Ordinance to Insurance

Having served in the Armed Forces for ten years, Capt. Meenakshi Gupta (Retd.) has etched out a remarkable career for herself in the corporate sector. She set foot into the exciting world of the corporate following a hiatus and has never looked back since. Her career graph seems to be following an upward trend right from the time she debuted as a corporate woman as the Head Admin and Facility Management at a mining giant to the present time when she is chasing and exceeding targets as Senior Partner at Max Life Insurance. Capt. Meenakshi Gupta shares her inspiring journey of the transition from the military to the corporate that has been both exciting and challenging while also shedding light on how life is on the other side of the fence that is of an Army wife

Corporate Citizen: What inspired you to join the Armed Forces? How was life in the Forces?

Capt. Meenakshi Gupta: As the old African proverb goes, “If you educate a man you educate an individual but if you educate a woman you educate a family.” I’m glad I am blessed to have an educated working mother.

I was inspired by the fact that as a female, I need to have my own individuality and identity. The aura around the uniform makes it look so inspiring by itself, moreover, I hail from Dehradun, where the Indian Military Academy (IMA) is located. I was an NCC cadet, which gave me further clarity on how to reach my goal.

Armed Forces is not just a job. It’s a way of life. To believe it, you have to live it. Army life was good, challenging and full of surprises. You can be exploring anything anywhere while expanding your knowledge in geography by being on the ground around the remotest corners of India, landing up in a forest, desert, mountains, coast, the last railway station of India, border towns and still be happy.

CC: You joined the Forces in the year 2007. What was people’s and your family’s reaction to your decision of joining the Army so many years ago?

I come from a humble background where both my parents were educated and working and still it took them time to accept that I wanted to join the Army and there is some scheme for women to join the Army as well. During our era, one was either a doctor or an engineer. I chose to tread the uncommon path for females and join the Forces. Though induction of women started in 1992, by 2002, it continued to be an alien subject to my parents, relatives or the known ones. I’m quite a determined and strong-willed person, so I can say they had no choice or let me put it this way, they were supportive.

CC: What was your role in the Armed Forces?

I’m a retired Ordnance Officer. The role primarily deals with supply chain management and logistics. As an Ordnance Officer, I provided consulting services to the dependent army units on the best practices for process improvement, software package selection and the implementation for end to end SCM (Supply Chain Management) and training of employees to enhance productivity.

CC: Which skills did you pick up while in the Army that enabled you to join the corporate and put them to good use?

As an army officer, discipline, integrity and teamwork are the basic DNA of an army officer.

I have worked for a mining giant, as Head of Admin and Facility. So, lots of new contracts are awarded and one is directly handling a huge budget. In such positions, anywhere you go, people try to influence you but the DNA of an officer is unshakable.

CC: When did you first think of jumping onto the corporate bandwagon? Did it ever occur to you that women can only achieve so much in the Army and in turn, got you thinking about a job outside of the Army?

Females have been juggling different roles in their lives. It was a mother’s call to leave the Army after the birth of my daughter and the desire to play a good mother’s role. At that point in time, I had no idea how long will I be on this sabbatical. So in my case, it wasn’t that I left the Army to join the corporate world, rather it was an emotional call.

CC: How did you first gear up mentally, emotionally and educationally, for a corporate job?

So, here, my South Indian husband comes into the picture, he could see that after leaving my job I was struggling with postpartum depression. He wasn’t always around and used to be posted in some forbidden forest. He kept me motivated so that I would study hard and crack the Armed Forces resettlement course and that too from IIM-A (I’m glad he did that). I was resuming work after three-and-a-half years of my daughter’s birth, so, I was emotionally and mentally completely prepared to take this plunge of my second inning of life in the corporate world.

CC: What were your apprehensions or reservations about joining the corporate world? How correct or incorrect were you when you look back?

I don’t remember if I had any apprehension to join the corporate world. All I knew in my head was that I had to prove my mettle. Now when I look back, it feels like I was so correct.

