My age, gender and lack of construction-related, technical.....

01 Apr 2012 CW Staff

"My age, gender and lack of construction-related, technical knowledge have never come in the way of work!" – Gagan Singh, CEO, Project and Development Services (PDS), India, & Chairperson, Sri Lanka Operations, Jones Lang LaSalle

CW presents the next in a series of interviews with women who have made their mark in the building and construction sector.

She may be petite and down to earth, almost to a fault, but don't let her mien mislead you – Gagan Singh is a powerhouse. This trained chartered and cost accountant oversees a team of 430 project managers in her capacity as the CEO of global real-estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle's (JLL) Project and Development Services (PDS) for India. With the entity structured to cater to sectors across the board, from commercial to hospitality, industrial and residential, with a platform in each region to ensure proper delivery of projects, her responsibility is to deliver growth in the top line and bottom line, and to ensure that the teams are adequately empowered to deliver. She was appointed in May 2007 to oversee the operations of merged entity Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, which created the pre-eminent and largest real-estate services firm in India. Over the past four-and-a-half years she has worn several hats. Singh, who became an international director in July 2011, is also the sole female member of the company's Asia-Pacific PDS Executive Group, where she flies the flag high – India has ranked as the highest grosser on revenue and profits, based on 2011 actuals, and PDS India leads the pack on innovation and excellence in the business. In addition, she is Chairman of JLL's Sri Lanka entity, Jones Lang LaSalle Lanka Pvt Ltd, and is currently involved in establishing the Sri Lanka business. Singh, who began her career with Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, brings to the job over 30 years of experience across the apparel, exports and hospitality sectors.

Impressive, indeed. Yet, as exhausting as such a remarkable career sounds, Singh is unfazed by her professional responsibilities, managing to carve out time for her longstanding passion – theatre – and welfare activities that aim to pay it forward. She shares her journey, and tells us how she has received "total acceptability and respect" in an erstwhile male bastion, in conversation with Group Managing Editor Falguni Padode….

Tell us about the early years.
I was born and brought up in Bombay. I did my BCom from HR College. I moved to Delhi when I got married and completed my chartered accountancy (CA) there. However, I completed my cost accountancy before doing my CA; it was unusual, but I did it. After about five years in Delhi, we moved to Nepal for 14 years. That's where my children grew up. I was very fortunate; as it was a small place, I got the best professional experience, but in an incubator. This allowed me to give my family the importance it needed, too. I was working with a leading conglomerate in Nepal; we had everything from a hotel and tea gardens to airline and truck agencies, and a cigarette JV with ITC. We were dealing with the crème de la crème, but everything was on a very small scale. I learnt everything there. I had worked for two-and-a-half years with Ranbaxy, and that was again a very good grounding after I did my articleship for CA. The relationship continued in Nepal when, after seven years, I ran the C&F Agency for Ranbaxy in Nepal. So, I have never lost touch with any of the people I have worked with.

You worked on creating sustainability services as a standalone vertical in India. How is this panning out?
I handled this assignment as a project in 2010 and played a key role in developing the strategy for India. Sustainability is a business imperative for the real-estate industry, and it was an extremely exciting project to handle. Once the strategy was developed and accepted at the country and regional levels, it was handed over to the designated head of the initiative. It is progressing well.

You are one of four heads running the company, with the other three being men; you have 430 project managers reporting to you; and you are an international director. Does your being a woman ever factor into these equations?
There has never been a problem. Not a single day. My experience as the only woman at the top has been extremely satisfying and enjoyable. I have always perceived my gender as a distinct advantage. I have never had to hold back or had the slightest hesitation in saying or doing what I need on account of being a woman. JLL appreciates and understands the value that women bring to the table. At the same time, there is an understanding of the special needs of women at certain phases of their lives. The firm provides equal opportunity for women who show passion and deliver results. My senior male colleagues at JLL's helm have never made me feel different and have always considered me an equal partner. This organisation's culture really makes one feel very nurtured and valued. I enjoy a huge amount of respect and space at the top.

I have also never had an issue because I am not an engineer or architect. They take me proudly for site visits and meetings; they support me technically. In fact, I am the oldest person on the team, a minimum of 10 years older than the rest of them. But, they have never let my age, gender and lack of technical knowledge come in the way. Even on the regional level, I am a part of the Asia-Pacific project leadership; I manage the biggest hub in the Pacific. We are the largest in terms of revenue and bottom-line. I am the only woman and the only non engineer or architect.

