Global IndianstoryR Gopalakrishnan: ‘Made-in-India Manager’ who shaped HUL and Tata Sons

R Gopalakrishnan: ‘Made-in-India Manager’ who shaped HUL and Tata Sons

Written by: Ranjani Rajendra

(May 20, 2021) A series of unplanned coincidences: that’s how R Gopalakrishnan, management veteran and former honcho at Tata Sons, Hindustan Lever (now Hindustan Unilever) and Unilever Arabia, describes his career that spans over five decades. “My career happened to be the line joining the dots; and to think I had initially turned down a marketing traineeship in Hindustan Lever to work as an engineer,” he says. He wanted to stay in the individual contributor track as he thought “management was flaky,” says the trusted colleague of Tata chairman emeritus Ratan Tata. That’s why he chose IIT over IIM after completing his graduation.

Managing the Indian way

Indian CEO | R Gopalakrishnan | Indian Author | Global Indian But today Gopalakrishnan is seen as a management guru who brings his life lessons from leading corporate teams across countries in the 16 books he’s authored over the years. His 2018 book The Made-In India Manager, examines how a unique combination of factors led Indian management thought and practices to evolve differently from the western discourse. “As Indians, we learn many managerial qualities without even realizing it. A lot of them dissipate in following protocols: Government and social.” Indians grow up in a highly competitive environment and that compels them to pursue goals with a single-minded focus. “Which is why when Indians go abroad and work with better infrastructure, they are able to put their surplus energy to better use. They have a unique way of dealing with issues,” he says. But there are also downsides to the Indian way of managing. The lack of innovation from India, for instance, is largely because we cry victory too soon and don’t see the idea through to customer use and satisfaction. “We don’t plan long term; it’s more about quick fixes or jugaad engineering.” Gopalakrishnan also mentors a few startups. While there is more respectability surrounding the startup ecosystem today, there is also a lot of hype around them, he feels. “How many of our startups are actually profitable or IPO worthy? I believe a startup’s measure of respectability lies in the period of time it takes to make profit. We should encourage startups by applauding the effort behind them and not the inherent talent.” Gopalakrishnan is also uniquely qualified to talk about the divergence in Indian and MNC top management cultures. He’s someone who began his career as a computer analyst at Hindustan Lever, moved to a marketing role and eventually settled into the management track. Gopalakrishnan went on to serve as the Chairman of Unilever Arabia, MD of Brooke Bond Lipton and Vice Chairman of Hindustan Lever, before being handpicked by Ratan Tata to change things around at Tata Sons as executive director.

Tata Sons and Ratan Tata

The transition to Tata Sons wasn’t easy at first: One adjustment was about adopting a more indirect and diplomatic line, different from what he would have done as the chief executive of various businesses in previous stints. About Ratan Tata, his boss for many years, Gopalakrishnan says, “He was a good boss; not perfect, but good. No boss is perfect; I never was either.” “But Ratan Tata has a large heart, he can think long term and is a critical thinker; not qualities easy to come by.” Presently, he serves as the non-executive chairman of Castrol India and independent director of Press Trust of India. He also makes it a point to financially help charities. “I’m not actively involved in philanthropies, but I do support those who run them, for example my wife Geeta, who works extensively with children (Ma Foundation) and cancer patients (Tata Medical Centre).” Gopalakrishnan says that some of the greatest lessons he learned over the years is the ability to be adaptive and the fact that one’s human relations capability trumps technical capability. “You may be technically sound, but if you aren’t able to connect with the people around you there’s only so far that you can go. Some of the best leaders are people who have the ability to connect with people. It’s what drives the world.”

