Padmashree Lila Poonawalla was recently appointed as the University Grands Commission Nominee on the Board of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)... read more>

Lila Poonawalla speaks about the changing trends in education in the Oxford of the East...read more>>

This tenacious lady is a self-made woman par excellence. The first woman engineer in Pune, Lila Poonawalla graduated with top honours after which she joined Alfa Laval (then Vulcan Laval Ltd.) as a trainee in 1968 . The next 27 years saw her move up the corporate ladder to become the only female MD among a hundred male managers.

“My main mission in life was to be a change agent. I have always been focused, goal oriented and most importantly, diligent. There is no short cut to hard work,” says the dynamic lady who still puts in a 14-hours day. Despite being the only girl among nine brothers, Lila was determined to pursue her education.

“ I learnt to hold my own in a male-dominated household, which helped me later in my career,” she recalls amusedly.

However, she's far from being a feminist. “ The reason a woman makes a good boss is because of her feminine ability to reach out to people. Women should see this quality as an asset,” she enthuses. She has also stated the Lila Poonawalla Foundation, which has already financed more than 150 young women pursuing higher education in India and abroad.

I call people successful, not because they have money or their business is doing well, but because as human being, they have a fully developed sends of being alive and engaged in a life time task of collaboration with other human beings. In today's highly stressful life, youngsters have no time to build meaningful relationships, but what they fail to understand is that when happiness is the end, then success is a natural byproduct. Do what you love, give it back in the form of service and you will be happy and triumphant. And definitely, happiness is the most potent tool of management, because from it stems creativity. Potential and vision. Happiness, to me, is of course my corporate work, but most importantly, my strong bonding with people and my Lila Poonawalla Foundation for Education.

Padmashree Lila Poonawalla, who has been conferred with the 'Royal Order of the Pune Star' by His Majesty, King Carl Castaf   XIVth of Sweden, on what constitutes her personal style... read more>

Padmashree Lila Poonawalla, chairperson of the Lila Poonawalla Foundation, Fila Rozil Exports and business consultant, describes her meeting with Blessed Mother Teresa... read more>

Pune has a lot to its credit, and is also lucky for having beautiful and gifted women who have held their ground and reached the pinnacle of achievement in diverse fields ranging from sports to industry to politics. It would be easy for any Puneite to rattle off the names of these charming women, and with due respect to all. An industrialist and an executive who kept tight reins of the company she managed, a socialite with a cause, a philanthropist with a big heart, a gusty woman who seems to be everywhere at the same time. She has already won a lot of laurels and accolades, and has now topped it with Royal Order of the Pole Star, which will be conferred on her by the king of Sweden. Pune salutes you, Lila F. Poonawalla, a true ambassador of this city.

The redoubtable Lila Poonawalla is flying high again. This time with a royal title from the Swedish government... read more>

This Padmashree awardee has a cupboard full of trophies and has shared precious moments with the rich and the famous of the country... read more>

It is difficult to say who seemed more excited. President APJ Abdul Kalam who took his oath on Wednesday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan or Lila Poonawalla, chairperson of De Laval and Lila Poonawalla Foundation... read more>

She was probably India's first female CEO of an engineering multinational - a role model for young women... read more>

It is said that you cannot keep a good man down for long. Neither can you, a good woman. We are talking about the irrepressible Lila Poonawalla... read more>

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Lila poonawalla has many firsts to her credit. She was the first lady student to graduate in mechanical engineering. From Poona University in 1967; she is Alfa Laval's first lady managing director; and the first person to be featured for the second time in these columns. The last time she appeared here she was deputy general manager, exports, at Vulcan Laval. That was in 1984. Three years later, she makes an appearance once again – this time as managing director. A meteoric rise for anyone in such a short time. But then, Poonawalla has a winning streak which, according to her, is made up of hard work, determination and a thoroughly professional approach.

Poonawalla is of the opinion that in order to usher in a comprehensive technological revolution, the government can not rely on just a few quality institutes of technology (IITs). "It is important to enhance the standard of other universities and bring them abreast of the IITs." She suggested that Indian universities should adopt the American approach, wherein professors and students worked together on research projects were adequately compensated and therefore remained motivated. "This can be easily replicated in our country." Lila Poonawalla feels that her appointment (on the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Union Cabinet) is the result of her ability to organize, manage and implement jobs and projects. " I am a very goal-oriented person. I don't like to work on committees that don't deliver. I will quit, if I can't deliver."

"Fitness is a personal thing and very important. If you feel good about the way you look, it enhances your feeling of self-esteem and self-worth. And naturally if you feel good it motivates you to do much more. On September 16, I turned 55 and have never felt more energetic. As we approach the new millennium, I intend to get fitter because this new era will bring with it new advancements in technology, which in other words, means new challenges. " "One has to be faster and fitter than before, else it will become increasingly difficult to incorporate the new changes. I am gearing up to live another 50 years as I still have a lot to do. There is so much more to see in life. I intend to travel, explore new things, and embark on new journeys. I am eagerly awaiting the new millennium because I know it will bring with it a great deal of excitement. The only way I will be able to give it a fitting welcome is by being fit both in body and soul."

