Apeksha Atal - Keep a Focus On What You Can Change, and for What You Can’t, Be Patient (Strategic Advisor to CEO - Niyo Solutions )

I do think school is really helpful in preparing someone for a job, but I certainly

don’t think that completing a specific degree is the only path towards a successful

career.

Tell us about your background, journey and upbringing.

I was born in Portland, Oregon, USA, and my family moved to India when I was 10 years old. Since then I’ve lived in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and New Delhi (even though my family hails from Rajasthan and Punjab). My parents made it a point to help me and my brother experience both sides of our identities throughout our childhood, by bringing elements of Indian culture to America and vice versa.

I’ve been brought up in a family that really values education - both of my grandfathers and one of my grandmothers went to college, as did my parents and my brother and myself. I really loved going to school and getting involved in any clubs I could, and thus found myself pursuing interest after interest, dreaming of what I would be when I got older.

When and how did you get clarity on what you wanted to do?

To say I have full clarity now would be inaccurate, but I definitely have a better idea of what my future holds.

When I was in school, my dream professions were anchored on certain skills I had. I liked speaking, so I wanted to be a lawyer; I liked biology, so I wanted to be a doctor. Overall, however, I always wanted to be in a position where I was helping other people and making meaningful contributions to society.

When I got to college and had the chance to take the classes that would prepare me for medical school, I quickly realized that my abilities were best concentrated elsewhere. Outside of my curriculum, I was involved in a whole range of clubs around the university including the college newspaper, tutoring, and leading our renowned Orientation program. These helped me better understand my affinity towards leadership, organization, management, and creative problem solving.

I did end up graduating with degrees in Biology and English, but shortly after decided to dip my toes into business. The more time I spend working in my capacities in HR, Strategy and Communications, the more I can see myself building strong companies that have the ability to truly impact society as we know it.

What does your typical work day look like?

I wake up pretty early most days so that I can comfortably work-out, eat breakfast and get some quiet time before the busy workday starts. Now that we’re all working from home, my commute involves walking over to my computer, turning it on, and logging in.

My day usually starts around 8:30 am when I start checking emails, and by 10 am meetings start. Since I work with so many verticals, I spend most days in meetings, talking to stakeholders within and outside the company, coordinating potential tie-ups, checking in with my teams and meeting with my bosses (our co-founders).

Outside of meetings I’m addressing emails, drafting crucial communications and policies, editing content, planning engagement activities, working on hiring strategies, working on our cultural development as an organization - the list goes on and on.

I have a pretty eclectic job, so every day and week and month brings a new set of tasks and challenges.

Several global companies have come out and thrown their support behind not needing a formal education. What is your opinion about this?

This depends on how you define a “formal education”. If you are talking about education within a field, then I am wholeheartedly behind this – as someone who does not come from a fintech background, I see a lot of value in bringing a variety of backgrounds into an industry.

Niyo, for example, really encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds (not only banking) to join our team. This not only promotes diversity within the organization, which helps us better represent our customers, brainstorm, and innovate, but also gives people the opportunity to shift gears and gain experience in a new field.

I do think school is really helpful in preparing someone for a job, but I certainly don’t think that completing a specific degree is the only path towards a successful career. There are lots of different experience combinations that can culminate in a compelling candidate, so it’s great to see companies broadening their criteria to give individuals from non-traditional backgrounds a chance to show their worth.

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How do you handle someone who has lied on their resume?

The hiring and interviewing process is not just about learning about a candidate, but also about developing a relationship with the candidate - one that will hopefully carry over into their role in the organization. Trust is a huge part of any relationship, be it personal or professional, and is thus a crucial element of the recruitment process. Dishonesty, such as through lying on a resume, shows a misalignment in the value system of the candidate and the company in question.

We make it a point to ask candidates questions from both their resumes and personal experiences, and often ask them to complete certain tasks to showcase their skills. If a candidate is being dishonest about their qualifications, it is inevitably revealed during the course of the recruitment process, and we don’t go forward with said candidate. We, of course, also perform background checks on all employees, so anything that does slip through the cracks during interviews will turn up during the verification process.

If I do notice a discrepancy in a candidate’s resume, I provide feedback where possible, explaining how certain fields on their resume may not accurately reflect their actual accomplishments or skills. I hope that this gives them a cue to update their resumes and present their authentic selves in future interviews.

What are some of your typical challenges and how have they evolved over time?

I wear a lot of hats at Niyo, so despite being a very methodical person, organization and time management are constant challenges. As I get comfortable with certain responsibilities, others will arise, and so I am constantly adapting. While this is challenging, it does keep my job interesting!

I also manage and work with verticals that are heavily intertwined with other key functions of the organization. Because of this, stakeholder management and clear communication are two of my top priorities, which also means that I typically get stuck answering emails well before and after the bounds of my workday.


What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs or those eyeing the top job?

There are a few mantras that I keep in mind, that I think are really key to hone in on while moving forward in your career:

This too shall pass -- Everyone falls into ruts, even people in the senior-most positions of a company. It is important to remember that even if a particular task or routine feels rote, that other variables are constantly changing, which means that opportunities will continue to ebb and flow around you. Keep a focus on what you can change, and for what you can’t, be patient.

Just do it -- I was born in Portland, so naturally Nike is a brand I resonate with; their slogan really speaks to me. A lot of what dictates your success as a contributor is being able to plan AND execute. If you have opportunities to take action, go for them! If you are waiting to take the next step, don’t wait for someone else to tell you how to proceed - ask the right questions, and take the initiative to drive things forward on your own. 

Being a force of change and action is a really powerful trait.
Ask and you shall receive -- I found my footing in my current company by paying attention to upcoming and existing opportunities, and simply asking to get involved. When you find things that pique your interest, it really doesn’t hurt to indicate your interest. The worst case scenario is that someone says no. The best case is that they note your interest and either get you involved in the current project or consider you for something similar. Remember, no one can read your mind, self-advocate and be vocal about both opportunities that interest you and projects you can learn from.

Network! -- I used to think this was a really stressful part of one’s professional life, but it is really as simple as forging relationships wherever possible. Get to know the people you meet, learn as much as you can from them, and stay in touch! As the saying goes, “your net worth is your network.”


Which is your favourite book and why?

As I mentioned earlier, I majored in English in college, so my list of favorite books is a hefty one. That being said, there are a few that I turn back to often when I need some inspiration.

I really love memoirs, and if I had to choose my favorites I’d go with Michelle Obama’s Becoming, Travor Noah’s Born a Crime, and Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog–one from my role model, one from a favorite comedian and one from Portland, Oregon (and the world of business). All of these books portray the resilience, willpower and energy that I strive to carry into my life.

I could go on forever, but some other favorites include Shakespeare’s Othello (even though it’s a play), The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind, and How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee.

Bio - 

Apeksha Atal was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up across both India and the United States. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with degrees in Biology and English. After graduating, she was accepted by the prestigious Fulbright Program from the U.S. Department of State to teach English in Thailand for a year. She currently works at Niyo Solutions Inc in Bengaluru, India as the Strategic Advisor to the CEO. Her interests include running, writing, reading, and painting. She is also a foodie, and enjoys a good movie every now and then.

You can check out her writing here.

You can listen to her podcast “No Talking At All” here.