Srinagar, Dec. 17 -- I first met Ayesha on a damp morning in Srinagar. She sat at a street side chai stall, pages of notes spread in front of her like a map. Most of us carry wallets. She carried learning plans, goals, course certificates, and job alerts.

A few years back she taught math in a local school. She loved her students but felt the world beyond demanded more from her than formulas and textbooks.

Her choice was not easy. She could have stayed in what she knew. Instead she set out to redesign her career in a landscape that refuses to stay still.

The world of work has changed. A "career for life" has vanished from most people's experience. In its place is a journey that curves, shifts direction, and requires constant attention...