Chairperson, HCL Technologies Limited (HCLTech)
HCL Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra Exclusive On Her Journey | Business Today
The chairperson of HCL Roshni Nadar Malhotra shared about her journey in an exclusive conversation with Udayan Mukherjee.
#RoshniNadarMalhotra #HCL #BusinessToday
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Transcript (10 segments)
U
Udayan Mukherjee0:00
Hello and welcome again to the Business Today show. I'm your host, Udayan Mukherjee. My guest today on the show is India's richest woman. She also happens to be the daughter of one of the pioneers of the Indian IT sector, but that would be an unfair way to introduce her, because she's very much her own person and happens to be the first chairperson of a listed Indian IT company. It gives me great pleasure to welcome on the show for you, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, chairperson of HCL Technologies. Roshni, it's a pleasure to have you on the show. Welcome. How have you been?
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Roshni Malhotra0:31
Thank you so much. I've been good. I hope you've all been well and in good health.
U
Udayan Mukherjee0:39
Yes, so far, touch wood. But, you know, as I introduced you by saying that you were all of those things, but at one point, if I remember correctly, you had set your heart on being a media person. And if I remember correctly, you also interned at CNN and Sky News. So I thought Roshni Nadar was going to become a media face. What happened in the course of events? I mean, did your father take you aside one day and say, 'Roshni, all this is fine, but who's going to manage this multibillion-dollar enterprise?' Is that how and when you decided to change course?
R
Roshni Malhotra1:12
Well, I would have to say at least my media journey started with CNBC in Delhi as an intern, and I remember seeing you there, but obviously I was a junior intern. I think sometimes the best experience comes from diversity of experience. So, you know, I was raised in a fairly liberal household, allowed to do whatever I wanted to pursue. I think if Shiv had serious plans for HCL, he would have asked me to do science in grade 12 and then put me into engineering. But I did commerce, and then I pursued an undergraduate education in radio, television, and film with a focus on journalism. Then I interned with CNBC in Delhi one summer, I interned with CNN, and then I worked at Sky News in London for about a year and a half. The only conversation we did have, which was a very interesting conversation, he said that even if you'd like to at one time have a media empire, you still have to know the ins and outs of business, so please go and do business school. So that's how I landed up at Kellogg, doing my MBA. After that, I moved back to India. So that was really the journey of getting from India, going into media, business school, and then moving back.
U
Udayan Mukherjee3:01
Do you ever intend to take him up on that offer by surprising him with starting a media empire of your own, or now you're too entrenched in the HCL fold to think about all of that? It seems like a distant memory.
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Roshni Malhotra3:13
Well, I love content. So in the Habitats Trust, which is a foundation that I'm a founder and trustee of, I've actually been producing a TV series which have been on Animal Planet and National Geographic. A couple of years ago, I produced a very small children's film. So whenever I get time, I keep my mind and hands and feet in content and media.
U
Udayan Mukherjee3:54
It's interesting that you mention this because you have other interests. I was reading that you're a classically trained musician. Is that right? I mean, do you ever find time for all of that any longer?
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Roshni Malhotra4:08
No, that was all during school, and then I just haven't had a chance to revive that now. I vicariously live through my children.
U
Udayan Mukherjee4:22
Tell me, how is it being Shiv Nadar's daughter? It's an inevitable question. You can't get away from it. Of course, you've built your own life. You're now at the helm, you steer, you're the chairperson of the group. But you know, he must be a larger-than-life figure in your life and career. And those are big boots to fill because he's such a pioneer in the sector. How do you feel about being his daughter? Does it weigh you down? Is it an inspiration? What would you say?
R
Roshni Malhotra4:50
I think it's a privilege. There's no way to fill a person like that's shoes, so I prefer to say that I stand on his shoulders. And it's an honor to be able to do so. And I think what's been tremendous is that he's a great teacher. He's been a great teacher his entire career. HCL is not just being built by him, but the brilliant people that he surrounded himself with, and so many that have learned along the way, including myself. He stepped off the role of being an active CEO almost 20 years ago. Since then, HCL has had multiple CEOs who have also been his students because they all started their careers in HCL. So similarly, I think for all of us, the larger-than-life figure is actually an amazing teacher. So I think it's been a privilege, and he continues to be that.