Vasudha Jajoo Pahwa is the Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Bry-Air, Pahwa Group. She plays a pivotal role in spearheading marketing, HR, IT implementation and driving stakeholder engagement to shape the corporate strategy of the company.

Having completed her Bachelor of Science degree from New York University, Stern School of Business, with a major in Finance & Accounting, she is a seasoned professional with a rich and diverse background. Cohesively working on multiple accounts, Vasudha has worked with renowned organizations.

During her tenure at KPMG, she gained proficiency in conducting financial due diligence for various Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) transactions, while working on a range of clientele namely American Express, Lehman Brothers, to name a few. Following this, she worked with Cedar Management Consulting International LLC, where she handled prominent accounts such as ADBC (Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank), Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank Cohar, Trident Towels, Ratnakar Bank etc.

Fostering a keen interest in design thinking, she has scripted some remarkable work for Good Earth Luxury Lifestyle Retail. Residing in the role as an E-commerce Head of the brand, she shouldered the responsibility of navigating the digital transformation of the brand aimed at bolstering its online presence and revenue streams by driving strategic customer engagement.

Furthermore, rising to the role of Marketing Strategy and Planning Head at BMW India, she showcased her proficiency in managing the marketing budget and ensuring effective implementation. Transcending beyond the realm of leading a team, she also forayed into entrepreneurship with Tuned in Living which created fashionable well-designed garments using premium breathable natural fabric.

Driven by the passion to innovate by harnessing the power of strategic thinking, Vasudha is on the path to bringing laurels to the company. Invoking her entrepreneurial spirit, she is committed to making notable contributions to the corporate world and beyond. In addition to her professional endeavors, she is also actively involved in early-stage startup investments, leveraging her expertise and insights to support promising ventures in their growth journey. Here, Vasudha Jajoo Pahwa tells TheGlitz about her milestones and more…

Over to Vasudha Jaoo Pahwa

Your journey has had many momentous milestones. Could you tell us about the life-changing milestones that has moulded you to be what you are today?

Reminiscing about my experience in the industry, which spans more than a decade, it has been very enriching and full of valuable learning. While a lot has transpired in the journey, the transition from finance to design has been a breakthrough milestone in my life that has helped me explore my passion for design while blending it with my analytical skills. The transition played an instrumental role in broadening my perspective, allowing me to expand my horizons, and giving me the opportunity to augment my creative problem-solving abilities.
Going ahead, the decision to venture into entrepreneurship provided me with a conducive environment to inculcate resilience while teaching me the overarching importance of sustainability which helped me develop the art of outlining a clear vision.

Progressing in my career, when I moved on to don the role of Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Bry-Air, invoking my previous career experiences assisted me in navigating the unexplored terrain with sheer confidence and ingenuity. Delving into the diverse skills and knowledge I had acquired over the years I was able to drive strategic initiatives and foster stakeholder engagement in the organization.

What are the setbacks you have faced? How did you tackle these setbacks or challenges? And what lesson have you learned from it?

Like everyone, even I have had my share of highs and lows, but the major setback that I faced was at the time of transitioning the industry. Considering that I came from a whole set of different expertise and background in the finance sector, the initial days in the new segment had been quite challenging for me as I was struggling to settle in the field of design. But instead of breaking me the challenges boosted me to accomplish the unattainable and thrive in every endeavor. Therefore, to overcome the obstacle I embraced continuous learning with alacrity while seeking mentorship at every stage of development. Along with this, I was always ready to adapt to any change that came to my aid in developing resilience while instilling the value of nurturing diverse perspectives. All the practices cohesively prepared me to meander the unfamiliar territory successfully and consequently, the challenging field eventually translated into a rewarding career.

When you look back, what are the three qualities in you that have helped you become what you are today?

During the course of my career till now, the three qualities that have invariably helped me evolve as a better version of myself are:

Adaptability – The quality has incessantly helped me explore new things throughout my life and taught me to be flexible and open to new opportunities.

Strategic Thinking – The quality has always guided me in making informed decisions. Having developed the knack for thinking strategically and honed the skill over the years, it has expanded my ability to foresee market trends and make data-driven decisions.

Creativity – The decision to progress my career in the field of design and marketing has immensely contributed to unleashing my creative abilities. Infusing the quality to always approach a problem with a fresh perspective, creativity has been a source of continuous inspiration for me to break the clutter with innovative solutions.

Who are the people who have been the wind behind your wings?

Looking at the journey so far, everyone in my life has contributed to shaping the person I am today in some way or the other. Acknowledging people who really helped me in realizing my true potential and progress in my career, my family has perennially been that source of unwavering support who have always shown their faith in my vision. At the same time, my mentors during the finance and consulting days have been instrumental in shaping my analytical and strategic thinking skills. Along with them, my colleagues and teams at Bry-Air and previous organizations, have been the source of constant support. The collaborations with them have been pivotal in giving valuable insights that have helped me broaden my horizons at every stage of development.

Lastly, if there was a quote to define you, what would it be?

Living in a highly dynamic and competitive world, it is very important to stay abreast of the changing trends. Therefore, resonating with the quote “Change is the only constant” it has been the major stimulus in my life. Reflecting on my journey of more than 15 years, being flexible to adapting to the changing trends has helped me embrace diverse experiences and paved the path for scripting continuous evolution in my career, and contributed to my personal growth.