7:30 pm, January 15th. A startup office at an incubation building in Bangalore. People are packing off for the day.

“Knock, Knock”, there was somebody at the door. An employee opens and there is a young lady on the other side.

“I know software, do you have a job?”, the young lady asks.

Taken a bit aback, the employee goes in and tells the founder. He comes out and meets a spirited, energetic girl, “What’s up?” he asks. She says, she’s come all the way from Varanasi looking for a job. She applied for many positions but didn’t get any call. So she decided to get out, get into every incubation center, knock all doors and land up in a job.

Well, anyway, that was the plan.

I heard the story and I had faint smile: Isn’t this the golden opportunity each of us yearn for? Will somebody bet on me? The starting point of progress is a bet someone places on you. I can tell you that.

Like a movie, I close my eyes. Go down the memory lane. Little stories trickle in…and here’s a couple from my days in Microsoft …

I was offered a 6 month international assignment on Global Strategy landing. It was a different culture. A deeply technical team. A lot of travel. Sky high expectations. It was away from the comfort zone – without an idea of the role after the assignment.

The initial excitement had quickly waned and the fears were overwhelming. My heart said yes! But I kept wondering, was I taking too deep a plunge which would spell disaster.

However, I drew courage from the fact that there were managers who bet on me. I remembered Yogi Berra, “If you come to a fork, take it”. I finally bet on myself and it was a life changing experience.

Some years later, another call. I was asked to head a domain in which I had very little experience. Another elephant in another dark room. Very soon I realized the shallow inches of my knowledge. Nervous days filled with self-doubt. Will I make the cut?

I was working 24*7, but still felt a void. One morning after the first 3 months, there was a personalized message from the leader on my board which said….Your energy and passion amazes me, there couldn’t have been a better landing!

And the elephant room filled with light.

Some years later, another call. I was asked to head a domain in which I had very little experience. Another elephant in another dark room. Very soon I realized the shallow inches of my knowledge. Nervous days filled with self-doubt. Will I make the cut?

I was working 24*7, but still felt a void. One morning after the first 3 months, there was a personalized message from the leader on my board which said….Your energy and passion amazes me, there couldn’t have been a better landing!

And the elephant room filled with light.

The next day onwards, I was a changed person. When your mind is free from the fears of failure you get inspired to dream big.

As I went ahead in my life’s journey, I had a definite urge to instil the same philosophy. I wanted to give back too. I wanted to bet on people – across all walks of life.

Can I bet on underprivileged girls to complete their college? On them being part of the work force? Transform a life otherwise spent in manual labor and make them a data analyst?

With friends, we have been betting on girl students for the last 5 years by sponsoring their higher education. Last year, the first batch entered the work force. One of the girls from a government college joined as a Data Analyst. Another one is grooming to be a computer teacher. Small steps. Big difference in their lives.

“I know software, do you have a job?”, the young lady asks.

The manager thought, wow, now that’s new! He was amazed by her grit. But he had no opening for freshers. In a start-up world, it’s always a tight ship – a right hire is critical. She still went through the interview process, the team found her bright, and she was hired as a “path finder” – someone who will be inquisitive to figure out about new technologies. She joined the company the very next day. And has been inseparable from her VR goggles ever since.

With a gleam in her eyes, Priyanka said “I’m truly lucky to find somebody hire me for my spirits than just my qualifications”. She has good days, bad days, and sometimes lonely days. And her attitude to all this is “I’m here for a purpose, to make a difference”.

Priyanka. Irina. You. Everyone is the product of a set of bets great managers have placed on them.

Now it is your turn. Bet on people.

Put them out of their comfort zone. Throw them into a dark room with an elephant. Their eagerness to make good your bet will drive them to strive hard. Will make them master the unknown. Will lead them to figure out the elephant.

And fill the world with light. 

Happy Women’s Month!