The recent Oath Taking Ceremony at the International Institute of Veterinary Education & Research (IIVER) in Rohtak wasn’t just a traditional rite of passage for our graduating veterinarians, it was a masterclass in career building, resilience, and lifelong learning.
We had the distinct privilege of hosting a highly distinguished special guest, a visionary veterinarian who transitioned from his roots in a small village in Haryana to becoming a corporate giant, playing an instrumental role in building Dr. Lal PathLabs over the last two decades.
Addressing a room full of bright, young professionals ready to step into the world, the speaker shared invaluable insights drawn from his 40-year journey.
Here are the top takeaways from his inspiring keynote address.
Prepare for a 50-Year Marathon
One of the most profound realizations shared was about the sheer length of modern careers. With increased lifespans, today's graduates are looking at a career trajectory of nearly 50 years.
"You have a work-life which is going to be 50 years from now," he noted. This shifts the perspective from seeking immediate, final "settlement" to embracing a continuous journey of growth, exploration, and reinvention.
Define Success on Your Own Terms
Sharing an anecdote about his own daughter, who chose the social sector over high-paying corporate jobs after graduating from prestigious institutions like SRCC and ISB, he emphasized that there is no universal definition of a "right" or "wrong" career.
“You are one of the unique persons on this planet. You must decide what is good for you, not what is expected of you.” Instead of constantly benchmarking against peers, the ultimate goal should be competing with yourself. If you are not adding value to yourself and striving to be better than you were yesterday, you risk stagnation.
Your Starting Point Doesn’t Dictate Your Destination
The speaker’s own life is a testament to the power of pivoting. Starting his education in a Hindi-medium government school in a small village, he moved on to study veterinary sciences in Hisar. While his peers were enjoying their internship trips, he was quietly preparing for the CAT exams, eventually making it to IIM Ahmedabad.
From working in the animal feeds business at Hindustan Lever to eventually steering a massive human healthcare diagnostics company like Dr. Lal PathLabs, his path was anything but linear. The lesson? Always keep a "core skill" in one pocket while actively exploring new opportunities with the other.
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
To illustrate the danger of comfort zones, he shared the famous "Monkey and the Banana" behavioral experiment. Often, we are conditioned by the failures and fears of the people around us, preventing us from trying new things.
The veterinary field has evolved drastically from the days when securing a government job was the only marker of success. Taking calculated risks is essential in a world that is no longer entirely predictable.
Entrepreneurship: The Pet Care Industry Boom
A major wake-up call was issued to the graduating class regarding the booming pet care industry. Massive investments are pouring into the sector, with successful start-ups like Vetic, Supertails, and Zigly rapidly expanding.
The catch? Many of these highly successful pet care enterprises are founded by non-veterinarians. The speaker urged the fresh graduates to embrace entrepreneurship, noting that capital is easily available today for the right ideas. “If you ever want to get into entrepreneurship, the earlier, the better.”
Resourcefulness Will Take You Far
A touching story was shared about a young veterinary graduate from Assam who reached out to him on LinkedIn. Coming from a humble background and lacking industry connections, she simply asked for guidance to explore corporate opportunities in Mumbai. Through a few connections and her own resourcefulness, she landed a job at Zigly and even successfully negotiated her contract. Resourcefulness, the simple act of reaching out and asking for help, is a vital soft skill.
Never Stop Learning: The AI Revolution
Perhaps the most inspiring moment of the speech came when the speaker revealed his current pursuit. After retiring from a highly successful corporate career, he didn't slow down. At nearly 60 years old, he is currently a student at IIT Delhi, studying AI in healthcare!
He stressed that artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation are revolutionizing diagnostics and healthcare.
His message to IIVER students and management was clear: Veterinary education must begin to integrate technology.
Final Thoughts
During an engaging Q&A session, students asked about navigating corporate spaces, the necessity of an MBA, and building a niche in diagnostics.
His advice was clear: map your core skills to what companies need, stay endlessly curious, and remember that there is no substitute for smart, hard work.
As our graduates take their oaths and don their stethoscopes, they leave IIVER Rohtak not just as animal healers, but as potential innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders. The future of veterinary science is incredibly bright, and it's theirs to shape.
