An Interview with Sambit Pattanaik

Sambit Pattanaik is a seasoned HR leader, strategic thinker, and transformation expert, with a passion for creating disruption-proof people strategies that align human capital with long-term success. His leadership philosophy, grounded in servant leadership principles, empowers individuals and fosters positive organizational change. A marathoner, fitness enthusiast, and avid blogger, Sambit brings a unique blend of professional insights, personal growth, and resilience to his work. In his book Chasing The Stars: The Double-Edged Sword Of Modern Success, Sambit challenges traditional definitions of success, offering a transformative approach to ambition, balance, and fulfillment in today’s fast-paced world.

Eliteone Stories: Sambit, in your book Chasing The Stars, you challenge the conventional definitions of success. What inspired you to explore this topic, and how did your personal journey shape the book’s message?

Sambit Pattanaik: Thank you for asking! The inspiration behind Chasing The Stars stemmed from my own journey—navigating the highs and lows of a two-decade career in the corporate world. For much of that time, I chased what most of us are conditioned to see as success—titles, financial milestones, external validation. But along the way, I began to notice how that very pursuit often left me feeling more depleted than fulfilled.

What shaped the book’s message was the realization that ambition, while powerful, can be a double-edged sword. It can propel us forward, but it can also trap us in an endless cycle of wanting more—without ever asking if that “more” is what truly matters to us. I wanted to explore how we can redefine success on our own terms—balancing achievement with meaning, and chasing growth without losing ourselves in the process.

This book is as much a reflection of my personal journey as it is an invitation for others to pause, question, and rewrite their own definitions of success.

Eliteone Stories: You discuss the idea of ‘redefining success on your own terms.’ Can you share some practical steps for readers who feel trapped in traditional success metrics and want to start building a life aligned with their own values?

Sambit Pattanaik: Absolutely! The journey of redefining success is deeply personal, but there are a few practical steps that can help anyone begin to shift their perspective:

1. Pause and Reflect: The first step is giving yourself permission to step off the treadmill, even briefly. Take time to reflect on what success has meant to you so far—and whether those definitions were shaped by your own desires or external expectations. Journaling or mindfulness practices can be powerful tools to surface these insights.
2. Identify Your Core Values: What truly matters to you beyond job titles or financial milestones? Is it creativity, freedom, impact, connection, or balance? Write down your top five values and use them as a compass to evaluate both big decisions and daily habits.
3. Redefine Your Metrics: Once you know your values, ask yourself—how would success look if those values were your guiding principles? For example, if connection is a core value, your measure of success might shift from how many hours you work to how present you are with loved ones.
4. Set Micro Goals: It’s not about making radical changes overnight. Start small—whether it’s carving out an hour a week for something that lights you up or saying no to commitments that drain you. Small, consistent actions aligned with your values create powerful momentum.
5. Detach from Validation: This is often the hardest part—letting go of needing others to validate your choices. Celebrate your own wins, even if they don’t fit society’s typical definition of success.
6. Redefine Progress: Success isn’t a destination—it’s an evolving journey. Regularly check in with yourself. Are you feeling more aligned, more fulfilled, more present? If so, you’re already succeeding.

The essence of this journey is learning that success isn’t about how far you’ve climbed—it’s about how deeply you’re living in alignment with what matters most to you.

Eliteone Stories: Balancing career demands with personal interests is a core challenge in modern life. What advice do you have for individuals struggling to juggle the two while maintaining their sense of fulfillment?

Sambit Pattanaik: That’s such an important question, especially in today’s always-on world where the lines between work and life are increasingly blurred. Balancing career demands with personal interests isn’t about perfect equilibrium—it’s about making conscious choices that honour both.

Here’s what I’ve learned through my own journey:

