Ms. Veena Picardo - Create your superpower!

She has been one of the best pastry chefs I know and her baking skills are her superpower! We worked together for a couple of years and that’s when I got to know her on a personal level too. She is a  lady who puts her heart and soul in all she does always learning the latest in her profession and she is a Cordon Bleu Chef. She was stylish and knew a lot about personal grooming and fashion; saw many people seeking her advice. In fact I was one of them, I hardly experiment but she would coerce me to.

Her cakes and chocolates were equally amazing- that being my topmost weakness, one can imagine what she meant to me. She took up other assignments then as moved on; as a fellow Gemini I know very well that we are filled with creativity and we need outlets to express. We hate routine and things that are mundane don’t interest us. She did some exciting work; she travelled around the globe and shared her travelogues.  The work and her life looked picture perfect!

She was back in Mumbai and that’s when I connected with her and I learnt that she was doing something quite different yet again and that’s Image consulting. I congratulated her as I feel that she is a natural at it. Something that she was doing all through could now be offered professionally and it was giving her another challenging career a break from baking. I am certain she’d continue with bother her passions. Here’s IWH in conversation with Chef Veena Picardo, freelance trainer, an entrepreneur and a blogger.

IWH: Tell us something about you, your growing up years, and life through School College etc.

Veena  Picardo: Growing up life in school was pretty uneventful I guess I blossomed after I joined DY Patil HMCT may be that’s why to this date just recalling those days with my batch mates cheers me up.  The memories of attending food production practicals, the mischief we used to make, the events we conducted have formed a Deep rooted base of whatever I am today.

IWH: What made you select Hospitality as a career? Was it easy to make that decision?

Veena  Picardo: I found I was naturally attracted to everything about food right from my childhood days therefore  taking up hospitality as a career choice was an automatic decision.

IWH: Tell us something about you, your growing up years, and life through School College etc.

Veena  Picardo: Growing upl; life in school was pretty uneventful I guess I blossomed after I joined DY Patil College of Hotel Management and Catering Technology. May be that’s why to this date just recalling those days with my batch mates cheers me up.  The memories of attending food production practicals, the mischief we used to make, the events we conducted have formed a Deep rooted base of whatever I am today.

IWH: What made you select Hospitality as a career? Was it easy to make that decision?

Veena  Picardo: I found I was naturally attracted to everything about food right from my childhood days therefore  taking up hospitality as a career choice was an automatic decision.

IWH: What is your current role?

Veena  Picardo: That’s a tricky question over the years I have taken up many diverse roles there is not just one particular role that I have restricted myself to. Right now I am a freelance trainer, an entrepreneur and a blogger.

IWH: How was your Hospitality journey been so far? Pros, Cons etc…

Veena  Picardo: This will be quiet a lengthy reply.  It’s been 20 years that I am a part of Hospitality industry and cherish each and every moment of it.  I am very passionate about food but funnily enough I never really  took the traditional path of joining the Hotel Industry instead I went along the parallel lines of being a chef trainer and I think that was best decision of my life. Teaching students and being associated with young minds was something wasn’t just another means to livelihood for me but something I am extremely passionate about.  I just love to see the young generation evolve, the way they innovate and come up with new possibilities in the field of hospitality.

Cons: I feel there not enough research and documentation in the Indian culinary world.  The world is opening up to the joys of Indian food however we haven’t showcased even 1/4^th of that is to offer from our cuisine. There is lot we can do there.

IWH: Who has been your Mentor or a role model? In what way has that person helped you?

Veena  Picardo: In my 20 years of being in this industry I have diversified a lot therefore it will be difficult to point out any one person with being a role model however I would like to thank all my teachers and friends who have constantly encouraged me to be what I am today.

IWH: What have been the high point of your career?

Veena  Picardo: In my diverse career I have had quite a few high points in my career.

I still remember the day 10 years back waiting for a bus to arrive and suddenly making a very impromptu decision of resigning from much secured teaching job with DY Patil University and going to the UK to take up course in Baking from Le Cordon bleu.  At that point I dint have any money  or a plan but just a thought that I want something more from life and that was the biggest turning point in my life so at the age of 30 were for  the first time I  sat in a plane or travelled abroad. I embarked on a journey after which I never really looked back in life.

