I moved back to India after living abroad for 10 years

Shortly after moving to Amsterdam, I decided I had had enough of consulting. The constant traveling was also becoming tiring. I left McKinsey and worked for the Dutch bank ING as a corporate strategist for over a year before moving to the logistics company Wayfair in 2019. I was one of the first hires in the Berlin office, tasked with building the company’s international business , which I still believe was the most challenging, yet fulfilling, period of my career.

Life in Europe

Things were going well in terms of lifestyle as well.

I liked to finish work by 5 or 6 pm and have the rest of the day to myself. Public transport was a big plus – I loved never having or needing a car to meet colleagues or friends for dinner or a beer.

One of the best parts of Europe was that if I had a long weekend, I could go to a nearby country by train in a few hours.

One of the only downsides is that it is not the best place to earn and build wealth due to high taxes.

Slow growth in Europe

The itch to return to India started about three years ago.

I have watched India grow since I left and felt like I missed the boom by leaving in 2014. Many of my friends back home have built startups or venture capital careers. I wanted to be a part of India’s growth story.

I also felt that there was no career growth for me in Europe. In India, I had a large network from the top technology and management schools in India and because of my time at McKinsey.

I also wanted to be close to family, especially since my parents are getting old.

My turning point was realizing in mid-2023 that my career had stagnated because I was at a higher level and it was difficult for me to develop. The war in Ukraine and other macroeconomic factors such as inflation also affected my decision.

I worked with a professional trainer before making a firm decision. I traveled through Latin America and being in a new environment sealed the deal for me.

I quit my job and finally moved back to India in May.

Back adjustment

After a decade of living far away, there are things I have to get used to again.

I’m still adjusting to the pollution, the traffic, and the sheer number of people. The number of cars and two-wheelers on the road has exploded, making driving and parking much more stressful.

But some things have also become much more convenient since I left 10 years ago.

I remember having to call a restaurant if I ever wanted to eat, but India now has food and grocery delivery services that promise to deliver any food or household item in less than 10 minutes.

It is much easier to find and afford domestic help, and I have a cook. For my friends with newborns, live-in nannies are available. These feel like huge luxuries compared to Europe, where my immigrant friends struggled with childcare – their parents were happy to help but could only stay in Germany for 90 days at a time.

I can also afford an all-inclusive apartment complex where I have easy access to a pool, gym and supermarket.

I volunteer as a startup mentor at an incubator at my alma mater, and I’ve noticed a big shift in mindset among people in their early 20s. When I graduated with my engineering degree, my classmates and I thought that our only career options were to join a company, study abroad for a Masters, or pursue an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management.

But students are now much more willing to take risks and venture into entrepreneurship.

I am currently on a career break. I want to reacquaint myself with India and then hopefully build my own business in the next few years.