|
The first lady of Microsoft India has gone through the
complete learning curve in her professional career. She has worked with some of
the biggest companies in the IT industry at enviable positions. And even when
the going is tough, this indomitable woman gets going, all with a smile on her
face.
Dhawan is a Delhiite through and through. Not only was she
born and raised here, she even completed her studies in this city and embarked
on her career here. After graduating from St Stephens College, Delhi University
with a degree in economics, she followed this up with a post-graduation in
business management from Faculty of Management Studies, New Delhi.
Immediately after her education, she got an offer to work
with a foreign bank. But by then, Dhawan had made up her mind to enter the IT
field, which was then in its nascent stage. She started her career in 1982 with
HCL. In 1988, when the company decided to start its operations in the US she got
an opportunity to establish the overseas operations and work there. She moved to
US along with her husband and worked there for about two years.
However, after a while, she decided to return to India as she
felt that she was most comfortable here. Besides she discussed with her husband
and they both agreed that there were far better opportunities to grow and
prosper in the homeland.
"No doubt, we had a very nice time in the US. But still
we missed India a lot. So we decided to come back in 1990. I may have done even
better professionally had I stayed back in the US, but I don't have any
regrets on this," she states.
 |
| Neelam Dhawan,
MD, Microsoft India |
Education
Bachelor in economics from
St Stephens College and MBA from Faculty of Management Studies, New Delhi
First job
HCL in 1982
Best-known qualities
An open attitude, optimism, aggression in reaching her goals and
passion for everything she does
Immediate goal
Propel IT penetration in India
Fond of
Listening to old melodies, solving crosswords and puzzles, reading
magazines and novels
Favorite adage
Dream high and achieve higher |
Plans for Microsoft
Working with Microsoft, Dhawan firmly believes that there is still a lot
more to innovate and discover. "We have not reached a stage where there is
little room for innovation or discovery. We have a lot more to do and much more
to innovate. This is where the real excitement comes from," she added.
Today, Dhawan is based in Gurgaon. As MD at Microsoft
Corporation India, she leads a team of over 450 individuals across various
segments and product divisions within the company. Before joining Microsoft,
Dhawan worked as the VP, Customer Solutions Group, HP India heading sales for
the enterprise, public sector and SMB across various product groups and
services.
Moving forward, Dhawan believes that she would be at the helm
when it comes to pushing Microsoft to the next level. "It is very sad to
hear that IT penetration within India is really low. It is lower than small
countries like Sri Lanka for instance. However, it also gives us an opportunity
to look at the huge potential that lies ahead. I will continue to work towards
addressing this potential for Microsoft in the near future," she explained.
Failings she wants to work on
Though Dhawan is admired by her peers for her aggressive stance when it
comes to making business deals, she personally would like to improve on a few of
her own qualities. She feels that she takes decisions way too quickly. While so
far, this has stood her in good stead, she wants to be more cautious rather than
take snap decisions.
Dhawan also says that she is very forgiving, which can
ricochet on her at times. At the same time, she balances these qualities with
her time management skills and ability to balance home and work on an even keel.
Dhawan hardly finds time away from work. But when she has
some time to herself, she likes to listen to old classics and the WorldSpace
radio. She also tries to sharpen her analytical skills by solving crosswords and
puzzles. At her post it is pertinent that she be well read, which is why she has
subscribes to several magazines. But for lighter reading, she prefers fiction.
The last book she liked a lot was 'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown.
The one thing that Dhawan misses most is driving. She has not
driven a vehicle for the past 18 years, after a bad car accident.
ZIA ASKARI Page(s) 1
| 