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Published on 20, May 2021

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I have tried to do good in the world via poetry: Usha Akella giving South Asian poets a platform in the US

(June 10, 2024) “I have tried to do good in the world via poetry,” Usha Akella, poet, reviewer, interviewer, editor, playwright, and creative nonfiction author, tells Global Indian. Having published nine books that include poetry, musical dramas, and creative nonfiction and founded Matwaala, the first South Asian Diaspora Poets Festival in the US, as well as the Poetry Caravan in New York and Austin that brings poetry to the doorstep of the disadvantaged, the 57-year-old has always worked towards reaching people with poetry. From her first book, Kali Dances, So Do I which came out in 1998, to her recent work, I Will Not Bear You Sons, she has always touched upon the topics of cultural traditions, feminism, immigration, travel, identity, patriarchy, politics, terrorism, and community. She has edited an anthology, Hum Aiseich Bolte, to celebrate Hyderabad, which was released at the Hyderabad Literary Festival in 2023. And she has edited a festschrift to honor poet Keki Daruwalla that was just published by the Sahitya Akademi. Having immigrated to the US in 1993 after her marriage, she proved that knowledge is a lifelong quest when, at the age of fifty, she earned a Master’s from the University of Cambridge in 2018

thology, Hum Aiseich Bolte, to celebrate Hyderabad, which was released at the Hyderabad Literary Festival in 2023. And she has edited a festschrift to honor poet Keki Daruwalla that was just published by the Sahitya Akademi.

Having immigrated to the US in 1993 after her marriage, she proved that knowledge is a lifelong quest when, at the age of fifty, she earned a Master’s from the University of Cambridge in 2018 in creative writing. Personifying the best qualities of being a Global Indian, she is deeply connected to her roots while she uses her work to create a difference across the world.

[caption id="attachment_52290" align="aligncenter" width="468"] Usha Akella | Matwaala | Global Indian Usha Akella[/caption]

Definitive formative years

Growing up in Hyderabad in the 1970s in a Telugu family, Usha calls them important years when summers were slow, filled with family, relatives, childhood friends, songs by MS Subbulakshmi and Ghanthasala, and an outing meant a trip to the bazaars of the city. Growing up with a father who worked in the then-RR Labs (now the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology) and a school-teacher mother, the campus was a green space and haven that was safe and centered around a close-knit community.

“Life on the RRL campus was a slice of heaven, innocent and uncomplicated,” she recalls and adds. “We are shaped by the times we come from, and those childhood values were instilled in us not by verbal teaching but by living a life centered around family and community. It was a certain India that existed at a certain time.”

The poet, till date, believes that India’s family structure is its greatest asset and that its philosophy of unity in diversity is inspiring. Her thorough grounding in Indian values and culture continues to motivate her and remains her safety net in trying times. It also inspires her constant striving to unite her writing craft with the community.

Unfurling her wings

After marriage resulted in a move to the US (from the Baltimore area to White Plains/Greenburgh in New York and currently to Austin, Texas), Usha drew strength from her Indian roots to assimilate and absorb the new way of life. She states, “The ability to adapt is a quintessential Indian trait. We have the strength to embrace new things and to work hard towards achieving our dreams.”

The only dream Usha always had was to write. Call it fate or genes (her grandfather’s brother, Uma Rajeshwarao, was a Russian and Telugu scholar, while her aunt Nidarmathy Nirmala Devi is a Telugu author, poet, and scholar), her childhood was characterized by three activities: read, write, and dream.

It was a dream that came true when she published her first book of poetry, Kali Dances. So do I in 1998, and I realized a life-long ambition. In those early days, prior to her first book, what helped her along the way were creative writing classes and doing poetry readings in Baltimore and New York to boost her confidence.

[caption id="attachment_52291" align="aligncenter" width="314"] Kali Dances, So Do I[/caption]

“For someone who wrote from the age of eight to finally be published was nothing short of miraculous. It was nothing short of a sadhana (dedication) that allowed me to fulfill a dream. When you pursue something without any expectation and work hard, it simply falls into place,” she states.

Charting new courses

Along with her poetry, Usha has worked tirelessly on initiatives that have a larger impact. The Poetry Caravan, which started in 2003, took poetry form from the confines of solitary readers and readings right into the heart of the community.

She explains, “While all of us are able-bodied and have the resources to engage in art (from movies to theater) or literature, what of those who have no access—be it prisons, hospitals, or senior homes? I thought of taking poetry to them via this initiative so that the disadvantaged are not cut off from the margins.” The initiative continued as a collective after she left White Plains for Austin and has offered over a thousand free readings when counted last. Though she is not directly involved with it any longer, it remains a lasting legacy she left behind.

