Jamshedpur, Oct. 4: Breaking the glass ceiling is tough for a woman. But an alumnus of XLRI has proved that she can storm it, and that too at a young 37.
Leena Nair, a 1992 batch alumnus of the B-school was recently ranked amongst the 25 most successful women in Indian business by a leading business magazine. Currently with Hindustan Unilever, Nair was also the first woman and the youngest executive director in history of Unilever.
Originally from Kerala, Nair a personal management and industrial relations (PM/IR) student of the 1990- 92 batch was picked up by Unilever during campus placements. From being a factory personnel manager at Chennai to being the personnel manager at the all-India head office in Mumbai, Leena charted an unprecedented story in her 15-year-long association with the company.
To be chosen in the top 25 is a rare honour by all means, as the list also contains names like Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD Biocon, Swati Piramal, director Nicholas Piramal, Naina Lal Kidwai, country head (India) HSBC and Neelam Dhawan, MD, Microsoft India. Leena is a new entrant in the power list.
Nair had glowing words of praise for her alma mater. “XLRI, more than any other business school I have known, stresses on the human part of business. After all, business is about people and relationships,” said Nair, who was appointed vice-president, human resources, in March 2007 and heads a team of over 200 HR professionals and about 15,000 employees across the country.
For the XLRI faculty, Nair's achievement is a source of jubilation. “I remember Leena as this bright and frail girl who won the gold medal in her batch,” said Madhukar Shukla , a senior faculty member.
“I have very warm memories of Jamshedpur,” said Nair. She however lamented that in the early 1990s, the steel city had very few good eateries. Her concern for the steel city does not end with restaurants. “I always hope Jamshedpur gets better connected with daily direct flights,” she said, heaving a sigh of relief when told that it has already started.
Her fond memories include the warmth showed by Jamshedpur residents when she was a student.
“I can never forget the lovely evenings when the prominent people of Jamshedpur would host dinner party for us XLRI students. This city has charm,” she said.