1. Define What Fulfillment Looks Like for You: The first step is getting crystal clear on what fulfillment means—not what society or your workplace says it should be. Is it creating more time for hobbies? Prioritizing family? Or simply having space to recharge? Once you’re clear, it becomes easier to protect what matters.
2. Set Boundaries, Not Just Goals: We’re often great at setting career goals but forget to set boundaries that protect our personal time. Whether it’s turning off notifications after a certain hour or dedicating weekends to personal interests—boundaries act as the invisible guardrails that help us create space for what fuels us.
3. Give Yourself Permission to Be ‘Off’: High achievers often struggle with the guilt of stepping away from work. But rest, hobbies, and downtime aren’t indulgences—they’re essential fuel for long-term performance and well-being. I’ve found that my best ideas and most authentic moments often emerge when I allow myself to disconnect fully.
4. Prioritize Non-Negotiables: Identify two or three personal interests or rituals that bring you joy and make them sacred. It could be playing music, a morning walk, or quality time with loved ones. When you protect these anchors, they become the foundation that sustains you through the demands of your career.
5. Learn to Say No Gracefully: Every time you say yes to something that doesn’t align with your priorities, you’re indirectly saying no to something that does. It’s not selfish—it’s self-preservation.
6. Embrace the Seasons of Life: Balance isn’t static—there will be seasons where career demands dominate and others where personal interests take center stage. The key is to flow with these cycles without losing sight of what fulfillment means in the long run.

Ultimately, balance isn’t about splitting your time evenly—it’s about consistently coming back to what makes you feel alive. The more intentional you become about aligning your daily life with what brings you joy, the more sustainable your version of success becomes.

Eliteone Stories: You mention the importance of self-discovery and clarity in shaping one’s career path. How can someone begin this process, especially when they feel overwhelmed by external pressures or expectations?

Sambit Pattanaik: That’s such a powerful question because self-discovery often feels hardest when you’re already under the weight of external expectations. The truth is, most of us spend years following paths shaped by what others expect—without ever pausing to ask what we truly want.

Here’s how I believe anyone can begin that journey, even in the middle of feeling overwhelmed:

1. Create Space for Stillness: Clarity rarely comes when you’re rushing. Start by carving out even 10-15 minutes a day for stillness—whether through journaling, meditation, or simply sitting in silence. This space allows your own voice to rise above the noise of external expectations.
2. Ask the Right Questions: Self-discovery begins with inquiry. Instead of asking, What should I be doing next?, try asking:
   • What makes me come alive?
   • When do I feel most authentic?
   • What would I pursue if no one was watching?

These questions open the door to what your heart already knows but your mind may have buried under layers of obligation.

3. Reconnect with Forgotten Passions: Often, the clues to our most authentic path lie in what we loved as children—before ambition, responsibility, or fear clouded our choices. What did you once love doing simply for the joy of it? How can you reintroduce even a small part of that into your life now?
4. Tune into Energy, Not Just Outcomes: Pay attention to how different activities make you feel—not just what they achieve. What leaves you feeling energized versus drained? Fulfillment isn’t always about the most prestigious path—it’s about the path that gives you life.
5. Detach from Timelines: Self-discovery isn’t something you figure out overnight—it’s a process of unfolding. Give yourself permission to explore without rushing to find all the answers.
6. Redefine Success on Your Own Terms: This might be the hardest part—letting go of the version of success others have handed to you. Write down what success would look like if no one else’s opinion mattered. That definition becomes your North Star.
7. Take Small Experiments, Not Big Leaps: You don’t have to overhaul your life in one bold move. Start with small experiments—whether it’s taking a class, starting a side project, or setting aside one evening a week to explore a new passion. Clarity often comes through action, not just reflection.

Ultimately, self-discovery isn’t about finding a final destination—it’s about building a life where you’re consistently tuning in, recalibrating, and staying curious about who you’re becoming.

Eliteone Stories: In the book, you discuss shifting focus from ‘climbing ladders’ to ‘building legacies.’ Can you explain what this means and how it can help individuals find deeper meaning in their work and life?

Sambit Pattanaik: Absolutely! The idea of shifting from climbing ladders to building legacies is really at the heart of the book’s message.

For much of our careers, we’re conditioned to think of success as an upward climb—one rung at a time. Promotions, pay raises, and titles become the markers of progress. But what I’ve learned—often the hard way—is that climbing ladders can feel like chasing a horizon that keeps moving further away. The higher you climb, the more you realize that external milestones alone rarely bring the fulfillment you expected.

Building a legacy, on the other hand, shifts the focus from how far you’re going to what impact you’re leaving behind—both in your work and in the lives of others. It’s about asking:

• What do I want to be remembered for?
• How am I contributing to something larger than myself?
• Whose lives am I positively impacting along the way?

This mindset unlocks a different kind of ambition—one that’s not just about personal achievement but about creating something meaningful that outlives you.