Another brainchild of hers, Matwaala (co-directed with Pramila Venkateswaran), ensures that south Asian poets get the same opportunities as others and are not discriminated against. Working towards changing syllabuses so that there is diversity in curriculum and going to campuses to hold reading sessions where students are exposed to a fungible quality of voices, it works towards equality for poets of color.

She recalls with enthusiasm that during one of their sessions at NYU, Salman Rushdie walked in and stayed back graciously to listen to all the poets!

The power of words

Why does she write poetry? “It is my form of breathing,” she confesses. “Literally, I suppose. I was a chronic asthmatic as a child and youth while growing up in Hyderabad, which meant many days in bed by the window. I wrote to keep myself alive and feel alive. Perhaps the writer’s sensibility in me was formed in those days. I think that the primary reason is unaltered, though I am no longer in the grip of that ailment. I write to know I am alive.”

Art and literature are the glue that holds people together. For the poet, it gives ground for hope. She states, “At any given point in human history, there is always turbulence. It is the arts that unite. Write a poem, paint a canvas, and make a movie, and you are creating a virtual bridge for the world. We need to use art hopefully and carefully given the fractured times we live in.”

As emojis replace words and chats replace conversations, it is poetry that remains the last remaining bastion of emotion. It makes us think, ask questions, and capture consciousness. With her relentless quest to seek answers, Usha, through her work, is creating awareness and a witness to our shared histories.

Beyond poetry

When she is not reading literature of all genres, Usha likes to spend time with her husband Ravi and daughter Ananya, who, like her mother, is interested in the arts and is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. She listens to numerous spiritual podcasts, paints occasionally, loves traveling, meeting friends, listening to music of all kinds, and visiting museums across the world.

As she signs off, I ask her, what has been the greatest gift poetry has given her? "Everything," she answers, “Friendships, love, identity, travel, and my channel of evolution. I’ve learned to balance dreams with detachment, ambition with joy, and I see that I am the in-progress sum of all that I experience in my journey. Poetry reflects this centering self.”

Follow Matwaala on their website.

Beyond Classrooms: SpaceBasic CEO Madhavi Shankar helps make campus life easy

(March 11, 2023) Some decisions can change the trajectory of life, forever. For Madhavi Shankar, it was moving to Australia to study in 2012. Living independently and practising independent decision making, she realised her potential when she joined a technology startup and went on to work there for four years, juggling different roles. The experiences came in handy when she had a chance meeting with Indu Navar, a successful entrepreneur from Silicon Valley, during a trip to the US in 2016. Five hours of conversations later, Madhavi Shankar’s career had taken off. “I returned to Sydney, quit my job and flew back to India the following year with a goal to solve the real problem in the education space. The result was the birth of SpaceBasic.inc,” smiles the Co-founder and CEO of SpaceBasic, the ed-tech company which works on digitising student experiences for universities and campus housing communities. Back to basics: The idea behind SpaceBasic was to create a digital platform beyond the classroom for students and educators. “Today, over 50 colleges and universities use SpaceBasic to empower their campus housing communities by digitising everyday tasks and communications to deliver a better living experience,” Madhavi tells Global Indian. With rigorous due-diligence,

s Global Indian.

With rigorous due-diligence, Madhavi learnt that over 80% of universities in India use little to no technology outside of the classroom. Campus operations like student housing, managing cafeterias and access control were ineffective and all performed manually with fragmented data sources. “We knew there had to be a better way,” says Madhavi, about the events that led to the launch of SpaceBasic.

[caption id="attachment_36087" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Madhavi Shankar, CEO and co-founder, SpaceBasic[/caption]

Under her leadership and entrepreneurial skills, SpaceBasic has grown 300% year on year. The AI-enabled SaaS platform digitises the non-curriculum life of a student by automating everyday tasks and communication within universities, schools and student housing communities, in one workspace.

