A former school teacher, Sudeshna Banerjee, Managing Director, PS Digitech-HR, transitioned to leading this Kolkata-based project management and engineering services company which she had co-founded in 2007. The firm specialises in large-scale industrial projects and tech-driven project management. Despite challenges like data accuracy and infrastructure gaps, it leverages advanced technologies and local talent training. In conversation with R SRINIVASAN, she says her firm aims for global expansion, emphasising innovation, client-centric growth and CSR. Excerpts: Please share your journey to establishing the firm which has worked across sectors like cement, power, railways and solar. To be honest, I never imagined becoming an entrepreneur. Coming from a family of educators – my father a university professor and my mother a school teacher – I was immersed in an academic atmosphere from a young age. Teaching was a natural choice. I completed my MSc in Zoology, followed by a BEd, aiming to follow my parents' path. But destiny had other plans. My entrepreneurial spirit was recognised when I was selected for the prestigious Goldman Sachs Entrepreneurship MBA at ISB. I co-founded PS Digitech-HR in 2007 with my business partner, Prosenjit Dutta, an engineer. We started as a soft skills training institute that gradually evolved into a project management and engineering services firm. The initial years were tough. But our goal was clear: to revolutionise the industry. And I believe we’ve done that. With over 20 years of experience, you bring industry knowhow of business development, project management and sales. You are also a talented theatre actor! How do these skills contribute to your current role? Theatre has been a great teacher. My theatre experience has enhanced my communication and leadership skills for a dynamic business environment. Also, acting helps you understand human psychology, which is crucial when managing diverse teams and clients. And my teaching background has been instrumental in skill development. Overseeing the massive transformation of PS Digitech-HR from a small training firm to a thriving global project management company with a detail-oriented approach required not only technical expertise but also people management skills. Take the company’s name: ‘PS’ stands for ‘Project Solution’ and ‘Digitech’ showcases our focus in technology and HR for Human Resource. People think we are a Human Resource provider but without human creativity no technology can work that is why the name PS Digitech-HR. As head of business development for 17 years, with a specialisation in business operations, negotiation, administration and, most important, client relationship management, my role is to ensure the company’s growth even while maintaining customer satisfaction. We started small but today we manage large-scale industrial and infrastructure projects globally. My experiences in theatre, education and business development have made me a better leader, enhancing my communication, leadership and negotiation skills. How does your firm integrate AI, ML and IoT into its services and how does it ensure data security? While we're not heavily into AI, we use IOT and advanced technologies like Primavera. We’ve developed an in-house tool PSedge that creates a dashboard and manages workflows. Data security is paramount for us. We have strict data protection policies and use advanced server technologies and our proprietary document management Projektor safeguards sensitive information. What are the challenges in implementing large-scale geospatial projects in India? One major challenge is data availability and accuracy. In India, incomplete data can delay project timelines. To tackle this, we employ and leverage multiple data sources. For project management, we employ experienced engineers at site with advanced techniques and technology and use our own document management system Projektor for real-time data validation. Infrastructure gaps, especially in remote areas, are another issue. We’ve mitigated this by training local talent and employing our mobile tracking app to ensure project transparency and accuracy. Finally, large-scale geospatial projects require specialised skill in proper planning, engineering, data analysis and GIS. So, our firm believes in capacity building and skill development to successfully deliver high-quality, complex projects that meet the needs of clients across India. Are there any plans for global expansion? Absolutely. Global expansion is a key focus. We’ve already worked on a design in Australia, Germany and an infrastructure project in Sri Lanka. We managed a significant railway project in Sri Lanka, overseeing the reconstruction of a 400-km railway line. Moving forward, we aim to enter new markets and build strategic partnerships to grow our global footprint. What is next on your list of goals? On the business front, my goal is to lead the firm into new markets and diversify our services. I also want to encourage more women to step into leadership roles, especially in male-dominated industries like project management. The best project manager in every man’s life is either his wife or mother. They do project management, scope, time, cost, safety, quality, human resource and procurement management, etc. Women are powerhouses, capable of balancing both personal and professional responsibilities. A woman can simultaneously build a home, a family, as well as nurture business. Your story is truly inspiring. What would you like to convey to budding entrepreneurs? There’s a saying that resonates with me, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Challenges are inevitable but it’s how you respond that defines your success. I have narrated my personal challenges in a book, Follow Every Rainbow, by Rashmi Bansal. The true measure of one's character is tested when faced with life's inevitable challenges. I am always inspired by a famous quote of Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of the Ali Baba Group: “Today is difficult, tomorrow is much more difficult and the day after tomorrow is very beautiful but most die tomorrow evening.” So, whenever you think that you can't succeed, stay positive and push forward. You can succeed, just as I did, despite all odds. Women entrepreneurs should believe in themselves, be positive and turn the Problem you are facing into a beautiful Possibility.