A spirit of competition (in young aspirants) is very welcome, but when it translates into a mindless rat race with this obsessive desire to be one up, that is when the process of learning ends. What is worse you are no longer enjoying what you are doing, you are simply rushing through a chore, it affects your commitment. What are her fundamental motivations? " What motivated me to enjoy my job, whether it was in production, planning, estimation, exports, administration or management, was the realization that I was learning. It was this positive approach that helped me assimilate the requisite knowledge, widen my perspectives and become fit for the next higher responsibility."

Lila Poonawalla is always very immaculately dressed in her favorite silk saree and very simple costume jewelry, appearing fresh and cheerful at any time of the day you meet her - spreading warmth wherever she goes - never tired, always bubbling with enthusiasm. " For me, everyday is a new day, full of hopes and challenges. I start at 4.00 or 4.30 a.m., because I find my mind very alert and fresh at that time. I attend to all my office papers, confirming meetings, making reports and keeping track of targets. I also reply to my personal mail, and like to acknowledge every greeting or letter received personally - till 6.30 a.m. After this, work outs for half an hour, followed by a shower and a glass of juice - no breakfast for me. I'm off to work by 8 a.m. (which includes meetings and plant visits). " " Most of my time is spent with people, which is important not only from the business point of view but also for self-development.

There is no place for lunch in my schedule. Once I'm back from work in the evening around 6 p.m., I head straight to the Pune University, where I take my regular 5 Km walk, simultaneously listening to audio cassettes of business philosophy books. " "And the rest of the evening is reserved for my husband Firoz. I never bring work problems home. I don't use his time for my work. And when he's busy watching TV, I sit beside him, working on the computer at my favorite hobby - keeping track of all my photographs, souvenirs, gifts, awards - and updating the records. " " We love to socialize, either throw parties at home, or attend other parties. And if we are not partying, then we prefer to sleep early. All in all - a day well spent."

Lila Poonawalla (speaking on "challenges faced by female executives" at a city management institute) said that being a woman gives one a little edge in that you enjoy a better access to clients, but otherwise there are no free lunches for female executives. "Life is as hard for them as it is for their male counterparts, and the punch line PERFORM OR PERISH doesn't spare anyone in the highly competitive corporate world." " When the client is giving your company an order, he's making a business decision. It doesn't matter, whether you are a woman or a man as long as you are representing your company in an effective manner and your product is strong." "Though I think luck is important to a certain extent, one should not wait for an opportunity to come and knock at your door. There is no option to hard work."

Lila Poonawalla, in 1993, celebrated 25 years of service in the same company. She decries the current trend among young people, who change jobs every three or four years. " Young people are not focused, they do not key into one thing and hence this job-hopping, frequent changes. I have worked at Alfa Laval since 1968, for 27 years, " she declares proudly. She admits to being an organized and task-oriented person. "Since I am task-oriented and focused, we have set some targets for the next century and then small milestones along the way, which we celebrate and build euphoria to achieve the ultimate goal." That is the driving organizing force that is Poonawalla, who believes that doing a thoroughly good job is, in its own way, social work, too.

Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life are the words inscribed on a plaque in Lila Poonawalla’s office at Alfa Laval India in Pune. They sum up her attitude to her work and her life. Talking with infectious enthusiasm, she has much to say about her role as Executive Chairperson of Tetra Pak India. "I think my most important personal quality and the reason why Tetra Pak chose me is my ability to get along with people. (My good relations with Tetra Pak and Alfa Laval's customers).

There are very special problems in India, which have to be handled in a special way. " Speaking of her approach to management Ms Poonawalla dismisses comparisons of her style with Japanese management. " I am not trying to imitate anyone. I simply try to be natural. I always place myself on the receiving end. When I am talking to my customers or to the people here at Alfa Laval I do a lot of role playing and try to imagine how I would feel and react if I was that person." Referring to her role as Executive Chairperson of Tetra Pak India and Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of Alfa Laval India, Lila Poonawalla says, "The two companies have many common customers. So it's very important to coordinate efforts to ensure that customer expectations are met. My task is to ensure that both companies offer super service."

"I never carry my office burdens home. I try to bring myself to the level of others rather than expect them to come to mine. Try this and you can maintain harmony both in your office and home." This is her advice to working women. A plaque in her office echoes the following sentiments: " Four things a woman should know: How to look like a girl, How to act like a lady. How to think like a man. And how to work like a dog."

Eyebrows were raised recently when the Marketing Man of the Year was announced: for the recipient was a lady, Lila Poonawalla of Pune's Alfa Laval. Of course Ms Poonawalla has enough credits to win a dozen such awards. Said the lady, taking the honors quite simply in her stride, " What difference does the word man make. I don't attach a sexist angle to it. For that matter, the Padmashree that I got in 1989 could also arouse gender controversy." Bagging awards seems to be a habit with the lady --- Woman Executive of the Year, Lady of the Decade, Technocrat of the Decade, all these are grist to her mill.