Early life

A first generation entrepreneur from Bengaluru, Madhavi comes from a traditional South Indian family. Her parents, both doctors made sure education was the cornerstone of their children’s upbringing. “Throughout my school and college days, I would often get into trouble for my grades,” recalls the technology enthusiast, who enjoyed participating, curating and hosting events.

She did her schooling from National Public School and then went to Visvesvaraya Technological University for her Bachelor's degree.

Sydney calling

Come 2012, Madhavi moved to Sydney to pursue her Masters and MBA from the University of Technology. “My passion for startups started in Sydney. I wanted to start a company from the experience I had in Australia as an international student and drawing comparison to my experiences in India. I was inclined to build something in the education space,” says the Forbes 30 Under 30, Asia 2020 awardee.

While working in the tech startup in Sydney, Madhavi handled different responsibilities, from front desk receptionist, door-to-door sales to finally product manager, Asia Pacific.

[caption id="attachment_36088" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Madhavi and Indu Navar, co-founders, SpaceBasic[/caption]

The entrepreneurship journey

Referring to her meeting with Indu Navar, with whom she co-founded SpaceBasic, Madhavi says their conversation made them realise they shared the common passion of bringing about a change with the use of technology in undeserved sectors in India.

“The goal was to bring together meaningful data sources from everyday tasks and communication and to provide universities actionable insights, leading to cost reductions and streamlined operations,” explains the entrepreneur, who was honoured with Global Australian Award - Advance.Org & Government of Australia 2022.

SpaceBasic is backed by early stage Venture Capitalists SucCeed, Turbostart and have prominent angels from India and the US. Presently, SpaceBasic is working with institutions like Manipal Academy of Higher Education, PES University, DY Patil University, Indus International Schools among others and enables 120K+ users.

The company is expected to accelerate towards a revenue goal of $25M by 2026. “Universities and colleges today want to digitize manual, redundant campus operations and adopt AI technology to make predictive data-driven decisions that will help with cost reductions, optimized operations and provide an amazing connected campus experience to students,” she explains.

Empowering women everywhere

As an empowering woman leader, Madhavi had the opportunity to speak at the United Nations HQ in Geneva in 2019. “Representing India as one of the nine youth speakers was an incredible experience. I interacted and learnt about the social initiatives by young entrepreneurs,” says Madhavi. The event was part of the one million youth leaders by 2030.

She has also been invited to speak at IIT-Kharagpur, IIT-Chennai, ISB Hyderabad and TEDx talks as well. “The common theme around these talks have been women empowerment and the economic need for more women in the workforce and what we can do to support this,” informs Madhavi.

So what are her future plans ? “Our goal over the next three years is to digitise the campus experience of one million students with SpaceBasic.” She says her company believes in equal opportunities for all and giving back to the community. Affiliated with the movement ‘Pledge 1%’ where the company pledges 1% of their profits, time and software to invest back into the community, SpaceBasic works towards educating women each year, informs the entrepreneur.

Madhavi’s work involves lot of travel, something she loves. “I try to read half a dozen self-help books or biographies a year,” says the CEO.

Follow Madhavi on LinkedIn

The American Dream: Ambassador Gautam A Rana’s journey is an inspiration for Indian immigrants across the globe

(November 2, 2022) Once upon a time, a young man with a master's degree in chemistry landed on the shores of New York. A native of Vadodara in Gujarat, the man - like million others - dreamt of making a life for himself and his family in this land of opportunities. While the first year was quite a challenge for the young Indian immigrant, he persisted and found a good job. After working for four years, he had saved enough to call his family - a wife, two daughters, and a son - from Vadodara to the United States of America. But our story is not about this man. It is about his four-year-old son, who was enchanted by this big new world his father brought him to and decided to make the most of it. His name, Gautam A. Rana - the current United States Ambassador to Slovakia. "About a decade after my family shifted to the USA, my relatives also moved here. While I am a very proud American, I haven't lost touch with my roots. My family and I have always maintained our Indian identity and are very proud of our Indian heritage," shares the Ambassador, as

nd I have always maintained our Indian identity and are very proud of our Indian heritage," shares the Ambassador, as he connects with Global Indian from Bratislava.

