Conversations with some of the country’s biggest industrialists like K.M. Birla and Sunil Mittal prove that it is not just urban myth that Zia Mody is on the speed-dial of India Inc. for every multimillion-dollar deal. It is believed that her clients trust her to offer the right opinions and not ones to simply please them. Is that the magic of Zia Mody?
Being a female lawyer in the male-dominated, cut-throat world of corporate law would have been a journey that’s far from easy. Which is why, seeing her journey and meteoric rise is even more inspiring.
In this electrifying profile, Gunjan Jain tries to unravel the enigma of Zia Mody and what it is about her that makes corporate India tick so well.
Life can be difficult, but if it were not, it would be boring.’
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director of Biocon, is a scientist par excellence, an innovator and counted among the most powerful women globally. She is India’s richest self-made woman, a philanthropist, a proud Bangalorean, a vociferous civic activist and the recipient of a litany of awards and accolades.
Today, at over sixty years of age, she remains as unconventional as her rebellious younger self, whose confidence helped her turn failures into successes and challenges into opportunities. But where does one find the motivation and drive to continue to cross milestone after milestone? As Biocon’s tagline goes, ‘the difference lies in our DNA’.
Read on as Gunjan Jain tries to uncover the answers to these questions and more in this impressive profile of an impressive woman.
No economy can thrive, or even survive, by ignoring the contributions of women.’
As the chairman (India) and director (Asia-Pacific) at HSBC, Naina Lal Kidwai’s professional journey has been one of firsts. She was the first Indian woman to be a Harvard Business School graduate, the first (of three) women to be employed by Pricewaterhouse, the first woman to head an investment bank and a foreign or private bank in India, and the first woman president of India’s largest chamber of industry—the eighty-five-year-old FICCI.
A true pioneer, she is a nonconformist who finds time for social causes and turns every adversity into an opportunity. A feminist in the best sense of the word—a doer, not a preacher—Kidwai is a woman of substance and a banker of enterprise.
In this truly inspiring profile, Gunjan Jain digs a little deep to reveal the many struggles and strokes of genius that make up someone like Naina Lal Kidwai.
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, and remember that work is a small part of our total being.’
Arnavaz ‘Anu’ Aga was a trained social worker who chose to be a wife and mother. However, she soon found herself having to turn around an ailing company, becoming a celebrated, albeit accidental CEO, nurturing an energy and environmental engineering major. Today, she is a respected parliamentarian.
Her simple lifestyle does not give away the fact that she is a regular on Forbes’ list of the richest Indians. She is a role model for any woman who wishes to be empowered and find her voice and mission, whether personally or professionally. It truly seems as if she’s achieved it all.
What is the secret behind Aga’s success—both personally and professionally? Read on as Gunjan Jain uncovers the legend of Arnavaz ‘Anu’ Aga.
People, too often, are focused on the destination and not the task that will take you to that destination.’
As the chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi is one of the most well-known names in the corporate world. Her climb up the corporate ladder—and the numerous influential positions she holds outside her job—are a beacon of hope for everyone, especially for women who are often conditioned to believe that they can only advance so much before they are stopped by the imperceptible glass ceiling.
But how did she get here, and what motivates her to stay at the top? What imperative steps does she take every day? What are the beliefs—big and small—that she lives by?
In this revealing profile, Gunjan Jain provides a glimpse into understanding Indra Nooyi’s life mantras and the impact they have had on others.
When one is fortunate enough to be in a position to help others, I believe it is a responsibility to do so.’
In a country of over a billion, it is rare for someone to remain, at once, an enigma and an icon for decades. It is not often that a woman is associated with impeccable and unique sartorial taste, an astute sense of aesthetics, a sharp business mind, an enviable and loyal circle of powerful friends, a deep philanthropic contract with society and an unshakeable commitment to family. Parmeshwar Godrej is all that and much more.
Parmeshwar Godrej continues to remain the first lady of the patriarch league of industrialists in India. From being the versatile partner of one of India’s wealthiest tycoons, she has transformed herself into a public figure, on first-name terms with world leaders, writers, America’s most beloved talk-show hosts and rock star humanitarians.
Surely, a life like this must come with its own set of pressures and challenges. What does it take to deal with it? Find out as Gunjan Jain unravels the enigma that is Parmeshwar Godrej in this fascinating profile.
In the end, you need to figure out who you are, what gives you joy, where your core lies and how to stay true to it.’
Yasmeen Premji, the wife of billionaire industrialist and philanthropist Azim Premji, is part of a pioneering business family that stands at the centre of a world driven by the creation and sharing of wealth.
Yet, she is never overshadowed by her husband’s wealth or influence. Her life focuses as much on being herself—wife, mother, friend, writer, self-taught architect and an integral part of the family’s philanthropic initiatives—while living on her own terms without any pretences.
Read on to know more about the woman that is Yasmeen Premji in this revealing profile by Gunjan Jain.
Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance’—Coco Chanel
Sudha Murty has lived life on her own terms: she got her first job and changed the fundamentals of how the company hired female engineers; she funded her husband, N.R. Narayan Murthy’s, dream tech start-up (Infosys) while she ran the household and raised their children; and later, when Infosys was established, she chose to teach computer science while penning a slew of bestselling books.
A philanthropist who works at the grass roots, she is the chairperson of Infosys Foundation and a celebrated member of the Gates Foundation. The prolific author of several bestsellers, Murty champions the culture of Karnataka, and with her family, symbolizes a new India that thrives on knowledge and innovation.
But how does a superwoman like this come into existence? How does she manage to do it all? Read on as Gunjan Jain attempts to find the answers to these questions and more in this inspiring profile.
I take life as it comes. I have no complaints and hold no grudges. I am essentially content, and god is very gracious.’
Rajashree Birla was only ten when her engagement to Aditya Birla was fixed. Today, she spearheads the Birla group’s corporate social responsibility activities across forty companies. For someone who has been very successful with a job that was thrust upon her by circumstances, and for which she was totally unprepared, it is amazing to see her journey.
From dealing with curveballs of every kind to making every challenge a strength, Rajashree Birla’s story is truly inspiring. Read on as Gunjan Jain explores the secret behind the enigma that is Rajashree Birla.
Power cannot be brokered. Power is something that you lend to people and motivate them.’
She is the soft power of Reliance’s business. She is the perfect wife, an inspiring mother, an educationist par excellence, a hands-on patron of sports, a danseuse and a champion of social causes. She is Nita Ambani.
What does it mean to belong to a family that constantly makes headlines, to perennially be in the spotlight and have every move scrutinized? How did Nita—a very private person—grow into her very public role so flawlessly?
Read on and find out in this fascinating profile by Gunjan Jain.
