Women Power: No regrets

Jani Vishwanath hides a multifarious personality under a seemingly calm demeanour

Listening to Jani Vishwanath recount her life's story, one is truly reminded not to judge a book by its cover.

Dainty and young, this newly-hired retail marketing and jewellery manager of Al Futtaim Jewellery and Watches, hides a multifarious personality under a seemingly calm demeanour. From a childhood in Afghanistan, to car rallies, garment factories, retailing, designing, journalism and now marketing, Jani has experienced it all and longs for more.

Even at the tender age of four, Afghanistan made quite an impression on Jani.

"It was spring of 1974 when we moved to Kabul, and I remember thinking it looked like a picture out of a fairy tale. Everything was natural and untouched," she added.

Having spent 12 years in that country, it holds a special place in her heart. She feels for the people and considers the world unfair for judging the sufferers.

"It irks me to see people, who have not even spent two weeks in that country, talk about the natives, their culture and their mindset.

"Afghanistan is being torn apart by bigger nations because of its strategic location," Jani insisted.

When Jani left Kabul to further her education back home in India, she realised how sheltered her own life had been.

"Being away from your homeland makes people cling to their ethnicity and its customs even more. So Pune came as a real culture shock," she pointed out.

Nevertheless, within the first year she was elected student leader, and from then on winning seems to have become an integral part of Jani's life. At college, she learned to assess her own weaknesses and strengths and to follow the right path to success.

"I have always been rational and level-headed. Teenagers these days should use their heads and foresee the consequences of detrimental actions like drugs and drinking," she said.

Jani likes to push herself to the limits physically and mentally. Hence when the Oberoi School of Management came to her college to conduct a series of gruelling interviews for potential candidates, Jani decided to test her own capabilities.

"I passed the interviews and decided to take the course. The on-the-job training at their hotel in Mumbai was an eye-opener. We were made to clean guest rooms and public places. As a distinction graduate, I felt my ego was being broken down bit by bit. But I learnt how important dignity of labour really is, and how no one job is any better or worse than another," she said.

Being a risk-taker, Jani decided not to settle for the assistant manager's job. Instead she took a break, and went to visit her parents at their new home in Indonesia.

"While on vacation there, a family friend offered me an export manager's job in his fabric factory in Jakarta. I had dabbled in designing and clothes exhibitions in my college days, so decided to take this opportunity," she said.

Regretting her immaturity at the time, she admitted, "I was young and arrogant. An ego problem with the owner led me to quit. Another manufacturer offered me the same job as soon as I resigned." She went on to set up an outlet in the World Fashion Centre in Amsterdam.

Jani was subsequently chosen by the Indonesian government to be a part of a 15-member trade delegation to Eastern Europe. After which, she expanded the export business to those areas.

On a holiday to India, Jani happened to meet the recruiting manager of Al Shaya group from Kuwait. Keen to learn the retailing aspect, Jani came to Kuwait in 1995 as manager of the brand Liz Claiborne. But, she soon found herself distressed over the decision.

"However, as soon as the company realised my potential, my prospects improved," she affirmed.

Jani was sent to Bahrain to look after two international retail brands - Liz Claiborne and River Island. In spite of added responsibilities, Jani felt she could handle much more. She joined the Landmark group in Dubai to create a children's brand similar to Mothercare.

"I created the brand Juniors, which includes clothes, toys and nursery items," she explained.

At the peak of her career in 2000, Jani decided to get married and stop working. Not used to staying at home, she tried to survive by dabbling in jewellery designing, doing a Tamil musical programme on Radio Asia and writing articles on Afghanistan in international publications.

In spite of being so involved, "I realised I needed something concrete to keep me completely occupied. So I joined a retail group for a few months, before taking up this job with Al Futtaim group three months ago".

Jani loves children and animals and is a vegetarian. For now, she has immersed herself in completing her book called Afghanistan - The Lost Nation.

Her mission in life is to build a fun home for orphans on her farm in Bangalore, India, where they will be educated for free.

"This is not really social service, because these kids will be paying me back by giving me happiness," she said.

Jani, with all her experiences, expertise and knowledge of cultures and six languages, concluded: "You only get one life, so do things that satisfy and don't waste any God-given talents. Do your best and leave the rest to God, and the rewards will come."