The hurdles that one faces in this industry are not gender-specific

Manju Yagnik, Vice Chairperson, Nahar GroupCW presents the next in a series of interviews with women who have made their mark in the building and construction sector.Her hands-on approach to work and entrepreneurial acumen have held Manju Yagnik in good stead over the past two decades. Since January 1990, when she became Vice Chairperson of Nahar Group, she has distinguished herself in leadership and people management, planning, land acquisition, construction, landscaping, marketing and execution. At present, her mandate involves spearheading the company’s pan-India expansion and business segmentation into property de­velopment, ho­spitality and lei­sure, sho­pping malls, healthcare and education. She also holds the post of Vice Chairperson of the exhibition committee of the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI). Her many accolades include the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2007; the Star Report Award for the best corporate governance in 2009; the National Achievement Award for Construction Excellence; and the Female Real-Estate Professional of the Year 2011 by Realty Plus. There’s much more to the lady though; Yagnik, who works closely with NGOs committed to children, is a singer and a sportswoman (she has played competitive hockey). She shares more about her life and work in an interview with Group Managing Editor Falguni Padode...Tell us about your association with Nahar Group.I joined the group 23 years ago. I handle property acquisition and all other professional aspects like planning, finishing and determining the aesthetics of our properties. I also handle marketing in India and overseas. In India, apart from Mumbai, we are operating in Pune and Chennai.Tell us about the early years.I graduated from Kurukshetra University in Haryana and moved to Mumbai after marriage. My husband and I work together. He is also a director in the group; we are partners.Did you ever think of venturing out beyond real estate?No, I find this line interesting and adventurous. It gives you a lot of satisfaction to design and plan a product using the best of technologies and then see it come to life according to the customer’s expectations.In the past two decades, how has the industry changed and evolved?When I came into the industry, it was like a monopoly and customers’ opinions really didn’t count. Now, the industry has become completely customer-centric. Today, clients are exposed to global lifestyles and are more demanding. This has impelled developers to become more professional and savvy with technology. We take the opinion of our customers whenever we plan any product. Technology and materials are also changing...from paint and finishing materials to state-of-the-art security systems and Wi-Fi technology.Today, many projects are using foreign architects. Please comment.Real-estate development is on the upswing in India much more than abroad; thus there is a huge amount of work for these architects here. And by joining hands with these foreign architects, our Indian architects are getting more exposure and learning. For their part, the foreign architects are also getting exposure to Indian conditions. So it is a two-way learning process.How do you deal with problems that plague the real-estate industry, like corruption and red tape?If a developer has clarity, you do not face problems. If your sale is direct, your development is authorised with due permissions and a bank or financial institution is involved with you, you do not have to face many problems. The best projects nowadays are completely taken care of by financial institutions and they do their own due diligence. The industry is much more organised now and it is becoming more transparent every day. Also, with consumers customising their apartments, they know about each component that is installed. Earlier, builders would sell at ‘XYZ’ price and say, “Take it or leave it.” Half the time, the consumer did not know what he was buying; now everything is as per his expectation.But even if you are above board and your title is clear, there is a 52-window clearance for real estate approvals...Our industry is demanding single-window clearance, but that is still an issue for the government to implement.What is it like being a woman in this male-dominated industry?You have to forget that you are a woman!Does the industry let you forget that you are a woman?This industry is very cooperative and I have got a lot of support. I am surprised when women are scared to get into this industry since women are already working in industries like engineering and finance.That’s because traditionally construction has been viewed as a notorious industry.Earlier yes, but I think it has become very professional and organised now.So you have not experienced any gender bias at all?I feel a woman in this industry experiences nothing different from a man. There is a lot of hardship in dealing with different authorities but these hurdles are not gender-specific. There is nothing a man can do and a woman cannot.What about going to the construction site and dealing with engineers and workers?Earlier, things were different; you had to deal with labourers. Now your civil contractors get the job done; they are professionals. You do not have to deal with each and every labourer.You have two children. Tell us how you maintain your work-life balance?Yes, I have a three-year-old and a two-year-old. I am probably privileged because my husband is in the same company. I think my life is very balanced. Time management issues do crop up sometimes owing to commitments but you have to handle your priorities intelligently.You are also very involved with the MCHI; how has your experience been?It has been excellent. Not many people know how hard this body is working for the builder fraternity as a whole; no one is pursuing their personal interests. I am a member of MCHI and vice-chairperson of the exhibition committee. We have over 1,500 members and we exhibit and market their projects; this includes choosing venues and obtaining relevant permissions as well as marketing the body overall.One of the initiatives of MCHI is a Consumer Grievance Forum...Yes, it is a very good step. If you buy a house from a member of MCHI and have any grievances, they will be resolved. This inspires confidence among customers.Finally, what advice do you have for women who wish to enter this field?This industry is for women who are unafraid of getting their hands dirty, quite literally! Nothing comes without hard work. But, this is also a very innovative line. It gives you a chance to create, that no other line can give you. All it takes is hard work and the ability to accept challenges; if you can do that, you will be an achiever.Would you like to tell us about any such women of substance? Share your suggestions at feedback@ASAPPmedia.com