A Wow Moment

Vishakha on the Fortune India's 50 Most Powerful Women in Business List 2017. Wowww !!

That's the page that shows all the power of that list 

The list is based off four criteria:

• The size and importance of their business
• The health and direction of that business
• Her social and cultural relevance
• The trajectory of her career

And when I read that, I totally understood why she would be on that list. A little from the Fortune India write up itself, and a little otherwise:

IndiaFirst, of which she is MD & CEO, is one of India's youngest Insurance companies. She took over, a little over two years ago and turned around the company from a loss making entity into a company that recorded profits of 35.2 crore  in FY 17. 

Today it is one of the fastest growing insurers in the country with a yoy growth of 82%, and under her management the asset base crossed 10,000 crore this year.

Beyond the hard metrics, is the softer and deeper perspective she brings to the business. A leader who cares for her people, one who strives to create a flat organization to give employees that critically important sense of ownership.

I wouldn't be surprised if a large part of this is also the woman's perspective that she brings in; an ability to see the big picture while keeping an eye on detail, like she said ' a never say die spirit and a penchant for details'. 

An analogy I recall her having used years ago, a dish on the table, from one angle can be, it tastes a little off, or to instinctively know which particular ingredient has been under or over used.

Of cultural and social relevance, I'd say is in the very essence of being self driven and self made and growing through the ranks on ones own initiative and merit, right from the word go, many many years ago. The story I like to tell, of how she disappeared into the cave while preparing for her CA. She would write me letters but not meet as she knew meeting meant more distraction and more time. A focus and commitment that's exemplary.

A philosophy she so beautifully represented in her response to this accolade "Keep doing what you think is right, to the best of your abilities and enjoy yourself in doing so. All else will follow. If it doesn't, you atleast enjoyed the journey "

I've heard a lot of her speeches and discussions (albeit not on stage) and at any moment the one thing that stands out is how she will always speak from the heart...with so much meaning and conviction, at times even with great pain to herself. An amazing ability. Drives home her point through brilliant analogies which make it that much more simple to grasp and understand, be it to an individual or an audience of hundreds. Tell it like a story, is what she does best.

And it's been wonderful to watch how she's grown through the process. An instance in example; she's spoken at many a women's forum, strong and powerful...and last year I heard her say "enough, I think it's time I started to talk to the men, they need it as much...I'm going to push for that change in these conventions"

Vishakha, take a bow girl !  You stand inspiration to many many women of the country !

Means much to have been an intimate part of this journey with you.......Feel a huge hug filled with  much joy, pride and many congratulations.