From IT to the Indian Army

Today's LinkedIn interview series is different. It is the story of a guy who moved from IT to the Indian Army. He is a very good friend of mine, and let's call him Captain Manik Mulla.

After three years, we caught up again to talk about his journey, how the transition from corporate life to the Army works, and how it changes your perspective on life, career, discipline, and priorities. Here you go:

The transition phase
The transition into the Army comes with a very different kind of shock. Your waking hours, sleeping routine, exercise, running, discipline, and even the environment you live in can be completely different from a regular corporate life.
Everyone has their own coping mechanisms; he leaned on friendships and the community built within the regiment.

From corporate goals to a purpose beyond yourself
In corporate life, we have our 9-to-5 routines, roles, hierarchies, projects, and career goals.
But when you join the Army, the picture changes. Your goal is to serve the country. Your work is connected to the safety of people and the nation. The impact of your decisions goes beyond your own career. And that changes the way you look at commitment, discipline, and even your dreams.

Your work is no longer just about how far you go. It is also about what depends on you.

Priorities
Another major shift is the priority of life. In a regular life, we try to balance work, family, relationships, and personal goals. In the Army, duty to the country comes first, followed by family and other personal priorities.

Women in Leadership
One of the things I was particularly curious about was the role of women in the Army, especially in positions that demand immense mental and physical strength.
During our conversation, Manik shared a lot of examples of the bravery of women in the team.

He also spoke about the mental and physical strength of women cadets in his circle.
There is still a long way to go in terms of representation, but it is encouraging to see women pursuing roles that demand so much from them. 🫡

Lesson to live by:
One of the strongest lessons Manik shared was that you have to prove your worth every single day.
In many careers, a mistake may affect a project, a deadline, or a team's performance. In the Army, the consequences of not being prepared or capable can extend far beyond you. They can affect your team, the people you are responsible for, and the mission itself.

It is no longer just about proving yourself to a manager or moving ahead in your career. It is about being dependable when other people are counting on you.

Being in the Army is a choice, but it is also a commitment that shapes the way you live, think, and see the world.

Some people teach you through books. Some through their work. And some through the choices they make and the lives they build around those choices. Manik has been that inspiration for me. 💖

Thank you, Captain. Until next time :)