CONVERSATIONS WITH CHANGEMAKERS; SUPARNA MALHOTRA, BUSINESS COACH AND BEST SELLING AUTHOR.
Conversations with Changemakers….
Harveen Gill interviews….
My short monthly interview sessions focus on an individual who is known to me and whom I personally admire. In January I am delighted to shine the spotlight on Suparna Malhotra.
Suparna’s linkedin introduction of Executive Coach, Bestselling Author, Leadership Consultant, Keynote Speaker, Facilitator and Caring Human seems only to describe in part the breadth of her experiences!
Sometimes, the best meetings happen by chance. Suparna and I are both members of 12 Hay Hill, we both operate our businesses from this Private Members Club in London. Suparna has since moved on, however our acquaintance began over coffee in the Club and progressed in the bar!
What is your current role / expertise and how did you secure this?
“I am the Founder of The Suparna Way Limited. Established for 7 years, I work with Founders and Executives, from start-ups through to FTSE 100 companies, the uniting factor is that they all want to grow both professionally and personally and are looking for a Professional who can facilitate and help develop this journey.
I was born in India and moved to Kuwait for 8 years as a child, as my Fathers business was established here. We were based in Kuwait when the war broke out in 1990. I was evacuated by the Americans and moved to Chicago to finish my schooling. I lived with my Aunt in the US. I failed to secure a residency visa to attend University in the States, so post my schooling, I moved to the UK to attend University to initially study International Relations and Political Science and then completed my MBA.
I worked initially in media at Time Magazine and for a Russian News Agency before joining my Fathers business in India. I focused on HR and leadership development which led to my fascination with leadership progression. I completed a coaching programme in New York. My world was over turned in 2012, when a now well publicised gang rape and murder occurred on a public bus in Delhi. All 6 men including the Driver were found guilty of this attack. This horrific incident forced me to ask some deep questions of myself:
· How could I understand this?
· What part could I play in the gender struggle?
· What could I do to help female equality and the struggle against sexual violence?
I discussed a number of these points on my podcast - “The Gentle World.” I returned to London in 2013 and established my coaching business, assessing and helping Leaders through cultural and leadership programmes. I continue to also manage confidence programmes for female leaders”.
How has the global pandemic impacted your business?
“Never has a Leader’s abilities been tested as much. They have had to look inside themselves, “hold a mirror up” to bring their’s and their company’s values to the fore. A Leader is only a Leader if somebody is following them. Ongoing care and wellbeing is so important.
Managing remotely, and teams on a global basis will require trust and a lack of micro -management. Weaving this together to raise productivity will be challenging”.
What / Who has been important to you in your career?
“My family - my Mum has been the backbone of our family, my brother and father demonstrated their inspiring and transformational qualities. My Father has managed his own successful business and my brother was a CEO for a telecoms business in his 20’s. My family have always been very supportive and my brother still is very candid in his feedback – when I ask for it….”
Can you pinpoint the most significant steps in your career?
“Ironically, for me, making a decision to not continue in a role that was not working and taking time to think through who I was, what my strengths were and working through these questions were huge “milestone” points for me. I left my job in the last recession, everybody thought I was crazy, however I wanted to find what I loved to do”.
“There is a lot of pressure for us to know immediately what we want to do, I believe it takes time and there should be no stigma attached to this”.
How do you think society will change given the global pandemic?
“Businesses and organisational structures will break and form much more fluid, not linear forms. They will be flatter, less hierarchical, more collaborative, focused on mission and purpose as well as making profit”.
Who do you admire and why?
“Michelle Obama – and my clients. They gain self - awareness and make concerted efforts to change. They work to overcome their egos”.
Share a Secret…..
“I am a passionate Liverpool Football fan. I attend their games – and actually own a Liverpool Football pyjama set!”
Harveen Gill
MD, HGA Group
January 2021.