Crafting a C-Suite Career: what you need to know

The Truth About Getting Unstuck: A VP's Guide to Thriving When Everything Feels Impossible

How an earthquake survivor and global career-changer built her way to AVP—and why she says you don't need to be an expert in everything

You're scrolling LinkedIn at 11 PM again. Another article about AI replacing jobs. Another post from someone who seems to have it all figured out. Another day where you felt like you were running hard but going nowhere.

Sound familiar?

Soumya Nair gets it. As AVP of Business Transformation at a global telecommunications company, she's navigated earthquakes (literal ones), international moves without a job lined up, and the relentless pace of technological change. Her journey from software analyst to C-suite executive isn't a straight line—and that's exactly why it's useful.

Because the straight line isn’t the norm.

The Secret Weapon You Already Have (But Might Be Ignoring)

Here's something most career advice won't tell you: that nagging feeling that you should have a perfect plan? It's actually holding you back.

"I do have a very strong internal compass, even though sometimes I don't have a formal plan laid out," Soumya explains. "My subconscious knows what I want or need. My core values have always guided me toward what is best for my career."

Wait—no five-year plan? No meticulously crafted roadmap? No executive career coach guiding your every step?

Nope. Just three words she kept coming back to: strategy, operations, and technology.

"Sometimes I stayed in roles instead of moving to more lucrative opportunities, but every time I made a decision, I was following an internal voice. It took me a while to understand that. Now I can see how all the dots connect."

This isn't about winging it. It's about knowing your core compass well enough to trust it when you are unsure about your next career move.

Your "Why" Is More Important Than Your Title

Let's talk about that career lull you're in. Maybe you've collected some impressive titles, but something feels... empty.

Soumya has a theory about that: "You can't just have a bunch of titles without knowing where you're going. The sense of why is very important—not just the company's why, but your internal why. Why are you here? What impact do you want to make?"

Before you groan at another "find your purpose", “what’s your why” lecture, stick with me. This isn't about quitting your job to become a yoga instructor in Bali (unless that's your thing—no judgment).

It's about this: Career and life must be approached holistically. Sometimes Soumya creates more value in her personal network—"helping someone unblock themselves or sharing a book"—than in her official role. It's all aligned with transformation, innovation, strategy, and operations, whether personal or organisational.

The impact you make doesn't always fit on a performance review. And that's okay.

When Life Knocks You Down (Literally)

Two moments fundamentally shaped Soumya's approach to career challenges:

Being an earthquake victim: "I saw how fragile life is. That experience formed my foundation as a human being. I know what's important, and I know anything can be taken away in an instant."

Moving countries without a job: She relocated to Australia, decided within six months to do an MBA, faced social biases, and experienced serious low moments. "Now my bounce-back rate is quick because I've built strong self-awareness."

If you're feeling stuck right now, here's the uncomfortable truth: sometimes the friction you're experiencing is building you, not breaking you.

"Looking back, I've had a decade and a half of career and personal transitions," Soumya reflects. Those transitions built her answer to the question: "Who am I?"

That self-awareness? It's the foundation for everything else.

The Board Meeting You're Not Having (But Should Be)

Here's where Soumya's approach gets really interesting. She's built what she calls a "curated personal board of advisors." and some don't even know they're on it.

Inspired by Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats, she's assembled people who represent different perspectives and thinking styles. Not a formal mentorship program. Just intentional relationships with people who challenge and expand her thinking.

I can learn from anyone—any ethnicity, any gender—as long as it aligns and speaks to me. It's my responsibility to listen."

Notice what she's NOT saying? She's not waiting for the perfect mentor to magically appear. She's not networking for the sake of collecting LinkedIn connections. She has a strategic approach to the people she wants to surround herself by.

She's taking responsibility for her own learning.

How to Actually Network (When You'd Rather Not)

If the word "networking" makes you want to hide under your desk, Soumya's got a practical approach:

1. Go to curated events where like-minded people might be

2. Start talking—with no preconceived notions

3. Notice when conversations flow naturally

4. Meet again in a smaller setting—coffee, a drink

5. Be vulnerable, in a professional not personal context

6. Include "black hat" people—constructive critics (but not too many)

7. Make it reciprocal

8. Don't take it personally if someone doesn't respond

"Statistically, you will find your 10-20 people,". The goal isn't 500 LinkedIn connections. It's 10-20 real relationships that matter.

