“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: your career is never a straight line. The rejections, setbacks, and detours—they’re the very chapters that prepare you for what’s next.”
In 2008, Divya Narayan thought she had landed her dream start. Fresh out of her MBA in HR and marketing, she was selected through campus placement to join Satyam Computers as an HR talent. For a graduate from Ranchi, where opportunities were scarce, this was everything she had worked for. Then the Satyam scandal erupted. Overnight, her offer vanished, and with the global recession, so too did her hopes of finding another job.
“Overnight my offer vanished. As a fresher from a very small town like Ranchi, job opportunities were almost impossible to find. But still I didn’t give up.”
A Modest Start, A Big Lesson
Her first role, at Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training, was far from what she had envisioned. The pay was modest, but the experience was invaluable. It gave her space to be close to family, hone her communication, and learn to mentor others. “Those eight months shaped me more than I realised,” she reflects. They became the quiet foundation for the resilience she would need.“I learned how to communicate with impact, mentor students, and above all, groom myself for what was ahead.”
A Turning Point in Delhi
Marriage took Divya to New Delhi in 2009, and with it came the turning point of her career. Joining Sparta Consulting as an HR generalist opened a window into SAP. With the encouragement of her mentor, Vishal Jain, and her husband, Amit Abhishek, she stepped into SAP HCM. Within six months, she was leading a US payroll project.
It was the beginning of a lifelong journey in ERP.
“They saw my potential before I did. With their support, I stepped into SAP—and since then, there has been no looking back.”
Between Work and Family
The years that followed were marked by global projects, new cultures, and a balancing act between motherhood and career. Her first international assignment in Dubai tested her resolve as a young mother leaving her child behind. “There was mum guilt,” she admits, “but my family reminded me that sometimes it’s not about everyone else—it’s about your own growth too.”
Each challenge—whether cultural differences, steep learning curves, or migration—added new layers to her confidence and leadership style.
A Leap to Australia
In 2023, Divya made another bold move: migrating with her family to Australia to join Deloitte. Uprooting herself at this stage wasn’t easy, but she leaned on her husband and children, who adjusted with courage of their own. “I saw another side of my husband—how much he could do, how much we could share. It strengthened us as partners,” she says.
Together, they built a new home and embraced the steep but rewarding learning curve of starting over.
Giving Back
Today, with more than 15 years of experience, Divya’s focus extends beyond her own career. She is passionate about mentoring newcomers—especially those who don’t come from technical backgrounds.
“Every expert in ERP once started as a beginner. I want to give others the encouragement and practical tips my mentors once gave me.”
Her advice for those stepping into ERP is simple: focus on strong foundations, lean on mentors, and stay curious. The systems are complex and the learning never stops—but that’s what makes the work so rewarding.
The Human Thread
Looking back, Divya sees her setbacks not as dead ends but as detours that prepared her for every chapter that followed.
“Sometimes the detour you fear most ends up being your breakthrough.”
Her journey is not about straight lines—it’s about persistence, resilience, and never stopping, even when the path seems to disappear. Or, as she would title her own story: Never Stop Moving Forward.
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