Bilingual Brain. Challenges & Benefits.

I have an accent when I speak. 

This very accent of mine, is one of my biggest sources of courage & growth. 

How ? Let me explain. 

Speaking with an accent does not mean I communicate badly. In fact this means I communicate better, in multiple languages. In theory, this should empower me.

Except. 

Imagine major stage fright every time you are about to say a single word in English. Imagine stage fright when you are about to say your own name ! Yup. Saying my name, ‘Tony’ is something my brain still flags.

When I first arrived in the U.S. I looked up accent reduction/ modification programs. I remember those programs cost ~$60/Hr. With a daily meal budget of $3 at the time, those programs were way beyond my reach. 

So I decided to step out of my comfort zone, get a retail job where I’d have no choice but talk to people. You know, I thought it was not a terrible idea to get paid while I got my accent neutralized.

I was very fortunate. The amazing humans - recruiters & hiring team - gave my skills a chance and I landed in a retail job I so thoroughly loved. Apple Retail benefitted from my unique audio background, and I thought my accent was getting better (Ha! I wish).

Few years later I interviewed here at Avid for my current role. Knowing the role is customer facing, I brought up the topic with my then Manager Greg "Stryke" Chin, in an email titled ‘The Elephant in the room’. I wrote how I was willing to work on my accent.

He did not respond to the email. Instead he called me immediately. He patiently explained how he’d be disappointed if I did anything of the sort. During the next few minutes he helped me get out of the self imposed shame I had placed on myself, regarding my accent. That day he got promoted - from my manager, to my mentor.

I am still aware of my accent when I speak. At times, acutely so. 

Difference is, all that stage fright now shapes my courage. I find it natural to step out of my comfort zone - without a second thought. I now dare to take more calculated risks. Risks that have helped me grow so much more than I had ever imagined. 

I remain grateful for the opportunities, for all the DEI efforts in place at my former employer Apple & my current employer Avid.  

I write this as a gesture of gratitude to each of you who champion DEI efforts in a professional setting. Your work matters a lot. Thank you ! 

This is also a reminder to myself, and to those of you with an accent. Having an accent is in fact an empowering opportunity. A opportunity not everyone has access to. Use it to your advantage.

I for one, certainly will.

P.S. Based on the TED talk I have linked here, bilingualism comes with other benefits too !

#DEI #teamavid #accent #bilingual #workplaceculture #stepoutofyourcomfortzone #growthmindset #opportunity #grateful

https://www.ted.com/talks/mia_nacamulli_the_benefits_of_a_bilingual_brain?language=en

Expectations…

Setting the expectation that you will get a goldfish to climb a tree in 24 hrs is not going to help the goldfish - or you.

Meeting expectations is very important.

Even more important, is setting the right expectations.

#work #ethic #worklifebalance #worksmart

• Grab every opportunity (even the risky ones) by its horns. •

Early 2011. I had just finished commissioning Mr. Rahman’s Los Angeles Studio, complete with a Euphonix System 5 console. 

We had just discussed how I might need a few weeks to learn the console, which was totally new to me. As I sat in the studio browsing the user guide for System 5, doorbell rang. I opened the door to see the one & only Michael Bolton standing there !!! A casual conversation over coffee between the two legends soon turned into “How about we record a song ?”. 

As they both looked at me I sat there petrified, in a state of shock. My brain suggested I come up with an excuse, bail out. However my heart and my gut told me to grab this opportunity by its horns. 

I did just that.  

I could have been burnt - badly. 
However. As the evening progressed I would go on to successfully cut Michael Bolton’s vocals for Sajna Re. The track got released in Mr. Bolton’s album “Gems: The Duets Collection”. 

The song is a constant reminder to me. On the importance of trying & the importance of having faith. The recording went well because of the faith I had in myself & because of the faith that my friend-boss-mentor AR sab had in me. 

Sometimes all we need to do is to take a leap of faith. 

If you’ve read this far: Keep learning, never stop trying and, try something out of your comfort zone today !

#music #mentor #arrahman #michaelbolton #logicprox #avid #protools #euphonix #system5 #bowerswilkins #recording #mixing #engineering #takealeap #faithoverfear 

I wanted to give up...

- About 20 yrs ago, when the possibility of attending a single live concert of A.R. Rahman seemed close to impossible. A mere visit to an Avid office seemed equally impossible at the time.

- When the twenty something old me was told I was too young to lead a team at a major broadcaster - despite my vision, qualifications & experience being a direct match to their requirements.

- When I found out my American & European colleagues (at pretty much every single company I worked for whilst in Dubai) were making ~70% more than me & my asian colleagues - because of their nationality.

- When telephone interviewers went “Oh !” in response to my hello (after hearing my accent) and then ghosting on me, far more times than I cared to count.

- Last week, when I was loosing faith in a few things I’ve been working on.

However.
I yet have to give up.
In fact, I chose to double down. Since then…

- I have had the chance to work closely with ARR Sab (For close to 15 yrs now).

- I get to work for Avid, doing what I love the most. Every single day.

- I recalibrated myself & decided to triple down on everything I doubted last week.

Being neither a virtuoso nor a prodigy, chances of me landing in a gig with ARR Sab or Avid was close to Zero. Aside from a very supportive family & an abundance of luck, I have one special trick up my sleeve.

I refuse to give up.

This note is a nod to the young me who never gave up & a (much needed) reminder to my present self, to not give up.

More importantly, I hope this note inspires at least one person - To not give up. Not today.

What you wish for will come to you. Not when you expect it, but when - you - are ready.

Pictured: My first keyboard ever. A sign of my parents trust in the 10 yr old me. The keyboard still works, and is now used by my children. ☺️

#donotgiveup #reflection #careerjourney #perseverance