That has been my journey.
I have worked in both corporate environments and startups. I have seen how different and yet similar these two worlds can be. I lived the classic 9-to-5, trying to climb the ladder to success in a well-established corporation. People always said getting into a corporate role is the hardest part because of the competition, but excelling in it? That’s easy. You just need to ‘SWITCH!,’ either departments, roles, or even companies to keep growing.
At first, corporate life seemed fun and easy. I walked in, explored, and quickly adapted. The stability was comforting, and of course, the joy of seeing a salary credited at the end of each month was unmatched. The structure provided clarity, the hierarchy gave direction, and the resources available made execution relatively smooth. However, this world also came with its challenges. Decision-making often felt slow, bound by layers of approvals. Creativity, though encouraged, had to be within set frameworks. And the biggest challenge? Standing out. When you’re part of a massive workforce, making a tangible impact can sometimes feel like trying to be heard in a crowded room.
Then came the shift to a startup.
Working at a startup feels like running a sprint that never ends. You have to juggle many roles, often at the same time, since there’s no set job description. One day, I might focus on brand marketing, and the next, I’m working on partnerships. It’s exciting because there’s so much variety, but it also comes with a lot of uncertainty. With limited resources, we often rely on creative solutions, which we call 'Jugaad' in India. There are no safety nets or clear paths to follow, but that makes the learning experience so much more rewarding. Every decision I make has a real impact, every win feels personal, and I learn something valuable from every mistake.
I faced challenges in both my corporate job and the startup environment, but they were really different. In my corporate job, I enjoyed the stability, but there were times when the strict rules felt limiting. On the other hand, working at a startup gave me the freedom to try new things, but it also came with a lot of unpredictability and stress. Each experience taught me valuable lessons: the corporate world showed me how important structure and processes can be, while the startup taught me how to be resilient and adaptable.
Looking back, I wouldn’t choose one over the other. Instead, I see the value in both. The corporate world gave me discipline, strategic thinking, and the ability to navigate hierarchies. The startup world made me resourceful, agile, and comfortable with uncertainty. And perhaps the biggest lesson of all? Success isn’t about choosing one path, it’s about taking the best of both worlds and creating a path that works for you.
