The Woman Behind The Scene

DEVENDRA
TANEJA

CEO, PC Solutions - New Delhi

“If parameter of success is business, then the credit undoubtedly goes
to my better half,” says Devendra Taneja of PC Solutions. According to
him, Punita believed in him totally and supported every step he took.
“She has been a true partner during good times and bad time of my
life,” he says.

When Devendra started Integrated PC
Solutions (IPCS) in 1988, they were married for a year. Punita was the
second person to work for the company. Despite her full-time schedule of
pursuing PhD from IIT Delhi in Physics, she gave priority to IPCS whenever
her help was needed.

When PC Solutions branched out in to IT
education in 1994 as Institute of Network Technology (INT), she took over
the responsibility and established it as niche player in high-end IT
education industry. She is a person of great potential and it is extremely
difficult for her to get tied to one assignment. She starts her day as
housewife after 9.00 a.m. takes up freelance HR assignments. She also
oversees appropriate execution for PC Solutions and INT. By late afternoon
she is back home with kids.

“Seeing the chemistry between us it is
difficult even for our children to believe that we had a proper arranged
marriage,” says Devendra. “The first time we met was in a formal
setting. Invitees for our wedding were only those who came without any
formal invites like wedding card. Five years after our marriage we had to
get our wedding invite printed for making her passport,” laughs Devendra.

Woman behind his success: Punita

Relation: Wife

CHETAN SHAH

MD, Xpress Computers - Mumbai

Mumbai-based solutions provider Chetan Shah, met Nina for the first time
at a customer's office. “She was working as a graphics designer and
was designing our company's website. So we met often and fell in
love,” says Chetan. After courting for two years they got married.

According to Chetan, she is the backbone
in his house. Chetan may not have been what he is today without her.
“Many a time, she has given up on holidays and family time whenever need
arises,” says Chetan.

An arts graduate from Mumbai, Nina was
initially handling Xpress Computers' PC rentals division, which she had
to stop after giving birth to their child. Since then, she has been a
loving and caring housewife taking care of the children and their school
matters. Her work does not stop there! Even today she handles all
Chetan's personal finance everyday.

Nina likes to meet new friends, travel and
of-course, like all women, loves to shop endlessly. “Often, when I am
doing rehearsals for product presentations or speeches, I ask my wife to
be the audience or a customer and practice my presentations. She patiently
helps me with my speech delivery and comments on faults,” adds Chetan.

“Great wife and mother” is how
Chetan likes to describe his wife.

Woman behind his success: Nina

Relation: Wife

HARISH KUMAR
SHETTY

Chairman, Binary Systems - Bangalore

Harish Kumar of Binary Systems feels it is a reversal of roles. “My wife
Vidya has been in the forefront of our business ever since it was started
in 1986.” It was also in this year Harish and Vidya got married. “I
was a practicing Chartered Accountant then, and Vidya wanted to do
something more than being a homemaker. We thought of providing some kind
of IT related services like data processing and software development for
my clients. That was how Binary began,” recollects Harish.

In the beginning, Harish had very limited
involvement in the business. His involvement in the business grew along
with the business. “The contribution towards the growth of Binary and
been equal and mutual from both our ends,” says Harish.

Vidya has always played the dual role of
homemaker and business partner. “When our children were young, Vidya
gave almost her full time to business. That could well be deemed as a
compromise,” says Harish. However today, she works only in the first
part of the day and is back home with the children after that. That is
because the business has stabilized to a great extent.

Vidya has done her graduation and
later undertook some training courses in IT and entrepreneurial
development course conducted by SIDBI. These courses have helped her a
great deal in her work. “As a businesswoman what I like most about her
is her commitment to work. In fact her commitment has been the key driver
for our business. As an individual she has a great level of maturity and
we have mutually seen that our business concerns do not interfere in our
personal life,” adds Harish.

Vidya acts like a sounding board to
bounce off any issues that bother Harish. This is because she knows him as
a person and understands his business too. “Therefore it is double
advantage for me,” he quips.

