Seema Ahuja: My valentine is my work

Sometimes, love begins unexpectedly and stays for a lifetime. For many professionals, that true love bond is with the work they do every day.

In this Valentine’s special edition of e4m Love x PR & Comms, Seema Ahuja, Former Global Head of Communications & Corporate Brand, Biocon Group & Biocon Biologics, shares a heartfelt letter to PR, a profession she stepped into by chance but chose to love deeply for over three decades. She shares how the power of storytelling first drew her in, how being the voice of a brand shaped her sense of responsibility, and how communications evolved from a role into a true calling and how it continues to inspire her purpose, care, and vision.

My Valentine. My Work.

When you love what you do, nothing else matters. Happiness follows.

In an industry often defined by deadlines, disruptions and the pressure for instant impact, this love has only deepened with time. I may be an accidental corporate communications professional, but I have loved this profession deeply and deliberately for over three decades. What began as a role has become a calling, one that has shaped how I think, listen, lead and, most importantly, care.

What first drew me in was the privilege of storytelling. On the external front, my role in corporate communications gave me the opportunity to position a company, craft its corporate narrative, and shape how it is understood by the world. I have always believed that no one can tell your company’s story better than you. As communicators, we are not mere messengers, we are the brand voice, entrusted with credibility, context and conscience.

But it is on the inside that this profession truly captured my heart.

Internal communications, allows you to engage with people across levels, locations, functions and mindsets. Over time, you earn what I like to call a PhD in human relations. You learn how organisations really work, not on paper, but through emotions, aspirations, fears and pride. You build bonds, create belief, and play a quiet but powerful role in encouraging, recognising and uplifting others. In many ways, corporate communications function gives you the opportunity to be a Happiness Officer, helping people feel seen, valued and connected to a larger purpose.

Then there is the joy of creativity. Developing brand campaigns allows you to explore ideas, language, design and imagination. It keeps you creatively alive. In a world of structure and process, corporate communications gives you room to think, feel and express responsibly, but fearlessly.

What has kept me excited, year after year, in this profession is that it is very dynamic, and it provides ample learning opportunity. Unlike other professions where you are a specialist of your domain and you only need to know a little about the company’s business; as a Communicator & Brand Ambassador you have to go beyond your own domain. You have to not only understand the business and the dynamics of the industry, you  have to also learn about other departments and teams like finance, supply chain, IT,  EHS,  Research, Quality, IP, Manufacturing, Policy regulation etc. This gives you intellectual stimulation.

 With experience, you realise that communications is less about visibility and more about responsibility. In most progressive organisations, corporate communications is viewed as a strategic lens through which leadership decisions are viewed.

Lastly, I believe the underlying purpose of this profession is to Be Positive & Tell Positive Stories that help you create a circle of positive influence with you & your brand at the centre of it.

Which brings me to what I would like to say to the next generation of communicators.

This is a profession built on trust. There are no shortcuts here. And there can be no compromise on integrity.

What makes you successful is your passion & purpose and your commitment to make a difference. It is essential to focus on continuous Improvement to be a better version of yourself.

In an age of speed, noise and constant visibility, your greatest strength will be your judgment. Learn to pause before you speak. Learn to listen with compassion. This is not about chasing attention; it is about earning credibility, and that takes time.

Build depth before you build a personal brand. Respect facts. Respect people. Respect the long-term reputation you are shaping. Influence without integrity is fragile, but integrity builds influence that lasts.

For these reasons, even after 35+ years in this profession, I love what I do.

Because when purpose meets passion, work becomes more than work, it becomes your valentine for life.

Seema Ahuja