Popularly known as CEO of Parle Agro & India’s one of the most powerful businesswomen is none other than, our celebrity this week, Schauna Chauhan.
Having taken over as the CEO in 2006, Chauhan works closely with her top team and her two sisters. She is also a single mom to five-year-old Jahaan. We chatted with her to find out more about what makes her tick.
Check out Ms. Schauna Chauhan in conversation with WF President, Ms. Namita Nayyar on her journey, balancing skills both at professional & personal level, and tips to success.
Namita Nayyar:
You are one of India’s most powerful businesswomen & the CEO of Parle Agro. Share your early journey when you joined the company to help the company grow to achieve greater heights.
Schauna Chauhan:
It is a fact that only one-third of family-owned businesses actually survive to the second generation. And we at Parle Agro are at its 4th generation and the 5th generation is getting geared up. I feel the success comes from how you plan your succession. And how young you start at it. Being exposed to the family business at an early age – which my father made sure. I have very fond memories of watching my father tests new products or walk around the manufacturing plants along with the team. Whether it be going to the markets and proudly seeing your products on the shelves of the smaller to biggest stores or watching your father sit in his chambers chairing a meeting everything seemed very appealing and exciting to me.
Running a company which many say – you had everything set and structured for you, you’re lucky. I too agree I was lucky and I did have everything laid out for me. And I chose to join the family business.
However, it’s not luck that helps you. It is always the hard work, commitment, dedication, and passion toward it that set you to confidently play the role.
Running a large company has plenty of challenges. Each milestone that you reach in your company, comes with lots of different hurdles/expectations/strategies.
As the business grows you’re faced with a lot of internal Challenges. Increasing headcounts, getting a good leadership team together, optimizing your business systems, upgrading your manufacturing processes, keeping up with the changing times, bringing about nurturing and strong company culture, managing your cash flow minutely by not over-leveraging your risks.
However, there’ one important thing that I’ve learned through my years and an important lesson .. which is knowing when to abandon a strategy or close down a brand. Because if sometimes things don’t go as per your business plan you should be able to accept a failure positively and be quick enough to take decisions and divert your resources/assets/cash flow elsewhere.
Namita Nayyar:
In your early days you learnt horse riding, as of today any sports or recreational activity you pursue.
Schauna Chauhan:
I Loved horse riding and was very good at it too. Unfortunately now, I don’t anymore. Apart from that, I played Tennis, Volleyball, and Hockey. And used to do a lot of Track And Field. For me, any of these sports used to be things I used to look forward to and play with passion, which then all brought me to a level where I was the Team Captain. I played very seriously. I play some amount of tennis now but very seldom.
I feel what ends up happening as you get older is that once you start having a lot more responsibilities the convenience of fitting in a sport in your daily schedule life is no longer possible so easily. So you end up fitting in any one activity that would help you to destress/ stay active for keeping you healthy.
Tennis is an easier option to still continue cause you can do it more regularly and there are a lot more people who play it. So I now play it to have fun or when my son is doing his tennis class I’d probably get the court next to his and play too.
Namita Nayyar:
Being a multitasker both at the personal & professional end, how do you balance to give your best.
Schauna Chauhan:
I have a wonderful team of people who help me do it all.
When I travel for work, Jahaan also accompanies me. He’d come and spend time at the factory till the time I’d finish. He was always so happy doing that.
In fact, our Karnataka/ Uttrankand/ Vijaywada and Gwalior plants were there with me while we finalized the plot of land. ..He would sit there and color or observe and walk around while the team and I discussed.
He accompanies me Internationally also during my business travels. And then when I’m here at work, he comes with me to work. Where he spends his day doing different things on a very flexible schedule while I’m focusing on my schedule at work.
However, each day/week/month of mine is planned perfectly keeping everything in mind. The hard work honestly comes in the planning.
I have managed by scheduling out meticulously and ensuring that there is enough amount of time given to everyone and everything that is a priority.
As he is growing older he is also getting busy with his school schedule or the playdates he has with his friends or the extra curriculum sport that he plays. I encourage him to try as many sports as he wants to decide which one he would like to finally stick to.
Any free time where I’m not working is completely focused on doing things with Jahaan. Whether it be going away for the weekend or planning an activity that we can do together or spending time with the whole family. Recently I took him off-roading because that’s something he’s so passionate about where he watches videos listening to the “how-to” and also the stories of trips of other people. In order to pursue that further, we decided to go off-roading not too far away, and with the rains, it was such a fabulous experience for both of us.
Nights I always put him to bed. This is an absolute must for us. This is the time when he discusses his day with me and I talk to him about mine. He loves listening to all the stories that I tell him.
The first day and last day of school are the two days that I always kept aside for him for which I would pick him up from school. This we have followed from day 1. But there was a time when I couldn’t do that because I had to schedule a work meeting at the same time. Those days are tough when I have to explain to him why I cannot make it. And it’s tough for me as well because I know how excited he gets when he sees me in school. There are times when I have a work dinner and it’s gotten a little late but regardless of how tired he is he will wait for me to get back to put him to sleep. There are even times where he’s not eaten because he wants to have dinner together but I’ve not been able to.
Of course, it stresses me out and I’m sure how upset he gets, but the best thing I’ve realized is explaining it to him and making it up to him by doing some other things together that we normally do.
