In February 2020, just 12 days before the WHO declared a pandemic, a manager boarded a plane for his first solo international business trip to New Delhi, India. He was tasked with building rapport with a consulting team, a journey that suddenly felt fraught with uncertainty as news of COVID-19 spread.

Flying from JFK on February 29th, he navigated visa issues and arrived in a city where masks weren't yet advised. The trip was a cultural milestone, visiting temples and meeting colleagues who questioned U.S. screening protocols. Yet, he privately wrestled with fears of being stranded and the ethical weight of potentially spreading illness.

Looking back, he reflects that true courage would have been questioning the trip's necessity for everyone's welfare. Instead, driven by a desire to appear strong and avoid wasting company funds, he proceeded. The experience became a profound lesson in leadership, hindsight, and the unpredictable timing of a global crisis.