Incredible Women - III

Vasudha Sondhi, Punam Singh, Maggie White, Princess Padmaja, Gursharn Goyal, Ragini Chopra, Archana Capoor, Niloufer Mehta, Anju Timblo, Anju Desai

On the leeward side

Vasudha Sondhi Managing Director Outbound Marketing My challenges: There have been huge challenges from my days at Le Meridien as its regional sales and marketing director to the time I set up my own company - Outbound Marketing. There was a time in my career when the industry was not ready to offer a senior position to a young, first-time mother. Yet another personal dilemma that most women in this industry face is the choice of coming back to family or networking after office hours. We represent other businesses and in certain instances there is no longevity because our every intangible benefit - our market expertise, our relationships, our goodwill and credibility - is extended to our clients, which gives them the advantage of entering the market on their own. Therefore, reinventing ourselves to retain these clients has been my biggest battle. My success mantra: My success mantra is based on my company's philosophy - honesty, integrity, respect and trust. My message: The fact that we have a woman at the head of coalition politics and as our minister for tourism and culture is a sign that woman empowerment is happening. Companies have realised that women are far more hardworking, committed and have much more integrity and are less likely to skip jobs. Problem is that most families in India do not allow their women to think for themselves. Unless there is a dramatic change in our thought process, empowerment will only be in theory.

A go-getter

Punam Singh Chief Representative - India VisitLondon My challenges: My first challenge was to have a career itself and for this I had to take on an extremely orthodox and disapproving mother. The challenge then (and even today) was to get recognition as a person who delivers quality work, time after time, and not just as a woman. Today, I'm in the position of doing what I love, at my own pace and pretty much on my own terms. The trick is to work hard, be aware of - but stay out of - politics, be courteous to everyone, and stay genuine. Above all, never compromise on one's principles, even if it means a struggle. My inspiration: My step-aunt was the first Indian woman commercial pilot. So I did have some inspiration! There are many women pilots and air traffic controllers and in fact, quite a few all-women aircraft crews. They are all achievers in their own way, combining a busy home and office life and trying to do justice to both. My success mantra: Hard work, enough time for my family and friends, discipline, generosity, forgiveness, constant learning, time management, multi-tasking, delegating wherever possible and a sense of humour. Of course, luck always helps. Above all, I believe in grace under pressure. My message: Woman empowerment for me is being comfortable in your own skin and with your persona, living life on your own terms and being a successful human being, coming out of the shadows and blazing your own trail.

Wizard of Oz

Maggie White General Manager (South-east Asia & Gulf) Tourism Australia Flashback: I returned to Australia after a four-year absence and changed professions to enter the travel industry. This was the biggest career challenge I faced. The opportunity to establish a dedicated business unit and leverage the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games for the whole country and not just the city was an amazing period in my career. Initially, the prospect was most daunting but the experience I gained and the subsequent rewards were amazing. Many of the people I met and worked with remain friends till date. This proves that a woman can work and succeed in Asia! My challenges: Despite the fact that the industry is booming, there are challenges of attracting and keeping the right people since salaries are less competitive than many other service sector industries. In some areas, the unsocial hours are less appealing than what they used to be. This particularly impacts women with families. Women are still under-represented in senior positions right across Australia and Asia Pacific. My success mantra: I found a career that I was passionate about and the resulting enthusiasm was infectious. My message: Create opportunities; embrace them and don't be frightened to push the envelope a little further. Women can and already have succeeded in the tourism industry.

Princess of the people

Princess Padmaja Kumari Mewar Joint Managing Director HRH Group of Hotels My challenges: The last few years have been very demanding as I have moved into a position of responsibility. But every day is a new day - a day for learning. My contribution: We have a healthy representation of women in senior positions in our hotels today - front office and sales, housekeeping and F&B. Most of them have spent several years here and are today able to contribute immensely to our growth. We have been organising regular training programmes by experienced trainers from India and overseas for them. The objective is to empower the HRH managerial staff, especially the women. My message: These are amazing times that we are living in. Never before has there been such worldwide interest in India. Whether it is tourists or hotels, everyone is making a beeline to India. For tourism professionals, especially women, these are very challenging times. They need to sharpen their own skills and understand organisational goals set for them. The hospitality industry no longer wants merely smiling faces at the front office. Today, women professionals can make a huge contribution in every facet of the industry. But they must become multi-tasking professionals who are able to manage their careers and homes.