[caption id="attachment_31264" align="aligncenter" width="693"] Ambassador | Gautam Rana | Global Indian Ambassador Gautam A. Rana with former US President, Barack Obama[/caption]

A lawyer by profession, Gautam is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselor, and has served at various US embassies. The diplomat served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, and the Political Advisor for the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Khost, Afghanistan. He was even posted as the Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan on the National Security Council staff and the Deputy Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. Before assuming the post of US Ambassador to Slovakia - for which he was nominated by President Joe Biden - he served as the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Algeria.

The land of opportunities

After earning a master's in chemistry, Gautam's father decided to move to the USA, in search of better career opportunities in 1970. Only about six months old then, Gautam was completely unaware of how his father's journey was going to shape his own journey in the future. "I was born in Baroda (now Vadodara). And when I was just a small baby, my father decided to take a chance and move to the USA. At the time, the US Embassy in Mumbai was giving visas to people with a master's degree. And that is how he landed in the US," the Ambassador says.

Ambassador | Gautam Rana | Global Indian

While his father got the visa and moved to the US, his initial days in the country were not exactly rosy. "Even though my father had a master's degree, he didn't come from a very wealthy background. So, when he arrived in New York City, he only had $20 in his pocket. In his first year in New York, he worked at minimum wage jobs. In fact, he worked at 12 different places in the first year - since all of them were minimum-wage jobs, he moved from one job to the other. Eventually, he landed a decent job, and in 1973, along with my mother and two sisters, I came to the US," he details.

I think that the Indian diaspora in the United States of America has a lot of reasons to be proud of themselves. There are so many people of Indian lineage who are in decision-making positions now in the USA, including the Vice President, Kamala Harris.

Growing up in New Jersey, amongst a huge Indian diaspora, Gautam shares that his family would visit India almost every year during the festive season. "I have many fond memories of India from my childhood," he says, adding, "My family would travel home for every Navaratri and Diwali. We would do the garba and eat loads of delicious food." Speaking about his childhood days, the diplomat shares, "I grew up in a suburban area, amidst a very supportive community. We never encountered any kind of racism or bullying."

[caption id="attachment_31266" align="aligncenter" width="622"] Ambassador | Gautam Rana | Global Indian Ambassador Rana with President of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová[/caption]

While most Indian kids, who moved to the USA, battled only the cultural shift, Gautam had other challenges to face. “I suffered from polio when I was just five months old in India. I think that was part of the reason why my parents wanted to move to the USA. I have walked with crutches since a young age. And while I have never faced any discrimination for my disability, it is the expectations of other people that have been a challenge for me. Many times, I - and I think many other disabled people - struggle with what other people perceive and what we can and cannot do. This includes when we apply for jobs, or houses, even when we try to fetch a cab. I never wanted to limit myself to other people's perception of what I can do in life, and that has been the greater challenge for me," the Ambassador says.

Climbing the diplomatic ladder

Like most other Indians, Gautam's parents too emphasised on the importance of good education. "My sisters and I were very focussed on doing well in school. I remember my father would always tell me that good education is your ticket to the world. My sisters pursued a degree in medicine, and I went to the University of Pennsylvania to earn a BA and BS," he shares. Having always been fascinated by the legal profession, the Ambassador decided to enroll at the Vanderbilt University School of Law after working for a few years. "I have been very interested in social justice and inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, I earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Vanderbilt in 1997."

However, it was the foreign policy that interested Gautam the most, and which led him to join the US Foreign Service. He earned a MA from the National Defense University, College of International Security Affairs, and is the recipient of multiple State Department performance awards and a U.S Department of Defense Honor Award. Soon after joining the Foreign Services, Gautam was posted to the US Embassies in Jordan, Egypt, and Syria between 2006 and 2008. Subsequently, he served in several US embassies, including Kabul, Ljubljana, and Algiers.

The progress that the US and Indian relations have made, especially in the last 10 years, is incredible. The representatives from USA and India have been working very closely to better the relationships further. And the immense growth of the Indian diaspora in America has certainly helped that cause.

