Naina Lal Kidwai, former country head of HSBC India, has her hands full. Not only is the former Ficci president a Senior Adviser to Rothschild & Co India, who sits on the board of a clutch of companies, she also finds time for not-for-profit work in water sanitation, environment and green financing. Kidwai, a chartered accountant by training, was the first Indian woman to do an MBA from Harvard, and one of the first top women executives in the banking space in India. In an interview with Business Today’s Global Business Editor Udayan Mukherjee, Kidwai talks about her not-for-profit work, the role of independent directors, and breaking the glass ceiling.
Q: Naina, I remember that time back in 2015 when you put in your papers at HSBC, and everybody said, isn’t she quitting too early? You were not even 60 at that point. Do you ever feel that you could have hung on a little longer?
A: So, Udayan, the retirement age was indeed 58. They were extending it by a couple of years but I didn’t want to be seen as the one who was hanging on for my benefit, because there were others who were impacted. And they tried to keep me on in advisory roles, etc., but I was quite clear. I wanted to break with banking and move on to do other things, a decision I’ve never regretted because it’s given me the ability to not be a slave to others. You know, when you work in an organisation, you work for their agendas. Some of them can be very uncomfortable. Because there are times when you have to ask people to leave, there are things you have to do that you don’t enjoy. What I can do now is to pick and choose what I like—and I have by no means retired from work; I’ve only retired from HSBC—and my entire portfolio today gives me a very, very full day made up of everything that I enjoy.
Bu hikaye Business Today India dergisinin October 30, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Business Today India dergisinin October 30, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
"Moving to cloud helped us grow❞
What was the problem you were grappling with?
She's Got Time
MORE WOMEN ARE BECOMING WATCH CONNOISSEURS, SEEKING OUT BOTH JEWELLED AND TECHNICAL WATCHES FOR THEIR STYLE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
RISING STAR
PARUL GULATI IS a name that's been steadily gaining prominence in the Indian entertainment industry after she appeared on season 2 of Shark Tank in 2023. She has become a multifaceted personality who effortlessly transitions between acting and entrepreneurship.
Building on a Legacy
WHEN ZAHABIYA KHORAKIWALA stepped into her role as Managing Director of Wockhardt Hospitals over a decade ago, she confronted formidable challenges that have since turned into achievements.
LEADER IN INNOVATION
AS FEDEX'S PRESIDENT (Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa), Kami Viswanathan has a lot on her plate.
WAITING IN THE WINGS
Here are those who missed out as they have not yet completed a year in office; they'll be strong contenders in 2025
A DECENT PROPOSAL
IN TODAY'S WORLD OF TRYING TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE SPACE, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR HOUSEHOLDS. WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE THEIR OWN SAVINGS POOL AND INVESTMENT ROUTINE. GIVEN THIS, HOW SHOULD FUTURE BRIDES APPROACH FINANCIAL PLANNING?
Women and the STEM Bias
EMPOWERING WOMEN IN STEM WILL NOT ONLY BENEFIT INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY, DRIVING INNOVATION AND PROGRESS.
ROCKET WOMEN
WOMEN IN INDIA ARE NOT ONLY VENTURING INTO SPACE BUT ARE ALSO STARTING TO SPEARHEAD THE COUNTRY'S EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL SPACE RACE.
ONE STEP FORWARD
THE NUMBER OF WOMEN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS IS GROWING STEADILY, BUT IT'S A LONG WAY FROM GENDER PARITY. MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BREAK THE GLASS CEILING IN BOARDROOMS.
