It may sound like a cliché, but mums, no matter what background they come from, always share similar goals. M&B brings you the story of Nadia Chauhan, joint managing director and chief marketing officer of Parle Agro, a fastidious business woman, who is also a fascinating mum to her daughter Nia, 23 months.... Now, that’s what we call refreshing!

Taking the lead
Over the years, we have brought you inspiring stories of mums, who with their unconditional love for their families and unrelenting pursuit of success in every field – be it homemakers or career women – have touched our lives and inspired us. Today, we add one more to that list. Twenty-five year old Nadia Chauhan has big responsibilities on her petite shoulders. When it comes to work, she uses a single-minded approach to get Parle Agro’s business strategies implemented and widen her company’s portfolio of food products.

But at home, we see a side that is very different from that of the business woman; a petite girl, rolling on the floor with her adorable child.

Nadia is as down to earth as the girl next door and it’s difficult to understand how someone so young can have such different sides. “I have always been a committed person, and I have always been hands on, giving 100 per cent to everything I do. It’s made me a strong person. I have the sheer will power and energy and I do everything with enthusiasm. I love being a mum, a wife and a businesswoman. When you enjoy the three roles, neither is hard,” she says.

Oh Mama!
She continues, “Motherhood has made me stronger in many ways. I have become more understanding and patient. I take care of Nia without a 24x7 maid. After work hours, it’s just the three of us – Raj, Nia and me. When I have to go out, the nanny or my mum takes over. I have an infrastructure to support me so it makes things a lot easier. I joined office when Nia was two months old. I nursed her for a year,” she reveals.

Running your own conglomerate does put things into better perspective. “It’s about striking a balance. It’s definitely a lot easier when you run your own business. My dad taught me and my sisters to be great in business. But my mum taught us to be great human beings. She’s extremely loving and selfless. When I travel or get late at work, she’s there to take care of Nia. She supports us in every way and allows us to be who we want to be. It feels fabulous as I’m as involved in being a mother as I am in business. I created an infrastructure so I wouldn’t be far from my kid. I have set up a nursery at work. It allows me to use the power of multi-tasking. The whole experience is fulfilling. I have an infrastructure to support me and I also want to extend similar support to my employees, by setting up a daycare facility,” she affirms.

Does Nia also show the same strength in character as her mum? “My daughter is growing now and, yes, she shows so much character. As a matter of fact, my dad says that he sees me in her. I want her to be happy and will give her what she wants. She is a good kid who follows her routine, is independent and enjoys her space in office. When we come to office after a long weekend, she gets all excited. Let’s hope she does join me there someday. She is bright and has a strong head on her shoulders,” says the proud mum.