From Self-Doubt to Leadership: Pooja Jugran

“I have built my career brick by brick, through restarts, resilience and self-belief.”

Over two decades, my journey has been shaped by many transitions. Marriage. Motherhood. New roles. Each milestone brought momentum, but also moments of doubt. Resilience was not a choice; it became second nature.

The real shift came when I moved from being an individual contributor to becoming a manager. Confidence gave way to constant questions. Am I liked? Am I respected? Too soft? Too tough?

Leading a team, some more experienced than me, felt like navigating unfamiliar territory. The climb upward felt lonelier than any setback before it.

That was when Amandeep Singh, then Business Head of Communications for the region, stepped in.

He created a space where I could voice doubts I hadn’t said out loud. In one of our conversations, he spoke about the difference between a coach and a team captain. A leader, he said, must know when to step back and create space, and when to step in and lead from the front.

Our weekly conversations went far beyond business. We spoke about trust, feedback, presence and the discomfort of authority. He helped me see feedback as fuel, not friction, and leadership as something to own, not perfect.

That shift changed everything. How I showed up. How my team responded. How I grew.

With his belief, I moved from questioning myself to leading with clarity. I went on to lead a larger business as IBU Head, but more importantly, I grew into the role with confidence.

My journey has shown me that women do not lack ambition or capability. What often makes the difference is having leaders who are willing to back them.

Sometimes leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about having someone who helps you trust your own.

Because of that belief, I didn’t just stay. I rose.