The manufacturing industry has traditionally been a male-dominated industry.Less than a quarter of employees working in the manufacturing sector are women. However, there are a few who have broken this stereotype and made a mark for themselves in a male-dominated industry. An example is Harshada Gupte, Director of Poona Shims.

Poona Shims Private (POSH) is India's largest manufacturer of Oil Coolers & Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Coolers. The company was established in 1981. POSH has emerged as one of the leading Precision Sheet Metal Component Suppliers to Major OEMs in India. A pioneer of this technology in India and a leader in Oil Cooler Manufacturing, POSH is a single source supplier to many Indian OEMs. Excellent Quality, Competitive Pricing, 100 percent on time delivery and Impeccable Service are our functioning principles.

Harshada engages in an exclusive interview with Women Entrepreneur.

Take Us Through Your Early Educational Journey And Prior Industry Experience That You Bring To The Table.

I completed a Bachelors in English Literature and then went on to pursue a Masters in German Literature. I also studied International Communication and Policies. I then worked for a couple of other companies before I ventured into our family business. My education has played a huge role in giving me the ability to deliver the best at POSH.  Through the work I have done for other companies and the education I received, I gained perspective and understanding of how a business works, the legalities, and the art of managing people.

Also, I worked as a freelance event manager through my college days and post that. This has also taught me important lessons on business management in general.

What Are The Various Roles & Responsibilities That You Currently Shoulder At Poona Shims? What Are Some Of The Most Pressing Challenges That You Face And How Do You Successfully Tackle Them?At Posh,

I work as head of HR, Admin and CSR. The CSR department is very personal to me and has its roots from what I learnt in college. During my college days, I along with some other friends ran an operation of sorts to help blind students appear for exams. We took care of their requirements and that invoked a sense of fulfillment in me. You know, `doing something for others.'

My work with the HR department however, is a result of my education in policy. Having studied policies, laws and regulations, I have an understanding of the function of a policy as a whole.

Lastly, Admin. Well, I love organising things and managing people to ensure things go smoothly. I enjoy using excel, and create sheets even for my personal `to-dos'. So, you can say that this is a byproduct of my interest!

When it comes to challenges, I think it would be being a woman in such a male-dominated industry. It's not easy. Personally, it's been relatively easier for me because it's our family business. However, is it the same for every woman out there? No. It needs to be acknowledged. Women always have to work twice as hard to prove themselves, that needs to stop.

What Are Some Of The Most Crucial Business Philosophies And Strategies That You Leverage To Ensure Organisational Success?

`Do it well'. That has been our biggest philosophy. It is not the amount of effort put in, but the output which matters most. As a company, even during the pandemic, it took us a a lot of work and adjustment to adopt a hybrid model of working, partly digital and partly on ground. Especially in manufacturing, where all work is very hands on. But, we did it and have now integrated it so well into our infrastructure, that we have made it a part of our daily working regardless of the changes in restrictions. We've been wired that way. We do things from a long term point of view.

In Your Opinion What Have Been Some Of The Most Significant Milestones That You Have Achieved So Far In Your Professional Journey? What Has Been The Driving Force Behind Your Success As A Business Leader?

We got through the pandemic, as a team. That, according to me, is one of our biggest achievements so far. We are a manufacturing company and our processes cannot be done virtually but we worked as a team and found the means to keep it running. And when things got back to normal, the team went back to office seamlessly. Everyone missed working for the company and values its growth just as much as the promoters, that is the greatest achievement. The second accomplishment is that we have been able to keep morale high even in difficult times. The team regularly organises events, competitions and meet-ups. Even when we had to do them online. Such programmes bring everyone together and keep us moving in the same direction regardless of situations.

"With her zest to good, she has created a harmonious work environment for every employee at the firm and within her department, she continuously leverages the latest technology to make the company's work as efficient as possible"

The driving force behind my success has been the `relentless desire' to do something for the people around me. Making the world a better place.

How Do You Keep Yourself Aligned With The Changing Business And Tech Landscape? Also, What Would Your Advice Be To Young Women And Girls Aspiring To Become Leaders And Entrepreneurs In The Future.

As a manufacturing company, all our processes are always updated to fit compliance norms. Apart from this, we always listen to the needs of our customers. We then work together to meet their needs. This not only keeps our customers happy; it also ensures that we stay on the cutting edge of technology within our field.

Today, women need more than ever before, to assert their own point of view and use the flexibility offered to us with changing technology. Very importantly, women should focus on their work and skills regardless of pressure from anyone else. After all, our abilities are the only things that no one else can bring to the table.

Harshada Gupte,Director Poona Shims

Harshada is a Director at Poona Shims. She completed a Masters in Advanced European and International Studies from the Centre International de Formation Européenne. She also has a M.A. German and B.A. English from Savitribai Phule Pune University. With her zest to always learn and do more for others, she has created a harmonious work environment for every employee at Poona Shims. Within her department, she continuously leverages the latest technology to make the company's work as efficient as possible. She goes beyond herself to find meaning in all that she does.