The AI Question You're Actually Asking

Will AI take your job?

Soumya's been navigating technological tsunamis throughout her career. Her take is refreshingly practical.

"Change is constant. Leaders must stay aware of industry trends—not just listening to Gartner, but what's happening inside companies. Upskill continuously—it's not optional."

She's taken executive courses in data strategy while doing her MBA. But here's the relief: "Leaders don't need to code, but they need to understand how to make decisions."

You don't need to become a prompt engineer or learn Python (unless you want to). You need to understand how these tools change the game you're playing.

"Embrace agility—pivot with new information," she advises. The leaders who thrive aren't the ones who resist change or blindly chase every trend. They're the ones who stay aware and adjust strategically.

The Belief That Almost Broke Her (And How She Fixed It)

Here's Soumya's most surprising admission: "Early in my career, I tried to learn everything—automation, crisis management, Toyota Way, six thinking hats. I wanted to be an expert in everything."

Sound exhausting? It was.

"But at enterprise level, that belief broke. There's no time."

Her realisation changed everything:

• I don't need to be an expert in everything

• I need to collaborate with experts

• I need to understand my limitations

• I need to build a T-shaped profile—broad knowledge, deep expertise in a few areas

This is crucial for mid-career professionals: The thing that got you here (being the person who knows everything) might be the thing holding you back from getting there (building influence at scale).

"Humility and self-awareness are essential," she notes. "Humbleness comes from knowing you're not the expert in everything."

Building Influence Without Losing Yourself

As Soumya moved from team lead to enterprise-level roles, one thing changed: "What grew was my ability to understand more vectors."

Influence isn't about being the smartest person in the room. It's about:

• Deep empathy

• Understanding customer needs

• Clarity of vision

• Personal self-coaching

• Patience

• Knowing when to listen and when to act

• Getting people to buy into the same goal

• Pivoting based on new information

And sometimes? "The best thing to do is be patient and do nothing."

That last one is gold for mid-career professionals who feel pressure to constantly prove their value. Patience is a skill, not a weakness.

Your Three-Step Action Plan (That Actually Works)

If you're feeling stuck, anxious about AI, or just tired of running without getting anywhere, Soumya suggests three actionable moves:

1. Align With Your Core Values

"This takes deep, sometimes uncomfortable self-reflection. Values change over time—stay aware."

Not sure what your core values are? Start noticing what energises you versus what drains you. Track it for a week. Patterns will emerge. Use AI to create a list of values and some key prompt questions to narrow your list down.

2. Commit to Continuous Learning (But Be Strategic)

"Build a T-shaped profile. Don't try to be an expert in everything."

Pick one or two areas to go deep. Everything else? Know enough to collaborate effectively. That's it.

3. Build Your Advisory Board and Network

"Personal and professional networks blur. These people keep you grounded, aligned, and supported."

Start with one person this week. Have one real conversation. Not a transactional "let's connect on LinkedIn" chat. An actual conversation about something that is top of mind for you that your contact could offer you advice on.

Soumya's message for mid-career professionals facing uncertainty is surprisingly simple: "You need to understand your core really well to be able to apply anything else on yourself."

That stuck feeling? The AI anxiety? The sense that you should be further along?

It's not a sign that you're failing. It's a sign that you're at a decision point.

You can keep rinse and repeat the same moves, or you can pause long enough to ask: Who am I? What do I actually value? Where do I want to make impact?

And in a world where AI can do more every day, your unique perspective—grounded in your values, shaped by your experiences, expressed through your relationships—is the one thing that can't be automated.

"Authenticity and connecting to your core are critical. Innovation is often about empathy and deeply understanding the problem you're trying to solve."

So maybe the question isn't "Will AI take my job?"

Maybe it's "Am I clear enough on my core to navigate whatever comes next?"

Watch the full interview with Soumya and Bec McIntosh: Crafting a C-Suite Career. What you need to KNOW! on the Career Jam YouTube channel