What were your three biggest learnings as chairperson of YFLO (Young FICCI Ladies Organisation)? 

First, that you need a support system to be in place. People are very important — be it your speakers, members, sponsors or your domestic staff down to the driver, helper and nanny who organised my life. You have to have a support system in place and you need well-wishers and close family to support you. You need a team, and thankfully I had a great one, that works along with you. 

Second, learn to accept and let go. A lot of people say, ‘I will help you’ but there are very few who do.
Third, your communication skills are sharpened. You learn how to talk, how to emcee, what to say, when to say things and how to make the most of a social meet!

So you must be a pro emcee by now?

(Laughs) Yes, I think so. I can go on stage and talk anywhere now!

What would you consider your biggest achievement?

Getting the committee together, they’ve bonded so well. Be it the retreat to Ananda, the photo trip to Kanha or the meeting with the YFLO Delhi team. Another achievement I consider is pulling off around 31-32 events and managing family.

Personally, how was the year 2014?

It was a year of challenges. I had to manage Smoke House Deli (with partner Abhilasha Sethia). I ran the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K marathon, partnered by The Telegraph, in December. I overcame my fears by jumping into the sea in Italy on a holiday with family. My son broke his leg and had chicken pox. I need to thank my husband Vikas for really supporting me. There were so many days when he would ask, ‘When will your YFLO term get over?’ (laughs). Having said all that, I’ve developed and grown as an individual this year. I encourage every woman to take up a position of leadership. It teaches you values for life… your work ethics will change, you will change.

All your events have been preceded by the word ‘difference’. For Ashwin Sanghi, it was ‘Know the Difference’, for Calcutta

Adda it was ‘Celebrate the Difference’…

I wanted each event to make a difference — that was the theme. YFLO Calcutta is in its seventh year and I wanted to take it to another level.

The best compliment you’ve received is…

A photo-journalist told me that in his eight years of attending events, only one moved him enough to make him cry. It was the YFLO event in November where commanding officer Col Lalit Rai was the speaker.

Now that you move on, what do you plan to do with the extra time?

Expand my food business (Manjri is partner franchise at Smoke House Deli). Travel more. Write another book (she co-authored Meals, Menus & More, in 2010 and Healthy Cooking for Patients with Kidney Ailments in 2011) and spend more time with the children!

THE YEAR THAT WAS 

Most memorable event: Calcutta Adda. Two young women achievers — Chiki Sarkar (in picture), publisher, Penguin Random House, India, and Sameera Iyengar, co-founder, Junoon Theatre, shared their experiences of being a Calcutta girl.  We had created an old Calcutta look and feel in Harrington Street Arts Centre. 

Most favourite event: The one where Amit Jatia of McDonald’s took the stage. It was great fun! 

The boldest event: It has to be the one where Ira Trivedi moderated a talk on ‘Marriage and Sexuality in the 21st Century’. Members opened up and talked freely about their marriages and that was bold, in a good way.

The event where you had the most fun: YFLO MasterChef 2014 at The Park in July where teams tabled four dishes each in 75 minutes and were judged by chefs Shaun Kenworthy and Sharad Dewan and nutritionist Hena Nafis. We had a ball!

Most informative event: Author Ashwin Sanghi’s (in picture) talk deconstructed myths that revolve around religion, spirituality, and history.

Best take-home value: ‘The way I do things’ by Dr Swati Piramal. The entrepreneur discussed 15 points to success; the take-home value was tremendous. 

The event with a full house: The closing event — the Raj Mahtani show on March 26 — will have maximum attendance. Followed by the Shilpa Shetty-Vandana Luthra chat in Jan.

The most challenging event: The Raj Mahtani (in picture) show! It’s like a professional show so everything down to the decor is so challenging!

And finally, an eye-opener: When commanding officer Col Lalit Rai spoke on Kargil last September. 

Picture: Rashbehari Das