Outsource everything except being a mother and a wife

The creative team

Recently, I worked with a team of women on a newsletter as part of the "Women in IT" program.  This was a good experience as it exposed to me a lot of infectious enthusiasm and fun. My responsibility included interviewing  a senior leader, writing it up, editing the articles and creating the final copy along with the Chief Editor. Here is a picture of the entire team and a copy of the interview.

No appointments, No disappointments

Traditional at heart, yet modern in her views and outlook, Vasudharini Srinivasan is a shining example of a successful senior leader. She started her career as a Senior Systems Analyst at Mascot Systems and quickly rose through the ranks due to her innovative problem-solving capabilities and financial acumen. As part of her accomplishments, she has been instrumental in taking a new age internet service company through the CMM certification journey, she has led the PMO and Quality function followed by heading the Stores IT delivery organization at Tesco. She is a warm and caring person with a no-nonsense attitude and is happily married with two children aged 15 and 12 years. Here are some excerpts from an interview with her.

 Name few qualities which you think is able to help you get to the current level?

 Execution - Being a hands on technical person helps to lead a technical organization in the right path and ensures that leadership is execution focused;

Empathy - having a true connect with people ensures growth and a high level of retention.

Balance – knowing when to dive into the details and when to get the strategic outlay are a few of the key leadership qualities.

 How do you balance your various roles?

My mantra is, “Outsource everything except being a mother and a wife:-)” Basically, build strong support structures which can complete tasks and provide the time for you to focus on things that you need to complete. I love cooking, and it helps me de-stress, and so does spending time with my children and elders in the family. I believe in working smart to produce results and expect no less from my teams.

 What keeps you going in tough times?

I love humor. That is the most effective therapy during any tough situation. I carry less luggage (hurt, anger, worry, fear) and hence the journey is comfortable and enjoyable. Whenever I hit a rough patch, I tell myself that “this too shall pass” and this helps me to blithely move ahead when all mental weight has been shed.

 What is your view on why there is drastic drop in percentage of women at the top?

I think that the question is whether there is a credible drop in percentages as we climb higher. My answer would be no, because women make their choices and prioritize personal fulfillment over professional success. In the fight between the board room seat and the family hearth, I think the family hearth wins hands down. This is a conscious choice that women are making and there is no element of bias at the top. I think these choices are personal and every woman has to make it consciously. The only advice I would give them is never to allow a guilt gap to overpower or cloud these important career choices.

Be the best you can in what you are, what you do and where you go.  Best Wishes! 

Mrs Vasudharini Srinivasan - Head Stores IT, Tesco HSC

Olive - our lovely family member

Olive walked / ambled into our lives on 08 June 2003. She was born on 20 Apr 2003 and was part of a litter of puppies that we went to see. As experience has taught me, there is no seeing a puppy. You just bring them home because something just gives way and your rationale of why you cant have a dog in an apartment goes for a toss. I was 3 months pregnant, had been advised to expect a diifficult pregnancy as I was carrying twins and still we fell for the cream colored labrador female pup who was waddling towards us. We took her over to Ritu's house and embarked on choosing a suitable name. Satish wanted to name her Olive as I / she was Olive Oyl of the Popeye the sailor man fame. So she was christened while having tea with lovely friends and Olive playing with Giggles at Ritu's place.

During my pregnancy Olive ate all fruits with me with great gusto. I would later understand that she hated gooseberry as she spat only that when she tried it. She was home when I was in and out of the hospital and brought two pre-mature babies home. I had less time for Olive and as the kids started crawling I could not keep them away from Olive. She was the most patient with two kids who would sleep all over her, pull her tail, disturb her during her meal and try to ride her like a horse all the time. Not once did she growl or be impatient with the kids. There are times when I have asked her to leave the room instead of telling the kids not to disturb her. I used to jokingly say that she was the only person who listened to me in my own home :-)

 As she grew older, she mellowed down and was the gentlest dog in the neighborhood  Kids and mothers who were generally afraid of any canine form, were okay with Olive. They would come forward pet her and say that she was most gentle lady that they had met so far. Olive had a litter of her own to a gently and gigantic Samrat and that was her brush with motherhood. Satish and I delivered the pups.

Olive loved to swim in the sea at Kerala and accompanied us every year. She was a wonder to the village boys and girls who could not get over this dog who would fetch a Frisbee or stick after swimming further and further into the sea. But she retrieved the Frisbee / stick every time without fail. Satish loved to run with her and take her to the sea every day.

After spending 10 years with us, Olive passed on today 01 Feb 2013 due to an infection in the blood and the resulting complications. It was hard to see her sick and then go. Nothing prepares you though you are aware that she is in an exit mode. I think my ode to Olive is about how she converted the non dog lover in me to a tolerant lover of Olive. On the day she died, I am not sure if I can love or connect with another dog, the way I did connect with her but some relationships will always be special and cannot be replaced by a new one. I will miss her running away with my slipper as I enter the home from office, or her tugging my kurta /dress and not letting go till I had petted her and showered attention on her. She was unique adn wiill stay in my heart as my lovely dog. God bless you sweet heart and I hope you are born into another loving household which you will enrich the same way, you did ours!