That's The Spirit!

Abanti Sankaranarayanan, corporate leader, talks to Nikshubha Garg about making a mark in a male-dominated industry, the importance of a gender-neutral working environment, leading a team, and more.

An Economics graduate from St Stephens (New Delhi), and armed with an MBA from IIM (Ahmedabad), Abanti Sankaranarayanan has held senior positions in multiple national and international organisations, an achievement she credits to hard work and good luck. Currently, she leads the Strategy and Corporate Affairs functions at Diageo India. So, what makes a powerful voice in business today? Let’s find out.

How did your childhood contribute in shaping you as a professional?

My father served in the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), and I spent my childhood immersed in family, friends, reading, travel, music, and cricket. As a child, I was taught to palce high value on striving for excellence, culture, and integrity. My varied interests, intellectual curiosity, love for travel and reading— all of which I trace back to my childhood—have made me a well-rounded professional, not to mention a person with a sharp external radar.

What has been your greatest achievement so far?

At the professional level, leading Diageo in India through many twists and turns over eight years. On the personal level, bringing up my twin children to be good, rooted human beings who work hard.

How difficult is it to be a woman in an industry traditionally dominated by men?

As surprising as it may seem, I have had no special challenges being a woman in the alcohol industry. Whether man or woman, in any industry or organisation, you have to earn your stripes. Like most professional women (and men), I have made it to where I am because I have worked hard, surpassed expectations, learnt from leaders I have had the good fortune to work with, made some smart choices of roles and companies, and been lucky at some points in time. Everything that is required for a man to succeed in the corporate world is also true for a woman.