Home away from home

I WOKE up to the challenge of joining the management field in the late 70s, at a time when the field was largely male-dominated. Being the daughter of an army officer, this discrimination was anathema to me. I appeared for CAT while in my final year of graduation, and got through.

The PGDM that ensued was a great asset, honing my competitive and analytical ability. The IIM did much for my confidence and got me to participate in more group activities. I must admit that initially at IIM, it was HR that I was interested in, but HR in the 80s and 90s had yet to find its feet in India. It was more Personnel and Admn. than Developmental back then.

The campus placement week saw me get three job offers, all with public sector organisations. NTPC became my natural choice especially because it was in its nascent stage, and I would get the opportunity to set up the systems and it later proved to be an effective training ground.

My marriage to an officer in the Merchant Navy meant I had to leave. I took a few years off from my career honeymooning all over the world. I concentrated on being a good mother to my children and bringing them to a level of independence before resuming my career.

Continuing my career after the break saw me I shifting over to Administration and Branch Management in my next two assignments in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. These jobs gave me tremendous insight into the commercial side of business, into liaison and people management, that was to finally lead me into my future.

The event that changed my life was a meeting with Dr. K K Das, the doyen of management education in India.(He was then running an institute of Management in Visakhapatnam.) Dr. Das persuaded me to give management teaching a try. The usual feeling of young students/managers: " Those who can, do; those who can't, Teach" prevented me from joining this field initially.

The continual challenge of pitting your individual wits against the combined force of sixty young and enthusiastic students of management was exhilarating. I began to compete against my own standards, that's when I realised that "Knowledge was Power". Graduating students came to seek my blessings, young executives sought my guidance on the jobs that they should take, parents asked for my advice on how to handle their children, even to vet marriage proposals for them. I felt good about myself.

Having hugely enjoyed learning and disseminating the subject, I was headhunted back into industry. My current job is a perfect meld of all I love - being in the field, continually learning, disseminating to an even larger audience through the New Economy Medium of the Web.

Unlike the West, where in many companies, women have made it to the top through the marketing function. In India, with barriers being put to touring and meeting new people, the over-protective conservative Indian households have not allowed the Indian Woman to make her mark in Marketing. Even Pepsico's new chief may have found it difficult to reach her current position if she had tried to work her way up the corporate ladder!

In fact many companies have this absolutely sexist approach and want to hire only girls as marketing (read sales) executives, as girls may find it easier to get the necessary appointments into corporate offices but they don't get into positions of authority very easily because "the men may not find it easy to take orders from a woman"!!

Double standards at work are upsetting. The fact that you work late means you don't care enough for your family. The days when your child is unwell, and you need to stay at home means that you are unprofessional and gives rise to comments like ``That's why we shouldn't hire women,'' ``work late hours and she's trying to prove that she's equal to the men.'' Dress well, and you have reached where you are because of that. Go on official tours, and you are instantly linked with your colleague -never mind his age. Attend the office parties and you're out gallivanting. This may sound like man bashing, but I must hasten to assure you that this is not my intention. Unfortunately there is much truth in this for those who will be honest enough to open their eyes to the facts laid before them.

I have been luckier than most with an extremely supportive family. My husband being out of the country for long periods of time has meant it has been easier for me to devote long hours to my career. Over time, the children have gained their own ground and take care of themselves and the house very well. (Sometimes they mother me, too). The fact that my children have grown into responsible young adults gives me a sense of completeness and achievement.

I love music and reading, and relaxing with my wide circle of friends. I am very house-proud and need to have the right attractive ambience around me. My home has a large garden and most Sundays, I am to be found pottering about, planting or weeding.

However, I firmly believe that in the final analysis, a woman must do what she thinks is right, and hold her head up high. Never be afraid to ask for help from those at work or at home when you need to.

Do I see myself as different from the men around me? No, only better.

ARCHANA JAYAKAR