Woman behind his success: Vidya

Relation: Wife

SAILESH
GUMMIDELLI

Director, Cache Peripherals - Hyderabad

Pushpavathy Gummidelli is a proud mother as all her sons are running
successful ventures. Cache Peripherals is well known in Hyderabad thanx to
the efforts put in by her two sons - Srinivas and Sailesh. The duo
dedicate their success in business to their loving mother.

The 100-year old house in which this
deep-rooted joint-family lives today reflects the tradition of a closely
knitted family. There is a strong thread running between them and it is
none other than the love for their mother. She guided them at every stage
and supported them in every move. Though, she does not have a thorough
knowledge on the children's businesses, she has been a guiding force
whenever there was a problem.

“We all take her help when we encounter
some problem in business. She smoothly solves even small misunderstandings
between us in business. She is good at counseling and giving the right
verdict,” says Sailesh.

Pushpavathy's strong business family
background and her ability to manage finance, has helped the children to
pick up the business knowledge. “Though, we lost our father at a very
young age, our mother stood by us and brought us to this level. She knew
who is good at what - be it education or business - and put us on the
right track. We owe the entire success to her,” says Sailesh.

Pushpavathy is a good manager of all
departments at home. She is a wonderful cook and prepares special dishes.
“Even today, she attends to us first, whatever time we reach home in the
night, and serves dinner. She is very patient, kind, loving and caring
person,” Sailesh adds.

Woman behind his success: Pushpavathy

Relation: Mother

SUNIL KAKKAD

Director, Sai Info Systems - Ahmedabad

“She does everything except business, and yet she is the reason behind
my success in business,” says Sunil Kakkad of Ahmedabad-based Sai Info
Systems. He had an arranged marriage with Jyoti. Today, he loves the fact
that he can depend on her for everything on the home front.

“In her family, the male of the family
does all the grocery shopping, etc. but in my case, she takes care of home
entirely, so that I could concentrate on business. She does the grocery
shopping, looks after the children and shops for my clothes,” smiles
Sunil.

Jyoti is not only a pro at home
activities, but also has a great sense of design. No wonder, Sunil gave a
free hand to her while doing the interiors of their new home.

When Sai Info Systems was passing through
the peak of business expansion, Sunil realized the importance of having a
supportive wife like Jyoti. Sunil recollects the time when his children
were young and Jyoti needed him the most while taking them to the doctor.
“But I was not able to stand by her then and do as I was expected to,
because business was expanding. So she did this on her own entirely,”
reminisces Sunil.

Jyoti took over all those
responsibilities, which traditionally should have been Sunil's — like
that of getting household goods, grocery, etc. “I have also not been
able to spend enough time with her even on weekends. 70% of the Sundays of
mine were spent in office,” regrets Sunil.

What makes Jyoti too precious for Sunil,
is the fact that she does all the work those extra work without ever
complaining once. The Kakkad family is currently on the lookout for a new
bungalow, and Jyoti has once again taken up the task of finding a good
real estate agent. “My role will come only while finalizing the deal,”
says Sunil adding, “She is the best thing to happen in my life.”

Woman behind his success: Jyoti

Relation: Wife

ATUL HEMANI

Director, Omnitech India - Mumbai

Ever smiling and cheerful Amisha has been a supportive and inspiring wife
to Atul Hemani since the time they tied the knot. Atul first met Amisha at
a cousin's wedding in 1988, from there they took it forward to
eventually get wedded in an arranged marriage bliss.

Atul believes that Amisha entry in his
life was the best thing to happen to him. She has been supporting him by
managing home activities like taking care of parents and kids and most
importantly Atul's travel needs.

Many a time, she has sacrificed on her
family outings and vacation trips, to support Atul's business
activities. Atul narrates an incident: “Once we had booked a vacation
trip for seven days. A day prior to the trip, I got an enquiry for a
critical business deal where my presence was a must. I was in a terrible
dilemma to put across this matter to her. She sensed my
discomfort and forced me to reveal the matter. To my surprise she
willingly asked me to cancel the bookings. We could not go out for the
next one year. Such support takes away the pressure off you and helps you
focus on where it is needed.”