A proud Indian-American, Gautam shares that the diaspora has grown from being just immigrants to holding important positions in various spheres of the country. "I think that the Indian diaspora in the United States of America has a lot of reasons to be proud of themselves. There are so many people of Indian lineage who are in decision-making positions now in the USA, including the Vice President, Kamala Harris. But that is the story of America. People who have come to this land, and have worked hard, have been able to achieve so much in the USA. I think Indian Americans will continue to reach great milestones."

The Ambassador, who served as the Foreign Service Office at the New Delhi US Embassy between 2011 and 2014, feels that the US-Indian diplomatic relation has taken off in the last few decades. "The progress that the US and Indian relations have made, especially in the last 10 years, is incredible. When Prime Minister Modi had come to the USA during his first term, I was working at the White House, President Obama hosted a state dinner and several things were discussed during that meeting. The representatives from USA and India have been working very closely to better the relationships further. And the immense growth of the Indian diaspora in America has certainly helped that cause," he says.

[caption id="attachment_31269" align="aligncenter" width="656"] Ambassador | Gautam Rana | Global Indian Ambassador Rana with his family[/caption]

Currently stationed at Bratislava with his wife and two kids, Gautam is heading the US convoy to the land of the Slavs. While he hasn't been able to visit India since he moved back in 2014, he wishes to bring his boys to the country he was born in, someday. "Slovakia is a beautiful country and we are loving it here. I don't get much time off from my very busy schedule, I try to spend as much time with them as possible when I am free - especially because my boys are just eight and five years old. I think they would love India and I plan to take them there very soon," shares the Ambassador, who still speaks fluent Gujarati.

Follow Gautam A. Rana on LinkedIn

Jyotsna Pattabiraman: The ambidextrous entrepreneur making India healthy

(November 19, 2021) From one’s own inner yearnings comes change. That would be an apt way to describe health startup GrowFit founder and CEO Jyotsna Pattabiraman who has taken the onus of making India’s health her priority. Be it lean machine keto programmes for lunch or a low-carb high-fat diet that blasts fat, Pattabiraman’s Grow Fit offers diet charts, nutrition-based meals and fresh food, a click away. With the world turning health-conscious, every calorie and ingredient be it tempeh or plant-based foods, has a place on the food chart, and the Stanford graduate ensures that each ingredient and plan helps one “Grow Fit.” The entrepreneur on a mission to create wholesome health quit a career in the internet space to startup a business that helps wellness. Stints at various IT biggies before health solutions became her zeitgeist, she calls this journey a progression. “Working with internet companies for the larger part of my career, I learnt the impact that the web can create. When I decided to start Grow Fit, I knew that an app would be the right way to reach out to millions,” she tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview. Her brainchild is today a popular name

="noopener">Global Indian in an exclusive interview.

Her brainchild is today a popular name in the start-up healthcare sector. And it took Jyotsna years of learning the internet of things to find a space where she can create greater impact.

Born in Bengaluru, she always had a taste for the new thanks to parents who worked for State Bank of India. Thus, her childhood was spent across nine school and different cultures. Tennis and drama in school, her upbringing helped her embrace change as she “never liked to be in one place for too long.”

[caption id="attachment_16140" align="aligncenter" width="742"] Jyoti Pattabiraman Jyotsna Pattabiraman[/caption]

This sense of adventure took her to the US in 1998 after a short stint at Cybercash. “My fiancé (now husband) moved to the US in the late 90s. I followed suit as it was a place of opportunities,” she recalls.

At the Silicon Valley, Jyotsna learnt her trade in the mobile and internet space at marquee companies like Oracle, eBay, and Yahoo, which helped her understand the industry better. After a decade-long stint in the US which included a great career, marriage, MBA at Stanford University, and the birth of her son Nandan, Jyotsna moved back to Bengaluru to be closer to her roots.
About her experience at Stanford, she says, “It was very open and welcoming. I was one of the very few women from techno engineering at my MBA.”

Armed with all the knowledge, Jyotsna came back to find family members and friends facing worrying health issues. She herself faced complications during her pregnancy in the US, and couldn't fathom this generic unhealthy lifestyle pattern. “Everyone was taking pills for something or the other. Despite having access to the best healthcare infrastructure, many of them were unhealthy and it made no sense,” recalls Jyotsna.

