Veteran’s Team Member Network (TMN) India Chapter celebrates its first anniversary this month. As part of the celebrations we are highlighting the story of Ashwini, who transitioned from veteran to corporate life with the help of Wells Fargo. 

My dream of donning the uniform started on a random day while taking a leisurely stroll on the streets of Colaba, Mumbai, where I came across an interesting billboard with a bold headline, “Do you have it in you?" That was an advertorial for the Indian Army recruitment/motivation poster. The one line on that poster hooked me to the thought of joining the Indian Defence Services. After a couple of sleepless nights and thorough research, I finally found myself aligned with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and applied for the same. Thereafter, I never looked back. I was commissioned as an Officer and went on to serve as a professional in the IAF for 10 years. These ten years were worth gaining experience, learning ethics, customs and traditions of the military.

After completion of my Short Service Tenure of 10 years in the IAF, I decided to take a leap of faith and embrace the corporate world. The decision was very simple, however, imbibing it the disciplined way was a tough challenge. Changing career from defence to corporate takes a serious amount of self-confidence, knowledge and perseverance. I enrolled myself for a Certification in Business Management Course, a six-month residential course from IIM Indore, tailor-made for the Veterans to equip them with the essentials of Management and bridge the divide of the two worlds.

I vividly remember the interaction I had with the Wells Fargo recruitment team that visited the campus before my interview. The organizational vision and culture of inclusion inspired me to take up this assignment. I thought to myself that it would be a proud privilege to work for Wells Fargo as it resonates with the ideology of the armed forces and would be an ideal platform for military to corporate transition.

The veterans in Wells Fargo guided me through the interview and campus visit. When I joined the organization, I was assigned a “veteran buddy", Bindra, who was constantly in touch with me until I started and ensured that my settling in was smooth and hassle-free. The experienced veterans in Wells Fargo, Cdr Panda and Col Raman, provided me constant support and mentoring and helped me understand the organizational culture, vision and values. In my opinion, the concept of having a veteran buddy holding you through the initial phase of transition goes long way in providing the reassurance and comfort.

The Veterans Team Member Network is another great forum that enables us to network with the broader community of veterans in the Wells Fargo. As a member of the Veterans TMN India chapter, I got an opportunity to participate and contribute to organizational events to promote awareness about the veteran community in Wells Fargo. These events enabled me to  work with employees across locations and lines of business and boosted my confidence.

Today, I am a Business Risk & Controls Associate with Wells Fargo and manage a team in the Branch Control Review Process. My job involves periodically reviewing the efficiency of Controls implemented in the branches of Wells Fargo. The values of discipline, eye for detail and teamwork has enabled me to function in my role better. The mentorship and support from my leaders and teammates has been conducive in shaping me up as a professional. Wells Fargo has provided me an exceptional environment for a successful transition.