Page 7 - Seniors Today - July 2021 Issue
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change myself. I didn’t have any clue what three external boards in addition to three
I was going to do in life, nor has anybody in-company boards. I’m also on an advisory
taught me anything. I did not have a coach board of three private equity venture firms.
or a mentor or a guide for most part. So My son has started an investment office, so
everything has been on my own because it I spend some time with him there. So, life is
was a typically family-managed company exciting. It’s new every day.
where there were no professionals. When Plus, I’m very, very passionate about
I entered the business as a commerce fitness. I spend at least two hours
graduate, I was led to my father and he said, exercising. Again, variety has to come in.
“You explore and decide what you want to I can’t do the same thing repeatedly. So,
do.” Since then, I’ve come a long way. three times a week weights, once a week
About six years back, I stepped down as functional training, swimming every day,
Managing Director, and I’m the chairman walking every day. I have now started aqua
of the company. And as of today, what exercises, and there’s yoga and golf over
keeps me occupied, what keeps me weekends.
engaged, what keeps me excited is a variety
of new things I’ve done. One of them is Q: You mentioned that you’ve branched
starting AquaCentric. It was started with a off from a family business, the family-
leap of faith but unfortunately, because of owned Bombay Oil Mills…
Covid, we were hit badly. But the feedback A: Before I go into that, a message to your
we’re getting from our clients is amazing. readers that I want to give is, I think you
We have clinical studies in terms of how have to reinvent yourself over time. What
they’ve benefited – those who have had I’m doing today is very different from what
partial paralysis, full paralysis, people I was doing maybe 10 years back. I couldn’t
who had serious issues with their knees, or have done all that if I had not shed my full-
ortho issues, because it is so easy to exercise time role in Marico and Kaya. I didn’t have
in water. Your weight is one-tenth, one can any clue on how I was going to keep myself
exercise so easily without any pain. And if engaged.. Just a leap of faith that things will
you exercise, if you keep yourself fit, then work out.
the recovery is much faster.
I also started looking at giving something Q: Is there a mantra for Marico’s long-
back to society in different ways. . And I standing success? You do have some very
have three different sets of initiatives on successful brands.
that front. As I said, I have started a new A: Yes, the montage which revolves around
business in Aqua. Also, while I’m not three pillars. The key is to identify a
involved in Marico’s day-to-day running, product portfolio where you have a right to
I guide the team on long-term strategy and win. It’s a highly competitive environment
work actively on board effectiveness. I also and we compete with very large and very
spend time on Kaya Skin Clinics. So, all in capable players. They come with global
all, some on business, some on the social experience in categories where they are
side, giving side. I have Marico Innovation strong. The key thing is to identify niches,
Foundation, our CSR initiative, reporting where you have a right to win, where they
to me, which fuels innovation. I have joined are either not concentrating or they have
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #25 | JULY 2021 7
