Personal Information
Previous Occupation: Over 15 years of extensive experience in Marketing, Advertising, CRM, Sales and Media in leading global organisations.
Present Occupation: Marketing Head on the key “power brands” of Maruti Suzuki - Swift, SX4, DZire, Gypsy, Grand Vitara and Kizashi and working on product planning with a focus on the future vehicle roadmap.
Sector: Automobile
Work Experience: 21 Years
Interests – Professional/ Personal: 
Personal: I love travelling and making friends. I have a passion for riding bikes and driving cars. I’ve been participating in TSD rallies and cross country drives to satiate my desire for adventure.
Professional: Creativity and innovation excite me.

Can you tell us a little about your family background/ history?
I’m an Aquarian. I’m also a “Dilliwalah” who studied science at Delhi Public School and graduated in Economics from Delhi University and has seen Delhi change over the past four decades. Being the youngest in a highly educated family, I’ve been fortunate to have siblings who have been my friends and guides. My father, who shall always be my “role model,” was a master of many languages and had exemplary writing powers. He always inspired me to follow my heart and be a perfectionist in whatever I do.

Briefly describe your personal and professional achievements (including recent awards/ special projects).
I feel that “going back to school” after a gap of more than two decades and learning to juggle and manage work, family and studies over the past 18 months has been my personal achievement.

On the professional front, some of my recent key achievements have been strategising and revitalising the Brand Swift, and planning, naming and launching Swift Dzire, which was judged the 3rd most successful launch next to IPL by the 13th Annual Brand Derby Awards by Business Standard.

I am also proud of having been given additional charge as Director on the board of Maruti Finance and Insurance in my first year at Maruti Suzuki.

Tell us about your profile pre-ISB, and recap your professional life after ISB, including your career progression.
I began my career in 1991, and over the past 20 years, I have worked with global industry leaders in organisations across the automobile, advertising, CRM and print publishing sectors, learning and practising brand management, advertising, CRM and sales.

Having completed my term at ISB just a few months ago, I feel enlightened and am raring to go for my next innings and transition from a functional to a senior management role.

Describe your fondest memory of ISB.
My fondest memories of my stay at ISB are the times spent with my batchmates, the morning walks around the campus, the “wake up” breaks between classes, the “Gala Nights” during each term and letting our hair down during the last Solstice.

In your personal life, how have you changed post-ISB? Do you see yourself doing something differently because you went to ISB? What has left a lasting impression?
The change is yet to sink in, but I do feel the difference in my approach towards day-to-day situations in the sense of leveraging my in-class learning across different professional simulations. Being from a non-finance background, the learnings across finance related subjects have really helped me understand and appreciate the financial nuances of business.

However, what left a lasting impression on me was the spirit of camaraderie among my batchmates and the multi-faceted, multi-talented side of a few of them in the spheres of music, art and entrepreneurship. I look forward to being a part of the ISB alumni network.

How do you think ISB has contributed to your career growth?
It has helped me to “renew” my learnings, “reinvent” my strategy and “recharge” myself to lead and succeed in my next innings. 

If you have to sum up ISB in one word?
Well, I’ve got a few words - memorable, edifying, awesome, “Dimag ki Batti Jala de” and holistic.

What was the main highlight of your programme at the ISB?
PGPMAX is a programme designed for senior executives and it focuses on shared/ collective learning. The programme and resources were designed towards holistic leadership development through rigorous learning of diverse subjects across the whole term. From preparatory advanced Excel courses to statistics, MOLC, strategic M&As and negotiations, the diversity offered ample opportunity to learn and hone new skills.

Word of advice for the current class?
Study hard but party harder. The best learning will really come from bonding, sharing and absorbing the collective learning of your class.

What was your favourite course/ class at ISB and why?
It is indeed difficult to choose among them. But my vote would go to the sessions on Financial Decision Making for Managers by Professor Suren Mansingha and the session at Wharton on Corporate Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions with Professor Harbir Singh, which I found most engaging and useful in today’s context. 

Was there anyone during your time at ISB who acted as a mentor for you? Tell us a little about this relationship and why it was valuable.
My entire class - for being there during the course, now and forever.

What are the areas in which you can contribute to ISB?
As an ISBian, I’m willing to contribute in every possible way within my means and scope. I would be very keen to start an ISB Alumni Delhi chapter and organise meetings or get-togethers to further strengthen the network.

What do you enjoy most about your current career position?
Cars, cars and more cars! I enjoy putting to use all my learning over the years and from ISB to orchestrate strategies that help transform brands into icons.

What is the next new thing in the industry or vertical you are working in? Any trends that you can see?
I believe that the future is not only promising, but is also really in our hands to shape. Today, India is a major growing economy with the majority of its population made up of youth. In my industry, the key challenge would be to bring out products that excite today’s youth and still are engaging enough to keep them within our fold as they grow and progress in life. Moreover, with the slowdown in our industry today due to the current governance and regulatory scenario, we will need to be more innovative and offer products that will have greater mass appeal.

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