There’s a quiet kind of bravery in starting again. Not once, but many times.
For Prasanna Paudel, that courage first showed up long before mining value chains or data science leadership. It began in Nepal, in a management-focused degree, at a time when a “future in data” wasn’t something you could clearly see — or plan for.
“I never thought I’d end up in IT,” he says simply. “And data? That was the toughest option on the table.” So he chose it.
Choosing the Hardest Path — On Purpose
Fresh out of university, Prasanna joined a US-based healthcare analytics company with offshore operations in Nepal. When asked which stream he wanted to pursue — business analysis, QA, or data — he paused.
“I was stressed. I didn’t know much. But I thought… if I’m taking a risk anyway, I might as well choose the toughest one.”
That choice wasn’t about confidence. It was about curiosity and a belief that learning compounds when you lean into discomfort. This instinct would follow him across continents.
Starting Over, Far From Home
When Prasanna moved to Australia to study at Monash University, he arrived with no local network, no Australian work experience, and no shortcuts.
“The hardest part wasn’t the technical side,” he reflects. “It was communication. Having depth in conversations. Approaching people. I carried a lot of imposter syndrome with me.”
Still, he kept going.
Between studies, casual work, and internships, he spent nights refining his CV, tracking industry trends, and applying for roles — often after long days, often facing rejection.
“Sometimes you get tired. But you don’t stop. You slow down — and then you keep going.”
Learning to Live With Ambiguity
Through Monash Industry Team Initiative (MITI) projects and early research roles, Prasanna found himself dropped into real-world business problems that were anything but neat. “The problem was never well-defined,” he says. “So the first thing you had to do was define it.”
That experience shaped the way he still works today — reframing questions, rediscovering the real issue, and getting comfortable with not having all the answers upfront. Ambiguity, once uncomfortable, became familiar ground.
“Now, I feel very comfortable starting with a blank canvas. Because I’ve seen that clarity comes through iteration.”
An Unexpected Path Into Mining
Mining wasn’t part of the plan. In fact, Prasanna never applied for his first mining role. A casual LinkedIn comment turned into a conversation, which turned into an opportunity — and eventually a career shaped by value chain analytics, optimisation, and storytelling through data.
At BHP and later at Rio Tinto, he worked across the full data lifecycle — from visualisation to data science, from optimisation to architecture. Each transition brought new lessons.
“What got you here won’t get you there,” he says, recalling his move into cyber and strategy-focused roles. “That’s when I really learned the importance of influencing, stakeholder leadership, and communication — not just technical skill.”
Consistency Beats Certainty
When asked where his guiding philosophy comes from, Prasanna doesn’t hesitate. “It’s been there since day one,” he says. “I’ve never known everything. But I keep learning. I stay consistent.”
New industries. New systems. New domains. Asset maintenance, value chains, systems thinking — all learned on the job.
“I don’t think I’ve met anyone who knows everything. But everything can be learned.”
Being a Dad, Being Human
Away from work, Prasanna is a father to a five-year-old — a role that’s quietly reshaped how he defines success. “When they’re young, it’s about being present. Being available,” he says. “Now, he looks up to me. He mirrors how I handle stress, learning, failure.”
It’s grounding — and humbling. “When I’m anxious, he feels it. When I’m calm, he’s calm. You realise you’re someone’s example.”
To reset when work feels heavy, Prasanna returns to simple rituals: early mornings, yoga, meditation, long walks — and energetic playtime with his son. “It brings perspective back.”
Paying It Forward
Mentorship matters deeply to Prasanna because it once mattered so much to him. “I’ve always had one or two mentors around me,” he says. “So I try to be that person for others.”
His LinkedIn inbox is open. Newcomers reach out. Career switchers ask questions. He replies when he can — often on weekends — because he remembers how much those early conversations shaped his path.
One Message for Newcomers
If there’s one thing Prasanna hopes people take from his story, it’s this:
“Focus on yourself. Be disciplined. Take small steps. Keep going.”
You don’t need the perfect background. You don’t need certainty. Just consistency — and the courage to learn in public.
Connect with Prasanna on LinkedIn