My philosophy is to work hard all the time, plan and execute step by step. Planning should be done in the short-term to about 2 to 3 years, right down to the specifics, and broadly in the long-term to about 10 years. Once you have taken on the task, nothing else should matter. Whatever be the odds, you must be totally determined that nothing distracts or diverts your energies and efforts."

"We are capable of producing much more in this country and we must do it because we have too many people and to give more jobs, we need to produce more. All that needs to be done is to revamp our outdated systems and policies. The government knows it and so does the industry. But in some cases even the sincere efforts of the government get bogged down because of an orthodox attitude in our bureaucratic set-up. ……. We lack team effort between the industry, the government and the bureaucrats. Otherwise we can work wonders." Asked about her success on the export front, she felt that her sound engineering base had helped her clinch many a deal. " The foreign buyer can only know your company through you. So first you have to be able to sell yourself and your company to him and then it is not difficult to sell him your product."

One of Sweden's leading newspapers met Alfa-Laval's first female managing director
Economic Independence gives me freedom " I am good, " says Mrs Poonawalla, answering the question as to how she became the MD of Alfa Laval. "I have always been a high performer and have been lucky to get opportunities, which I have taken care of and done well. I love my job. I work hard. Because of this I get good results. " It was thus neither Sweden nor any European country that was the first to select a female MD, but India. It was also not a small and insignificant company in some obscure corner of the world, but Vulcan Laval, with the highest number of employees in the group.

cover story on lila poonawalla
In her early 40s, Lila is smartly turned out, elegant and poised. As the Managing Director, she has a no-nonsense way of speaking, which blends with her attitude to work. To start with, we discuss the role of women in improving her lot. "I think women are restricting their own growth by finding excuses for their inability to succeed as career women. Not every man makes it to the top in his career, but he does not blame women for it! We want to find a scapegoat for our inadequacies and we find that in men. Just like an inefficient management blames all its shortcomings on labor. We can't attack men for our problems. We must find solutions." " Women must make a choice - do they want to cling on to their conventional role as a child bearer or reach the top. Even men have to make sacrifices on the home front if they want to climb Mount Everest. Why do we have this hang-up about only women facing obstacles? The going is equally tough for a man.

If we are to progress along the right lines, we must stop thinking in terms of men and women vying for a job. We have to become individuals heading towards self-defined roles." To reach the top, is it necessary to ruthlessly step on others? Can a fair-minded fighter be a winner?" Says Lila Poonawalla. "No - you don't have to be ruthless. You have to be clear in your objectives and in your approach to problems. You have to attack - not the people, but the problems. " What are her main goals as MD? " I concentrate on sales and production. The customer must be kept happy with quality, good and prompt delivery. I leave the routine administration to my very capable team mates. Another aspect of my work I emphasize is counseling. I'm talking to everyone at all levels, and am aware of all that is happening around me. If I get wind of bad vibes between two people, I call them and resolve the conflict by thrashing out their problems. Performance appraisals are done at a three-tier level and sometimes, even the subordinate is called to find out what he feels about his boss. I value communication, clear thinking and fair-mindedness."

Poonawalla has a winning streak, which according to her, is made up of hard work, determination and a thoroughly professional approach. Communication, for Poonawalla, is the key for success. " I am accessible to anyone in the company. This way, I have a finger on the pulse and nothing will come to me as an unpleasant surprise later. I can't run a company without the help of its people. I am only the engine driver." Poonawalla emphasizes the need for strict quality control. "Quality is not what you define for yourself, it is what the customer wants and expects. Quality control starts from the time the telephone operator answers a call to drawings, quotations, presentations and finally the product."

The young and dynamic lady executive Mrs Lila Firoz Poonawalla, who took charge as Managing Director of Vulcan Laval on January 1, 1987, is the first lady MD in the entire Alfa Laval Group of Companies. Through sheer tenacity, hard work and leadership qualities, she has risen to the present position to head the organization. " I had three clear visions before my mind. First to join an engineering college and secure a degree, join a progressive-minded company and then head the organization, I have achieved all this." She minces no words when she says that before she turns 50 she intends to take the company from " INRM 450 to INRM 1000 establishment." She is bound to achieve this target.

"A few years ago I decided that I wanted to reach the top, and even then people said I was crazy. But I wanted an objective that was difficult to attain. I like to work hard. In addition, I am not dependent on the income and this gives me freedom of action. I don't need to compromise, thus I can take risks. To date it has worked very well…… I have established my next objective, I want to boost Vulcan Laval from current sales INRS. 450 Million to INRS1000 Million before I pass 50, with retained profitability. On achieving that ambition I will take a back seat and attempt something bigger and better.”