My Journey to Owning My Achievements

While reading How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith, one particular chapter stopped me in my tracks — Reluctance to Claim Your Achievements.

It’s something many women professionals experience: the instinct to deflect praise, to share credit (even when it’s not due), and to soften the spotlight when it’s pointed their way.

As I read about a senior professional who, even in a high-stakes interview, kept mentioning her colleague’s contributions over her own, a vivid memory of mine surfaced.

A few years ago, I had led a significant Learning & Development and Talent initiative in my organization — a program that required months of effort, stakeholder management, creative design, and seamless execution. When the project concluded successfully, I was called out in a team meeting for the achievement. Instead of standing tall in that moment, I instinctively slid into sharing mode. I said, “It was a team effort,” and even added names on the presentation slide to acknowledge others who had helped.

That’s when my leader gently but firmly interrupted:

“Talk about what you did. Yes, they supported you, but this is your work — own it.”

That moment stayed with me. Because while collaboration is key, undermining your contribution doesn’t serve anyone — not even your team. It shrinks your space. It erases the hours you’ve poured in. And most importantly, it subtly tells others that maybe you didn’t lead the effort at all.

Fast forward to now, I find myself in a similar — but much prouder — space.

I’ve written and published a book: “Learnager” — a guide to embracing lifelong learning in the modern world.

📘 It’s available on:

Amazon KDP – LEARNAGER : From Learning to Leading in the Real World 

 https://amzn.in/d/badNOEx 

Pothi- https://publish.pothi.com/books/ebooks/

This time, I’m claiming it — fully and unapologetically.

Because this book is my idea, my research, my words, and my message to the world. It was born from my own learning journey and a deep desire to help others evolve as learners in their careers and lives.

And I wrote it just six months after completing my PhD — a milestone I’m equally proud of.

So here I am, breaking my own habit, publicly acknowledging that this is my achievement.

Not out of arrogance. But out of ownership.

Not to overshadow others, but to stand in my own light.

To every woman who finds herself brushing off praise —

Pause.

Breathe.

And say, “Yes, I did this.”

Because you did.

And it matters.

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