BUSINESS MANDATE
fountainhead of excellence
1 JULY 2021
BUSINESS MANDATE
fountainhead of excellence
21 JULY 2021
I
was born in Digboi, the oil town
September 9, 1984. A day that still
fairly senior in the refinery and so, it was
of Assam in Northeast India.
comes with pain as I remember how I
a big case in those days.
Digboi is a very small township
lost my father. He went to work as
From there, somehow we moved
but claims its place in the world map
usual, and never came home again.
on. My mother got a compensatory job
because it has one of the world's oldest
When a person is missing, you wonder
which was nowhere close to what my
oil refineries.
what happened. Did we hurt him in
father’s — both in designation and
My father worked in the oil
some way? Did something untoward
earnings. We moved homes to Gauhati.
company, making us one of the oil
and unimaginable happen at work? Was
It is a sprawling city now (renamed
families of Digboi. Some of my happiest
it an accident? Something else?
Guwahati). We had to make new friends
memories are the growing up years, with
stories
of
Ramayan
and
Mahabharat from my grandmother, and Enid Blytons, picnics, classical dancing, tennis and swimming. We looked forward
to
the
visits
to
our
grandparents’ house where we had a lot of local food and love. When I was just 12, life threw an
and
Holding the Fort Twelve is hardly an age to come to terms with such a calamity. I grew up overnight, because my sister is three years younger than me and I had to hold the fort though I didn’t know how to. The next few months saw various authorities,
detectives
and
media
personnel pouring in. My father was
unexpected curveball at us. It was 22
JULY 2021
BUSINESS MANDATE
fountainhead of excellence
introduce
neighbours.
It
ourselves
to
new
was a completely
different life to what we were used to in that gated community in the oil town. We were out there in the open — three women: my mother who was just 35, me at 12 and my sister just 9. Every day, our hopes would rise when the bell rang or the gate opened, thinking father had come back to us.
I continued my studies and did fairly well in grade 10. A lot of the credit goes to my tiger mother. There was no excuse for not doing well. I loved my mother even more after this tragedy happened. Life was a big struggle. We lived on scarce resources. There was
University. MBA was not my choice at
ten years after that 1984 incident of my
all and that is where a pivot of the
father being reported missing, news
journey happened. I wanted to be two
came that my father's remains were
things — a teacher and a dancer. I had
found in a giant kerosene tank in the
learnt classical dancing — Odissi and
refinery. We had by then managed to
Sattriya, and I was determined to be
settle down and overcome some of the
either a teacher or dancer.
grief. It was once again back to dark
never enough for us to go by the whole
I would wear my mother's sarees,
days with the same people, same media
month but my mother never lost the
my grandmother's spectacles and deface
coming back and asking the same
smile on her face. She would always tell
the walls of our house with colour chalk
questions. We kept asking, “Why did
us, “No matter what's there on the table,
and teach and nurture imaginary
this happen to us?”
no matter what fear we may have at
students. That was my dream, but my
Different people react differently to
night, there is always a sun that comes
mother wanted me to be economically
situations. My sister could not come to
out in the morning.” I have grown up
independent
a
terms with the news as she loved my
with that philosophy. I may fall under
corporate job would give me security. It
father so much. She now needed love
pressure but I'll rise up again.
was based on what she saw at that point
and protection from us. I became
of time.
hardened, as I had to keep the
The Pivot of My Journey Fast forward to my MBA in Gauhati
and
she
thought
I had graduated in economics and,
household going. I could not see my
just before my MBA decision and exactly
mother without her smile. I knew that if
BUSINESS MANDATE
fountainhead of excellence
23 JULY 2021
When faced with huge challenges, I was not afraid of shedding tears. A lot of When it comes to profession or business or if there are
women feel that they should not cry.
changes in our lives and critical decisions have to be
They forget that it is just an expression
made, you can see that more than one person owns
and it is okay.
our journey.
On one such business related incident, my tears were not of fright but they were of rage, frustration and
she wanted me to do an MBA, I would
Different categories of jobs and brands
emotion. I knew if I talked to Mythili, I
do MBA. So that journey where I wanted
in advertising have fallen into my lap
would come up with a solution. It is
to be an academician or a classical
and there is hardly any category left.
important to have partners whom you
dancer just remained my passion.
