It takes immense determination and fortitude for one to pursue their passion and not settle for what's fate. Not many are courageous enough to take the leap for their dream and achieve their aspiration. But Manjusrii Manilal stands as an epitome of perseverance and inspiration to the one who wants to shine. Right from the time she was pursuing Bachelor in Business & Law, leadership & mettle were deep routed within her. A University Rank Holder with added Certifications from Harvard and Curtin University in Real estate and Digital Marketing & Engagement, Manjusrii is also Six Sigma Certified and a Member of the RICS. Today outshining as a well-versed leader, Head/GM ­ Sales & Marketing of HM Group, She is also Member-At-Large of CREW Network, one of the largest premier business network dedicated to transforming the commercial real estate industry by advancing women globally.

What is your guiding leadership philosophy?

Leadership in any industry or segment is about resilience, empathy, and compass. These guiding principles will help any type of Leader to survive, thrive and lead efficiently the team or followers. I have been greatly blessed to be inspired, guided by many wonderful leaders. I keenly listen, observe, and learn from everything around me. I simply soak in and I always have worked with the mentality that there is something for me to learn from every situation or person.

To be a great leader, one should also be a great learner. I spend a lot of me-time reading because we may not be very fortunate to get opportunities to work under or with the best leaders in the world but books can give us an opportunity to know more about them and learn from great people around the world.

I strongly believe in the leadership qualities laid down by Indra Nooyi, one of my most inspiring and favourite leaders of all time, 5 C's of leadership ­ Competency, Courage, Confidence, Communication Skills, and Compass.

Tell us about your experience in the real estate sector?

My experience in my career span real estate sector has been one of the most fulfilling and enriching. I had the opportunity to handle the residential and commercial real estate spaces and handled the three important functions of the business- Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service. I love the joy of impacting the decision of families in owning a home. The decision of owning a home is most times- Sensitive, Sensible, and Sensational as it combines the Highest Emotional and Financial Quotient in a family. To me, the Art of influencing this decision is the Art of Selling Homes. My journey in mastering the Art continues with profound learning with every family.

How do you ensure the proper execution of marketing policies that are consistent with the company's broad objectives?

The marketing strategy and business strategy have to be aligned and are almost inseparable. The company's business strategy is based on the premise- Cost-effective solutions, Customer Centricity with luxury real estate as its core.

Since I head marketing, sales, and customer service, the feedback mechanisms and market inputs are constantly worked on to evolve a better product, better packaging, and better communication within the realm of the budgets that the company has. A good marketer should sit at the heart of the strategy of the organization. As new technologies, competitors, and business models continue to change customer preferences and behaviours, it will become even more important for organizations to differentiate themselves with well-defined strategies.

HM Group, the organization I work with will continue to deliver quality luxury real estate spaces at the preferred locations in Bangalore. I work across different parts of the organization to fortify the connection between choices and target customer needs.

“A good marketer should be a problem solver”

How does the success of any brand depend on strong marketing strategies?

The success of a company is directly proportional to the marketing function as a good marketing communication strategy helps the company achieve the desired outcome and vision be it the velocity of sales or the average value of the apartment. Further, marketing is the growth engine of the company and is meaningful only when effective storytelling becomes a problem solver to a segment of consumers. It helps with Y-O-Y growth of the Top line revenue of the company and foraying into different segments of products offerings within the visionary framework of the brand.

Marketing to me is not just the art of good storytelling or the ability to make prudent use of the mediums of communication, but it has to be layered on the ability to understand the need of the customers that is said and unsaid.

As a successful business leader, what would your advice be to young women aspiring to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

Becoming a successful leader or entrepreneur is never going to be easy irrespective of gender. Knowing and accepting what 'successful' means to oneself is very important before you set up yourself in this challenging world. If we enjoy the challenging journey then the destination will be sweeter. Learning every day from people, situations, nature, books, audio, video, simply about everything, will help us keep our minds and soul fresh and curious for the next big thing. Being strong and holding on to one's core values with patience, will definitely yield results sooner or later. As a woman, who binds the family together, she has to keep her loved ones close to herself by creating a great ecosystem of people who can support, cheer and guide her when she is on her path to success or should I call 'glory'.

Manjusrii Manilal, Head/GM - Sales & Marketing, HM Group

Manjusrii comes with total experience of 22 years of which real estate experience is 14 years in developing and implementing an integrated marketing & sales strategy and execution across the real estate business and brands. She was recently conferred with an award as the Top 50Marketing Minds of India in the Realty Sector and Top 100 Great People Managers List in India.