There is something about first experiences that tends to leave the deepest mark. For Aina Kalita, MCI Group was exactly that—the first place she ever set foot in the working world, right after graduating in 2005.
Twenty-one years on, she is still here. Not because other paths were unavailable, but because every phase has given her a new reason to stay and to grow.
Her journey began as a finance staff member in the dealership sub-holding before moving into the energy sector. Each transition brought its own set of challenges: new systems, different ways of working, and transactions on an entirely larger scale. Through all of it, one thing remained non-negotiable.
“Even when you’re in a hurry, you have to make sure the result is right. Accuracy cannot be compromised,” said Aina, known to her colleagues as Nana.
Where the Journey Began
One of the most defining moments in her career came the first time she was asked to prepare a cash flow projection for a mining company, a task she had never done before, with a tight deadline bearing down on her.
“I stayed at the office until five in the morning because the material was needed for a presentation at ten the next day,” she recalled.
The output was not yet perfect, but completing such a demanding task was, in itself, a source of pride. More than that, it taught her something lasting: that teamwork and a supportive environment can carry you through problems you could not have solved alone.
There were moments when the urge to quit came with real force. But whenever those thoughts surfaced, something kept her grounded. A growing awareness that every hardship she had made it through was proof she was capable of bearing it.
“Every difficulty we have overcome is evidence that we were able to overcome it. Take what is positive, and leave behind what no longer serves you,” she said.
Leading With Openness
As someone who now leads a team, Nana holds to an approach that may sound simple but is far harder to practise: openness. She encourages her team members to ask for corrections without hesitation, to acknowledge uncertainty about their work, and never to conceal their gaps in order to appear more capable than they are.
She applies the same standard to herself. Despite more than two decades in the field and a managerial position, she has no reservations about turning to a more senior colleague when there is something she does not yet fully understand.
She has also learnt where to draw the line. Her strong sense of empathy once pushed her to step in directly whenever a colleague was struggling. Over time, though, she came to see that helping too readily, without leaving room for people to wrestle with a problem themselves—can quietly hold their development back. For her, mentoring is not about taking over. It is about staying alongside someone until they can walk on their own.
A Balance Worth Keeping
A family that is understanding and does not place excessive demands has been a genuine anchor in her life. As long as communication stays open and everyone at home knows all is well, the two worlds, office and family, can turn in rhythm with each other.
“A successful woman is one who is willing to keep learning and who is not ashamed to acknowledge her own weaknesses. That is where growth begins,” she said.
To young women just starting out, Nana does not speak in lofty terms. She speaks from her own experience, with all its difficulties and moments of ease. Don’t be lazy about learning. Don’t be embarrassed to ask. Don’t give up before you have truly tried. And don’t spend too much energy comparing your journey with someone else’s, because we can never fully know what another person is carrying beneath the surface of what we see.
Twenty-one years. One company. Many systems, many industries, many long nights to get through. Yet Nana is still here, eyes facing forward, because that is the only direction she has ever chosen to walk.
