Varsha Manjunatha
Breaking the mould without burning bridges

Tell us a little bit about where you come from

I was born and brought up in Bangalore, a large city in southern India where I lived with my extended family – my parents, my brother who is 7 years younger, my aunt, uncle, and grandparents, all under the same roof. I come from a modest middle-class family. I spent most of my playtime out on the street, hopscotching with the other children from the neighbourhood. Both my parents graduated from university and work for a bank. They raised my brother and I with the idea that education is essential, primarily because a good degree would give us access to the security of a stable job.

What were you like as a child?

My teachers would remember me as that typical studious child who was always meticulously taking notes and asking questions. I have been always a person of needs rather than “wants”. I am happy, satisfied and grateful for everything that I have. Like, I never had a room of my own, I would just throw a mattress on the floor at night and that was sufficient for me. I have always been self-motivated, and to this day, I have a strong work ethic. I was an extrovert though, and from a young age, my curiosity has driven me to approach people and ask them all sort of questions.

As a child, what did you dream of becoming?

Initially, I wanted to become a doctor, then a pilot. By the age of 12, I knew I wanted to be an engineer; I think essentially, my dream has always been to find a way to help and make life better for everyone, by making processes more efficient. It was also important to me to be a role model for my brother: he eventually followed in my footsteps.

Why did you decide to go abroad?

I have always been curious and open-minded and from a young age, I was able to appreciate the beauty of diverse cultures and opinions. I had moved in the same restricted social circles all my life, but when I saw people in my circle moving out of the city, I started wondering: why not me?

Whilst following a bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering, my mechanical design classes were taught by a French professor. His practical style of teaching contrasted with the methods I had been exposed to, and I found it intriguing. Also, I had always only stuck to one mantra, which was: “work hard”. He challenged me to consider “working smart” instead. This teacher opened my mind, and thus the “international seed” was planted in my head.

When I was 20, an advisor from Campus France – an agency that promotes higher education in France, convinced me to take the leap. I spent a year secretly researching and planning the move, and when I announced it to my parents, it came as an utter shock to them. Even before I graduated from my engineering school, I had already had a couple of offers for well-paid jobs. So, they simply could not grasp why I would aspire to continue studying, let alone abroad. I come from a place where fathers consider their daughters to be their vulnerable little princesses. My father remained opposed to my decision for months and it was only through sheer determination and my mother’s support that I managed to push myself out of that comfort zone.

Did your first experience abroad at Audencia live up to your expectations?

When I arrived in Nantes for the French semester of my International Master’s in Supply Chain Management, I felt terribly homesick. I didn’t know a soul there, and I could barely say more than two words in French. I cried my eyes out for the first two days but then acclimatised to the new way of life. The next time I cried was when I left Nantes! When I arrived, I struggled to find accommodation and ended up staying with a host family. I was extremely lucky to form a special bond with them. We got so close that they attended my graduation ceremony, and even my wedding in India! We are still in touch and I can safely say that I have a “French mum”.

I loved my time at Audencia, especially as I discovered a brand-new way of learning and interacting with so many diverse nationalities all with their own specific take on things. It was very different compared to what I had experienced in India. The international environment surpassed my expectations.

Can you share the main steps of your career journey?

At the end of my semester at Audencia, I moved on to Milan for the Italian semester at MIP Politecnico di Milano, the second and final part of the dual degree. I then returned home to India for a month … only to announce to my father that I intended to join a management trainee programme in Belgium! I knew I had to manoeuvre carefully, and my tactic was to take a step-by-step approach to soften the blow. I told him that I was only signing a 6-month contract, after which I would come home… I expressed how grateful I was that he had sent me to study in Europe, but I also stressed how valuable this first job opportunity was. My parents finally caved in.