All the hospitality schools I have been associated with from Dr.Dy Patil University  ,Apeejay Institute of Hospitaity , ITM Hospitality school to Auro University have been a huge career turning point in the advancement of my career.

Next high point was when I started my own entrepreneurial venture of starting a Cake shop Picardo’s That again was an adventurous journey but I am proud to say that it’s been a successful venture.

Along the way I also I started a baking blog called bakinginthehills.com which I feel very happy to be associated with.After which I joined MARS as a personal chef to Mr Sanjay Narang my time there was  very different to all I had been doing so far it was a lot of fun with tremendous learning. I got a good understanding of how the elite live, understanding nuances of the luxury industry.

And now I am going through another turning point that has to do with Image building and soft skills training being in the teaching industry for so long has opened up a new possibility of soft skill trainer.  Being also associated with Hospitality industry I found there is a lot I can offer as a soft skill trainer as being in hospitality we automatically trained in conducting ourselves with  good manners & etiquettes.

IWH: What Challenges have you faced as a woman in the industry? How did you deal with them?

Veena  Picardo: I guess the biggest challenge I faced with being a women is to live in prejudiced society that just because I am women I will be needing that extra help.  Time and again I had to prove myself that if not better I am equally good with my work as any men in my field I don’t need the extra help, nor support. I am what I am because I want to be.

IWH: If there was anything that you could change about your life or career what would that be?

Veena  Picardo: I love and cherish each and every moment of my life I have been fortunate to be blessed with great places I have worked for to fantastic colleagues I had the  good fortune to work with and the not so great moments were the lessons I learnt from which only helped to uplift my life.

IWH: What do you think of IWH?

Veena  Picardo: IWH is a fantastic and much needed initiative in the field of hospitality.  There is a lot we women can offer in the field of hospitality I am really proud to be associated with it and hope I can contribute in any way possible for the upliftment and growth of this forum. A big thumps up to Ms Laxmi Todiwan to take up this challenge and taking up this far!

IWH: Your Advice to the young professionals and students?

Veena  Picardo: My advice to the young professionals would be that Hospitality does not just mean being associated with Hotels the curriculum does not just teach you to work with the hotel industry but also teaches you so many thing for e.g. How to behave, how to dress, etiquettes, manners and these skills are much more in demand nowadays therefore explore your possibilities in other industries like the airlines, marketing, retail sector etc.

What a lovely conversation we had with this multifaceted lady. The readers especially the young professionals will take many lessons and tips from the inspirational journey of Chef Picardo.

Read full story at: http://www.theiwh.com/create-your-own-superpower-ms-veena-picardo/

Website: http://www.theiwh.com/

Chef Priti Bhanushali Punjabi - living life Queensize!

I connected with her at one of the events, she is quite unique as a person. I believe that each one of us is special and we carry our own aura. For many they are one of the crowd however there are some who carve a  niche for themselves, they are set in a different mould. A mould that many would love to trade with given the slightest opportunity. She is many talents rolled into ONE, a chef mentor, an educationist, a biker, a poetess, adventure enthusiast to be just a few of the many hats that she wears with elan.  I wanted her story on IWH and approached her for the same, she did revert and how! She answered my questions in a poem and here’s the incredible story of Chef Priti Bhanushali Punjabi,  Chef – Professor at the Sheila Raheja Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai.

A lady in white ,

First inning with scalpel, and second inning knife ,

First inning with doctor’s coat and second with chef coat,

First with patients to operate for life, and the other with butchery on dead …

Philosophy is , Roar till you are alive ,silence is the sound of dead .

A child born in, middle class , happy family ,with values conservative .A handsome father who was trustee to the community and he brought up children in the most conducive atmosphere.

A child with 94% PCB (physics ,chemistry and biology) was only suppose to be doing medicine , she started on the journey of the first inning .

The life treated her good, but on her journey she was never away from books and students, she graduated , for Early childhood education programme and diploma In Special needs for children ,her passion to grow could not find any excuses to let her be.

She says ,you don’t need competition from others , at the end of the day if there is nothing that I have learnt new ,means I have wasted 24hrs of my life ,a passionate cyclist, who is health freak and cycles almost 30 k.m 5 times a week ,an enthusiastic biker ,who had the guts to learn biking at the age when bones go sore, and a well balance happy and vibrant lady ,who has aura which is non-replaceable .

