I Am Who I Am: Growing, Learning, and Standing My Ground
A few pages from my diary …
At 19, fresh out of school, I stepped into the workforce with nothing but determination. And I haven’t stopped since. Every step I took was fueled by hard work — pushing myself to learn, staying up late, being honest, and ambitious, and never settling for less.
After my graduation in 2014, I’ve now spent over a decade in the tech industry, continuously growing — not just in my skills, but in my understanding of myself. I have always been my biggest critic, holding myself to the highest standards. I began my career as a QA Analyst, transitioning from front-end and mobile automation to API automation engineering. Now, as a Product Manager, I lead and oversee all client-facing products.
I have always analyzed my actions with almost surgical precision, constantly refining and improving. But no matter how much I pushed myself, one aspect remained constant: my deep respect for others and their emotions. With a high level of emotional intelligence, I have never raised my voice or disrespected anyone — because that’s how I believe people should be treated and that is how i want to be treated myself
Yet, being empathetic and self-aware doesn’t mean you won’t encounter challenges. I remember one instance when I was going above and beyond in my role, taking on responsibilities beyond my job description. I clarified my expectations multiple times, ensuring I was aligned with what was needed. But despite my efforts, I received little to no guidance. Instead, I was met with vague responses. Then one day, my lead said — This is a 1:1 of a Product Manager.
The first time, I let it slide.
The second time, I took a deep breath.
The third time, I broke.
My emotions were met with the feedback: You need to build resilience.
Yes, resilience is important. But it is not built overnight. It grows through experience, through navigating new cultures, through learning from each stumble.
That day, I understood something deeper. I had been attaching my worth to my work. But I am so much more
🌟 I am a kind human — I have never disrespected a soul.
🌟 I am an amazing mother — ask my daughter.
🌟 I am financially independent — my bank account says so.
🌟 I am a loving wife — my husband reminds me every day.
🌟 I am deeply empathetic — sometimes to a fault.
For the longest time, people pushed my boundaries, and it took me a while to recognize it. Even when I did, I would hesitate to respond — overthinking how my reaction might affect them, worrying about hurting others, and I still do.
Today, I am incredibly proud of myself.
Even as I write this, the tears are falling on the keyboard — not from sadness, but from pride in how far I’ve come in my personal growth and professional career. I know my worth. I have not only led impactful projects that were stalled for years, but I have also helped shape the team culture. My colleagues and senior stakeholders still reach out to me for challenging opportunities — because they know I am the one who will get the job done.
And to anyone going through something similar: You are not alone. Everyone has their journey and their own way of processing challenges. There is no single framework — only a path you carve for yourself.
What I will always bring to the table is love, respect, and empathy for people. But what I will not allow is for my boundaries to be crossed.
To every organization out there: Having people like me is a privilege. We don’t just grow — we thrive. Driven by passion and gratitude, we go above and beyond to make a meaningful impact.
And to all the people like me: Keep moving forward. You’ve got this. ❤️
If you have any thoughts or would like to chat over a coffee, I’d be glad to connect!
Email : nidasaleem333@gmail.com
