Two Decades of Becoming—Across Borders and Cultures

Twenty years ago, I landed in the Philippines for what I thought would be a short assignment. Just a project. A line on the resume.

I didn’t know then that it would turn into the most defining chapter of my adult life.

I didn’t just build a career here.
I built a home.
I built a sense of self I never expected.

The Arrival: Landing with a Playbook, Not Roots

When I first arrived, I came with confidence. Systems. Timelines. A leadership playbook that had worked well at home.

But it didn’t take long to see that what worked elsewhere wasn’t landing here.

People nodded...but it didn’t always mean “yes.”
Tasks were accepted...but deadlines slipped.
Silence filled the room...but it wasn’t apathy. It was respect. Politeness. Hesitation.

At first, I did what I always did.
I explained more. Pushed harder. Tried again.

But slowly, it became clear: the shift wasn’t on them.
It had to be on me.

Humility: Letting the Culture Lead

Those early months were full of small, humbling lessons.

Like the time someone asked me if I was angry, just because I stood with my hands on my waist.
Or the moment a talented team member told me she didn’t want to climb higher, but to step sideways into a role that suited her life better.
Or the countless times silence spoke louder than words.

I came to see that these weren’t obstacles.
They were invitations.

Invitations to unlearn.
To listen.
To grow.

I learned that shared meals mattered more than shared memos.
That people would work hard for you...but only after they trusted you.
That leadership here isn’t given freely. It’s earned quietly through presence, consistency, and care.

Finding My Place: Trust Built in Small Moments

Over time, I started leading differently.
Not louder, but closer.

As an introvert, I leaned into one-on-one conversations.
I stopped trying to impress, and started listening.
I stopped defending my culture, and started being curious about another.

I brought home cooked Indian food to the office, knowing I couldn’t always join every meal out.
I absorbed tough executive reviews so my team didn’t have to.
I watched them go from red to green...and then, with a rallying cry of “green to gold,” win a President’s Award as the best site in Asia Pacific.

But honestly, the bigger wins weren’t the awards.
They were the small, quiet shifts.
The day the team started breathing easier.
The moment someone opened up in a one-on-one.
The feeling of belonging that crept up on me without me even realizing.

Looking Back: The Growth Beyond Titles

Yes, I’ve grown professionally.
But if I’m honest, my personal growth has been much bigger than my career path.

I’ve learned patience.
I’ve learned humility.
I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about being right...it’s about being real.

I’ve learned that culture isn’t a barrier to manage...it’s a mirror.
It reflects who you are.
And if you let it, it shapes who you become.

Still Becoming

Now, as I stand at the 20 year mark, I look back with gratitude.

To the colleagues who turned into friends.
To the teams who trusted me...even when I didn’t always get it right.
To the country that showed me:

you don’t have to be born somewhere to belong there.

This isn’t the end of a chapter.
It’s just a pause.

A moment to say... I didn’t just work here.
I became here.

Thank you, Philippines.
Twenty years in...and I’m still learning. Still growing. Still becoming.

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