"Work-life balance is based on the culture of the company for which you work. It also depends how mature your reporting manager is. I’m glad I’m working in a highly culture-driven company which has been awarded for a great place to work third time consecutively"

(Capt.) Meenakshi Gupta (Retd.) handing over e-rickshaw
at the CSR activity in Bihar Regimental Centre, Patna

CC: How did a degree from the IIM-A help you gear up for the corporate world?

Once I completed my resettlement course from IIM-A, it was an extra star on my CV. I got campus placement in an MNC. Many placement consultants were also reaching out to me and offering good positions in big companies.

CC: How challenging or easy was it to get back to college after having worked for so many years in the Army? Was it a relief to go back to the student life?

It was very good to be back in college. Being a student in a college at any age is a different feeling, I guess. Everyone is in the same boat—dilemma, apart from that ganging-up, bunking, late-night studies, deadlines to submitting assignments.

CC: How did you prepare yourself for the entrance examination?

I joined an online investigation bunches on Facebook, YouTube and so on. I would download MBA selection test planning applications and purchase the best books for CAT readiness. I would also get online examination material like CAT mock test arrangements by MBA training establishments. I would dedicatedly make a month-wise CAT planning plan.

CC: Tell us about your first job, the challenges you faced, the things you learned? Did you miss the Army life during this period and end up comparing corporate and life in the Army?

My first job after Army was with the mining giant of the country. Some of the challenges were the new location (I relocated from Pune to Goa), and a new set of people. This position of Head of Admin and Facilities was specially created because of the organisational necessity and therefore, the expectations, to turn things around were high. Among the challenges were to manage the unions in the industrial set-up, who didn’t like the new contracts being awarded to bigger players or non-locals. However, the Army had taught me to keep a face of calm in such situations and just keep doing my teamwork to achieve desired goals. Yes, I did miss leaving the Army within a few weeks of joining my first job. It’s inevitable comparing your past and present.

CC: Tell us about your role at Max Life Insurance.

Presently, I’m working with the life insurance company as a Senior Partner. I spearhead a team of five branch managers based out of Kolkata, Ranchi, Patna, Siliguri and Gangtok for extending life insurance, wealth building plans, child education plans and pension plans to our defence personnel. Shouldering the responsibility of dealing with defence top brass and organising and facilitating corporate social responsibility projects is also what I do. Conducting statistical analysis to determine potential growth, designing sales performance goals and monitoring performance on a regular basis are part of my responsibilities.

CC: How does your current profile compare to life in the Army-future prospects, learning, skills, remuneration, future for women, rapport with colleagues, work-life balance?

Well, I look at it in this way, Armed Forces has a different way of life and it cannot be compared one on one to the corporate world. However, if I talk on a broad outline, the future prospects in the corporate world are unlimited. Learning and skill development is domain-specific. Remuneration is as per your calibre and the domain you are in. Your acquired skillset, technical and professional qualifications also matter a lot. The future of women is bright in the corporate world; every leading company wants to have a diverse candidate on-board. Rapport with colleagues is all about our personal conduct in the corporate world. You have to be a team player.

Work-life balance is based on the culture of the company for which you work. It also depends on how mature your reporting manager is. I’m glad I’m working in a highly culture-driven company that has been awarded for a great place to work third time consecutively, and I have to admit I have a very good boss who is both a mentor and guide.

"The existence of a woman Armed Forces official is brimming with challenges and coarseness. It is certainly not a simple errand. The non-stop movements, stationed far away from the family now and again, can be hard for both the body as well as the brain"

CC: What are some things that the Army should learn from the corporate sector and vice versa?

In my wisdom, what the Army needs to learn from the corporate sector is the real empowerment of women, I mean the officers’ and soldiers’ wives. We have such a talented, educated pool of ladies but I doubt if we are able to provide them a right platform to earn their livelihood, except for a few working in schools in close vicinity. Corporates hire veterans to have discipline, camaraderie and teamwork. They have a long way to still cover and learn from the Army. They want to have a lot of veterans on-board to set the flow of work, have standard operating procedures and so on. But it doesn’t work that way since these are two different worlds.

