ST Bureau
New Delhi
This
interview is a part of Startup Terminal interview series to mark the occasion
of ‘International Women’s Day’
interview is a part of Startup Terminal interview series to mark the occasion
of ‘International Women’s Day’
ST: Please tell us about
yourself.
yourself.
Sonica Malhotra: Born
in Jalandhar and brought up in Delhi since I was five, a topper all through and
DU Rank Holder, I studied B. Com at
Jesus and Mary College (Delhi University) and later pursued an MBA specializing
in finance from International Management Institute, New Delhi. I’ve also
attended a Programme in Leadership Development (PLD) from Harvard Business
School, Boston.
in Jalandhar and brought up in Delhi since I was five, a topper all through and
DU Rank Holder, I studied B. Com at
Jesus and Mary College (Delhi University) and later pursued an MBA specializing
in finance from International Management Institute, New Delhi. I’ve also
attended a Programme in Leadership Development (PLD) from Harvard Business
School, Boston.
 |
| Sonica Malhotra, Joint Managing Director, MBD Group |
ST: Who is your biggest influence
in life?
in life?
Sonica Malhotra: My father Shri Ashok
Kumar Malhotra has been my role model and I have
always followed his footsteps in every sphere of life. He started working at the family book shop, ‘Malhotra Book Depot’,
while he was still in school. He was a leader; he
was an institution in himself where he was a
teacher as well as a student. I have
always looked up to him and some way or the other tried to be like him but I
don’t think I will ever be as great a person as him. He always taught us that most of the important
things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying
when there seemed to be no hope at all and he lived this statement throughout
his life. In my father’s eyes of course we were his perfect children, his girls
whose dreams he wanted to give wings to. It
was his belief that made us believe in ourselves, a little more every day.
Kumar Malhotra has been my role model and I have
always followed his footsteps in every sphere of life. He started working at the family book shop, ‘Malhotra Book Depot’,
while he was still in school. He was a leader; he
was an institution in himself where he was a
teacher as well as a student. I have
always looked up to him and some way or the other tried to be like him but I
don’t think I will ever be as great a person as him. He always taught us that most of the important
things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying
when there seemed to be no hope at all and he lived this statement throughout
his life. In my father’s eyes of course we were his perfect children, his girls
whose dreams he wanted to give wings to. It
was his belief that made us believe in ourselves, a little more every day.
ST: What challenges do you face
in your day to day professional life, if any?
in your day to day professional life, if any?
Sonica Malhotra: You
get to face challenges every day. It’s not too specific when/how the challenge
will arise but at the same time one has to be proactive and evolve the process.
Even today, when I have been working for more than a decade, I still find out
new things every day- things that make me energized and excited. My mantra is
one has to crack a challenge by following a procedure to achieve something.
get to face challenges every day. It’s not too specific when/how the challenge
will arise but at the same time one has to be proactive and evolve the process.
Even today, when I have been working for more than a decade, I still find out
new things every day- things that make me energized and excited. My mantra is
one has to crack a challenge by following a procedure to achieve something.
ST: Where do you want to see
yourself in next 5 years down the line?
yourself in next 5 years down the line?
Sonica Malhotra: Growth
remains paramount for us. Nowadays, upgradation has gradually become the catch
word for almost every corporate.
remains paramount for us. Nowadays, upgradation has gradually become the catch
word for almost every corporate.
Just
culminated MBD Steigenberger
Hotels tie
up and our performance for Carlson Hotel Group, we have already created a niche
for ourselves in hospitality sector as one of those who were investing in
Hotels. Moreover, we are one of the most showcasing hotel to get further
franchise. In the next few years, we are planning to take MBD Hospitality
Management to International countries. Both our F&B concepts, Made in India and Rare Easter Dining have got multiple recognitions in India and
abroad. For Made in India, we are
planning to venture internationally. Looking for it’s first placement in
London, will target to grow in Germany. In the upcoming years, we will manage other
assets under MBD Steigenberger Hotel venture and then we aim to go global and
venture into international markets.
culminated MBD Steigenberger
Hotels tie
up and our performance for Carlson Hotel Group, we have already created a niche
for ourselves in hospitality sector as one of those who were investing in
Hotels. Moreover, we are one of the most showcasing hotel to get further
franchise. In the next few years, we are planning to take MBD Hospitality
Management to International countries. Both our F&B concepts, Made in India and Rare Easter Dining have got multiple recognitions in India and
abroad. For Made in India, we are
planning to venture internationally. Looking for it’s first placement in
London, will target to grow in Germany. In the upcoming years, we will manage other
assets under MBD Steigenberger Hotel venture and then we aim to go global and
venture into international markets.
We started with SDP and MDP programme internally and we
have been able to get good talent. We are going to start our hotel school; land
and structure is ready, we are working on the accreditations part. This will
bridge our manpower requirement for Hospitality vertical and we will train
freshers as per our requirement. Next big step is MBD University, that’s our
dream project.
have been able to get good talent. We are going to start our hotel school; land
and structure is ready, we are working on the accreditations part. This will
bridge our manpower requirement for Hospitality vertical and we will train
freshers as per our requirement. Next big step is MBD University, that’s our
dream project.
ST: What is your message to the
readers on ‘International Women’s Day’?
readers on ‘International Women’s Day’?
Sonica
Malhotra: Seize every opportunity, close off no
options. Earlier
the mindset of people was that business is meant only for men and our social
norms discouraged women from rising to the top. However, this thinking has changed
now and after a threshold limit, no one cares that you are a woman or a man,
you just have to prove yourself.
Malhotra: Seize every opportunity, close off no
options. Earlier
the mindset of people was that business is meant only for men and our social
norms discouraged women from rising to the top. However, this thinking has changed
now and after a threshold limit, no one cares that you are a woman or a man,
you just have to prove yourself.
Inspiration
alone is not enough to successfully carry out the work functionalities. You
have to get out of the mould and put extra effort to prove yourself. I would
suggest that don’t get into man-woman world; it doesn’t exist. Instead of
meeting other people’s expectations, you have to follow your own goal and act
accordingly. Sometimes you have to be extremely headstrong.
alone is not enough to successfully carry out the work functionalities. You
have to get out of the mould and put extra effort to prove yourself. I would
suggest that don’t get into man-woman world; it doesn’t exist. Instead of
meeting other people’s expectations, you have to follow your own goal and act
accordingly. Sometimes you have to be extremely headstrong.
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startupterminal@gmail.com
startupterminal@gmail.com