Any specific experiences on site or in the boardroom?
What delights me is that even though I do not necessarily have a real-estate background, both my team and the country leadership believe that I can add value on site and in the boardroom. My name is not a traditional woman's name, and I often have to set the record straight on mails, calls and in meetings where it is assumed that I am male. The first few minutes of interaction are always interesting and often amusing! I also visit a lot of sites; I like to look at issues related to finishing and safety. I enjoy doing that. When we were managing the Unilever head office project, I was there every month. We are currently managing the ISB campus project in Mohali, and I try to be there once a month. I do surprise my people because I have a good eye. I love doing site rounds because it gives me a good feeling of the work that we do. And, it has been a great learning experience for me. I am very comfortable on site, and clients who are unaware that I am not very well-versed technically, discuss technical aspects with me; I cope very well.

All this is very heartening to hear....
Yes, especially in Delhi, where I am based. I grew up in Bombay, which was very encouraging towards women even 35 years ago. When I went to Delhi at that time, it was absolutely the opposite. You felt the gender divide; people were out to get you because you were a woman. They either wanted to teach you a lesson because you were daring to enter a man's field, or they were scared to hire you. Even in Ranbaxy, which was the best company to work with in Delhi at the time, I was the first woman they had hired in finance. And, now Delhi has turned around so much.

In fact, you are heading your company's gender diversity focus for India. What does this include?
My role is to spread awareness and sensitivity about the business imperative and holistic benefits of embracing gender diversity. The agenda is to attract more women to the real-estate sector and then to nurture and grow them into senior positions within JLL. In 2011, I created a group of women leaders who meet twice a year to discuss what works well, what needs to be improved and what the next steps should be. The buzz that this created and the general awareness of this agenda led to an increase in the percentage of women in our team. Apart from the initiatives implemented in 2012, a film aimed at the 18-24 year old woman was made, which was screened at campuses and other recruiting venues. I am so proud of this film. This is the kind of work I like to do. I want to do more of all this in the next few years and move away from the treadmill of profit-and-loss management. These are what I count as good things at the end of the day.

How do you maintain your own work-life balance?
I believe I have a good work-life balance because I am passionately engaged with everything I do. Life is definitely hectic, but since I enjoy it and my energy levels are high, I am happy. All working women have to be expert jugglers to do justice to their multiple roles – be successful at work and home and achieve a balance. Fortunately, we are blessed with the ability to prioritise brilliantly and foresee problems better. It is not easy, but it gradually becomes a way of life, and the result is very high productivity all around. Personally, I have made a determined effort to ensure that I attend events and participate in activities outside the home and office to achieve greater fulfilment.

Tell us about your family.
I have two daughters. The older one is 29 year-old; she's married. She has an MBA from Indian School of Business and works for Coca Cola in Sydney. The younger one is 26; she's currently doing her MBA in Stanford. Both are doing well, and I am grateful for that. They have seen their parents working hard all their life so they have no choice! In fact, my daughter goes to work even when she is running a temperature. When I ask her why she doesn't rest at home, she says, 'It's too late; you have done the damage long ago. You're the one who taught me this!'

What are some of the activities you participate in as you mention earlier?
I have been a trustee of Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT) – an NGO dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of street children – for over a decade now. We are four trustees who meet every Saturday with all shelters and contact points to review the previous week's activities and ensure that the executive committee and coordinators are aligned with the ethos and principles on which SBT has been running for 22 years now. The trust has more than 150 employees and a budget of Rs 4 crore. I oversee the finance, accounts and HR functions. Additionally, I am the founding vice-president of Youthreach, a trust that provides support to grassroots organisations in capacity building, funds and volunteers. It also provides a network of organisations to individuals and groups interested in volunteerism.

What's more, I have been involved in theatre since my school days. And even today, I act in at least two performances every year. In fact, in December 2011, I directed a dinner murder theatre performance, which was received very well. So, ultimately, what's your advice to women who wish to enter this industry?
The real-estate services industry is a great sector for a woman to work in. As I have had the privilege of working in several sectors over the past 30+ years, I can say this with some authority. Choose what you wish to do wisely and then enjoy it. You can never be a victim; there is no space for self-pity. If you are not achieving a work-life balance, you have to learn how to prioritise, draw the line and schedule better. Women are actually aces at that; they can juggle and manage so well! I have a very active life, and it can get overwhelming at times. But, that's the time I sit and prioritise and make my list. The bottom line, of course, is that I am doing it because I love it.