[caption id="attachment_16141" align="aligncenter" width="606"] Jyotsna Pattabiraman with husband and son.[/caption]

This nudged her towards the perfect solution - nutritious meals, diet charts and in 2015, Grow Fit, a health and calorie-tracking app began, and it has since raised $6.5 million in funding over five years, with plans for expansion underway. “My experience with internet companies helped me understand the power of the internet and how it could reach out to a large population and make a change,” reveals the entrepreneur.

Grow Fit tapped into a niche market by providing customised diet charts with the help of nutritionists, doctors and food technologists. The word-of-mouth publicity catapulted the app into the league of the best, and soon diversified into food delivery and packaged foods. “When we started, there were very few such apps. We were one of the pioneers, and this helped us gain the right traction. It wasn't just the people from big cities who were downloading the app but we managed to engage Tier-II and Tier-III cities as well,” says the Melton Fellow.

[caption id="attachment_16142" align="aligncenter" width="466"] Jyotsna Pattabiraman[/caption]

A year later, Grow Fit became a comprehensive health companion, and she launched Grow Self, a mental wellness app which shut a year later, and she is hoping to get that back on when the time is right. “We realised that there is so much stigma around mental health. People don’t talk about mental health issues in public. We were surprised to find people from Tier-II cities downloading the app. They could finally speak about their issues without the fear of judgment,” she says.

The pandemic was the perfect opportunity for this ambidextrous startup to scale up. With Indians feverishly tuning into their health-o-meter, Grow Fit got its moment in the sun, and the cloud kitchen also got a huge boost.
“Earlier, people thought that there were no consequences to their choices. But during the pandemic, things started to become real, as people started to take responsibility. They knew they had to make healthier choices as the pandemic made them aware of their mortality. They realised that life is fragile, and we need to take care of ourselves,” she adds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kygAypsq1dM

For someone who did not set out to be an entrepreneur, Jyotsna is now a name to reckon with. “When I started, I didn't know anything about food. But the desire to make my family members and friends healthy led me on this path. I learned on-the-go. Seeing my family healthy brings me great satisfaction. I am now reaping the fruits of the seeds that I planted almost six years ago,” says the founder of the Stanford Alumni Association in South India.

Advice for young entrepreneurs? “Invest in yourself. Find meaning in your life. Entrepreneurship is a skill that no one can teach you, it can be self-learnt. Do something that makes a difference to yours and somebody else’s life,” says the girl who loves travelling, reading and binging on Korean dramas. For someone who simply wanted a meaningful life without august goals, she is well on her way to creating such a life.

Follow Jyotsna Pattabiraman on Linkedin

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India’s soft power takes centerstage: Indian cinema and celebrities shine at Cannes 2023

(May 21, 2023) "India is now on the global stage in world cinema, and it's an honour to be a part of this momentous occasion," said Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga, as she yet again made it to the Cannes red carpet. Clad in a golden-toned saree, she attended Cannes 2023 as part of the Indian delegation. "It makes my heart swell with pride to see Indian cinema being cherished on a global stage at a prestigious film festival such as Cannes. To be able to celebrate the power of Indian cinema and witness its ability to bring people together is no less than a spectacle," added Monga, who first made it to Cannes almost a decade ago. For years, she has been backing India's new wave of films, many of which have screened at Cannes. And this year is no different, as India has once again made an indelible mark on the global landscape at Cannes Film Festival. Yet again, the Indian film industry displayed a spectacular show of soft power, reinforcing its standing in international cinema and garnering attention worldwide. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Guneet Monga Kapoor (@guneetmonga) Celebrating Indian cinema and

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Celebrating Indian cinema and culture

Leading the Indian contingent was Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan, who wowed the audience in Cannes by making an entry in a traditional veshti, pairing it with a shirt which features the national tricolour on the left and the G20 logo on the right. "The G20 logo on my shirt represents the year-long plan of showcasing our rich heritage to the world. It's a moment of pride in representing the tricolour on a global platform like Cannes red carpet," he said, as he inaugurated the Indian pavilion (designed and conceptualised by the National institute of Design, Ahmedabad) at the film festival.

