Careers are rarely built on perfectly planned paths. More often, they take shape through moments of uncertainty, unexpected encounters, and the quiet support of people who help us see possibilities we might have missed ourselves.
As part of Adtech Today’s Women’s Day series, Riya Joseph reflects on the early doubts, chance moments, and acts of mentorship that shaped her journey in the fast-evolving world of media and digital strategy. Her story is a reminder that leadership is not only about personal milestones, but also about the communities and allies who help make those journeys possible.
A Bus Ride and a Beginning
When I look back at my career today, the moment that still stands out most clearly is not a boardroom decision or a big milestone — it is a bus ride from Cochin to Bangalore with a suitcase, a few resumes, and a lot of hope.
It was not the easiest time to graduate. The early 2000s were marked by the after-effects of the global technology slowdown, which had begun to ripple into India’s job market. Campus placements were limited, companies were cautious, and opportunities felt uncertain for many young graduates. But at 23, optimism has a way of overpowering economic reality.
I moved into my cousin’s two-bedroom apartment in Bangalore, already shared by three other working women. My days quickly fell into a routine that would feel almost unimaginable today. This was long before LinkedIn and job portals were the norm.
I spent hours in internet parlours searching for companies that might consider hiring a young MBA in marketing. I scanned the Yellow Pages and newspaper listings for opportunities. Some days, I walked the streets of Bangalore with printouts of my resume, leaving them at reception desks of companies that had even the faintest chance of needing someone like me.
In the beginning, I was quite bullish — after all, I only needed one job. But unanswered emails and unreturned calls slowly chipped away at that confidence.
“Sometimes the biggest turning points in a career come not from grand plans, but from simply refusing to give up.”
A Door Opens Unexpectedly
What kept me going during those weeks were my daily phone calls home.
My mother would patiently listen to my updates and gently remind me that I could always come back, take a break, and perhaps even consider getting married instead. She meant it affectionately and only half in jest, and those conversations often ended in laughter — something I needed on those long days.
Then one evening, the universe intervened in the most unexpected way.
At a neighbourhood supermarket, I ran into a college alumnus who was a few years senior to me. We spoke briefly. Before leaving, he handed me his business card and asked me to come meet him the next morning.
He spoke to me casually, asked a few questions, and then introduced me to his boss. When the meeting ended with the familiar “we’ll get back to you,” my heart sank — I had heard those words too many times.
But later that afternoon, the phone rang.
They asked me two questions: what salary I would like, and when I could join.
Even today, after more than two decades of work, that remains one of the happiest days of my professional life. Not because it was the most prestigious role I have held, but because it represented something far bigger — the first door opening after a long corridor of uncertainty.
Advice That Changed My Thinking
Years later, another moment shaped my journey in an equally profound way.
When I was expecting my first child, I did what many women around me had done for generations — I left my job, convinced that motherhood meant stepping away from work. I assumed that was simply how life unfolded.
But when my son was six months old, my paternal grandmother called me and said something that changed my thinking entirely:
“Times have changed. You can keep your child in a safe environment in a day care and continue working. Don’t waste your capabilities.”
It was remarkable advice from a woman who herself had been a mathematics honours graduate, a devoted homemaker, and the mother of seven children. Her words nudged me to reconsider my own assumptions.
Soon after, I responded to a job advertisement and interviewed at a media agency. The hiring manager happened to be a new mother herself. When I hesitated about returning full-time, she offered something unusual for 2008 — a role that allowed me to work part-time from the office.
That moment taught me something powerful: when women support each other, possibilities expand.
Building a Career, One Step at a Time
Over the years, my career gradually grew across media agencies and large consumer companies, working on brands and categories that shape everyday life in India.
I have had the privilege of learning from talented teams, navigating challenging moments, and seeing ideas translate into business impact. Somewhere along the way came industry recognitions and awards, and opportunities to contribute to conversations around digital transformation and media strategy — reminders that persistence and curiosity do eventually find their way forward.
Life Beyond the Workplace
Today, outside work, I remain a devoted mother to my two teenage sons, an enthusiastic host who loves bringing friends and family together, and a firm believer that life becomes far more meaningful when it lifts others along the way.
In many ways, my life has become a tapestry of well-meaning people appearing at the right time and place — and actively participating in the journey.
What the Journey Taught Me
Looking back, the journey from that bus ride to Bangalore to where I stand today was never carefully mapped.
It was shaped by persistence, unexpected kindness, supportive women and men, and the courage to keep going even when the path ahead wasn’t clear.
And perhaps that is what growth really is — not a grand plan, but a series of small decisions to keep moving forward.
This article is part of Adtech Today’s Women’s Day 2026 series, where women leaders reflect on the journeys, choices, and experiences that shaped their leadership.