I had to overcome many demons
I did my MBA and walked into the
—some my own—that I was a small
corridors of J. Walter Thompson in
town girl. People then were not so well
December 1996. I have been in the same
connected. They had a fixed notion of
company since then. The company's
Assam—of seeing Assam tableaux with
name has changed many times from J
dancers in Republic Day parade and
Walter
Assam being one of the seven sister
Thompson
to
Hindustan
Thompson Associates (HTA), JWT,
states of northeastern India.
Wunderman Thompson. I now lead
can trust with every single problem. You may have different roles, in different departments and different businesses with varying levels of seniority. But finally, we are all people and we connect together. Who Owns Our Journey? When it comes to profession or
Therefore, I would be hesitant to
business or if there are changes in our
speak up in meetings or share a point of
lives and critical decisions have to be
view. But I was very lucky to have a lot
made, you can see that more than one
I called my mother from Calcutta
of
Chandrasekar
person owns our journey. We are also
(renamed Kolkata now) and told her
being one of them. Not just women but
comfortable with that as women,
that I had got a job in advertising. She
men too have always encouraged me
because the enemy behind not owning
wondered if I wanted to be a model, as
and said, “Go for it. Because if you don't
our own journey is not a vicious enemy.
in her world, advertising was only
go for it, you'll never get an answer.
That enemy is actually love and concern,
modelling. I convinced her that I would
Don't be afraid of a ‘No.’ ”
and it includes parents, siblings, friends
GTB India from the same WPP group. When I got my job after my MBA,
be behind the scenes. Conquering My Demon I worked in three cities—all out of my own choice—Calcutta first, then 10 years in Bombay and now 10 years in Gurgaon. All the three cities have had a profound impact on my journey. 24
JULY 2021
mentors—Mythili
That is what prompted me to take
and mentors, who care for us.
on some of the most challenging
Sometimes we tend to lose sight of
businesses and roles. Mythili and I have
our North star as we get overwhelmed
worked together on many businesses.
and influenced and because of who we
Though her role was strategic planning;
are as women; we embrace inputs and
to me, she was always a partner. I could
feedback and we are very affiliate and
feel the power of two women, when
inclusive.
there is understanding and partnership.
conditioned to accept and embrace
BUSINESS MANDATE
fountainhead of excellence
Women
have
been
things around us.
They are an amalgamation or an
degree of competence is very important
outcome of all the influences, good
today and I realised it, because the
So What Happens If We Don't Own
intent and feedback from around us. But
advertising world that I joined is very
Our Journey?
finally they are our own journey.
different from what it is now.
I have seen that every time we give in to something that is not part of our plan or desire, it ends up curbing our energy and passion and in turn our achievements. There are five points that I want to
Today, after a lot of introspection, I
Today, it is a world of data,
have managed to arrive at my own north
analytics and behavior science, all linked
star. It does not have to be only about
to
work. It could be as simple as what you
measurable. At times, there is a risk of
want out of life. Being in advertising, we
turning into a dinosaur. I have trained
performance.
Everything
is
use tag lines. I have tried to articulate
myself to be a student again and again.
talk about from my own journey.
my north star in a tagline and it is,
I lead a unit today whose main function
• Have a clear vision of our north star
keeping in tune with the hashtag trend
is data analytics. I never thought I would
—hashtag
do that. As I am highly creative in mind,
• Have a high degree of competence • Find our voice • Face our vulnerabilities • Celebrate our milestones Vision of North Star The North Star in the far horizon was the only guide for travellers and
'make
it
matter.' (#makeitmatter) Every morning when I wake up, the mantra that I tell myself is that if I can
nothing but our vision of our own future.
were
outside
my
repertoire
and
comfort.
make even one life or even one thing
So never compromise on your
matter to one life. I think I have done
competency. If we are competent, it is
something in the day—be it in my
very easy for us to get a step closer to the
profession, as a mother, friend or
life that we want to live, the job that we
colleague.
want to do or the business that we want
mariners in yesteryears when there was no GPS. North Star in our context is
I pushed myself to dive into areas that
to run. There is no shortcut to Enhancing Competence Clarissa Estes has written a book called, "Women who run with the
If we have to shut our eyes for a
wolves." It's one of my favourites. She
couple of seconds and imagine we are
says, "Art is not meant to be created in
on a dark night road where the sky is lit
stolen moments."
