Ragni Days & Maya Angelou

(New Delhi Exclusive)— “I wanted to be a pilot,” says Rajni Bhaskaran. Unfortunately, “there were not many opportunities available” when she was ready. To fulfill her dream—well, at least partially—she joined the cargo and logistics industry. “Since our industry is built on the foundation of services provided by airlines and ocean liners, I was naturally attracted to relive my dream through this job,” she points out.
     Bhaskaran joined UTi Worldwide India in 2000 and today is Manager-Administration (India) and, as she put it, is hooked to her job because of the “dynamic environment” the freight forwarding business provides.
     Speaking about her colleagues and the working atmosphere, Bhaskaran admits that she was unaware that the freight forwarding industry was a male-dominated one:
     “For me it was quite a surprise as I had come from a retail background where there were more women.” That did not put her off. “I have learnt never to approach any assignment as, ‘I’m a woman doing this job.’ It doesn’t factor into my thinking . . . I’m Rajni doing this job. I want to be valued for leading the team and the results we achieve and having the right relationships with stakeholders . . . across the board. That’s how I look at my role.”
     As a woman, Bhaskaran believes that she is adept at handling people.
     She quotes the late American author Maya Angelou: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” For her, it has been a wonderful learning curve intermingled with challenges and several growth opportunities. “I have managed to stick on as I have always believed that, ‘Disruption is a friend, not an enemy.’ If you don’t disrupt yourselves, the competition will.”
     She tells job-seekers, “If you are good in geography and numbers, this job is tailor made for you. You will be interacting with customers from all over the world, moving a ton of cargo with a simple click of a button, planning shipments, developing equitable price plans, etc.
     "The reward is the smile that “you will bring on the face of a client: let it be a child in need of emergency vaccine in Africa, or a fashion designer showcasing his/her talent on a runway in France. This industry will keep you on your toes; it is up to you whether you can keep pace with it and prove yourself.”
Tirthanker Ghosh

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