How to Start Building a Legacy Mindset:

1. Shift from ‘Next’ to ‘Now’: Instead of obsessing over the next promotion or milestone, focus on how you can make your current work more meaningful—whether it’s mentoring a colleague, improving a small process, or simply showing up with kindness.
2. Prioritize Contribution Over Recognition: Legacies are rarely built in the spotlight. Often, they’re shaped in quiet moments—through the people we uplift, the knowledge we share, or the values we embody.
3. Identify Your Impact Zone: What’s the one thing you want to be known for in your career or life? It doesn’t have to be grand—it could be as simple as being the person who always creates a supportive environment or someone who helps others unlock their potential.
4. Redefine Growth as Depth, Not Just Height: Instead of constantly chasing vertical growth, focus on how you can go deeper—mastering your craft, strengthening relationships, or leaving systems better than you found them.
5. Build Daily Legacy Habits: Legacies aren’t built in one defining moment—they’re shaped through consistent, small actions. Whether it’s writing, mentoring, or simply showing up with integrity, those habits accumulate into something far greater over time.
6. Let Go of External Timelines: Legacies take time. They often unfold long after you’ve left a place or a role. The most lasting impact often comes when you’re not even trying to impress anyone—just quietly doing work that aligns with your values.

Ultimately, climbing ladders is about how high you can go—but building a legacy is about how far your influence can ripple out. The most powerful shift happens when you realize that your greatest legacy might not be in what you achieve, but in how you made others feel along the way.

Eliteone Stories: What were some of the most significant lessons you learned during your own transformation from the shop floor to the boardroom, and how have those experiences influenced your leadership approach today?

Sambit Pattanaik: That’s a question close to my heart because my journey from the shop floor to the boardroom has shaped not just my career, but who I am as a leader and a human being.

If I were to extract  the most significant lessons, they would be these:

1. Humility Is the Foundation of Leadership: Starting on the shop floor taught me that every role, no matter how small it seems, contributes to the larger whole. When you’ve been in those shoes, you never take anyone’s work for granted. That perspective shaped my belief that leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about serving others and creating an environment where every individual feels valued.
2. Resilience Is Built in the Shadows: The hardest phases of my journey—the setbacks, the moments when I felt overlooked or doubted—became the crucibles where resilience was forged. What I learned is that resilience isn’t built when you’re winning—it’s built in how you choose to show up when no one is watching. That lesson still shapes how I lead through uncertainty and guide others navigating their own struggles.
3. Curiosity Opens Doors: Moving across different roles and functions required constant learning. What helped me adapt was staying curious—always asking questions, seeking to understand, and never assuming I had all the answers. That mindset became a guiding principle of my leadership—focusing on possibilities instead of limitations.
4. Empathy Is a Superpower: When you’ve worked at every level of an organization, you understand the pressures people face in ways no leadership manual can teach. Empathy isn’t just about listening—it’s about remembering what it feels like to be unseen, unheard, or struggling. That awareness shapes how I lead conversations, give feedback, and create spaces where people feel safe to bring their whole selves to work.
5. Authenticity Matters More Than Perfection: Early on, I thought leadership meant projecting confidence at all times. But the further I went, the more I realized that authenticity—not perfection—is what truly inspires others. Sharing vulnerabilities, admitting what I don’t know, and being transparent about my own journey has allowed me to build deeper trust and connection with the people I lead.
6. Legacy Is Built in Everyday Moments: Some of the most impactful leaders I’ve worked with were the ones who made time to encourage, guide, or simply listen—often in moments they probably didn’t even remember. That taught me that leadership isn’t just about big decisions—it’s about the small, consistent acts of kindness, encouragement, and integrity that leave lasting imprints.

These lessons continue to shape my leadership philosophy today—one built on humility, resilience, and the belief that true leadership is less about how high you rise and more about how many others you lift along the way.

Eliteone Stories: Work-life balance is a recurring theme in your book. You suggest that the traditional notion of work-life balance is a myth. Can you elaborate on this and offer a more realistic perspective on achieving balance in today’s demanding world?

Sambit Pattanaik: Absolutely. The idea of work-life balance as we’ve traditionally understood it—this perfect equilibrium where work and personal life exist in harmony—is, in my experience, more of an illusion than a reality.

What I’ve come to realize through my own journey is that balance isn’t about splitting time equally between work and life—it’s about creating alignment between what matters most to you across different seasons of life.