Believe me, the Army jargons I have heard more frequently in the corporate world than in the Army itself. They feel cool about it, whereas, in the Army, it flows in their DNA once a fauji always a fauji.

CC: Do you miss the thrill of the unknown that the Army used to offer? How do you make up for it?

Being in the sales, I certainly don’t miss the thrill that the Army used to offer. Here, in the corporate world, every day is a challenge when you’re chasing your targets with a diverse team in different states. At the same time, a lot of travelling is involved. Meeting a new set of people regularly and understanding them is another challenge. Being from the fraternity, I have to balance the equation on both ends, like what best I can do for my company and what good CSR projects, if possible, we can plough back to the Army.

CC: Could you share some anecdotes wherein you realised you’re meant for the corporate world?

I beg to differ on this question, till date I feel I was meant to be in the Army and I should have continued. The corporate world teams have their own idea about deadlines and commitments made. I’m still unlearning the learned lessons of the Army.

"Being in sales, I certainly don’t miss the thrill that the Army used to offer. Here, in the corporate world, every day is a challenge when you’re chasing your targets with a diverse team in different states"

CC: How is the life different from a woman officer as compared to an Army wife? Would you say, as a couple, you have a better understanding of each other having been an officer yourself once upon a time?

(Capt.) Meenakshi Gupta (Retd.)
with Col Lakshman and daughter Vaidehi

I really don’t know who discovered or introduced these terms of women officers and army wives.

Every female who aspires to join the Army has undergone the meticulous SSB process, rigorous training and then joined the Army. She is good to be just called an officer rather than a woman officer. I have never heard anyone calling gentleman officer. As per me, being an officer or being a wife of an officer, cannot or rather should not be compared.

The existence of a woman Armed Forces official is brimming with challenges and coarseness. It is certainly not a simple errand. The non-stop movements, stationed far away from the family now and again, can be hard for both the body as well as the brain. The preparation that they go through is standard with the preparation that male officers get for a similar post. As an officer, she is supposed to be present for all parades, PT, games and so on., take care of all personnel under her command and do whatever it takes to be worthy of that brass on her shoulders. And mind you, once she comes back home, she has to fit into a different shoe of being a mother, a wife, a daughter-in-law. Officers’ wife is destiny.

I salute all the ladies of defence for being such a pillar of support and strength, giving seamless support directly to their husbands and indirectly to the Army and still not getting mentioned anywhere. They were never aware that they could be so strong till the time they married their soldier. Time made them learn so many things that they didn’t know were coming their way. Right from staying alone, to raising their kids and not to forget, looking after their in-laws also. Sometimes, they even give away a bright career opportunity because she was playing the role of a good mother, good wife and good daughter-in-law.

She supports the officer and wives of his troops all through thick and thin. She has to be aware and be available for any situation, even if you are coming across it for the first time. You have to be calm and patient. Both husband and wife being officers make a better couple, as a clear grounded understanding is established. They are more realistic in their approach while handling things.

CC: Do you have a roadmap ready for your future in the corporate?

I would not shy away from saying that yes. I am an ambitious female. I have left no stone unturned to reach where I am today. It’s not easy to make a place for yourself; it’s your hard work that helps to climb up the ladder. I have made my own goals and roadmaps set where I should reach in the next five years and be a part of a senior management role by the time I’m touching my mid-40s.

CC: What are some important life lessons you have picked up from life in the Army and life in the corporate?

The three important lessons that the Army taught me was, firstly, don’t plan too much, be ready to take things good or bad as it comes to you. It can be a posting, cancellation of leave, moving on exercise and so on. Secondly, be spontaneous, full of energy, be happy in whatever condition you are in, it could have been worse than this. Thirdly, right time, right place and right success mantra. Important lessons or takeaways from the corporate world for me are, firstly, don’t react immediately, and let things settle down. Secondly, if someone is committing that 100% work will be done high chances are that the work will not be done. Thirdly, you will be always taken as a double income group, so bargain your compensations like a hardcore bargain expert.