Despite all these sacrifices, she
maintains her calm. Atul applauds, “She is a woman full of patience with
a forgiving nature, great understanding, and most importantly
non-possessive attitude, which is unlike most women.” A graduate in
Arts, Amisha likes dramas but hates movies. “Loving, charming and
down-to-earth” is how Atul describes her in short.

Woman behind his success: Amisha


Relation: Wife

RANGANATHAN
SUDARSHAN

CEO, Veeras Infotek - Chennai 

“Getting a life-partner like my wife
would be everyone's dream,” beams Ranganathan Sudarshan, CEO of Veeras
Infotek. He is very proud of his wife-Rekha, who shaped up his career
and for what he is today. Managing home and office efficiently is not an
easy task, but she does it in style. Though, Rekha is not directly
involved in Veeras Infotek operations, she provides complete back-office
support for Sudarshan.

He met Rekha for the first time in 1990 at
a friend's place. Before he could realize it, he fell in love with her.
Things moved fast and they got married. In 1993, Sudarshan ventured into
his own business, Veeras Infotek, mainly egged by Rekha and his
brother-in-law. “Both of them stood like a pillar by my side and pushed
me saying I have the skills to drive it,” he recollects.

Rekha's Masters degree in Psychology has
always come in handy for Sudarshan whenever he wanted to judge staff and
get an outline of the people he is involved with in business. “She is
too good at that and gives the right feedback to me. With her support,
many a time, I was able to take the right decision in business and go
ahead,” says he.

Rekha's counseling does not stop at
outsiders alone. She is quick in reading her husband's mind too.
Whenever Sudarshan is down and perplexed about some problem in business,
Rekha is the first person to ask and understand the issue, before giving
the right solution to it.“I can see her as an efficient and caring wife,
loving mother to the children, affectionate daughter-in-law to my parents
and family members. She is an asset to me,” he adds.

Woman behind his success: Rekha


Relation: Wife

KETAN BARAI

Director, Kay Bee Infotech - Mumbai 

Ketan Barai sums all the efforts put in by
the women behind his success in just one word — “innumerable”.
“She gave me all the freedom I required. I can just go on and on, if I
start talking about the role she played in my life in making me a
successful man,” says Ketan.

Ketan's first encounter with Kajal was
more like from a Bollywood film script. To cut is short, Ketan met Kajal
at a fun-n-fair in the year 1991. “It was love at first sight,” say
Ketan.

Just like the success Ketan achieved in
his business as a solutions provider, he feels, the getting Kajal into his
life was the first step to success in his personal life.

An interior designer by profession, Kajal
chose family as her first priority to become a devote housewife, taking
care of their children. This cheerful lady has been a great motivator for
Ketan in both his personal and professional life. “When I am depressed,
she puts her magical touch to put me back in to a rocking mood,” says
Ketan.

The best thing Kajal likes to do at
leisure is shop. “She loves to shop endlessly, and hates when I stop my
MAD (My Adorable Darling) woman from shopping,” laughs Ketan.

Woman behind his success: Kajal


Relation: Wife

MAHESH SHAH

Director, Pecon Infotech - Kolkata 

Saroj Shah of Pecon Infotech is an
practical woman who has learnt the trick of balancing work and home duties
with a cool attitude. “She works with me at the office and deftly
juggles various roles of an executor and a partner, depending on what the
situation warrants,” says Mahesh. Saroj also takes complete charge in
the home front allowing Mahesh to completely concentrate on business and
social activities.

The couple's children are stationed
abroad for studies and hence, it has become a little easier for Saroj to
take up this additional task of independently managing HR, support,
administration and accounts division of Pecon Infotech.

Saroj has been a key person in Mahesh's
life for taking the most important business decision.

Pecon was associated with Wipro for a long
time since 1985. From 2000 onwards, Wipro was reducing its focus on
hardware. This affected Pecon's business drastically as it had an
exclusive dealership agreement. “I was in a dilemma for two years, but
she stood firmly and convinced me that instead of worrying everyday, I
should take a bold decision. Eventually, we parted with Wipro and she
stood by me for every moment, as it was like staring a new innings. Today
we cherish that decision,” he remembers.

