A Project Manager's 13-Year Journey
As a Project Manaer at Javra Software, my journey has been one of both challenges and growth. Over 13 years, I have learnt lessons that have shaped me into the professional I am today. In this post, I’wll reflect on how my role as a Project Manager in Javra and in Nepal as evolved. But first let’s congratulate on 25th Anniversary of Javra.
Congratulations on 25th Anniversary
Gosh, this is incredible. I’m unsure if I can find the right words to express my feelings to all of you. I hope my intentions come through, though. Let me give it a shot.
When I first stepped into Javra, it was already well into its 12th year, and now, here I am, still running alongside it in the same year.
First and foremost, congratulations to every one of us. This is a monumental milestone, something we should take pride in. Absolutely.
Before I jump into anything else, I just have to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to our CEO, Frank Mollers. Frank, your leadership, dedication, and sheer perseverance over the past 25 years have been the backbone of Javra’s success. Your vision has shaped Javra into what it is today, and for that, I am sincerely thankful. Your passion for innovation and unwavering belief in our potential have inspired every one of us to aim higher and push further. So, here’s to you, Frank, our incredible leader, for paving the way for us to not just survive, but to truly thrive and flourish. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
You know, they say that your thirties are supposed to be the best years of your life. It’s not because of some magical maturity switch that suddenly flips, but because you’ve been around the block a few times and learned a thing or two along the way. But hey, let’s not get too caught up in talking about maturity, because that’s definitely not what this is about. Not at all, trust me! 😄
When I first joined Javra, I was on the verge of hitting my thirties, while most of my colleagues were still in their early twenties. I’ll admit, I felt like I was lagging behind a bit, starting “late” in the game. Well, at least sometimes I still feel that way. But you know what? Most of the time, not at all.
The thing that set me apart from my younger peers was that I didn’t have as much room for error. I needed to get things right, more often than not, right from the get-go. And Javra? Well, it was the perfect place for me to do just that. I couldn’t afford to stumble here; failure simply wasn’t an option.
My sincere and special “Thanks”
Alright, let’s kick this off with a little fun fact: Remember? (my team members by then) when one of the projects in 2019 rolled out, and I ended up thanking a whopping 40 colleagues? Yep, that was a wild ride, considering it was just a six-month project. Back on January 28, 2019, for the same, I sent out a thank-you email that was probably longer than an epic fantasy novel, seriously, it might have set a new record for the longest email from our beloved CEO, Frank. But hold onto your hats, folks, because Frank’s last longest email sent out put mine to shame, knocking me right into second place. Now, imagine me thanking folks from my entire 12-year journey, both inside and outside of Javra. If I had to draft an email, I’m pretty sure I would’ve smashed all the records again, but hey, lucky you Frank, this time you still hold the title for the longest email. Did you know? When we all sat down to read your longest novel… er, I mean, email, some of us had to take multiple coffee breaks, some finished 2 litres of water while reading, and I’m pretty sure a few of us even started dreaming about work logs with your name all over them. Cheers to you, Frank, for keeping us entertained and hydrated with your epic emails!
If I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to over 20 projects, work alongside 180+ incredible colleagues, and hold 5 different titles along the way, it cannot go without saying that there are many people I owe a debt of gratitude to, right?
None of this would have been possible without the support and guidance of Mohan Niroula and Manash Shrestha. I truly cannot thank them enough for their invaluable mentorship and support. And of course, huge shoutouts to my mentors, supervisors, and leaders at Javra, Gaurav Dhungana and Anjana Shrestha. They’ve always been there to remind me of why I was hired and what I should be striving for. These are truly amazing individuals, and I owe so much of my growth and success to them. Little did I know, their guidance would shape my journey here at Javra in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
My First Project
When you share the journey with Javra, it’s impossible not to mention the journey of our first project.
There’s this unusual thing about wanting something desperately, you assign it immense value until you finally have it in your grip.
But once it’s yours, that value somehow becomes less. It’s like getting a new toy, you grow it with attention and care, but as it ages, you start to take it for granted, thinking you’ll do better next time. That’s exactly what happened with my first project. I poured my heart into nurturing it with the knowledge I had then, but truth be told, I wasn’t quite equipped to handle it properly. The project didn’t quite hit the mark, but it taught me invaluable lessons, and I vowed to apply my newfound knowledge to the next endeavour.
Whenever Frank brings up that project and mentions the humongous hours we invested with little return, it’s a bit of a gut punch for me. Why, Frank, why remind us of that? For me, that project is like a child you’ve poured lots of money into, only to see it yield nothing in return 😄. My spoilt brat.
Thankfully, that first slip didn’t dampen Javra’s faith in me or our potential for success. They continued to invest in other projects, taking risks and pushing boundaries. Some projects soared, while others faltered, but each experience was a lesson in its own right. This is the essence of learning, you extract insights from failure and enjoy the successes when they come. And that’s precisely what I did.
My kind of temple
I may not be religious, not particularly an atheist, nor do I stick to any specific belief system, yet there are moments when I find myself bowing my head in respect. You see, my work is near to a sacred ritual for me. I worship this place because it’s where my dreams come alive, where I find nourishment not just for my career, but for my soul. In some cultures, people offer thanks before meals, and if I were to adopt such a practice, it would undoubtedly be directed towards Javra. So, from the depths of my being, I say, Thank you, Javra.
When I first stepped into Javra as a Junior Software Developer – Trainee, my college friends seemed to be hitting life milestones left and right. One bought a car, another owned some land, and yet another tied the knot. Meanwhile, I was just starting on my career journey. It made me pause and wonder, am I on the right path? After all, for our neighbours and extended family, these are the benchmarks of success, right? Car, house, spouse, kids, and a hefty paycheck?
But it took me a few years to realize that I was truly in my element at work. I’d wake up before the alarm even went off, eager to dive into the day’s tasks. Learning and growing in what I love doing most became my daily motivation. Success, I discovered, has a way of creeping up on you, like a baby learning to crawl. It comes at its own pace, at least it did for me. And hey, here’s a little wink to let you all know that I’ve managed to tick off a few of those milestones myself now. 😄
Special mention
My dad would have been smiling with pride right now. He always had this thing about wanting to hear good news. Whenever he’d call, he’d say, “Tell me something good.” I wish he could see where I am today. I know he’s up there watching, probably with a little smile on his face. Like all dads, he had these big dreams for me.
He’d be proud of how settled and independent I’ve become. I know I’ll fulfill all those dreams he had for me someday, and it’s all thanks to the foundation he provided me with. He nurtured me and then handed me over to Javra, and Javra, well, it’s given me everything he would’ve been proud of. I’ll always be grateful to Javra because even if I move on someday, the lessons I’ve learned here will stick with me as long as I’m working.
Congratulation dai for the remarkable journey.
It really hit hard when I read “I couldn’t afford to stumble here; failure simply wasn’t an option.”
I am remembering the story of “The Alchemist”, and how Paulo Coelho once said “When you want something desperately, the universe conspires to help you achieve it”.
Keep on inspiring us dai, wonderful insights !!
Wonderfully written and well deserved a Huge Congratulations and best wishes brother 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