Naina Lal Kidwai: Choosing a husband too is a career choice

Dr Alka Raghuvanshi

March 15, 2021
5 min read
Alka Raghuvanshi Leaders of India Naina Lal Kidwai

Eminent Indian banker and Padma Shri awardee, Naina Lal Kidwai, who’s also the first Indian woman to graduate from Harvard Business School, has shattered many stereotypes in her illustrious career. She spills the beans about her Harvard days, banking reforms and personal interests to Alka Raghuvanshi

The first thing that strikes you about her is her quick-silver body language. There is a swiftness about her that reflects her agile and flexible mind. Naina Lal Kidwai, the banker, the first Indian woman to have gone to Harvard Business School and who is now involved in sanitation and community projects as part of her social commitment.

“I am very enthused about the Swatch Bharat campaign and very concerned about involving women and children into the fold to put an end into the open defecation. I was very impressed with the way the programme has been implemented in various states which indicated that there were champions at the grassroot level who were working towards it proactively,” she says.

Naina has come a long way from being the first Indian woman in Harvard Business School. She recounts her first experience there with a laugh: “We were supposed to give a presentation in the first few weeks of being there. It needed a lot of preparation and courage as our cultural mores about speaking in front of teachers are so different here. After I gave my presentation, I was surrounded by my classmates. All they wanted to know was where did I learn to speak to such good English! Just because we don’t look like them, they couldn’t digest that someone could speak English better than them!”

Working in the banking sector took a little getting used to. “Even if I made a valid point the others would look at the male colleagues in the meeting to respond almost as a validation. I think the Indian men need to do some growing up! But over a period it came to such a point that they specifically started asking for me. In that sense it is more of a gender surprise rather than a gender bias!” she says disarmingly.

Of all the awards and accolades, the Padmashri remains the most special. “It was more so because it was given by someone who I had the highest regard and respect for – President Abdul Kalam. The one woman I was most inspired by in my formative years was the Israeli leader Golda Meir who showed the way and was a shining example of what women leadership was capable of. But soon enough we had our own Indira Gandhi,” says the erstwhile banker.

It is never easy to strike the perfect work and home balance. “At different stages you need to focus on these two crystal balls – I call them that because you don’t want to drop either yet you need to keep juggling them and as they are fragile and have to be treated with care. In doing all this, you need to enlist the help of all those around you – mothers, mother-in-laws, domestic staff, other family members. In fact, I think the choice of husband too is a career choice. He must be proactively involved in taking responsibility and partnership in bringing up children. The third ball is the ‘me’ ball. I call it the rubber ball because you can bounce it, drop it, pick it up again, bring it front foot or relegate it, but the crux is balance,” says Naina.

When she started the five-day week and a concept of flexible hours, it was unheard of in the banking industry. “You will be surprised to learn that the men were more enthusiastic about it; it gave them time to pursue other interests that took backseat always, while women still found spaces to connect to their other interests. “My interests were handlooms, crafts, western and Indian classical music. I am so glad that living in India gives me the opportunity to further this. Another area of interest is wildlife photography. Here I am happy to play second fiddle to my children and husband and if I fumble and hand out the wrong lens, I can always say ‘listen I am doing you a favour!’ she laughs candidly!

After this rather eventful and challenging career graph, what is her advice to young leaders? “Do what you do, do it well. To the best of you ability! In case of failure, don’t give up. See it as the start of a new beginning.” Touché!