ epiphany over to my work in new ways, and to set an example for my other family at Cisco. It’s not a coincidence that my purpose as CMO is all about creating meaningful and deeper connections for people. My job is to break down the barriers to this new world we live in and create inclusive experiences and a more inclusive world.

In connecting my past with my present, a new lesson emerged: that in giving people the independence to forge their own path, to work in the way that works best for them, from anywhere, we are creating a space for folks – family or colleagues – to be the best, independent, but deeply connected, versions of themselves.

Honoring my mother, and all the mothers’, who have taught us to be the best versions of ourselves.

#MothersDay #Inclusivity #AspireToBe