Leadership is showcased and executed in various ways. Passion is an important aspect of good leadership as we continue to see many dynamic leaders in the modern day world, journeying on new ideas, changing paths and playing to their passion.

From IT to Stockbroking to Insurance to Author. What channeled this change?

 The IT to stockbroking journey just happened. I was fresh out of a job due to the IT bubble bust, had worked in content and also marketing. But the company was collapsing and I was offered to join my family concern. In retrospect, learning from being an employee in my first job, enabled me to be an awakened leader in my family business. Being in the forefront of business for over 13 years, enabled me to walking into the entrepreneurship space with confidence. Everything is exactly how it is meant to be, isn’t it? When the markets hit chaos in 2008, it became very quiet at the broking concern. I wasn’t ready to live such a sedentary routine yet. I was too young for a plateau on my learning curve. I went abroad, upskilled with a couple writing courses. A passion from my student days, writing, was transformed to be relevant in a business environment. I was inspired by the service Writemypapers when I ordered editing of my essay from more professional writers to improve my understanding of the paper’s structure. Business content writing services in the form on my then, solopreneurship, ‘the writer’s web’ was born.

The business writing fuels my passion for writing, but was a dry form. The creative writing is nurtured by the ‘author’ in me. So, I like to balance the two.

Insurance came along in the more recent times. LIC consultation was my late grandfather and father’s business. After I lost my father, I didn’t want his legacy of impeccable client servicing to evaporate into nothingness. Like they say, “it only comes to you, if you can handle it.” I handle it now. 

What inspired you to write your first book?

 It was quite organic actually. My boss from my first job at the IT company had a book idea. We got along well and most importantly, complimented each other’s writing. She ran it by me over a cup of coffee, and three years post that conversation, our co-authored fiction novel, ‘Cupidity, PING me love’ was published in March 2016.

What do you want to tell your readers as a writer through your upcoming book?

 Which one? J

I’m in the process of writing two very separate books. One is a series for children and the other is a non-fiction book for adults. 

The childrens’ series is a great reveal of this vibrant land- India through a playful narrative. Each book is also an indigenous culinary experience authentic to the destination.

The latest book for adults, is my first solo, non- fiction writing. It is a book dedicated to the 30s, when ones’ an adult, but is still evolving as one. Each chapter addresses a different aspect of life and they are all tied to the theme of how each life, in all individual capacities—as a child, as a parent, as an explorer, as a professional, is far from mediocre. Life is about enjoying the tiny little joys on the journey. It is entwined to the philosophy of what I believe to be the most important way to live life, ‘nanhinanhikhushian.’

Who is the ideal audience for the book you are authoring?

 Anyone in their 20s to their 50s. It will resonate with all. The impact I envision with this book is the satisfaction for each reader knowing, ‘my life is brilliant just the way it is.’

Do you feel that to be a successful lady who leads, change is necessary? How have you embraced change?

 I don’t think gender impacts leadership and success. For me, success is being able to support your knowledge. If I am bringing a product or a service to you, my success lies in knowing that product or service best—that is why you would want to hire me, right? I have always, consciously been open to learning.

I think on my professional graph, the maturity has been in not being afraid to ask questions. If I don’t know, how will I be able to serve a client.

For me, success is not staccato change, it flows more like a journey that is forever evolving.

 What challenges do you face as a leader in both the corporate and creative world?

Lack of like-mindedness. I don’t need things to be exactly as I want them, I’m not that naïve. But sometimes, the close- mindedness or sheer oblivion to work ethic in a day of global connects and the World Wide Web, baffles me.  

As an author, do you feel that more women-oriented stories need to be told?

 I am a woman, I am an author, but I feel today’s reader is above all that. The reader is smart, knowledgeable, and exposed to a whole lot of options. I personally do not feel the need to patronize a reader.

To me, the stories told in an authentic and relatable manner are the ones that’ll hold the reader’s attention.  

Which women leaders are you most inspired by?

 Honestly, I never really looked at anyone as a mentor. I admire a lot of people—from Oscar Wilde to Tina Fey. But, in life, I’ve never thought, “what would XYZ person do?” I’ve just taken paths that I felt, in that moment, were the right ones for me.

How has the role of women in the current pandemic changed according to you?

 Chanel has a new Indian woman CEO! Hahaha…but seriously, I think the light shone on the balance of working women being homemakers. I feel that the ‘Work From Home’ strategy highlighted that for a lot of households.  

What message do you have for people who are resistant to making changes? 

 Why change? If it ain’t broken don’t fix it, right? But in a changing world, there are certain evolutions that would just bring ease to your life. Why not incorporate them? We get stuck in the notion of, “because that is just how it has always been.”I’ll explain with a small example. I went from a traditional style of working—go to office in the morning, work, lunch, come back in the evening, to establishing an entrepreneurship in 2013, where I would work from home. It made people around me question my efficiencies—how can you not go to an office? The traditional style of work. I was clear that I wanted to be happy while working and not stuck in traffic for hours, cursing. It was a business decision that I could take, and even though it went against the unsolicited advicestemming from experience around me, I went with it. I started a new business, and I had zero overhead costs—how is that not a win? The apprehensions of my way of work faded when my turnover numbers climbed.    

So, for anyone reading this, please evolve as you progress in life. It is progress only if you evolve. And not for the sake of changing, but because it makes sense.

About the Contributor:

Author of ‘Cupidity- PING me, love,’ MadhviAhuja is also the founder and Proprietor of ‘the writer’s web,’ a business content solutions firm. (www.thewritersweb.in)

Coming from a business management background, with over 13 years in stock broking, her lifelong passion for writing led her to pursue courses abroad. In 2013, she founded a dream entrepreneurial venture, and is now in the midst of writing her second novel.