Mallika Srinivasan, 49, Director, TAFE

For Mallika Srinivasan, Director of TAFE, her policy of adopting a considerate approach and allowing people to learn from their mistakes is finely balanced with being a stickler for performance. Her employees talk of her unconventional but structured approaches in crisis situations that have invariably benefited TAFE. A great believer in delegating and an ardent supporter of crossfunctional teams, Srinivasan is at her best in communications. The last worked very well during the downturn when TAFE grew despite the gloom in the environment. This year, along with its subsidiaries, TAFE is poised to touch a turnover of Rs 4,225 crore, against Rs 3,702 crore in the year to March 31, 2009. The company has set a benchmark for financial performance, being virtually debt-free and with a high credit rating. "The quality of perseverance is something I've learnt from my father at 75, he still pushes himself around in a wheelchair and comes to work, she says.

Once again in the BT Power List. Does it still enthuse you?
Any recognition for me is for the team, so all of us are enthused.

Your definition of power has it changed over the years?
It stops with the ability to influence others to a common goal not through coercion but through mutual respect and trust.

New lessons learnt in 2009.
Mainly de-risking from the financial turmoil, from currency fluctuations, from revenuestream uncertainties, and the implication of the downturn on our vendors.

New frontiers conquered in 2009.
We strengthened our partnership with AGCO for product development, and a supply-chain solution.

What next?
Continue to expand the market for TAFE and its subsidiaries. - Nitya Varadarajan

Resource: Business Today