On Fatherhood, Philosophy, Family, and Work: Thank You, 2024
It wasn't easy but all the ups and downs made it meaningful
Two months after my beloved grandmother passed away, I pushed myself to show up for the Network Capital retreat in Chail. I thought of postponing it but went along. In one of the reflection exercises, I shared what I hoped for in the year ahead. My wish was granted on Jan 19, 2024, when I became Sama’s dad. She is a lot like my grandma. She loves to laugh, enjoys books, is always curious, and has this charming sense of belonging wherever she goes.
In her first year, Sama traveled to France, Italy, Norway, Lebanon, India, UAE, and moved from her London home to Oxford where she goes to the Balliol College Nursery. She saw the world - some beauty, some chaos. She saw her parents run from emergency wards to work meetings, escape war-like conditions in Beirut in the nick of time
She accompanied me to the Norwegian parliament and some of my Oxford classes. Teaching undergrads on the first snowy day in Oxford with a marker in one hand and Sama in the other is perhaps the most fun I have had teaching.
P.S. It was a lot less fun trying to run from home to class, not knowing how to drop her to the nursery in that weather. G was traveling for work, the cabs canceled last minute, and the baby stroller refused to move on snow. I did what I could but things worked out in the end.
For G and I, such improvisations were the defining characteristic of 2024. We obviously could not have done it on our own. Our family and friends helped us out every step of the way. The extent of their support cannot be captured in this newsletter. Thanks to their help, we were able to lead our lives as normally as possible for young parents. Asking for help/ accepting help frequently is perhaps the most effective thing we did this year.
This year I also finished my masters in philosophy from Oxford and secured full funding for my PhD there. I took my PhD interviews from the hospital. At the time, Sama was in the emergency ward. The interview result was the last thing on my mind but I am glad it worked out. I get to research and build what I intrinsically care about. For that, I am grateful.
I also published extensively this year but less than previous years. My articles on thinking about death and adult friendships resonated with people. Also, Harvard Business Review Press published two books I co-authored. It was nice seeing them at the airports but the highlight was of course Sama holding them. You may notice her tiny hands below.
I also took on 20 Network Capital members for the 1:1 mentorship program. It was energizing speaking to them once a week, being part of their successes and failures, learning with and from them, and most importantly, trying to be there for them. I was severely short on time but going through a mentorship cycle is as transformative for the coach as it is (hopefully) for the participant. I aim to take on 20 more in 2025 and if you know people who would benefit, please ask them to fill this form.
Our business partnerships yielded promising results. This year, we partnered with UBS, Intelekt AI, KiranaPro, Quench AI, and several other leading enterprises. We have an exciting list of companies lined up for 2025. Essentially Network Capital helps executives and employees with career advancement, and provides support for companies double down on their product-market fit using its media channels. Feel free to refer companies who could benefit from the Network Capital ecosystem.
We also hosted 47 in-person/ online meetups mostly in the UK, India, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2025, we want to plan increase the in-person meetups in the US and Asia. You can join such events as subscribers and if you have recommendations for members, forward this newsletter to them.
In terms of podcasts and masterclasses, we hosted both established CEOs like Sanjay Nayar and young leaders like Dhruva and Abhilasha. Lord Karan Bilimoria’s masterclass was recorded in Beirut. I could hear Sonic Bombs throughout the recording but thankfully the wifi worked and we were able to get in done.
Dhruva and I also started a debating podcast to discuss important issues that impact us. We are always looking for subscribers to join us.
Clearly the year kept me busy but being busy can be a strategy to escape reality. I tried to be present in most moments and lean into thorny situations as and when they arose. I also optimized for joy instead of productivity. I tend to get more done when I am enjoying the process but that’s not the logic for doing stuff that gives us meaning. The pursuit is the pleasure.
I made innumerable mistakes, stumbled more than I had anticipated, but I survived. Perhaps even thrived, and that’s in no small part because of this community we are co-creating.
Thank you. See you next year.
Utkarsh