Managing Director, Natesan Group
Legends are not made in a day but are nurtured carefully every day. Shuba Kumar, Managing Director, Natesan Group shares with Sarada Vishnubhatla that everyone – gender no bar – has the potential to achieve whatever they wish to, as long as they continuously improve upon their skills.
Born into a conservative family in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Shuba grew up as a sports enthusiast. Inspired by her parents and the values they instilled in her and her elder sister, she carries them close to her heart even today. They taught her to deliver her best in everything that she does, to work with sincerity and honesty and these are the long-lasting values which Shuba applies to her role as a leader.
Shuba Kumar, Managing Director, Natesan Group remembers: “Ultimately, it is about being an authentic leader who cares for the team, and creates a positive impact.”
This down to earth person is a beautiful combination of determination and the drive to do good for the society. As an MBA student at Stanford University, Shuba set up a company in the Silicon Valley. The product she created was ‘way ahead of the market’ and she learnt that ‘however superlative a product may be, it still needs a market and should be able to solve problems on ground zero’ to be successful. Shuba has always factored this insight in when building new businesses at Natesan.
As a young professional, Shuba faced varied experiences and has tackled tough situations, including that of gender discrimination. She turned it on its head and proved that it is the mind which matters ultimately.
She recalls: “Right after my graduation in 1996 I joined my first job and all my colleagues were men and quite senior to me. I had no knowledge of how a manufacturing setup worked. My primary challenge was convincing people to do things differently on the shopfloor because they saw me as a young woman and a novice. It was an amazing experience for me because I learnt their way of doing things on the shopfloor, and then figured out how to do them better.”
Gradually, her team appreciated the value she brought to the company. Shuba went on to implement ISO 9000 systems in the company and thus pioneered a journey of transformation which, again, was much appreciated by everyone.
She shares an example: “In 1998 I came across a customer who could benefit from a much superior product on their vehicle instead of what they were using traditionally. In a couple of meetings, I could convince their large audience of senior male executives to switch to our product which was not only technologically superior but also more expensive. It was a big win for me personally.”
Shuba believes that there is better gender sensitization today in male-dominated industries than before and women have more opportunities, even in the manufacturing sector.
She feels: “There are still challenges that women need to overcome in our workplace and balance various things in their lives to be able to hold down a job and progress in their career. But it is definitely more conducive now.”
Perceived by her team members as a fair boss who is consistent, principled and one who makes an effort to connect with each one of them, Shuba brings with her a tidal wave of entrepreneurial spirit.
Shuba brings in positivity and dynamism with her. She believes that treating fellow human beings right at all times is the ultimate respect that we can offer. And that is something that Shuba Kumar will never compromise on.