I’ve gotten a lot of praise, admiration, and high hopes of becoming a ‘power player’ for attending and speaking at the World Economic Forum 2012 at Davos last month. I am grateful for it, the 70 Global Shapers, all incredible millennial leaders, have been well-respected for their contribution to Davos this year.

Yet what I really want to share is that, for me, I have learned to embrace my losses as much as my opportunities in life. One year ago, I was completely burnt out and unsatisfied with my life, career goals, and physical energy. I took the time to reflect on what truly mattered, what I cared about and why, danced 3x a week, journaled and meditated. This inevitably made me a better person. When I started to show up as my full self, rather than running around chasing the work of others, opportunities came to me. I would say the real source of power was letting go: of expectations, of always having a set plan, and just being myself.  I went to Davos to share my thoughts with the world, from where I stood as a young woman. My biggest successes have been from ‘enabling myself’ not trying to save the world. That is real power, when we own our life and mindset, rather than solely attach ourselves to our accomplishments and awards.

So what was Davos like? Lets be honest: it’s the most exclusive event in the world. So when I, a visibly Indian-American young woman came to this event, no one was really talking to me at first. Everyone couldn’t wait to shake hands with Bill Gates, Arianna Huffington, and Sheryl Sandberg. So I learned to exercise my own version of power: asking questions.

In almost everything I went to I asked a question that related to my life and my generation. It unexpectedly brought people to me I wasn’t seeking out originally but became kindred spirits for the rest of my time there. That’s our real power: our curious mind. We don’t need to know it all, we need to start from where we are.

The challenge is that when you get to a position of power and authority, other people expect you to “be a certain way.” Yet I’m learning that I can constantly shape who I am for myself rather than rely on others to determine this for me.  This will be a challenge for all next generation leaders as we morph and grow.