A Born Leader

Datamatics' Marketing Communications Head Varad Kamini Arora is a go-getter with in-born leadership skills

An award winning, seasoned marketing communications professional, Varad believes that it is very important that each one of us set our personal goals and work towards reaching them. In her view, when given an opportunity, women are natural leaders. Women not only have the ability to see and seize an opportunity, but also give their ideas life and inspire others. She is a product of both nature and nurture, her in-born human skills and natural man-management acumen act as perfect foils to her business and journalistic education.

Challenges of being a woman leader
The challenges are more related to maintaining a work-life balance than to work properly. It can be especially difficult when you have young kids to look after. Although with right support from your family and strong determination to excel, these challenges can be overcome.

The educational background
Varad holds PG qualifications in business management and mass Communications & journalism along with an honours graduation in English. Although she believes that it's the attitude to learn that matters and not the degrees one hold on paper.

The Family Background
It has been a wonderful world of contrasts for Varad. While she grew up in a family which emphasized on getting a good education for striking a truly respectable job, her in-laws valued education for the entrepreneurship it could teach. One thing was common though; both families urged her to succeed on her own terms. She was even encouraged not to use the family name as her surname - not out of animosity but to instil a sense of being self-made. These values went a long way in developing her as a person and as a professional. She is very much a product of these contrasting yet complementing values. She is a hard worker before everything else but she knows any work needs to be done smartly.

Working in male-dominated field of IT
According to Varad, "It is not really that much of an issue, at least not in the world of IT. All about your image and your success depends on the value you bring in as an individual and not on your gender. So long as you are providing a positive contribution to your organization, everyone will recognize your efforts."

Does a Glass ceiling exist?
Varad has a very crystal-clear nswer to this. She says, "It does but again, not because of the work environment itself but because of family commitments. Women often step back from taking the top responsibilities as they choose to go for their family when a clash between the two worlds seems imminent."

Advice to working women
Go for it. Don't hold back. You might surprise yourself by seeing how much more responsibility you can hold - than you think you can. Make sure you get your priorities right but equally important, don't allow anything to move off your list when it doesn't deserve to.

Hobbies
Varad loves interior designing. She is professionally trained in the art of enhancing aesthetic value while making optimum utilization of the space available.

Future plans
Varad wants to be among the very first group of people from corporate communications with a place in the board of directors of a reputed firm.

High Five
- Your Fitness Mantra: Varad does not believe in exercise but puts a lot of faith in the lack of it! Jokes apart, she is not really a fitness fanatic and holds green tea to be the perfect solution for all the stress a day in the office can throw at her.
- Your De-stressing Mantra: Some self time..
- Where you like to shop? Shopping is usually relegated to the vacation time, which could be any part of the world
- Your favourite holiday destination : Queensland, Australia
- 5 things you cannot live without: Cell-phone, music, a book to sleep with, gallons of green tea and most important of all-something to use my little grey cells on!