Leaders

There are a lot of women who believe they can take a sabbatical from their employment without permanently ending their careers. When returning to the workplace after a break, however, it might be difficult to rediscover the balance and regain your confidence. There are several reasons why women choose to take a career hiatus, including marriage, having children, raising children, or caring for the elderly. In addition, many women eventually give up on the thought of returning to work and instead choose to become stay-at-home mothers; only a small percentage of women ever restore their self-assurance and desire to return to the workforce after a lengthy sabbatical. As the Managing Director of Giiava Group, Manjusha Bhave had a similar experience, although, with the support of her family and fortitude in herself, she was able to return to professional life and eventually flourished as a successful entrepreneur.

After relocating to Malaysia with her family, Manjusha quit her career to focus on raising her son. When Manjusha desired a return to her professional career, she obtained her MBA at a very advanced age. However, a window of opportunity opened up for Manjusha to launch the company much later.

Engaging in an exclusive conversation with Women Entrepreneur magazine, Manjusha described her career trajectory and the challenges she faced.

What are some important features of your expertise as a business leader?

I am an expert in mentoring and supervising subordinates. Trusting each member of my team, I let them work independently, but I keep a close eye on them and am ready to pitch in and aid if any of their actions wind up being risky, all while making sure the entire company stays on course. My ability to maintain composure under pressure has been a valuable asset to the team whenever we've had to overcome adversity. My decision-making skills and resilience allow me to persevere amid challenges.

Tell us about the various responsibilities you shoulder as the Managing Director of Giiava Group. What are your current focus areas in your present role?

We are a family-owned company with aspirations for rapid expansion and a worldwide outlook. Organizational development and expanding our footprint throughout the world are high on our list of priorities, but that's only one of many. Bhave looks after marketing and worldwide sales distribution, while my son, who joined the company in Singapore and has a Ph.D. from Caltech, is responsible for inventions.

While most of the day-to-day tasks are now handled by team members, I still make it a point to keep tabs on how they're doing in areas like regular performance, productivity, finances, and profitability. My biggest contribution comes from leading the team through new projects, pushing them to overcome new obstacles, and driving ongoing improvements across a wide range of areas.

"Establishing a facility in india and managing it efficiently & effectively while delivering our product to european markets as an eou unit was a significant achievement"

What are some of the most pressing challenges that you encounter in your current role? How do you successfully mitigate these challenges?

During and after the COVID pandemic, we had several difficulties. As a business that deals in edible oils and oleochemicals, we have had substantial supply chain disruptions as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, where we get the sunflower lecithin, we use. As a result, we are falling short of meeting the needs of our current clientele. We have found a way to persuade our clients to begin using other sources of supply.

A significant issue that has arisen as a result of this situation is the dramatic rise in the cost of essential raw materials. While our plant's output has remained the same, our working capital needs have increased five-fold due to the increased price of non-genetically modified (NON-GM) crude lecithin (from 20 lakhs to 1.25 crores for a tanker load). There is a significant obstacle since no financial institution would provide working capital for only transient variations. By year's end, we expect the issue to have been resolved.

In your opinion, what are some of the most significant milestones that you have achieved throughout your professional journey? What has been the driving force behind your success as a professional?

A major turning point came when I finally shed the title of 'housewife', which I had adopted with pride when my kid was a toddler. Establishing a facility in India and managing it efficiently and effectively while delivering our product to European markets as an EOU unit was my second significant achievement. My third career milestone was leading a joint venture with Malaysian partners to successfully construct a facility in Singapore. As of the third year, we had purchased all of the shares held by our Malaysian partners, marking a full 100 percent ownership.

I attribute my success to the support of my family, my rural background, and my farm.

Drawing from your experience as a business lead-er, what would your advice be to young women and girls who also aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

As a result of technological advancements, the possibilities available to people in the modern day are almost endless. Previously unavailable to women, equality of opportunity is now a reality. Anyone with a good idea and enough drive can start a company today. While daydreaming about entering the corporate world, it's important to put in the effort necessary to prepare for that dream. Before taking any extreme measures, you should evaluate your abilities and shortcomings. If there is a certain area in which you are particularly vulnerable, you should seek to strengthen your position by forming partnerships. Don't take the plunge unless you're ready to do battle with really catastrophic odds. If you have a good feeling about something, don't wait until it's completely risk-free to take action. Take a chance; if you wait too long to analyze, you'll miss the bus.

Manjusha Bhave, Managing Director, Giiava

Manjusha studied mechanical engineering at Walchand College before finding employment with Kirloskar, Sulzer Pumps, and finally Jebson & Jessen in Singapore. In the future, when Manjusha decided she wanted to return to the Professional World, she earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Hull.