The graduate programme at Katoen Natie didn’t disappoint. I was training to become a manager, but the company’s policy is that any trainee has to start at the bottom and to explore several parts of the company. My first role was in the warehouse, working in the logistics department for an e-commerce business. After 3 months, I was offered a position in a start-up project and was able to choose my area of specialisation. I decided to work in operations because it allowed me to continue to learn, overlook several departments, and communicate cross-functionally. I worked in the Belgium office for 3½ years, managing several warehouses, in sectors as diverse as e-commerce, healthcare, luxury goods, and the speciality chemical industry. My mission was to set up or improve my clients’ supply chain operations and provide the best services the industry could offer.

In 2015, I got the opportunity to move to Texas for a project. I accepted the challenge and made my move to the other side of the Atlantic and, so far, there has never been a dull moment. I met my husband in Texas and this has been our home for 5½ years now.

Tell us more about your current situation.

The Flemish company I work for is a large international corporation operating across all continents, but it remains a family-owned business at heart. The trust that I have built with my managers and the independence that I have earned are invaluable, which explains why I have been with them for the past 8 years.

My current client is a specialty chemical company based in Houston. I am responsible for all aspects of their operations, so there’s an exciting entrepreneurial feel to the role. Thanks to my experience at Audencia, I felt much more equipped to fit into such an international and diverse environment. In one of my recent projects, I had a team made up of people from 13 different nationalities!

It has been a challenging and exhausting year because of Covid. Many of our client’s end products are used in food, water, medicine and other essentials. The spike in demand has been so unexpected that we have had to adapt our strategy and implement changes in no time at all. It’s been a real test of agility.

How have you managed to work your way up in such a male dominated environment?

I struggled at the beginning of my career because, as a young female manager working in operations, few people took me seriously. My way of earning my colleagues’ trust was a combination of hard work, empathy, and a collaborative leadership style.

What makes your job fulfilling?

I find the challenge of coordinating a multitude of people, processes and moving parts hugely stimulating. A sign that I love my job is that I have never resented going to work whilst many others stayed at home during lockdown, because I felt that my job mattered. My team, my client and I have contributed – in a minute way – to the global fight against the pandemic. I regularly reflect on my responsibilities towards the wider society and I need to know that my job is having a positive impact. At the end of the day, my role is about making life easier for others. When I see that consumers benefit at the end of the chain, and when I get heartfelt thank you messages from my clients, I know that my efforts have been worthwhile.

Do you find it easy to switch-off from work?

The switching-off skill doesn’t come easy, but recently I have got much better at it. My secret is to make sure that at the end of each day, I have made some headway towards my core work objective, and I have some clarity on what will be on my plate the following day. This way I can go to bed with a relaxed mind and I generally manage to get my 8 hours of sleep.

During the week, I stay in an apartment in Houston. In the evenings, I hang out with my colleagues and friends, do some fun activities and relax. On Fridays, I commute back home to Austin where I feel connected to my family and the Indian community there. My weekends are dedicated to catching up with friends. Thanks to technology, my parents and I speak at least twice a day. It’s fair to say we are close!

How do you feel when you look back at your journey so far?

Frankly, when I think about where I have come from and all I have accomplished since I first set my mind on becoming an engineer, studying abroad, travelling and meeting so many wonderful people… I have to pinch myself to believe it’s real. It’s quite a contrast with the conditions in which I grew up!

I own two houses in the US. They each have 4 bedrooms and I barely have anyone sleeping there… I have achieved what I deem to be financial success and I feel so grateful for this.

When I reflect on my childhood dreams of finding ways to help people, I know I did well in choosing a career in supply chain. I have absolutely no regrets.

Above all, I am so happy to have made my parents proud. A few years ago, they came to see me in Europe and I took them to Nantes because it was important for me that they got to see the environment which had shaped me. We visited Audencia and when my dad was in the lobby, looking up and all around him, he had tears in his eyes! We had a flashback to my state school in India: a one-apartment building with a playground as small as our living room. That was a proud moment for all of us. They met my “French mum” who told them how she had seen me grow and gain in confidence in the space of a few months. She is an artist and crafter who has introduced me to other talented artists from all over the world, many of whom I now count as my own friends. These connections would never have been possible if I hadn’t left my nest in Bangalore.