Cannes 2023 | Indian Cinema

It was in 2022 that India was named the Country of Honour at Cannes Market, putting the spotlight on the country's cinema, culture, and heritage, and a perfect celebration of its soft power. And this year, India is taking the baton forward by showcasing India’s creative economy at International Village Riviera. Sara Ali Khan, who made her debut at Cannes 2023, is happy that Indian cinema is reaching out to a global audience. She said, "We should be proud of and even more vocal about the culture that we have and that we should be able to bring to the rest of the world. I think cinema and art transcend language, regions and nationalities. We should come together and while we are here, on a global stage representing our country, we should continue to not forget who we are so that we can remain organic in the content that we create because I think that’s exactly what resonates with the rest of the world," adding, "Being Indian and proud of our Indianness but also being global citizens, not being afraid of doing more and having a louder voice and more self-presence in cinema and general, worldwide!"

[caption id="attachment_38921" align="aligncenter" width="501"] Sara Ali Khan | Global Indian | Cannes 2023 Sara Ali Khan at Cannes 2023[/caption]

Indian films at Cannes 2023

The resounding presence of Indian films like Agra, Kennedy, Ishanou and Nehemich at the festival has solidified India's position in the global film industry. If Anurag Kashyap's Kennedy, which has been selected for the Midnight Screenings’ Section of the Cannes Film Festival, is about a former police officer who is believed to be dead but is still seeking atonement, Kanu Behl's Agra examines the sexual dynamics inside a family and the profound rifts that are emerging in contemporary India due to a shortage of physical space. Interestingly, Ishanou, a 1990 film by Aribam Syam Sharma, will be presented at the Cannes Film Festival in the Classic Section.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtxDSTRwcc0

These films, with their rich storytelling, authentic performances, and meticulously crafted aesthetics, have not only managed to break into the festival’s screening list but have also been widely appreciated by a diverse international audience. The narratives, steeped in Indian culture and social dynamics, have added a unique perspective to the array of films screened at the festival, widening the spectrum of global cinema.

While Indian films have become a regular at Cannes in the recent past, the film festival's first tryst with Indian cinema began in 1946 when Chetan Anand's Neecha Nagar became the first Indian film to win the Palme d'Or (which was earlier called Grand Prix du Festival International du Film), the highest honour in cinema. The next big turn came in 1954 when Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zamin was honoured at the Prix Internationale at Cannes, followed by Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali in 1956. For decades, Indian films like Devdas, Salaam Bombay, Titli, and Udaan have satiated the palates of film aficionados across the globe.

The red-carpet enigma

Moreover, Indian celebrities have shown their influence, walking the red carpet with grace, confidence, and aplomb. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, a Cannes veteran, once again captivated the global audience with her stunning presence. She strutted down the red carpet in a silver and black mystical hooded gown as she arrived for the screening of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Manushi Chillar, with her effortless elegance, and Sara Ali Khan, the young and vivacious actress making her Cannes debut, both exemplified the diversity of Indian cinema and its ability to transcend boundaries. The presence of these actresses at Cannes has elevated the profile of Indian cinema on the international stage.

[caption id="attachment_38919" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Aishwarya Rai Bachchan | Global Indian | Cannes 2023 Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes 2023[/caption]

Furthermore, their red-carpet appearances have been more than mere fashion statements. They have used this global platform to articulate their views on pertinent issues, thereby amplifying India's voice in global discourses. Their charisma, combined with their eloquence, has made them effective ambassadors for Indian cinema and culture.

The domination of Indian films and celebrities at Cannes is a testament to the growing clout of India's soft power. It signifies the increasing acceptance and appreciation of Indian stories and storytelling techniques, signifying a shift in the global perception of Indian cinema. No longer seen as an exotic offshoot of global cinema, Indian films are now considered a formidable force that contributes significantly to the international film repertoire. It's an exciting time for Indian cinema, with its influence set to rise even further in the coming years.

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