A Woman With Kinetic Energy

Independent, well-travelled, grounded but adventurous is how Ashish K Tiwari describes Sulajja Firodia Motwani, joint managing director, Kinetic Engineering Ltd

In a new city, it can sometimes be dangerous to travel alone. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, joint managing director, Kinetic Engineering Ltd learnt this the hard way in Los Angeles.

At the time, she was working in the US for an investment consulting firm after completing her MBA there. She was core consulting in sales and had to shuttle between the East coast and West coast.

"I was in San Francisco and had gone to Los Angeles (LA) for a business trip, which I think, was my first or second trip there. In LA there are a lot of bad areas and I had a meeting there, which ended up at 6:30 pm. Since there was some spare time I thought of going to the gymnasium which was at some distance from the hotel.

"I went there quite at around 8 pm in my rental car which I had parked in the parking complex and went looking for the place. I approached a small restaurant asking for directions and realised that I was in the wrong neighbourhood. The person in the restaurant who gave me the directions, started following me and was trying to talk. He did not look very decent and I became slightly afraid. So I literally threw my shoes and ran with this person running behind me," she remembers.

And to add to the panic she couldn't find the parking lot. She however noticed a small office with lights on and entered. "I explained the situation to the people there. They were kind enough to accompany me to my car. I eventually found my way to the hotel," she says.

That was no movie scene but a real life experience. Although it instilled confidence to deal with cumbrous business travel in her present profile. Though she feels that business travel abroad is much easier as compared to India. Reasons, cites Motwani, "Things abroad, are pretty organised. Take for instance renting a car, finding places, access to informative maps and directions, airline connectivity to name a few, everything is more systematic out there. If I had to do all that by myself here it would have proved difficult."

But coming back to India after pursuing her MBA in the US was a conscious decision. In fact, during the initial years at Kinetic heading the India operations from Pune, she travelled almost 20 days every month for over three years, "I believe in direct communication with the dealers and as a result I travelled across India mainly to have personal meetings with my dealers. This was necessary to understand the two-wheeler market segment then and I guess I will have to do it again few years down the line, to trace changes in the market behaviour," feels Motwani.

However, the frequency of business travel has now reduced by 50 per cent, as she’s trying to balance her professional life to accommodate time for her son Siddhant who is just getting to know his mother.

So, does corporate travel also allow for leisurely time? "Not really, because finding time for leisure while travelling on business is very difficult, for me at least. I read books whenever there is little spare time," she confesses. But there is one thing she prefers to make time for while travelling on business - an early morning or late evening workout.

Although there is one exception to the no leisure with business rule. Motwani is on the World Economic Forum which holds a conference annually in Davos in Switzerland, and that’s one time she takes off on a small holiday post-conference. Not big on sight-seeing, Motwani is a beach bum and adventure enthusiast to the extent that she even selects her holiday spots based on their ability to facilitate such activities.

For instance, she often catches up with friends in Europe and goes skiing in Italy, Germany and Austria. "Italy is my best holiday destination because I love the food and the place too. Thailand scores for its proximity and spectacular beaches and we keep going back to the US to meet up with old friends."

In India its Goa, then comes Mahabaleshwar and Hyderabad follows next. But the most memorable holiday was a three-week trip to Florida, "Our longest trip about a year after marriage. The entire experience was awesome, driving through each and every city, stopping for as much time as we wanted in each other’s company. I think that’s why I feel it was the most memorable holiday I’ve every had so far," reminisces Motwani.

Business trips however are based on a different yard stick altogether. Among other things, the carrier is important and Motwani votes for Jet Airways all the way ‘because of its good service, friendly people and reliability apart from connectivity to various parts - metros and satellite towns and smaller cities - of the country’.

The other all important factor is the hotel chain. She patronises the ITC Welcomgroup’s hotels across the country. Ask why and an interesting story follows...

"This happened at their Maurya property where I was staying. I had this diamond bracelet which my husband gifted me for our anniversary. After checking out and reaching the airport in the hotel car, I realised that the bracelet was not on my wrist, and presumed I had dropped in the car or at the hotel. I promptly called the hotel and requested the lobby manager for assistance. The possibility of retrieving something that expensive was very bleak, but the hotel personnel actually searched the car and my room and eventually traced it under the bed and kept it safe with them. I picked it up during my next visit to the property. That was a very touching experience owing to the sentimental value attached with the bracelet. The hotel’s efficacy has won my loyalty and we have also signed on their executive travel programme," revealed Motwani.

Even on the personal front, she’s quite a loyalist. She has the same hairdresser for the past six years, likes going to the same shops and sticks to the same brands.