Raising ‘twins’ can be a handful
Anisha Singh, 40
CEO and founder, Mydala.com
Anisha Singh was entering the second trimester in her pregnancy when she founded mydala.com with two others, Arjun Basu and Ashish Bhatnagar. “The joke was that I was going to have two babies at one go,” laughs Anisha.
“A few investors told my co-founders that they were making a mistake having a woman as CEO. They said I would not return post-delivery,” she recalls the situation — and confusion — around which Mydala.com, her second entrepreneurial venture, was born. She launched her first entrepreneurial venture, Kinis Software Solutions, when she was 25.
Today, Delhi-based Mydala.com has scaled up considerably, from six employees to 180.
“Four hours after delivery I was on a conference call and 10 days later, I walked into my cabin. I did not suffer from postpartum depression; there was no time for it. My mother did, on my behalf,” laughs Anisha, a mother of two.
Raising a baby and start-up at the same time is tough. Anisha knows how tough.
“I would not prescribe this for other women, but I enjoyed work so much that I handled the situation well,” she says.
Anisha makes it a point to go on long vacations with her daughters and spend quality time at home. Besides work, Anisha is helping build a new league of entrepreneurs. Every week, she mentor women who run start-ups.
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Shweta Rai 
Just what the doctor prescribed
Shweta Rai, 39
Director — Marketing, Johnson & Johnson India (orthopaedics business)
At 29, she was regional business manager (North India), heading a team of 40 people in a pharmaceutical company. Ten years on, she heads a vertical at the 130-year-old Johnson & Johnson, a multinational medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer-packaged goods company.
“Your mentors see some potential in you before moving you to a new division,” says Shweta about the major breakthrough in her career that took place when she was in her late 20s. She was doing well in marketing when she was placed in the sales division.
In her 17-year-long career in the healthcare industry, she has worked in the fields of marketing, sales, market access, international business and consulting.
Two years ago, at Johnson & Johnson, she switched from the pharmaceutical to the devices section, which led to another turning point in her career.
Shweta is a mother of two.
“For two years, my husband was in Delhi and we were in Mumbai. We used to shuttle between the two cities often. So, I went slow on my career as my children needed me more,” she says.
At J&J, Shweta also co-chairs what is called Women Leadership Initiative .
“Around 20 % of our workforce at J&J are women. We are trying to increase the representation of women in sales. After marriage, many women consider quitting their career. We conduct regular interactions with such women to enable them to continue in their careers,” says Shweta, who travels 10 to 12 days in a month.
“I am lucky that I have a very supportive family, and mentors around me.”
Shweta makes sure she does not travel when her children have examinations.
“It is important to take up tasks that make you happy. When I am not travelling on work, my husband takes over the running of the family. That is the arrangement we have had for many years,” says Shweta.
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Dina Mukherjee, CMO, Carnival Cinemas
The break could not break her spirit
Dina Mukherjee, 38
Chief Marketing Officer, Carnival Cinemas
Will a four-year break spell disaster for your career? Not if you are Dina Mukherjee. Despite the long hiatus, Dina has reached the C-Suite.
Dina heads marketing initiatives at Carnival Cinemas, a multiplex chain spread across 104 cities, and is also CEO and director for a group company, MoviEcard Sales Pvt. Ltd.
Dina finished her English Honours to work with Barista as a brand manager. Her boss at the coffee chain encouraged her to get an MBA degree. She did and went on to hold significant portfolios with India Today , Future Group and PAN India Food Solutions in marketing, branding and operations.
Her association with Future Group marked an inflexion point in her career. She got to head the F&B vertical there.
“I worked well on strategy, technology and also took up a course in finance,” says Dina.
While working with colleagues who are senior to her age, but junior in terms of work experience, Dina tries to earn their respect.
Dina took a break, lasting over two years, to take care of her son who used to fall sick often.
“It took me two more years to come back on track,” she says.
Her advice to youngsters: ‘Don’t take a break’.
“The industry forgets you. Try and figure out how things can be worked out. I had to work extra hard to be back on track. Also, I don’t believe in hopping from job to job to see growth,” she says.
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Vipshal REDDY
Uber-cool career
Vishpala Reddy, 39
Chief People’s Officer, Uber (India and South Asia)
Vishpala Reddy is in a challenging and demanding role at Uber.
India is one of the largest markets for Uber outside the United States. The company has close to 1000 employees in India. As Chief People’s Officer, she is responsible for building a dynamic workplace, strengthen leadership capabilities and introduce innovative people practices.
“Every stint has added to my skill set,” says Vishpala, who promotes diversity and inclusion.
Prior to joining Uber, Vishpala was heading the Human Resources department for American Express. When she assumed that position, she was among the youngest C-Suite executives in the organisation.
“If you have the right skill set and competence, age does not matter. Organisations will be happy to have you on board,” she says.
At American Express, she was instrumental in starting ‘Reach Out’ — an initiative to create a pipeline of women leaders.
“We collaborated with many companies, including PepsiCo, Microsoft, PwC and the Tata Group, to conduct workshops and offered mentoring support. Two editions of the programme are over,” she says.
A mother of two, Vishpala says she is comfortable balancing her home-centred and workplace commitments.
“When I was a month old at Uber, an important meeting at San Francisco coincided with my son’s birthday. I discussed the matter with my seniors and expressed my desire to be part of the celebration at home. I flew back that same day to be with my family. There is an advantage to be working with a technology company. After I returned from my maternity leave, I made sure I used the flexi working hour option as much as I could,” she says.
“When I get enough flexibility at work, I make sure I give back to my team.”
