New Delhi, Nov. 10 -- RamG Vallath, a former Airtel executive who once aspired to become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, saw his corporate ambitions derailed by a rare autoimmune disorder that gradually weakened his muscles and eventually left him paralysed in his 40s. Vallath has recently spoken about his battle with the condition, the pressures of corporate life and how he rebuilt his career after stepping away from the boardroom.

In an interview with Money Control, Vallath, a former COO at Airtel and an author, said the pursuit of corporate success came at a personal cost, adding that he eventually had to rethink what achievement meant. The 58-year-old noted that while his career began on a relatively balanced note, it later changed...