Would you like to tell us about any such women of substance? Share your suggestions at feedback@ASAPPmedia.com

My age, gender and lack of construction-related, technical knowledge have never come in the way of work! – Gagan Singh, CEO, Project and Development Services (PDS), India, & Chairperson, Sri Lanka Operations, Jones Lang LaSalleCW presents the next in a series of interviews with women who have made their mark in the building and construction sector.She may be petite and down to earth, almost to a fault, but don't let her mien mislead you – Gagan Singh is a powerhouse. This trained chartered and cost accountant oversees a team of 430 project managers in her capacity as the CEO of global real-estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle's (JLL) Project and Development Services (PDS) for India. With the entity structured to cater to sectors across the board, from commercial to hospitality, industrial and residential, with a platform in each region to ensure proper delivery of projects, her responsibility is to deliver growth in the top line and bottom line, and to ensure that the teams are adequately empowered to deliver. She was appointed in May 2007 to oversee the operations of merged entity Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, which created the pre-eminent and largest real-estate services firm in India. Over the past four-and-a-half years she has worn several hats. Singh, who became an international director in July 2011, is also the sole female member of the company's Asia-Pacific PDS Executive Group, where she flies the flag high – India has ranked as the highest grosser on revenue and profits, based on 2011 actuals, and PDS India leads the pack on innovation and excellence in the business. In addition, she is Chairman of JLL's Sri Lanka entity, Jones Lang LaSalle Lanka Pvt Ltd, and is currently involved in establishing the Sri Lanka business. Singh, who began her career with Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, brings to the job over 30 years of experience across the apparel, exports and hospitality sectors.Impressive, indeed. Yet, as exhausting as such a remarkable career sounds, Singh is unfazed by her professional responsibilities, managing to carve out time for her longstanding passion – theatre – and welfare activities that aim to pay it forward. She shares her journey, and tells us how she has received total acceptability and respect in an erstwhile male bastion, in conversation with Group Managing Editor Falguni Padode….Tell us about the early years.I was born and brought up in Bombay. I did my BCom from HR College. I moved to Delhi when I got married and completed my chartered accountancy (CA) there. However, I completed my cost accountancy before doing my CA; it was unusual, but I did it. After about five years in Delhi, we moved to Nepal for 14 years. That's where my children grew up. I was very fortunate; as it was a small place, I got the best professional experience, but in an incubator. This allowed me to give my family the importance it needed, too. I was working with a leading conglomerate in Nepal; we had everything from a hotel and tea gardens to airline and truck agencies, and a cigarette JV with ITC. We were dealing with the crème de la crème, but everything was on a very small scale. I learnt everything there. I had worked for two-and-a-half years with Ranbaxy, and that was again a very good grounding after I did my articleship for CA. The relationship continued in Nepal when, after seven years, I ran the C&F Agency for Ranbaxy in Nepal. So, I have never lost touch with any of the people I have worked with.You worked on creating sustainability services as a standalone vertical in India. How is this panning out?I handled this assignment as a project in 2010 and played a key role in developing the strategy for India. Sustainability is a business imperative for the real-estate industry, and it was an extremely exciting project to handle. Once the strategy was developed and accepted at the country and regional levels, it was handed over to the designated head of the initiative. It is progressing well.You are one of four heads running the company, with the other three being men; you have 430 project managers reporting to you; and you are an international director. Does your being a woman ever factor into these equations?There has never been a problem. Not a single day. My experience as the only woman at the top has been extremely satisfying and enjoyable. I have always perceived my gender as a distinct advantage. I have never had to hold back or had the slightest hesitation in saying or doing what I need on account of being a woman. JLL appreciates and understands the value that women bring to the table. At the same time, there is an understanding of the special needs of women at certain phases of their lives. The firm provides equal opportunity for women who show passion and deliver results. My senior male colleagues at JLL's helm have never made me feel different and have always considered me an equal partner. This organisation's culture really makes one feel very nurtured and valued. I enjoy a huge amount of respect and space at the top.I have also never had an issue because I am not an engineer or architect. They take me proudly for site visits and meetings; they support me technically. In fact, I am the oldest person on the team, a minimum of 10 years older than the rest of them. But, they have never let my age, gender and lack of technical knowledge come in the way. Even on the regional level, I am a part of the Asia-Pacific project leadership; I manage the biggest hub in the Pacific. We are the largest in terms of revenue and bottom-line. I am the only woman and the only non engineer or architect.Any specific experiences on site or in the boardroom?What delights me is that even though I do not necessarily have a real-estate background, both my team