This shift in my perspective towards work-life balance became a turning point, especially during some of the most challenging seasons of my professional journey.

One of those pivotal moments came when I found myself at a career crossroads, grappling with uncertainty and the weight of external expectations. The relentless pursuit of professional achievement had left little room for the passions that once brought me joy—golf, music, writing. It was during this phase that I began to question whether the ladder I was climbing was leaning against the right wall.

Rediscovering golf became an unexpected gateway to this new understanding of balance. What started as an occasional escape from the pressures of work gradually evolved into a sacred ritual—a space where I could reconnect with myself without the noise of deadlines or deliverables. 

Writing followed soon after, not as a professional obligation, but as a form of self-expression. The act of putting thoughts into words became a powerful tool for self-reflection—a way to process the complexities of ambition, failure, and reinvention. These passions didn’t detract from my career—they fuelled it, giving me the clarity and resilience to lead from a place of authenticity.

Here’s why the traditional notion is flawed and how I believe we can approach it differently:

1. Balance Is Dynamic, Not Static: Life moves in cycles. There will be seasons when your career demands more of you—whether you’re building something new, navigating a crisis, or chasing a personal goal. Other seasons might call for you to prioritize family, health, or self-discovery. The key is to consciously recalibrate rather than expecting perfect balance at all times.
2. Harmony Over Balance: Instead of viewing work and life as two opposing forces, I see them as interconnected elements. When you’re doing work that aligns with your values and brings meaning, it doesn’t feel like something you need to ‘balance’ against your life—it becomes part of what fulfills you. The goal is to create harmony, where both aspects complement each other rather than compete.
3. Set Non-Negotiables: True balance comes from clarity on your non-negotiables—the things that anchor you, no matter how demanding life gets. Whether it’s family dinners, weekend cycling, or creative time, protecting these pockets of joy becomes essential to staying grounded.
4. Presence Over Perfection: Balance isn’t about the number of hours you spend on each side—it’s about the quality of presence you bring to the moments you’re in. I’d rather give 100% of my attention to my daughter for an hour than be half-present for five.
5. Self-Compassion Is Part of the Equation: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that balance isn’t something you achieve—it’s something you practice. There will be days when you get it right and days when you don’t. Learning to forgive yourself and recalibrate without guilt is part of the journey.
6. Define Your Own Version of Balance: The world will always try to impose its version of balance—often rooted in productivity hacks or rigid schedules. But your version might look entirely different. For me, balance isn’t about working fewer hours—it’s about making sure those hours fuel a life I love, not just a career I build.

Ultimately, balance is about making conscious choices—day by day, season by season—that align with what matters most to you. When you give yourself permission to let balance be imperfect and evolving, it becomes less of a destination and more of a daily practice.

Eliteone Stories: In your view, how does ambition, when left unchecked, become a double-edged sword? How can individuals harness their ambition in a healthy and sustainable way?

Sambit Pattanaik: Ambition, in its essence, is a powerful catalyst for personal growth, innovation, and societal progress. It drives people to break barriers, set lofty goals, and strive for something greater. However, when left unchecked, ambition can morph into a ravenous force that blinds individuals to their well-being, relationships, and the ethical implications of their pursuits — making it a double-edged sword.

How Ambition Becomes a Double-Edged Sword:

1. Tunnel Vision: The singular pursuit of a goal can cause individuals to lose sight of the bigger picture — neglecting health, family, or personal happiness.
2. Validation Dependency: Ambition often ties self-worth to external achievements, creating a never-ending chase for validation.
3. Ethical Compromise: In the relentless pursuit of success, individuals might justify cutting corners or making morally ambiguous decisions.
4. Burnout: The pressure to consistently achieve more without pause can lead to mental and physical exhaustion.
5. Alienation: Prioritizing ambition over human connection can isolate individuals, leaving them successful but lonely.

The healthiest form of ambition is purpose-driven rather than ego-driven. Purpose-driven ambition seeks impact, meaning, and collective growth, while ego-driven ambition thrives on status, validation, and comparison.

The trick is not to suppress ambition, but to master it — allowing it to fuel a life that’s both fulfilling and sustainable.

Eliteone Stories: You emphasize the importance of humility as one ascends in their career. How has humility shaped your own journey, and why do you believe it is an essential quality for modern leaders?

