Mastering Career Shifts

Anju Shrestha is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Himalayan Everest Insurance (HEI), the very first female CEO in the organization’s history and second in Nepal’s non-life insurance companies. Since becoming a part of the team in 1997, Ms. Shrestha has steadily risen through the ranks, starting as an Assistant Officer to now holding the topmost position in the company. Today, she oversees 84 branches across Nepal, spearheading the company’s strategy initiatives and ensuring it’s commitment to innovation, sustainable process-driven growth, and market leadership.

With nearly three decades of expertise and practical experience in the insurance industry, she is passionate about creating a meaningful impact and paving the way forward for more women leadership in the corporate world. Her leadership style emphasizes fostering effective collaboration, mentoring young talent, and promoting inclusivity. She is dedicated to empowering her team from grassroots level, creating a professional environment that is free from prejudice that inspires trust, drives progress, and strengthens the organization from a foundational level. 

5 tips that make a person career ready:

• The Three Ds: Determination, Dedication, Discipline

Ms. Shrestha attributes her success and leadership philosophy to the principles of determination, dedication, discipline. People who are striving to sustain a long-term career must ensure that they are determined to push through the challenges that come with their profession, dedicated to growth and excellence, and disciplined in their approach to effectively achieve both personal and organizational goals.

• Cultivate patience & resilience

Patience allows individuals to approach challenges with a calm and thoughtful perspective. It fosters the ability to listen, understand diverse perspectives, and know oneself. With patience comes resilience against setbacks and adversity. Patience paired with resilience equips individuals with the ability to navigate uncertainty, stay focused on their goals, and learn from the challenges they encounter.

• Practice transparency & honesty

An individual’s ability to building strong trust in professional relationships is rooted in transparency and honesty. Being open and honest about one’s intentions and ambitions opens them to different pathways for collaboration and learning.

• Living with Integrity

Integrity lies at the heart of every profession. For career readiness, integrity means being honest in your actions, delivering as promised, and maintaining consistent accountability. It’s about doing the right thing even when no one is watching, demonstrating unwavering commitment to ethical principles and personal values, regardless of circumstances.

• Navigate Self-awareness

Understanding oneself – your strengths, weaknesses, motivating triggers, goals, and values – is key for career readiness. This insight not only informs your choice of career pathway, but also helps you navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and identify appropriate opportunities taht align with your personal and professional aspirations.

4 things to do to ace the interview

• Deep dive into the company – thorough research into the company’s history, values, and missions can help you tailor your professional goals with the organization’s goals.
• Punctuality – showing up on time demonstrates discipline, respect, and professionalism, making a strong impression right from the start.
• Recognize your strengths and make sure to highlight them with confidence – identifying and showcasing your strengths effectively can demonstrate how you can add value to the organization.
• Clairty and passion – In order to express your enthusiasm, you must make sure you are passionate about the profession you have chosen. Be clear about why you want this role and what drives you towards it. Expressing honest passion with clarity during your interview can set you apart as a motivated candidate

3 things that get you noticed on the job

• Passion & Consistency

Leaders always recognize and trust those who maintain consistent performance with enthusiasm. Passion fuels motivation and consistent habits build trust towards you.

• Accountable/Ownership towards company

Taking responsibility for your tasks and outcomes highlight you as a dependable and proactive professional, showing that you are willing to own both your success and grow from mistakes.

• Growth mindset

Adapting a growth mindset helps you develop a willingness to learn and adapt. This inclues embracing constructive criticisms, seekings opportunities to improve, and showcasing your ability to innovate while sticking to the organization’s foundational values.

2 things that every leader must do

• Inspire and motivate! – A true leader has the ability to inspire and energize their team to identify and accomplish shared objectives that also align with each and every team member’s personal goals. This involves fostering professional respect for one another and valuing each others’ strengths and contributions. Great leaders must have the ability inspire intrisnic motivation in their team members and guide them to gain clarity in their sense of purpose.
• Clear communication & teamwork (honest feedback, conflict resolution)

Leaders must articulate goals, expectations, and feedback in a way that is clear and actionable. By gaining a deep understanding of team dynamics and individual personalities, the leader must encourage effective collaboration and create an environment where every member feels heard and empowered. A skilled leader is able to address conflicts constructively, ensuring that polarities are resolved in a way that strengthens relationships, fosters space for open dialogue, and maintains mutual respect.

1 valuable mantra you live by

• Do your best and trust the process

Doing the right things will always come full circle to you, even though they may take longer time than temporary gains through shortcuts. Acting with integrity, accountability, and honesty builds a solid foundation of trust, respect, and credibility over time. The results of ethical decisions and actions are more lasting and meaningful than quick fixes. The rewards of doing the right thing may take time, but they are always worth the wait.