In the last 12 months, what was your most challenging professional decision? What made it challenging? 

Building a product company was always on my bucket list and once I got an opportunity and ideas, it was a challenging decision to really give it a complete and honest effort. The challenge was not just building the product but finding the right partners, ecosystem connections and funding to enable the same. A methodological approach led to the right partners and connections with other startup, university, research and industry leaders. It has been the most rewarding and challenging experience. Adjusting to the fast-changing technology trends, ecosystem needs, learning, researching and navigating the vast unknowns is thrilling and I had no qualms when I ventured in this adventure. The most interesting aspect has been the business side of the ecosystem dependencies and making decisions on the long term impacts with technology, products and revenue models.

Describe a time when you sacrificed to achieve an important goal. 

Building a company from scratch meant, planning and staying ahead in all aspects, from technology, connections, business development, fund raising, innovation and navigating the vast unknowns. What that meant was staying focused at the one and only goal, navigating through difficult transitions and letting go of lesser priority things. Many last-minute changes in the directions, travel plans meant saying no to many aspects and some unwanted changes. 

Describe the most stressful, high-pressure situation you've been in at work. How did you navigate it? 

After collaborating for months together very closely from product, business, customer strategies and investment options, we had to make a hard decision of putting our safety initiative and collaboration on hold. We tried various options and finally concluded to put the initiative on hold for foreseeable future, and focus on solidifying the existing product base, while staying connected and continue to collaborate and contribute in other ways.

Describe a risky decision you made at work. Why was it risky, and what was the outcome of that decision? 

Doing anything first time, navigating unknowns always has risks, doing it with a new venture completely from scratch has even more existential risks than doing in an established organization. Starting a company in an automotive ecosystem where I did not have any connections even from previous employers and roles, was especially challenging, but that made it even more motivating to take it on. I am so glad, I took this path and in process not just established ecosystem connections, but learnings which would not have been possible to accomplish from outside.