The Sweet Tatste Of Success

This management graduate from London Business School once said, "As a child, watching my father walk the talk in difficult situations helped build my character. He combined leadership with humility and a modern outlook." Gursimran Kaur Mann, the fourth generation entrepreneur and the first woman leader in the family to take over the management regime at Simbhaoli Sugar, changed many traditions at the 84 year-old company to take it to the current professional setup and to a new height in business.

The only daughter of the third generation promoter and chairman Gurmit Singh Mann, this 34 year- old woman leader could contribute significantly to the traditional sugar maker's profitability even before she took over as managing director in 2013.

"I grew up in the Simbhaoli factory compound, in rural Uttar Pradesh, listening to conversations about the business and watching sugar being made," says Mann.

This background and the modern business outlook of an economics graduate from US' Bryn Mawr College, made her realise the immense opportunities that existed for her to help grow the business further.

"I have worked my way to the top. I joined the company after college and worked as a trainee in all departments of the company, from factory to farm operations," she adds.

And, her achievements at Simbhaoli were many. Starting from optimising the asset utilisation and partnering with global sugar trading company ED&F Man, the opportunities that she could tap for its new growth included setting up a sugar refinery on the Gujarat coast to facilitate international trade and reducing the cyclical nature of the sugar business by pushing the power and alcohol businesses.

As part of turning the company into a truly professional organisation, she also formed a consulting vertical that advises other companies on the good industry practices, and could also raise new capital from a leading private equity player.

The fourth generation entrepreneur, who had interned at least three other professional organisations, including Nestle India, Cargill Geneva and ED&F Man Brazil, after her MBA, could also use those experiences effectively in bringing these key changes at the family business.

The young woman leader, who currently heads Simbhaoli's finance, marketing, trading, legal and sales operations along with the company's joint venture businesses, is a cut above the rest.

As the youngest member of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) and also being on the boards of all the major national commodity exchanges, the Indian Sugar Export Corporation (ISEC) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), she is expected to contribute much more to the future reforms in Indian sugar and spirit industries. Certainly, this young industry professional who is concerned about the heavily regulation affecting the future of the industry seeks more challenges as she finalizes plans for expansion and higher profitability. That's why she doesn't appear worried as the sugar industry keeps going through cyclical ups and downs. Sound management practices plus active leadership are two mantras that she swears by. And it has so far worked for her on all occasions.