It’s tough when you sometimes have to prioritize your work but I also don’t feel guilty about it because I can confidently say that I’ve spent so much time with him and ensured that no way at any point in time he would ever feel that I’ve neglected him. And he also has come to realize that for me my work and he is the most important things to. He has seen my work from the beginning. And he realizes and has come to understand.
I had the good fortune to be able to balance out my life well between Jahaan and my work. And I also am the type of person who ensures that it is planned that way too.
Namita Nayyar:
“I believe that fitness is a maintenance activity meant to re-engineer and refuel your body every day.” Your daily fitness routine? Share detailed input on exercises, days/week you work out?
Schauna Chauhan:
I had a trainer come before the lockdown. Thrice a week. We would alternate arms legs. Stomach and strength would be daily. Otherwise, I run 30 minutes a day on the treadmill.
Namita Nayyar:
Diet plan you follow? Breakfast choices you prefer to kick start your day? 5 all-time favourite dishes.
Schauna Chauhan:
- Salami-on-toast
- Oats with a fruit
- Kejriwal sandwich
- Cornflakes
- French toast. Along with a juice.
Try to keep my meal plans light not very heavy yet with different foods that I like. I don’t miss the timings of when I have my meals. Like breakfast would be at 9/ lunch is at 1 a small snack in the evening with dinner between 6:30 or 7:00.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you like to unwind & relax after hard work?
Schauna Chauhan:
For me, I’m usually busy till my son goes to sleep. After that, I either read a book or play video games or catch up on my Korean shows before my day ends. For me, “ME” Time is one of the most important things one should try to achieve. I was having a conversation with someone last month who asked me a straightforward question .. Schauna, where is your ME time in all this. What are you doing only for just yourself and for yourself? And I thought to myself that seems to be missing in my life right now. But something everyone should probably give some importance to. Not only will it make you happier and it will give you some great energy.
Me Time is about investing yourself as much or more time as you invest in your work/family. It’s never too late to start!! So to all the reads who are reading this right now remember that if we take care of ourselves and invest in ourselves in turn we would be able to take care of the community, family, at work, etc. even better. At the end of the day, if you’re happy everyone around you will be too!
Namita Nayyar:
Daily skin & hair care routine you follow? 5 tips to a healthy skin and that lovely smile?
Schauna Chauhan:
Honestly, I don’t have a hair routine at all. Your food habits should take care of your hair and skin. But I stick to the products that work well for my hair. I use a daily shampoo and conditioner. I apply oil and mask to my hair 1 a week. A very simple routine that works for me. For my skin, I put a haldi/amla secret ingredient recipe that my granny makes for me and I apply that 2 or 3 times a week on my face. However, before sleeping, I wash my face with 5 different steps starting with exfoliating then ending it with a moisturizer.
Namita Nayyar:
I’m not really an expert to give tips for hair or skincare but I’d love to share 5 tips for a lovely smile
Schauna Chauhan:
- Think positive.
- Spend and make time for the people you love.
- Do what makes you happy and don’t allow what people say to choose otherwise.
- Look good and feel good.
- Share your smile.
Namita Nayyar:
5 skills according to you every woman entrepreneur should possess to succeed?
Schauna Chauhan:
- Manage conflict.
- Think of how to get it done rather than only focussing on how you cannot.
- Know your worth and believe in yourself
- Build confidence and question everything
- Don’t let being perfect get in the way of things.
Namita Nayyar:
Challenges are a part of success, how do you go about coping with hurdles & roadblocks to achieve success?
Schauna Chauhan:
It’s really very simple.
You have to handle it calmly, patiently, so you don’t miss out on any details of the problem. Yet you must be quick to execute the solution systematically. I look at all the options available and do not stop at one. I’m not afraid of failing or losing.
Namita Nayyar:
Being a mother what is your piece of advice out of your experience on helping kids make healthier lifestyle and food choices? How do you go about planning mother-son time? How has motherhood changed you as a person?
Schauna Chauhan:
Motherhood brought in the child in me. It’s also made me more adventurous. We did so many things together that it brought back the child in me. The midnight feasts, the roller coaster rides, jumping in puddles or just playing tag in the gardens. Making bamboo houses or going on the zipline.
It also taught me so much because of the questions that children ask. There were times I would wonder, hmmm I’m not sure. Will need to look it up. I brushed up a lot on the how to’s and why does this work like this and why does that happen like that….
Motherhood always puts you in a situation where you wonder if you’re ever gonna make it. It also brought me to appreciate the little things in life. Like just a smile from him when he used to open his eyes, or a laugh that would come out when I did something funny would make my day so much better and forget all the stress that i was living with. I also strive to be a better person each day and more aware of what I do to ensure that I am able to give my son self-confidence and enrich him with a good strong value system.
Motherhood also makes you a lot stronger. Stronger emotionally and mentally to be able to take on so much more and handle it with grace, care, and patience.
Namita Nayyar:
Motivational quote you live by?
Schauna Chauhan:
“Life is 10% what happens and 90% of how you react to it.” – Charles Swindoll
Namita Nayyar:
Message for all women out there on excelling as an individual?
Schauna Chauhan:
Be yourself, Believe in yourself!
To Learn more about Schauna Chauhan, visit