It is this cool and calm attitude of
Saroj in difficult situations that Mahesh feels has made him a successful
person.

Woman behind his success: Saroj


Relation: Wife

MANOJ RATHI

Director, Diamond Infotech - Kolkata 

Manoj Rathi makes no bones of the fact
that his wife plays the most successful role in his life. And once he
starts enumerating her qualities, there is no stopping him!

What Sradha helps Manoj out in most is
reminding him about small and miscellaneous things. “In our line of
work, everybody is very busy with the need to manage many things at the
same time. This is true with me as well. Therefore, I am not very good in
remembering smaller jobs, which Sradha does for me.

In fact with Sradha looking after all the
details, Manoj can take the time to growing his business further. “Since
I can focus on my business and nothing else, my productivity or output is
improved in a very précised manner,” he says.

Sradha takes care mainly of all the normal
day to day activities related to running a company. “She manages the
purchase and finance of the Diamond Infotech at a local level. Or you can
simply say that she manages the entire administration of the office,”
grins Manoj.

Reminscing about how they met, Manoj says
that they met at the local Leo Club as youngsters. They became very good
friends and soon decided to cement this friendship into marriage in 2000.

What attracted Manoj towards Sradha is
that she is a very down to earth lady who does not make too many demands
about material things. “She is very practical and religious and hates
people who lie to her. She also can't stand greedy people or those who
manipulate others for their needs,” smiles Manoj.

Woman behind his success: Sradha


Relation: Wife

RAJIV KUMAR

Director, Proactive Data Systems - New Delhi 

Sangeeta has always been the big decision
maker in the life of Rajiv Kumar. “When we relocated back to India in
1992 (after working in the Middle East for almost eight years), she was
the main force in encouraging me start my own business,” recalls Rajiv.

Sangeeta has done her BA in Economics, and
holds a MBA from Faculty of Management Studies. This along with her clear
thoughts on finance made Rajiv to take advice from her on all major
financial decisions. What more can be an honor for Sangeeta than when her
husband calls her a 'great sounding board' for his business decisions
and strategy?

She has proved herself not just on the
work front, but has also been the stabilizing factor in the family and has
taken a large part of responsibility of raising the kids, especially when
Rajiv is too busy at work. “Sangeeta currently works with me at
Proactive, but somehow manages to look after the home activities, kids and
our aging parents,” says Rajiv

Sangeeta is fond of traveling, cooking,
and reading newspapers (each and every word of it). She has been a good
and wise mother to the children. “Her encouragement from time to time
has helped me in building my confidence. I consider myself lucky to have
her in my life,” says Rajiv.

Woman behind his success: Sangeeta

Relation: Wife

RAJESH BAKSHI

CEO, Netlink Business Systems -New De
lhi 

Rajesh Bakshi has two facets to his
success and two women responsible for it. “My mother Anita is
responsible for my success as a human being and my wife Neelam takes the
credit for my success in professional life,” says Rajesh.

“My mother has given me the right kind
of foundation — that is the most important factor for anyone to entrench
himself firmly in life. As my mother had qualities of an entrepreneur she
always encouraged me to take on small and big responsibilities right from
my childhood,” he says.

Rajesh still remembers the time when his
mother gave him money to run the house and asked him to take the pocket
money from the same. “That way, I was being groomed to take on
additional responsibilities and be responsible for what I do,” he quips.
“My wife on the other hand has helped me a lot when it comes to being on
the professional side of things. She has always been a big support for
me,” he adds.

Rajesh married Neelam when they were
employed at Ank Management, in 1986. Few years later, both started their
own companies: Netlink by Rajesh and Ranve Computers by Neelam. Both the
companies were merged in the year 2000. “Neelam came to Netlink with a
clear focus towards services and today, we are known for our services,”

While Rajesh characterizes his mother as
an enterprising, resourceful and authoritative, he finds his wife to be
methodical and disciplined person with a balanced attitude towards life.

Women behind his success: Anita
and Neelam

Relation: Mother and Wife, respectively