and the country leadership believe that I can add value on site and in the boardroom. My name is not a traditional woman's name, and I often have to set the record straight on mails, calls and in meetings where it is assumed that I am male. The first few minutes of interaction are always interesting and often amusing! I also visit a lot of sites; I like to look at issues related to finishing and safety. I enjoy doing that. When we were managing the Unilever head office project, I was there every month. We are currently managing the ISB campus project in Mohali, and I try to be there once a month. I do surprise my people because I have a good eye. I love doing site rounds because it gives me a good feeling of the work that we do. And, it has been a great learning experience for me. I am very comfortable on site, and clients who are unaware that I am not very well-versed technically, discuss technical aspects with me; I cope very well.All this is very heartening to hear....Yes, especially in Delhi, where I am based. I grew up in Bombay, which was very encouraging towards women even 35 years ago. When I went to Delhi at that time, it was absolutely the opposite. You felt the gender divide; people were out to get you because you were a woman. They either wanted to teach you a lesson because you were daring to enter a man's field, or they were scared to hire you. Even in Ranbaxy, which was the best company to work with in Delhi at the time, I was the first woman they had hired in finance. And, now Delhi has turned around so much.In fact, you are heading your company's gender diversity focus for India. What does this include?My role is to spread awareness and sensitivity about the business imperative and holistic benefits of embracing gender diversity. The agenda is to attract more women to the real-estate sector and then to nurture and grow them into senior positions within JLL. In 2011, I created a group of women leaders who meet twice a year to discuss what works well, what needs to be improved and what the next steps should be. The buzz that this created and the general awareness of this agenda led to an increase in the percentage of women in our team. Apart from the initiatives implemented in 2012, a film aimed at the 18-24 year old woman was made, which was screened at campuses and other recruiting venues. I am so proud of this film. This is the kind of work I like to do. I want to do more of all this in the next few years and move away from the treadmill of profit-and-loss management. These are what I count as good things at the end of the day.How do you maintain your own work-life balance?I believe I have a good work-life balance because I am passionately engaged with everything I do. Life is definitely hectic, but since I enjoy it and my energy levels are high, I am happy. All working women have to be expert jugglers to do justice to their multiple roles – be successful at work and home and achieve a balance. Fortunately, we are blessed with the ability to prioritise brilliantly and foresee problems better. It is not easy, but it gradually becomes a way of life, and the result is very high productivity all around. Personally, I have made a determined effort to ensure that I attend events and participate in activities outside the home and office to achieve greater fulfilment.Tell us about your family.I have two daughters. The older one is 29 year-old; she's married. She has an MBA from Indian School of Business and works for Coca Cola in Sydney. The younger one is 26; she's currently doing her MBA in Stanford. Both are doing well, and I am grateful for that. They have seen their parents working hard all their life so they have no choice! In fact, my daughter goes to work even when she is running a temperature. When I ask her why she doesn't rest at home, she says, 'It's too late; you have done the damage long ago. You're the one who taught me this!'What are some of the activities you participate in as you mention earlier?I have been a trustee of Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT) – an NGO dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of street children – for over a decade now. We are four trustees who meet every Saturday with all shelters and contact points to review the previous week's activities and ensure that the executive committee and coordinators are aligned with the ethos and principles on which SBT has been running for 22 years now. The trust has more than 150 employees and a budget of Rs 4 crore. I oversee the finance, accounts and HR functions. Additionally, I am the founding vice-president of Youthreach, a trust that provides support to grassroots organisations in capacity building, funds and volunteers. It also provides a network of organisations to individuals and groups interested in volunteerism.What's more, I have been involved in theatre since my school days. And even today, I act in at least two performances every year. In fact, in December 2011, I directed a dinner murder theatre performance, which was received very well. So, ultimately, what's your advice to women who wish to enter this industry?The real-estate services industry is a great sector for a woman to work in. As I have had the privilege of working in several sectors over the past 30+ years, I can say this with some authority. Choose what you wish to do wisely and then enjoy it. You can never be a victim; there is no space for self-pity. If you are not achieving a work-life balance, you have to learn how to prioritise, draw the line and schedule better. Women are actually aces at that; they can juggle and manage so well! I have a very active life, and it can get overwhelming at times. But, that's the time I sit and prioritise and make my list. The bottom line, of course, is that I am doing it because I love it.Would you like to tell us about any such women of substance? Share your suggestions at feedback@ASAPPmedia.com