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Long haul for corporate daughters

Reeba Zachariah

There is no backdoor entry to the board of directors for daughters of corporate chieftains--not any longer. As dozens of examples seem to suggest, the daddy's girl has to trudge the same arduous career path in a family-controlled business as any other employee.

A classic example of this is available in the Godrej group of companies, which recruited Nisa Godrej, the second of Adi Godrej's three children, as an intern in the marketing department of Godrej Sara Lee.

One year into the job and she finds herself an assistant manager in the human resources department of Godrej Industries. She perhaps has miles to go before she gets a substantial assignment in the family firm.

The 24-year-old Nisa is the second child in the family to chart out an humble course in the path that leads up the corporate ladder. Nisa was not available for comment.

However, Adi Godrej's eldest daughter, and now Godrej Industries director, Tanya Godrej told Business Standard: "Currently Nisa is on an apprenticeship and working in different departments within the group and will be part of the board one day."

Tanya had undergone a similar stint in the marketing department, among others. For Tanya, it took six years before she was eventually made a Godrej director.

Shalaka Gulabchand, the 24-year-old daughter of Ajit Gulabchand, chairman and managing director of Hindustan Construction Company, is also trudging the same path. She joined the company in September 2000 and is currently designated executive (planning & business development). Shalaka, who holds a bachelors degree in international relations from Boston University, is the only child of Ajit Gulabchand.

Says Shalaka: "It has been a very good experience working within the organisation, where I have undergone training in every department --equipment, finance, marketing, besides routine site visits. I report to the executive director (operations), executive director (business development & technical), as well as to my father."

'There is no time frame set as to when I will be part of the board. When the board thinks I have reached a particular level, I will be inducted on the board," adds Shalaka.

Nisa, who holds a bachelors degree in management from the Wharton School, is also a member of the young executive board which was set up by the Godrej group to encourage its young and upcoming management cadre to discuss ideas to build up the Godrej group.

Piroze Godrej, the youngest son of Adi, is currently studying at the Wharton School and can expect a similar corporate grooming course.

Says a Godrej group source: "Times are changing in the corporate world. Second or third generation corporate leaders have to develop their individual credibility in the firm. These young turks are expected, as the future owners of the firm, to be as good if not better than their predecessors before ascending the pyramid in the group."

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