–Contributed by Veera Mavalwala

I am writing my first Blog today. I have, this month completed 40 years of my career and would like to dedicate this Blog to all my BOSSES, who I have served during these four decades. I have worked for many Managers, Directors and CEOs and have learned – a little from some and LOTS from some – and nothing from some! I have also lost some very dear bosses (young and old) to whom I would just like to say “May your soul rest in eternal peace”.

My very first boss in the erstwhile Indian Explosives Limited in 1967 in Kanpur was Dr S Chattopadhyay. With him I did my first ever 100 odd pages Report “Urea as a Fertilizer”. The Report, I believe was used in its original form till the Fertilizer Business was sold out in I think, around, 1992. After I completed the Report, I was confirmed in my job at a salary of Rs 250. Initially, I started on a salary of Rs 100! My years with IEL and ICI (India) were very fruitful and I got transferred to Delhi and shifted offices about 5 times from Himalaya House on Kasturba Gandhi Marg to the India International Centre, the Ashoka Hotel and the last one being at the DLF Centre on Parliament Street. I worked for 14 years in Accounts – my boss Mr Satinder Aggarwal, whom I joined in Kanpur when he was a Senior Accountant, graduated to retire as a Director after 14 years. He and his wife Florence, a wonderful couple, are very dear family friends. My last boss with ICI was Mr Vinod Bahree, who is no more – God bless his soul – taught me the intricacies of the corporate world. He was a stickler for details and if I gave him the Moon and thought – now that will satisfy him – he would ask for 2 Moons! But with him I learned “eye for detail” and to work “perfectly”. Thank you Mr Bahree, wherever you are!

My long tenure with ICI of 28 years lasted when a thorough gentleman interviewed me for an hour. He asked me about my life from the day I was born – which I told him in detail what I had done with my life, I asked him about his, which HE told me. After a one hour interview he said “Veera shall we give it a try”? And I said “Yes”! Yes, just in one hour I left a job of 28 years and I did it for – yes you guessed right – Mr Ravi Bhoothalingam, the then President of the Oberoi Group of Hotels. The five and a half years that I spent with him were GREAT! A GREAT learning experience, a GREAT working experience and a GREAT bonding experience with him, his wife Sushama and his lovely family. He is still my friend, mentor and guide!

With a short 4-month stint with Mr Shiv Khera and 6 months with LeasePlan (where I had my only ever woman boss), I joined Mr Rajeev Karwal, the then MD of Electrolux. Again, this was a memorable experience as I got into action for organising the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme – the Femme Force Self-Defense Programme for Women, spearheaded by Mr Rajeev Karwal. We trained (with the help of a Trainer) about 600 girls and women ranging from 16 years of age to 65! Again, this initiative created an everlasting “bond” with Rajeev, his wife Shobha and his family.

I left Electrolux to join CIG Realty Investors – a Unitech Promoter Group Company. I suddenly realized after so many years of working how different it is working for an MNC and an Indian Company. With the professionalism that I was used to I did try to bring about some changes and “firsts” like first ever “Diwali” and “Christmas” celebrations and set up systems, which, I am sure, will be useful to them.

Well, I am back in action – since last week – again with Mr Rajeev Karwal, who has founded his own Company MILAGROW Business & Knowledge Solutions. My vision was to have “retired” after 40 years of working but I think Rajeev has changed that Vision now to 50 years – at least!

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL MY BOSSES FOR TEACHING ME, FIRING ME AND LOVING ME!

More later!