Life went on , to soon be influenced by the movie ,” 3 idiots ” where the heart wins the sound vice versa the brain , and she started her journey of hospitality , at the age where most of us almost work towards retirement .she started her journey with students of her children’s age , but that too she took it as blessing and enjoyed her tenure understanding the psychology of student body and was loved and accepted very well ,along with her intellectual self ,proving her faculties that she is still the best .getting awards after awards and making her faculty proud .

A lady with ,iron soul ,whose  intensity of taking risk is worth the jealousy , with experience at the TAj ,her consultancies in India and internationally ,setting up restaurants in Ghana and Bali speak volume for her .Her carrier may be short lived , but her ideologies and her experience of working in an elite school of Mumbai , makes her what she is today , an Assistant professor in Sheila Raheja institute of hotel management , has major events that she has headed and made the college proud , her readiness of accepting any new challenge and working towards it ,to give a benchmark to other fellow colleagues has been spoken out loud .

Her focus is,”students and only students” , she says ,”. When we would assist our surgeons ,in medicine ,they never screamed or shouted or spoke about the long hours they were working, we would work on the deceased and work towards life ,but we in hospitality  industry work on ,dead and lifeless , and rave about stress and aggression and expect the staff to give you food that reminds you of your grandmother or mother ,a bleeding soul can never heal , and so everyone who cooks with this aggression cannot give u soulful food ,is for sure .

She is upset with the fact ,that a Industry ,which was the home for only skillful people who were under qualified is now filled with graduates from renowned colleges and educated family backgrounds ,we still are behaving like our ancestors in this Industry ,then grooming ourselves for better tomorrow….

A last line to describe her is , “she lives life queen size”

May there be more of her tribe, we need good teachers who can inspire their students to become the best versions of themselves. As it is rightly said that we must attract the best into the teaching profession and she is one of the best!

Read full story at: http://www.theiwh.com/lady-in-white-chef-priti-bhanushali-punjabi/

Website: http://www.theiwh.com/

Ms. Neelam Parwani- Wanderer and the Healer

I have known Ms. Neelam Parwani since my college days; well over 2 decades now. She was my junior and a hostel mate. Have seen her quite closely and we have been in touch through the social media (it’s a boon to keep in touch!) I have followed her journey; she is truly an inspirational woman and we are all proud of her. She has been a great hospitality professional and been in the corporate world for 12 years before she followed her heart and pursued her passion. She embarked into holistic healing and wellness. Neelam is a wanderer at heart as it is said for all bikers. She is a Reiki Grand Master and a certified Su-Jok (Advance Acupressure) and Positivity therapist.

A Hotel Management Graduate from Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai .She has worked in Hospitality industry in India and Abroad. She has worked on P&O cruises and has a flair for cocktails and alcoholic beverages. She has been doing functional trainings since a couple of years.

In her illustrious career, she has rich experience in Hospitality, BPO and Education sectors. Her forte includes Food & Beverage, Leadership, Communication and Positivity trainings. Neelam also conducts holistic workshops on life skills, anger and stress management. Neelam is the Founder of Nature’s Grace Educational Trust – Gurgaon.

Nature’s Grace conducts Reiki and Su-Jok certified courses and creates awareness for simple health solutions.  

https://www.facebook.com/naturesgrace.reiki

IWH in conversation, with the powerhouse Ms. Neelam Parwani. 

IWH: Tell us something about you, your growing up years, life through school, college etc.

Neelam:  I am born and bought up in Jaipur –the Pink City of India. I did my schooling from Brightlands School Jaipur and then college from IHM –Mumbai. I come from a Business family and was lucky to have parents who allowed me to explore my world and take up a professional course to purse my dreams. I am a Biker and enjoy riding bikes from school days and still do road trips on different bikes, my last one was Ninja 1000cc . I love dogs and do healings for animals.

IWH: What made you select Hospitality as a career? Was it easy making that decision?

Neelam: Well Hospitality was a blessing that came in disguise. I wanted to become a doctor and was trying for my medical entrance and gave IHM entrance just like that  and eventually topped IHM entrance and couldn’t get through Medical and from there on I switched from Hospital to Hospitality.

IWH: What is your current role?