Sambit Pattanaik: Humility has been the quiet, often unseen force that has both shaped my journey and anchored me during its most turbulent phases. In a world that often equates leadership with authority, visibility, and relentless self-promotion, humility offers a counterbalance — reminding us that true leadership is not about how high we rise, but how deeply we impact others along the way.

In my own career, humility became most profound not in moments of triumph, but in periods of setback and uncertainty. The difficult professional chapters I navigated forced me to confront the limits of my knowledge, unlearn old patterns, and seek guidance from others. It was during these times that I realized humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself — it’s about thinking beyond yourself.

Humility has allowed me to:

1. Listen Before Leading: Whether guiding teams or working with peers, I’ve learned that every individual brings a unique perspective — and leadership is as much about learning as it is about directing.
2. Embrace Vulnerability: The willingness to admit what I didn’t know opened doors to new knowledge, mentorship, and deeper connections with others.
3. Prioritize Collective Success Over Personal Glory: The best leaders amplify the voices around them rather than seeking constant validation.
4. Navigate Setbacks with Grace: Humility reframes failure not as a personal flaw but as part of the learning curve, making resilience a more natural response.

In an era defined by rapid change, hyper-connectivity, and purpose-driven workforces, humility is no longer a soft virtue — it’s a strategic advantage.

• Collaboration Over Command: Today’s leaders succeed not by imposing authority but by fostering collaboration and empowering others.
• Adaptability: Humble leaders are more open to feedback, making them better equipped to pivot in uncertain environments.
• Authenticity: Employees and stakeholders crave authenticity. Humility builds trust and emotional connection, which are the cornerstones of loyalty.
• Long-Term Legacy: Ego may win short-term battles, but humility builds the kind of enduring legacy that outlives titles and accolades.

The paradox is that the more we grow, the more humility becomes both harder and more essential to maintain. I firmly believe that humility is not something we master — it’s something we practice daily.

Eliteone Stories: For readers who are inspired by your book but unsure where to start, what would you suggest as the first step toward creating a life that is both successful and meaningful, in alignment with their true passions and aspirations?

Sambit Pattanaik: The first step toward creating a life that is both successful and meaningful — one that aligns with your true passions and aspirations — is to pause and audit your life with radical honesty.

In a world that constantly pushes us to chase more, we often move forward without ever questioning why we’re running in the first place. Before setting goals or pursuing external success, the journey must start inward — by peeling back the layers of external expectations, inherited definitions of success, and ego-driven ambitions.

Here’s how I would guide someone at the starting line:

1. Reconnect with Your Core Values

Ask yourself: What truly matters to me, beyond what the world expects of me?
List your top five values — not based on what sounds good, but on what feels deeply non-negotiable in your life (e.g., growth, creativity, freedom, connection, integrity). Your values will become the compass that helps you navigate every decision ahead.

2. Redefine Success on Your Own Terms

Strip away conventional metrics like titles, wealth, or social validation. Instead, craft a definition of success that integrates both achievement and fulfillment. A simple question to guide this: If no one was watching, what would a successful life look like to me?

3. Listen to the Quiet Longings

Often, our truest passions whisper rather than shout. Pay attention to what consistently ignites your curiosity — the books you naturally gravitate toward, the conversations that light you up, or the work that doesn’t feel like work. Those quiet longings hold the blueprint for your authentic path.

4. Start Small, Start Now

Clarity isn’t found in grand life overhauls — it’s found in small, consistent experiments. If you’re drawn to writing, start with one blog post. If you dream of entrepreneurship, launch a side project. Action reveals what reflection alone cannot.

5. Design a Success System, Not Just Goals

Instead of obsessing over distant milestones, build daily habits that embody the life you want. If your aspiration is to be more creative, schedule 30 minutes of writing or painting each day. Systems shape identity — and identity fuels long-term success.

6. Detach Worth from Achievement

Perhaps the hardest, yet most liberating step: Remind yourself daily that your worth is intrinsic — not something to be earned through external validation. When success becomes an expression of who you are rather than proof of your value, the journey becomes lighter and far more sustainable.

7. Surround Yourself with Expansive Energy

Seek out people, books, and environments that inspire you to think bigger, feel deeper, and stay accountable to your highest self. The right community can help you hold your ambition without letting it harden into obsession.

Ultimately, the path to a meaningful life isn’t about choosing between ambition and fulfillment — it’s about weaving the two together in a way that honors both what you achieve and who you become along the way.