Manu Sharma, a 20-year veteran in Hero Group, shares his experiences with cancer, nature photography, and stand-up comedy, influencing his values and beliefs.

Manu Sharma is a 20-year veteran in the Hero Group, with vast experience in various operations, providing valuable insights and life lessons. He began as a fresher at Hero Cycles, then worked at Hero Exports and Hero IT Services. Currently, he is the HR Head at Hero Electric, displaying his extensive knowledge and insights from his diverse background within the company.

He was born in Ludhiana, but his family moved to Gurgaon when he was just seven years old. He had a smooth career and life until he encountered the “most challenging aspect” of his life, as he says. He was diagnosed with cancer, which made him feel demotivated and disoriented, but he soon recovered. He shared his cancer journey of painful chemotherapy sessions, surgeries, and recovery on social media, which gave him a much-needed positive boost to live. He became a new person after his cancer fight. He learned from the twisted situations of life and became wiser. He became “more considerate towards people and started listening more than telling.”

He is not only a highly experienced member of the corporate world but also has two creative hobbies. He is passionate about nature photography and has tried stand-up comedy as well. He was inspired by someone to take up photography. Though he is a self-taught photographer, he is now a corporate trainer for photography. He finds real joy in discovering, learning about, and photographing rare species of birds. He feels “it is the deepest study in itself.”

Manu learned from his battle with cancer. He believes that challenges are part of your journey. He shares his experiences and mistakes with the viewers. He values relationships, friends, and family. Holding onto people and smiling with the heart are some of the beautiful messages he gives to all. He remembers his late father’s words that people are the real assets, and one should work hard to earn people in the journey of life. Learning boxing as a kid helped him understand, “It’s not how hard you hit; it’s how hard you get hit. And how you still keep on moving forward.” This is exactly how he fought cancer and learned to live again with a new enthusiasm for life.

He believes that integrity is the most important principle in corporate life. “Either do it with 110% commitment, or don’t do anything,” is his advice. “Raah pakad ke tu chala chal, paa jayega manzil” is the straightforward message he has for the youth. He believes in the mantra, “Decide, commit, start doing.” He feels that there is nothing in the world that forces one to rush for the output. Thinking with a calm mind for five, ten, or 30 seconds might help a person get to the solution.

Moreover, recalling his journey, he acknowledges the fact that all his bosses and his father were his sources of learning and inspiration. He thinks that his curiosity to know more led him to success in his work life and mastery of the creative arts too. But he misses having much more fun as a kid and teenager and thus advises the kids that “pauses will come in life, but the only thing you can do is restart.”