Leaders

New roles emerge within businesses as a result of emerging technologies and new organizational structures. One such role is that of a Chief Growth Officer (CGO). Leveraging the key qualities of coordination and collaboration, a CGO networks, forms new alliances, optimizes business models & processes, and translates customer insights into actionable business goals. One such business leader, facilitating growth within her organization is AanchalMachani, CGO of StumppSchuele&Somappa Springs (SSS Springs). In her role she facilitates the company's ecosystem by connecting products, partners, and services with their end users.

Aanchal comes armed with a BBA from Christ University, Bangalore and an MS in Management from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. Prior to SSS Springs, she worked for Bekaert, a world-renowned wire drawing company. At SSS Springs she is responsible for the company's overall growth. Additionally, Aanchalis also launching her own start-up, which will be a sustainable and size-inclusive women's active wear brand. She does it all fuelled by her guiding philosophy, i.e. ‘love what you do and do what you love’.

In an in-depth interview with the Women Entrepreneur Magazine team, Aanchal shares her leadership thoughts and professional experience as a CGO.

Give us an overview of StumppSchuele&Somappa Springs. What are some important features about your expertise as a business leader that you want us to highlight through the article?

StumppSchuele&Somappa Springs was founded in 1960 as a joint venture with German partners Stumpp and Schuele. The company became wholly Indian and family-owned in 2007. SSS Springs is the market leader in the design, development, and production of customised automotive parts for all major Indian OEMs. We have 14 locations across the Indian subcontinent as well as in Michigan, USA.

My area of expertise is product development and management, as well as identifying market opportunities and new investment channels and connecting and forming meaningful relationships. I am also skilled at data collection, analysis, and interpretation, as well as media and public relations and digital marketing.

Take us through your early educational journey and prior industry experience that you bring to the table. What are some key business lessons that you learnt through your prior experience that aids you in leading growth and strategy for StumppSchuele&Somappa Springs?

I received my BBA from Christ University in Bangalore and completed MS in Management from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. Following my graduate degree, I worked for Bekaert, a world renowned wire drawing company where I gained experience and knowledge in manufacturing and operations. When I joined the SSS group, I was part of the team that decided to identify sunrise sectors for the company to expand and diversify into. We then identified e-mobility, defence and aerospace, and seat manufacturing as areas that could help India achieve its long-term goal of self-sufficiency.

In addition, I am establishing my own startup, which will be a sustainable and size-inclusive women's active wear brand. The experience of starting a company from the ground up has provided me with numerous insights into how to enter the market successfully. It has also provided me with extensive knowledge about online brand building, organic engagement, and analytics interpretation.

The most important lesson I've learned during my professional journey is that the market is constantly changing, so take risks and stay open-minded. People are your most valuable resource; cultivate your team, and they will cultivate you.

What are the various roles & responsibilities that you currently shoulder at StumppSchuele&Somappa Springs? What are some of the most challenging aspects of your role as the CGO? How do you overcome them?

I oversee all business development for Gabriel India Ltd, one of SSS' biggest customers. All branding and marketing projects, as well as social media, web, and public relations initiatives, are managed by me with the goal of increasing international brand recall and exposure. In addition, I conduct market research to identify investment trends and opportunities for the companies in the group. I am also responsible for monitoring the design, development, and implementation of a tactical gear line for the Indian Armed Forces.

In my role, the hardest parts were coming up with ideas and creating requisite action plans. In addition, following through with actions to ensure these plans come to fruition is a difficult task. Since SSS Springs is a family-run business, persuading the older generation to be more open to meet the demands of the new age can be challenging.

I overcame the challenges by launching pilot projects and educating my colleagues about the new age requirements of social and digital media through seminars and presentations.

“In my role, the hardest parts were coming up with ideas and creating requisite action plans”

What have been the most significant milestones that you have achieved so far in your professional journey? What is your guiding leadership philosophy? As a successful business leader, what would your advice be to young women and girls aspiring to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

One of the most significant achievements I've made is organically increasing my digital media following by over 300 percent in just 18 months. I collaborated with journalists from India Today, the Times Group, and The Print to promote awareness about SSS' contribution to the Make in India initiative, which resulted in a twofold increase in readership and a threefold increase in digital audience. SSS Defence, our defence vertical was named as the runner-up in the Economic Times Innovation Award 2020 and was named one of the "Top 10 Defence Manufacturers 2021" by Industry Outlookunder my branding and PR leadership. I established and led a new tactical gear business unit in the defence and aerospace sectors with the goal of supplying high-quality products and accessories to the Indian Armed Forces.

Women should challenge every single social barrier they encounter. They should challenge anyone who tells them they can't do something because they are women. They should challenge anyone who tells them an industry isn't meant for them because it is "maledominated." Get out of your comfort zone and show them ‘who's the boss’ instead of fitting into society's expectations. Today's business women are a force to be reckoned with!

Aanchalmachani, Chief Growth Officer, Stumppschuele&Somappa Springs

Aanchal specializes in product development and management, as well as identifying market opportunities and new investment channels, as well as connecting with and forming meaningful relationships.