competencies. I am reminded of one of my students, Charanya Kannan, who is from Chennai. I met her during a guest lecture I had given in her college. She was part of the student community that
up with stars and there is a North Star,
True. We are so busy “cleaning”
invited me to Harvard Business School
what would we see? If there are words
whenever we get a break from work at
for a session. Charanya has been an
that we have to write about the North
home, especially with work from home,
amazing student who has shown me that
Star, about where we want to be three
that before you realise it, the day is over.
if you have a clear definition of where
years from now, five years from now, 10
We contend with our own passion and
you want to go, you can achieve it.
years from now, what would those
interests only with some “stolen time”.
words be? Those words need to be our words.
If I remember correctly, when she
We must have a job list where our
got her first job, she was the only or one
own name too finds a place in it. A high
of the few women there. From there, she
BUSINESS MANDATE
fountainhead of excellence
25 JULY 2021
moved to the United States with her
when I wake up, I ask myself, "Which
come up with a solution. Whenever
family. She was outstanding in her
demon am I going to kill today?"
there is a tough business problem, the
Harvard stint. She has a top job in a
In my organisation, we started off
first thing that we fear is, "Oh my God!
leading company. She is a prolific
something called the "SheHour." It is
What if I fail to come up with a solution?
speaker. A wonderful mother. Awarded
for one hour duration where women
What if this or that happened?” The
at various forums. When I look at her, I
drop their designations and inhibitions
'what if' is there in everybody. We have
really think that if you have competency,
and network and talk about issues,
to just face it.
skill and ability to learn more all the
challenges and opportunities. We do it
It is okay to be nervous. We must
time, then the world is an open place for
regularly every month. Great bonding
take a deep breath and say, "Okay. Now
you.
happens out of these sessions.
let me face it and get over it." You will
Find Our Voice
I have gone through a separation
Earlier women authors could not
and I am fully aware of the legal
even write their own names on their
challenges in the process. I do some
books and they had to use aliases. We
kind of mentorship for those who
ourselves have a lot of demons in us.
struggle with the legal battle and offer
The world has changed but those
them guidance based on my experience.
demons haven't yet changed. Even now,
I believe in happy families. But if there
I hesitate to make certain points in a
are any women who undergo challenges
public forum. It is very important to find
—not in the decision part but in the legal
our voice.
battle—I offer help free of cost.
Today technology allows us and has
Facing Vulnerabilities
get that strength of a warrior that is there in all of us. Celebrate our Milestones We don't celebrate enough. Our lives are worth a celebration. One of my colleagues on LinkedIn shared with us some interesting data. LinkedIn has a tool where you can write about your areas of expertise. Women apparently fill this up with restraint because they feel that if they write more, people will
given us so many platforms to explore
We have worked on a brand which
and express ourselves which we didn't
has this famous tagline in Hindi: Dar Ke
If we feel we have done something
have when we grew up. Anybody can
Aage Jeet Hai! It means, 'Beyond fear
right, we must celebrate. A celebration
now blog and write an opinion, have a
lives victory.' I really believe in it. If you
can be as simple as a treat that we give
profile, create something and put it out
face your fears, there is victory ahead.
ourselves, from something small with
there. You just need to find the right
Sometimes we are very scared of our
our family or writing and talking about
space and know what you want to stand
own fears.
it in a way that is a learning for others.
for and have a point of view.
think they are showing off.
When I was waiting in those
Celebration gives us positive energy. It
It is easy to have a stereotype or a
teenage years for our father to come
reinforces the fact that we can travel our
label attached to your actions as very
back, it was the worst fear that I could
own journey and we can do it with
aggressive, very unwomanly, etc. But I
have had. Any other fear pales when I
confidence.
feel the world is developing and we
think about it. The day never seemed to
should not let these things be deterrents
end and the nights seemed so long.
to your progress. The strongest demon is really within ourselves. Every day, 26
JULY 2021
When we face our fears, we always BUSINESS MANDATE
fountainhead of excellence
I end by saying that if we don't own our journey, we will not own our lives the way we want to.