Sometimes success starts with a break to shift focus upon new things.
For Kamal Sehrawat, the story of a career in IT is also a story of courage, curiosity, and the human connections that make work meaningful. His journey spans continents, industries, and technologies—but at its heart, it’s a deeply personal journey of growth, mentorship, and reflection.
Leaving Comfort Behind to Chase Curiosity
Kamal’s professional path began as an IT engineer in a Seattle-based company with a Delhi office. There, his dedication and talent quickly stood out: he earned three promotions and even received an award for best employee. Yet, rather than resting on his achievements, Kamal made a bold choice.
“Despite success, I resigned immediately after my last promotion to explore a more business-focused path and learn how different industries operate globally,” he recalls.
It was this curiosity that led him to SAP. During the 2008 global financial crisis, Kamal pursued a time-bound SAP certification, seeing it as a path to understand business processes and the technologies that support them.
Early on, he faced rigorous learning challenges—studying intensively, accessing servers in Germany, and leaning on mentors to gain hands-on experience. This dedication paid off with his first project for a Siemens group company in India, a moment that cemented his path in SAP.
Learning, Growing, and Finding Meaning in Every Project
Over nearly two decades, Kamal has worked across industries and projects, but his focus has always been on understanding and improving business processes rather than just performing technical tasks. He notes how SAP itself has evolved over time, embracing mobility, better user experiences, and tighter integration with business needs.
Learning from mistakes, sharing honest opinions, and staying adaptable has been central to his professional philosophy. “Build connections, there’s always support available. Never feel shy for help,” he advises—a mantra that reflects both humility and insight from years of navigating complex projects.
Leadership That Puts People First
Mentorship has profoundly shaped Kamal’s approach to leadership. He believes in creating environments where people feel included, empowered, and supported. Open communication, regular check-ins, and collaboration matter far more to him than hierarchy-driven decision-making.
Work-life balance is a priority, too. Kamal often resets through nature, sports, or moments of calm reflection to maintain sustainable productivity. His philosophy is simple yet powerful: supporting your team’s growth and well-being ultimately fuels long-term success.
Sharing Knowledge to Inspire the Next Generation
Beyond his own work, Kamal is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation. He emphasises responsible adoption of technology, particularly around innovations like AI.
“Use your experience to guide and empower others while fostering innovation and ethical practices.”
For Kamal, mentorship isn’t just about sharing knowledge—it’s about instilling values, ethics, and curiosity in future leaders.
Finding Joy in Life Beyond Work
Outside of work, Kamal enjoys an active lifestyle—playing tennis, cricket, volleyball, and badminton—and spending quality time with his daughters.
He also cherishes simplicity: if SAP disappeared tomorrow, he says he would return to farming, embracing hands-on creation, connection with nature, and a grounded way of living.
Courage, Curiosity, and Connection
Kamal’s story is ultimately about courage—the courage to leave comfort, to learn continuously, and to build authentic relationships. It’s about reflection, mentorship, and a philosophy that puts people before process. In his journey, we see the reminder that even in a technology-driven world, it is human connection, curiosity, and care that define true success.
“Sometimes success starts with a break to shift focus upon new things.”
And that’s a lesson he shares on pausing, reflecting, and embracing the unknown with courage.
Connect with Kamal on LinkedIn
