Mallika Srinivasan is soft-spoken and articulate. Recently nominated for the Businesswoman of the Year Award for The Economic Times Award for Corporate Excellence, she says, “It is a bit of a surprise really.” The Director of Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd(TAFE), Mallika has made a mark as a corporate leader to reckon with. Work, for this determined lady, is the great leveller. “You have to set some standards, some goals, have some vision to achieve for yourself,” says she, “Then you have to work towards it. Whatever you do, you have to do really well – you can’t do it in half-measures.”
This endeavour to set standards has been the benchmark of Mallika’s vision for TAFE. Technology and R & D have been her keywords to keep abreast with global markets and these have stood her in good stead. Which is why every new tractor, be it the mighty Gajraj so christened for its sturdy, dependable and almost `elephantine’ qualities or Samrat, that takes into account the comfort requirements of the Indian farmer, are all designed for optimum use in today’s agricultural environment.
But when did her interest in this field begin? “I grew up in an environment where there was so much business talk going on all the time,” she says, “My father and grandfather would discuss a lot on the subject – it sorts of just soaks in. It is there in the air all the time. My mother would encourage us saying that my sister and I should take more interest in business.” It was a choice made, says this Madras University topper and MBA from Wharton, “…somewhere in her student days”. In 1986 Mallika joined TAFE, a part of the Amalgamations group that was founded by her grandfather S Anantharamakrishnan, as general manager. Focussed and dynamic, Mallika put the organization on the fast track with innovations and value additions. “To strengthen your chances in the market, be it domestic or international, technology is the key,” she says, “Even with markets being down, we have not sacrificed our focus on technology.”
Mallika is passionate about giving the agricultural sector its due, to help make farming a lucrative occupation. A 200 acre farm where adaptive research in paddy, citrus fruit and dry cultivation of mango, etc take place is part of this initiative as is the TAFE Agricultural Services in Madurai which offers free extension services and free advice. “It is our way of keeping in touch with the farming community,” says she. A recent addition to Tafe’s services is an agri-portal for customers and dealers that serves as a forum for farmer interaction. In several languages, this portal offers advice on pests and diseases, new agricultural products and more. It also acts as a network within the farming community. “There is still more scope for knowledge dissemination,” is her view.
The slowdown in markets has been a good learning experience for Mallika and her team. “Whoever can ride this storm and this market with financial strength, survives,” she states. Keeping the business of focus, cutting back on costs and keeping the research on technology going has kept her company healthy. “It has been a big challenge,” she adds, “For these are challenging times.”
Being a woman at the helm has never been an issue for this lady, who incidentally, is the wife of the illustrious Venu Srinivasan. “It is not an issue to worry about,” she tells you, “India has been a good place for women. South Asia has had so many women leaders. I would not think this is a deterrent issue.” The only `glass ceiling’ she feels, is in the mind of the individual and her immediate environment. “It is a mindset issue,” she says adding, “You have to keep your focus on what you want to do and keep your immediate values in perspective. It is what you want to achieve that is important.”
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