For more than 12 years, in her spare time, Vidyalakshmi Padmaja has been feeding, rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing countless stray cats and dogs found on city streets.
 | That kind of dedication and compassion is no surprise to Vidya’s colleagues in Deloitte US-India (USI) Offices, who know her work as a communications professional. After all, she always strives to give extra care and attention, whether it’s spearheading a campaign for a global event on artificial intelligence (AI) or coaching team members on skills that help them be successful in their roles. But not long after joining Deloitte in late 2021, Vidya needed care and compassion herself when she was |
diagnosed with cancer. “I was still accumulating paid time off, so I was concerned about what would happen when I took days off for chemotherapy treatment each month,” she remembers. But without hesitation, her team lead and colleagues insisted she take as much time as needed for her treatment and recovery. Moreover, she was asked to use the full range of benefits available, which included additional medical leaves for significant medical conditions. |
Right after her first chemotherapy treatment, unfortunately, Vidya’s father passed away. In shock, she sent a note to her team lead in the middle of the night and was astonished when the phone rang almost immediately. “She stayed on the call with me while I cried. She just wanted to comfort me and assure me that I didn’t have to worry about anything at work,” Vidya says.
After taking her time to get back in the right space, Vidya found herself yearning to return to work on the days she felt well. “It was a relief and distraction,” she acknowledges. She would take a couple of days off after each chemo cycle, appreciating her team’s willingness to accommodate her fluctuating stamina level. “I wasn’t always comfortable being on video calls when I was feeling nauseous or was losing my hair,” she adds. Through it all, she found comfort in doing meaningful work.
One year later, Vidya is happy to say she’s cancer-free and thriving. After being medically cleared for physical activities, she’s learning to swim, using her well-being subsidy to pay for pool sessions and classes. Despite initial fears (“Will I float? Will I swim? Will I be able to do it at all?” she laughs), she now describes it as the most fun exercise she can imagine. Plus: It’s helping her regain her energy and strength.
And she’s funneling that energy into positive things. Travel plans to Europe. New projects she can’t wait to start. And neonatal kittens who need extra care and attention.
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