Be professional

Gursharn Goyal Managing Director STIC Travel Group My early years: I don't remember ever feeling overwhelmed by the volume of men in the industry or in my immediate work environment. This may be because I and my siblings grew up in an environment where gender differences did not have any reflection on our capabilities as individuals. My challenges: None that could not be surmounted with a firm stand as a professional. I have learnt that emotionalism does not work in business. My success mantra: My mantra is to be a professional, focus on what you are doing and disregard the rest. When I joined the industry in 1973 and established STIC Travels (now STIC Travel Group), I was not an MBA, had no finance or airline/travel background or degree and we had a one-room office in Delhi. Today I am very proud of the fact that we have one of the largest national networks in the industry. My personal achievement is of course my two daughters Richa and Isha who are now in the business and sometimes teach me a thing or two! My opinion: As the managing director, I have tried to create an environment in the company where women feel safe and comfortable and where they feel they can develop their true potential as professionals. My message: Don't think of yourself as a woman or a man, just consider yourself a professional. At the end of the day your work speaks for itself and that is what counts in the end.

Supporting the women force

- Ragini Chopra Vice President Corporate Communications & PR, Jet Airways (India) My early years: Tough to start with as I was in a class of 40 with 39 men and initially they found it perhaps difficult to accept a woman professional. I was the first woman management trainee with the Oberoi School of Hotel management now called OCLD) I could take on any of the roles/challenges that my male colleagues could and that a good performance at work was not due to someone giving me" grace marks because I was a woman." My success mantra: To be myself, work hard, be a part of the team and not try take the credit but share it with my colleagues. I think my achievements are that I can work across a cross section of management functions and with a cross section of teams. On women empowerment: By challenging the system prevalent at that time. Wherever someone opposed a woman being employed for an important position I supported her cause because I knew that particularly in the service industry a woman's attention to detail is critical to the quality. My message: Women obviously are doing the right things - I believe women have innate managerial skills (don't forget they manage homes and kids as well). Ensure that you balance your personal life with your professional life if you want to be truly successful.

State of equilibrium

Archana Capoor Chairman & Managing Director, TFCI My early years: I started my career by teaching in a management institute. That probably helped me in dealing with people of all ages and temperament, as the students were a mix of middle level and senior executives from the industry. My challenges: It is my belief that one has to constantly prove themselves and work harder than their male colleagues. Most of the time, one has to seek good assignments simply because you are a woman. The challenge is maintaining a judicious and neutral mind in adverse situations by not bringing domestic problems to office and vice versa. My success mantra: Faith in God, strong family support, an even temperament and an ability to understand the other's viewpoint without getting into any arguments. In more than 20 years of my career, I have never come across anyone who did not want me as a part of their team. I have even worked in countries where Asian women were not even considered for part-time employment. My message: Fix your priorities - career or family. I know it might be considered old-fashioned but women should look for parental support in bringing up children or should not have them. Today, the pressure on individuals - whatever their sex - is high and one must maintain equilibrium. Working women must have at least half an hour every day as their personal time to introspect and compose themselves.

Honesty is the best policy

Niloufer Mehta Proprietress Arzaani Travel Tourism Services My challenges: It was a challenge to convert each potential customer into a regular client. My success mantra: Networking and relationship building is important in this business. The greatest success is to have a customer for life and have them as friends. I also conduct my business with complete integrity. On women empowerment: Women have handled a lot of challenges and changes single-handedly. Women have an eye for detail which men usually lack. Women are far more tenacious and meticulous in their work and can therefore achieve a lot. Women have great convincing power as they are committed to their word. It's rare that women will give false promises; we say what we mean. My message: Be honest to your client and you will have the world at your feet. Be righteous and honest in your dealings.

Cidade de woman

Anju Timblo Managing Director Cidade de Goa My views: Women empowerment is evident today. Worldwide, the hospitality industry was male-dominated for many years. It is only in the last three decades that the industry has seen the entry of women in different areas of operation and administration. At the beginning it was mainly in housekeeping, guest relations and front office. With more women obtaining specialist degrees, many more areas are opening up to them like marketing and sales, finance, HR, F&B and F&B services. With the need for better living standards, higher education and social acceptance, women have come forward to take the opportunity in this growing industry. Women have a dual responsibility of family and career, and choose careers in areas where the timings can be more controlled. Their contribution is effective as they focus on people, detail and standards. My message: There can be a good combination of men and women with their respective strengths for better performance. My message to the industry is to employ women on their merit and aptitude. There should be no discrimination. Women, meanwhile, must prove themselves through their commitment to perform and deliver.

Equaliser effect

- Anju Desai Head (Outbound Tours) Jetair Tours My challenges: I have accepted the challenges I have faced in my life positively. But it is important for a woman to be committed towards her work without forgetting her commitments to family and friends. My success mantra: Whenever I travel, which is often, whether on work or holiday, I try and view destinations not only from my point of view but also from the customer's standpoint so that I am able to give them a holistic experience. My success mantra is to ensure that my staff looks forward to come to work. For me it's important that one completes the job in hand and leaves rather than stay late and be unproductive. Work will be better only if the people working with you are happy, and their happiness is dependent on the time and attention they give to their families. My message: My message to women wishing to make a mark in this industry is that while it is a great place to work in, they must ensure that their professional and personal lives are balanced.