Industry Industry

07

Nov

🌈 From Representation to Leadership: How the Pride Community is Reshaping the Talent Solutions Industry

When I joined Collabera, I was fresh out of college and heading into territory that was completely unfamiliar. My first assignment wasn’t in a local office or on a familiar schedule. Instead, I was on a plane to India, preparing to work overnight alongside a team I had never met, in an industry I barely understood. At the time, it felt like a leap into the deep end. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. 

That experience taught me how to adapt quickly, how to build relationships across distance and difference, and how to stay grounded even when the learning curve felt steep. Most of all, it helped me get comfortable with the discomfort that comes with not knowing what’s next. 

Since then, that same mindset has carried me through every chapter of my career. I’ve launched new markets in cities I had never lived in, stepped into leadership roles without a defined roadmap, and navigated high-stakes partnerships by focusing on listening more than speaking. Repeatedly, I’ve learned that the most meaningful growth doesn’t come from knowing exactly what to do. It comes from being willing to take the first step. 

There’s a common misconception that leadership means always having the answer. But in my experience, the most effective leaders don’t try to control every outcome. They stay curious, invite collaboration, and keep moving forward even when the path isn’t clear. 

That’s the mindset I try to model and pass on to my teams. I want them to know it’s okay not to have it all figured out. What matters more is how you respond when uncertainty shows up. Do you ask for help? Do you stay open? Do you keep your focus on the bigger picture, even when things are shifting beneath your feet? 

In our industry, change is a constant. The people who thrive are the ones who treat uncertainty not as a threat, but as a prompt to learn and grow. That’s why I often give new employees a copy of Who Moved My Cheese? It’s a simple story, but the message sticks: how you respond to change says more about your potential than any bullet point on your resume. 

Whether I’m helping someone settle into a new role, guiding a team through a transition, or walking into a first-time conversation with a client, I always return to the same principle. You don’t have to be fearless to lead. You just must be willing to go first, stay grounded in what matters, and trust that clarity often follows action—not the other way around. 

Growth rarely announces itself at the start. But if you’re willing to stay present, stay curious, and stay in motion, you’ll become the kind of leader who knows how to move through uncertainty and bring others with you. 

About the Author

Anuj Patel is the Director of National Accounts at Collabera, where he brings over a decade of staffing experience to help clients navigate change, scale teams, and stay ahead of industry demands. He specializes in aligning Collabera’s solutions with evolving business needs, building trusted relationships that go beyond transactional support. Whether he’s launching new markets, guiding strategic partnerships, or helping teams grow from the ground up, Anuj leads with curiosity, consistency, and a deep belief in progress through action.