CC: What are three pieces of advice you’d like to give an officer looking to make the big transition into the corporate?

The piece of advice I want to give to officers is, if it matters to them, firstly, be sure about the reason that you are leaving the Army. Know if you want to be an entrepreneur, work in an MNC or just live on your pension. Secondly, don’t be desperate to get a job and settle for any compensation offered. You have given so many years to this country, you need to respect yourself and keep the stakes high. Thirdly, I know all of us are superman and superwoman and we are multitasking managers but it doesn’t work that way in the corporate world. You have to be specific in your CV about your skillset. If possible, do a certified course related to the vertical you want to grow in.

"Corporates hire veterans to have discipline, camaraderie and team work. They have a long way to cover and learn from the Army. They want to have a lot of veterans on-board to set the flow of work, have standard operating procedures etc. But it doesn’t work that way since these are two different worlds"

Do you have any hobbies or visions that you want to translate into a profession?

About my future plans, as a female, our priorities keep changing with our age. As of now, the plan is that mostly by my early 50s, I look forward to be an entrepreneur, have my own organic farm and pursue my hobby of bonsai making as a full-time engagement. I also envision that I should be able to make a corpus to fund a few girls’ education.

CC: Tell us about your family and what they do.

I’m happily married to an olive green soldier with a story that reminds one of the novel, ‘2 States’. It’s been 13 years now. We are blessed with a daughter, who turned nine this year. I work in Max Life Insurance. I’m a proud employee, I respect my work and I’m respected in the fraternity for the same. I have to travel extensively and I would not shy away from saying it’s because of the support of my daughter, husband, my full-time maid, our helper who has been managing the show back home. It takes a lot of efforts to put things in order while I’m away, let it be setting of the menu for all three meals or setting a study plan for my child. I thank my daughter’s school teachers who give me slots to meet them whenever I’m in town because I’m not able to make it for her PTMs (parent-teacher meeting). I’m happy to be raising my daughter as a strong female and she is turning out to be emotionally balanced and strong. We are progressing in a better way and in the right direction.

CC: Tell us about your life as an army wife and the primary challenges that you encounter as one.

My feelings as an army officer’s wife is that out of the thirteen years that we have been married, we have seen the separation of almost seven years. I happily left my dream job for the better nurturing of my child. I thought now finally after four years of married life, we would finally get a chance to stay together and “play ghar-ghar”. But I did not know what was coming my way. My dear husband got selected for the UN mission. In normal circumstances, you would ‘feel over the moon’ about such news. But in my case ‘I fell from the moon’. How? I was left to do single parenting (though it doesn’t fit the classical definition of single parenting).

It’s not a tragic story, though I may be sounding melodramatic. Well, my doll was just one year old when my hubby left for the UN. I was ‘happy-sad’, but busy with motherhood. This phase still didn’t trouble me much, since I was gradually discovering how to make things work. Soon, I realised the most difficult task in the world was being a mother. I have no count of the number of times I remembered my own, my mother, while being a parent but I started respecting her multifold, raised to the power of infinity. That’s all I can say. My mom had to look after the four of us (me and my siblings), her office work and a spoilt son of her mother-in-law as well. How did she manage all this?

Since my husband had put in respectable service in Army by then, he picked up the rank of a Colonel and was commanding a battalion and then the role is not only to look after your house or a bunch of ladies in officers’ group, it’s about knowing the well-being of each soldier’s family. Having solutions to their problems, being a patient listener, guiding them is part and parcel of it too. While you are trying to settle into your new role, your husband’s posting comes to a God forbidden place and you are packing and moving.

CC: What’s the one thing you enjoy most being married to an Army Officer?

The kind of respect you get for being a lady is tremendous. The best part I enjoy about being an officer wife is I can flaunt my beautiful chiffons and georgettes, which was the missing thread as an officer myself. I would like to sign off here by saying ‘Jai Hind!’