Challenges are part and parcel of your life. The worst thing you could do in life is to take no risk at all. They revitalize you as a person and bring out your best performances. Each one of us has faced challenges or taken a risk in life. The key to overcome challenges is to be calm, composed, understand yourself and solve one issue at a time.
Living in Mumbai for the most part of my life, I never got a chance to live alone, away from my family. I was always in a protective shell. Things changed when I moved to the USA for my master’s- New people, new culture, new food, and a completely different curriculum! Right from cooking food to working in a café, I had to do everything for my day to day living. Though full of struggle I finished my graduate studies. The actual challenge was after I received an offer to work for an automotive company in a small town of New Hampshire. I was first Indian to be hired in White-dominated management, full of white and Asian workers. The peak of this challenge was my task- to bring change! First Job, New set of people and a six-month goal – seemed difficult to achieve at that time. I took a deep breath and for the first month focused on relationships. I understood differences in Asian and American cultures and approached people in the way they preferred. Further, I maintained strong communication & clarity with different departments & functional heads. Soon I achieved the task of bridging the gap between management and operators. The second task was to introduce changes. Rather than imposing change on people- I made them part of this journey. A lot of training, brainstorming sessions and focus group meetings were organized to come up with a final roadmap. Last and most important step was implementation in a month. I and the entire team worked overtime, followed the plan and achieved 100% implementation without any major conflicts.
The impact of the changes was such that we increased our efficiency by 10% and reduced space usage by 20%. My efforts were recognized and our plant received the best plant award for that year. Thus, the first challenge at the job helped me develop confidence and leadership skills which still come handy while tacking new tasks.
How ABG is big in my Life?
Who comes to our mind when we think of strong Indian business family? Who comes to our mind when we think of business families with philanthropy at the core? Since childhood, the only two names that are central to these values are Birla and Tata. They have not only built strong India businesses but helped to build a strong India after independence.
I knew ABG as a big conglomerate with businesses across various sectors, but never had an idea of its grandeur. It was only when I was applying for a job in Novelis, an aluminum manufacturer, I came to know that it is an American company under the Aditya Birla group. I was amazed by the variety of businesses ABG has under its roof. From Fashion to chemicals, you name it and ABG has it.
ABG fashion touched my life most. I remember every Diwali going to a nearby Planet fashion outlet to buy gifts for me and my family. You would think of Louis Phillipe as a foreign brand, but its ABG brand and one of the favorites of mine and office goers. When I moved to the USA, I loved wearing the American eagle and Polos from Ralph Lauren. To my fascination, even these are ABG brands. Coming from a family whose family business is residential construction, Ultratech- ABG cement brand has helped our buildings flourish and indeed helped us.
ABG has indeed done a lot of society, be it schools, hospitals or other CSR projects. It has not only touched my life but the lives of many others in India.