Leaders

“All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark”. – Swami Vivekanand

Lack of self-awareness and self-doubt has prevented many women from taking risks. However, those who went against the naysayers achieved success through sheer determination and passion. Sanjivani Patil is one such inspiring lady who went against the advice, chose to risk it all, chased her passions, and emerged victorious in establishing Mayin Advisory Services.

A seasoned professional, Sanjivani has broken barriers and through a stellar performance throughout her career, come out as a leader capable of instilling change. Here are some highlights from our interaction with h Sanjivani Patil.

What motivated you to start your own advisory company? Was it always in your  plan?

No, I had never thought of starting my own company till 2014. I was so much in love with CMC Limited, my first (and hopefully the last) employer post MBA, that I was determined to retire from it. CMC gave me the wings to soar high. She helped me explore my hidden potential and made me aware of my strengths by providing several challenging opportunities – one after another. I owe my success to CMC, after my mother. I had big dreams for CMC and I wanted to be a crucial part of its success story.

But life took an unexpected turn. In late 2014, we got an announcement about our merger with TCS. I suddenly felt the vacuum as all my dreams were aligned with CMCs growth. However, I went with the flow. I got the opportunity to work with the TCS HR team for merger-related activities. Had a great time working with them and built some good relations over the months. However, I was still not as engaged as I was earlier. I asked myself if I would be equally happy working with TCS. Then I asked myself if I would be equally happy working with any other large corporate – answer to both questions was NO. That’s when I decided to start on my own and contribute to the success stories of many organizations, like CMC, where our energies align.

How easy was it to leave your job and start your entrepreneurial journey?

The answer is both – Difficult and Easy Deciding to leave my job was quite difficult. I was brought up in an environment where almost all my relatives were salaried employees  and no close connection with entrepreneurs, except for my husband, Sandeep Patil, who is a practicing CA. My daughter, Sanvi, was 3-years-old and I always wanted to 2 kids (something that I didn’t want to compromise at all). Plus, we were living in company-provided accommodation.

Moreover, I was building good relations with TCS colleagues. There was no concrete reason as to WHY I wanted to quit. But there was a very strong urge of starting on my own and participating in the growth journey of many more companies.

However, once I decided to quit, things were pretty easy. My stars may have been bright as I got great opportunities that emerged one after another  as if they were all waiting for me. My first assignment was with VFS Global followed by Reliance Industries Limited, Tatas, Aditya Birla, Swiggy, and several small and mid-sized companies. There were challenges, especially my ability to manage finances were bad. However, I don’t think I have struggled a bit maybe because I was in the complete alignment of my inner self.

What are the various roles and responsibilities you shoulder as the Director for Mayin Advisory Services? What are your primary focus areas in your current role?

Currently, we are a small team and we all end up doing everything needed for the company. Now that we are sailing quite well, I want to focus on our organizational culture and values. We are also planning to invest in brand building. Till now all our clients have approached us through word of mouth, however, for the next phase of growth, we will certainly have to be known to many more organizations who may need our services. Website development is another aspect we are focusing on so potential clients can see the quality of our work and get the reassurance they need.

What differentiates Mayin from other HR consulting firms?                                             

We are not an HR consulting company, strictly speaking. We are a consulting company with unique capabilities in Organization Development as well as Business Excellence. Thus, our solutions are often a blend of process excellence, people excellence, and change management approaches. We believe that each organization has a unique context in which it operates. This context comprises various factors such as the organization’s operating environment, key organizational relationships, competitive environment, core competencies, strategic advantages, and strategic challenges. It is crucial to understand the dynamics of these factors before proposing a solution to the client. Our approaches are built to provide an output that is holistic and enables seamless implementation.

Most of our assignments have been around Organization Design, Organizational Performance Alignment (including review cadence), and Change Management.

“We are a consulting company with unique capabilities in organization development as well as business excellence”

What has been the driving force behind your success as a business leader? What would your advice be to young women and girls who also aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

I believe that the driving force behind my success is my team (including the client organizations), my family, and my friends who give me happiness. I am a happy soul and I think that is what makes me successful. One cannot thrive in an unhappy and stressful environment.

My advice for young women is to take every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow. This is how you will meet your true potential. Try creating as much value as possible for others and you will find yourself rich in every sense!!

Finally, did you go for your second child?

Yes. I delivered my second child, Adhit, in 2017, two years after I started on my own. And both my children have always been an inspiration for me and never a hurdle in my professional success.

SANJIVANI PATIL, HR, MAYIN ADVISORY SERVICES

Sanjivani is an accomplished HR professional with over 14 years of experience in the industry. Hailing from an ordinary background, she found her calling in HR and people management, and against all odds, she established her firm, to conduct business on her terms. Having bagged some of the most impressive clientele, Mayin and Sanjivani is rising to the top as leading OD Consulting firms in India.