She rediscovered her love for studies six years back after joining Millennium Mams’, a city-based organisation that works towards the financial literacy of women through weekly classes on finance and investment. Having taken over as its president in March, Rachna Prasad shares with t2 her journey so far and her goals for the organisation.

How has Millennium Mams’ shaped you over the years?

Six years ago, I was a housewife. I knew about Millennium Mams’ but  was very busy, looking after my family and kids. But something dawned on me and I realised that this is not what I am here for and that I needed to do something else. I realised that I wasn’t just cut out for being a housewife and that’s how I joined this organisation. After so many years of marriage and being out of touch with studies, I thought why not give it a try. This organisation is about financial literacy for women and studies have always attracted me. So I thought why not give it a chance and be there for some time and just try to learn? 

I joined in 2013 and after a year, I liked it so much that I thought it contributed in shaping my personality. Reconnecting with studies was like a point of turnaround for me and I soon became a committee member and there’s been no looking back since then. 

How does the organisation help its women members grow? 

Here, we come to enhance our qualities, discover ourselves and  grow in the process. All women have potential. Here, we harness it. 

Mams’ is now like a family to me and we work as a close-knit group. The idea behind it is helping each other, fostering mutual understanding and growing in the process. I try to be available to the members and committee members and as a consequence, try to put in an effort to grow and learn in the process. I was a housewife when I joined Millennium Mams’ and today, I am its president so I have also grown. 

What are some of the events on your calendar?

I have quite a few of them and a lot of things will unfold in the process. This year, we are planning to organise sector-wise conclaves to learn about investments, conduct sector studies and then go to the companies. We have decided to hold a lot of conclaves, around the themes of agri-sector, FMCG and capital market. We will have our agri-sector conclave in a month or so. 

What are the two events that have left a deep impact on you? 

We have had many impactful events and speakers over the years but we had a political conclave in 2015 with speakers from two-three different political parties and that was a very informative session. The second would be a session we had with Bhaskar Bhat (managing director, Titan). Titan’s success story is very big and a lot of investors, including me, have invested in the company. So that was a session that helped enhance my knowledge as well. 

How do you plan to strike a work-life balance as the Millennium Mams’ president?

I have to be a multitasker and try to strike the right balance. Actually, the best part is that we get practical knowledge here that we can implement. I had economics in college but what I am learning here is how to put that knowledge to use. I don’t need to go to an office space every day and sit there for hours. I just go to my Millennium Mams’ office for two or three hours and apart from that, we have regular classes. I can sit at home and study. So that is why it’s a balancing act. 

I am mostly home, looking after my family, doing my studies and also looking after the organisation. I have full support from my family. When we start enjoying ourselves, the support is a byproduct. And when our families see how much we are learning, they realise we are helping the family as well. 

How would you say Millennium Mams’ is different from other organisations in the city?

Millennium Mams’ has a holistic approach with financial literacy as its forte. Apart from that, we have a lot of things that are really helping the women to come out of their comfort zones, to be exposed to the outside world and grow in the process. In order to grow and be independent in the truest form, women have to be financially independent.

Where do you want to take Millennium Mams’ under your leadership?

All the past presidents have done their bit to take it to the next level. When we started 25 years ago and where we are now is an amazing story itself. Both my teachers (Bishnu Dhanuka and Sanjay Bhuwania) have been empowering women through their knowledge of creating wealth and investment. It’s a continuous process that I intend to take up.

Text: Anannya Sarkar
Pictures: Rashbehari Das