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And you thought it's a man's world. Ask Musharraf Hai, chairperson, Unilever Pakistan that, says SAVITHA GAUTAM
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PHOTO: K.V. SRINIVASAN
PASSION TO EXCEL Musharraf Hai
It is not often that one gets to meet a businesswoman of the stature of Musharraf Hai. Well, not only is Hai the chairperson and CEO of Unilever Pakistan, she was also listed among the 50 most powerful women in the world by Fortune magazine. And to top it all, she's the first woman in Pakistan to hold a top position in the corporate world.
Hai was here to participate in the Madras Management Association's Golden Jubilee Women Managers' Convention at the Chola Sheraton, and delivered the inaugural address.
Clad in a black salwar kurta, the Karachi-born head honcho of one of Pakistan's largest consumer goods companies is a picture of poise and exudes a kind of self-assurance that comes with heading a company that has a turnover of $400 million.
The company was set up in 1947 with a factory to manufacture vegetable oil and margarine. Today, the company boasts beauty brands such as Sunsilk, Lux, Surf, Ponds and Fair and Lovely, besides food products.
Talking about her rise to the top, the dynamic alumnus of the London School of Economics and Boston University says, "Believe me, the climb was not an easy one. But I must quickly add that I was lucky to have had liberal minded parents, who encouraged me all along. Also, opportunities came my way at every step. The fact that I landed a job with an MNC was an added advantage."
Three Ts
Hai, who swears by the importance of the three Ts — Truth, Trust and Teamwork — has been with Unilever for over 20 years.
"I was ambitious and driven by the passion to excel. I wanted to tread the unknown path, and do something that had not been done before. I joined Unilever in 1984, and was in research where there were only a few women. But my calling was in marketing."
She moved to the brand management and marketing division in 1986. And that proved to be the toughest. "The mindset then was that brand management was serious business and could not be handled by a woman. Well, I broke that myth." She adds with pride, "Today, almost 50 per cent of the marketing department comprises women."
Recipient of many awards, including the Presidential Performance Award — Sitara-I-Imtiaz, Hai faced similar opposition when she suggested that women work in the factories.
"How can they do that kind of work, was the instant retort. But I changed that too. Today, nearly 50 women work in the factories, including at the flagship one located at Rahim Yar Khan.
What about the concept of small sachets? Is it part of Unilever Pakistan's marketing strategy? "Oh yes! In fact, our one rupee shampoo sachets look prettier than some of yours!" she laughs, and then adds, "Sachets have changed the lifestyle in many middle class homes."
Empowerment of women
On the empowerment of women, Hai says, "I think women in Pakistan today are far more liberated than they were five years ago. But they still have a long way to go. I believe that for change to happen, women have to take that first step." Incidentally, she is on the board of Habib Bank, the largest in Pakistan. She is also a trustee of The Lahore School of Management Sciences and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
As for selecting her staff, Hai's philosophy is this. "I look for people with hunger to work and succeed. And they need not necessarily have a management background. There are many at Unilever who have Arts and Science degrees."
Hai is quite happy with the Pakistani economy today. "There has been a change for the better in the past five years, and the going has been good, especially for industry. There are good economic managers at the helm of things, and there's been a lot of tariff rationalisation. And a lot of deregulation has taken place. I think that's a positive sign of growth. I would say the economic climate is healthier than before."
Her ideal woman? "Somebody who has the passion that Bogart and
Bergman had in "Casablanca", the pain of Anarkali, the vision of Martin Luther King, the spiritual strength of Nelson Mandela, the insight and courage of Steve Jobs, and the tenacity to achieve what you want just like Mahatma Gandhi."
Her mantra for success? "A combination of ambition, passion, hard work and the belief that you can do it."
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