A successful 10 year stint in the IT industry sets Das apart from her peers. Armed with oodles of talent and enthusiasm, the former microbiologist now holds Kobian's topmost position in India

Background: Das' association with Kobian began in 1999. From being a mere area sales manager in the company's Singapore branch, she has attained the coveted position of Country Manager. However, what makes her story all the more interesting is the fact that prior to entering IT industry she spent around three years working with Britannia. Having pursued a course in Applied Sciences from Delhi University, Das went on to acquire an MBA degree from Delhi based All India Management Association in 1998.

“From being a microbiologist to hardcore IT sales-my journey both in India and in Singapore has been full of unexpected challenges and adventures,” said Das.

Job Profile: As the Country Manager at Kobian, Das is responsible for executing sales and marketing programs for the Indian market. She deals with channel partners in India and is responsible for products including PCB components, printers and motherboards among others. Since joining the Singapore branch, Das has worked hard towards making Mercury (Kobian's range of products) a well known brand in India. She has added to the development of the brand by putting up a strong distribution channel in place. She has also helped the company to expand its product portfolio in India by introducing MP3 players, camera and related lifestyle gadgets to its portfolio.

Aspirations: Das claimed that she was clear about what she wanted to do when she grew up. “As a child I was an introvert and studious. All I wanted was for my parents to be proud of me. I wanted to make it big in life,” recalled Das.

Every time she stumbled upon a difficult situation, Das chose to draw inspiration from two people. One of them being her boss Rajesh Vothra, Group CEO at Kobian and the other is her father, who is a doctor.”I have learnt a lot from my boss and have watched him closely execute various decisions that has benefited the company in the long run. My father, on the other hand, has been guiding me since my childhood. He always advised me to work only if we were enjoying what we were doing and not because earning money was imperative for existence,” reiterated Das.

Sushmita 'Kobian' Das: Such is Das' passion for work and commitment for her current company that she literally asks people to address her as Sushmita 'Kobian' Das.”I love it when people call me Sushmita 'Kobian' Das. It only boosts the professional within me,” quipped Das. As a boss, she believes in empowering and respecting her subordinates and interacts with her team on a daily basis. “Being a woman I feel that my biggest strength is the fact that I am very grounded and hard working,” she emphasized.

Woman in IT: Being a woman in a male-dominated world of IT has has never made Das jittery. She confided that during her initial days as a sales manager she used to feel awkward at times since most people were not comfortable discussing business when they saw a woman on the other side of the table. However, with time, she has not only proved them wrong but has also honed her skills to establish a rapport within the channel fraternity.

“My husband has been my biggest strength and has always been very supportive. There were times when I had to stay back in office as most of our business dealings and interactions with foreign clients took place over the phone at odd hours due to the time difference,” said Das.

Hobbies: Her hobbies revolves around painting. During her free time, one can spot her showing off her skills on the canvas. “I used to win a lot many painting competitions when I was in school and even now, during my free time, I like to dabble in art. It not only keeps the artist in me alive but gives me peace of mind,” mused Das.

Future course: Das has always believed in the philosophy of staying hungry for more. “My 10 years in the IT industry has been a dream journey. I now aspire to keep growing and rising up further. I believe in climbing the ladder one by one and I will continue striving towards my goal,” she concluded.

Pooja Sharma
poojas@cybermedia.co.in

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