Neelam: Well as they say it is a circle of life, so from Hospitality I again took a U-turn to wellness industry. Currently I am a professional Alternate Healer and I practice Reiki, Acupressure and Naturopathy. I have my own Holistic healing center by Nature’s Grace in Gurgaon.

IWH: How has your hospitality/ professional journey been so far? Pros, cons etc?

Neelam: I had a amazing journey I started with a small tenure with Manshigh Hotel –Jaipur , then moved to Dubai in Hotel sales and From there I joined P&O cruises and did 2 contracts in passenger cruise liner. It is every Hotelier ‘s dream to work on cruise ship and my dream did come true, which also gave me an opportunity to travel around the world. My journey has been full of highs… from Hospitality to BPO and then to Education Industry and now in Wellness Sector.

IWH: Who has been your mentor or a role model? In what way has that person helped you?

Neelam: Chef Vishwanath Iyer, Mercy Mathew Ma’am and Jayant Kathe Sir from my College IHM Mumbai have played a very important role in my career. Chef Iyer guided and encouraged me to join the Cruise ship. Jayant sir has helped me a lot when I was working in Mumbai in education sector as Regional Head with ITM Mumbai. They all have been a guiding angel in my professional Journey.

IWH: What have been the high points of your career? Highlight at least 3.

Neelam: 1.Joining P&O cruises in 2001, which gave me an opportunity to travel the world and enjoy hospitality industry on International level.

2.    In 2008,opened “Naughty Kids- Preschool” my first set up as an enter pruner inBangaloreand by 2010 I had 4 branches 2 in Bangalore and 2 in Jaipur.

3.    In 2016 set up “ Nature’s Grace-“ Holistic healing center in Gurgaon, and started my services in Wellness Industry and from then on dedicated towards the goal of creating more positivity in everyone’s life.

IWH: What challenges have you faced as a woman in the industry? How did you deal with them?

Neelam: The journey in Hospitality Industry for women has always been challenging and that’s what makes it so interesting. I remember when I joining P&O cruises there were only 3 Indian girls in F&B department which makes you feel proud and also wonder was it really a male dominated industry. Random shifts, no day off, 9 months of sailing all comes as a challenge for women as your family have no direct contact no. to call you and only on port days you can make calls. With these challenges you learn to lice an independent life, learn to trust strangers, colleagues and most of all with so many different nationalities under one roof you learn to respect their cultures.

IWH: If there was anything that you could change about your life or career what would that be?

Neelam: I would like to be in college for 6 yrs instead of 3 yrs as IHM Mumbai was the best days of my life and would love to go back there again as a student. Rest has been an amazing journey have enjoyed every phase of my professional life.

IWH: What do you think of IWH?

Neelam: It an amazing platform and a big inspiration to all those women who are working in hospitality industry or aspire to work there. The content shared on the website is also of great value.

IWH: Your advice to the young professionals and students.

Neelam: Follow your dreams as dreams do come true, hospitality industry is here to stay and grow, so your growth is definite.

IWH: Anything else you wish to share with our readers?

Neelam: Wherever you are working at whatever position enjoy the most of it, and take life as it comes. Live everyday with a new beginning and let life takes its course naturally. Stay Positive and blessed….

Read full story at: http://www.theiwh.com/wanderer-and-the-healer-ms-neelam-parwani/

Website: http://www.theiwh.com/

Ms. Smritee Raghubalan

I met Ms. Smritee Raghubalan at an event in Hyderabad where she was also a facilitator and the resource person. Though I have known her through her book, which is nicknamed Raghubalan, it was a pleasure meeting the dynamic lady in person. She was extremely cordial. Bringing in 18 years of professional experience; Ms. Raghubalan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hospitality Management and Catering Technology, Garden City University, Bangalore.  She is the co-author of the textbook – Hotel Housekeeping – Operations and Management, Oxford University Press, which is being used in Indian and International Universities. Many hotel chains use her textbook for training their staff and to develop standard operating procedures. Ms. Raghubalan has presented and published  papers in various conferences and journals. She is the Chief Editor of the Departmental Journal RIPPLES which is a National journal for hospitality professionals. She has delivered several guest lecturers.

Her key strengths are motivating students to excel, which is evident in the fact that students trained by her always win competitions! Her constant endeavour is to make learning simple and concept based for her students. Her areas of academic interests are hotel housekeeping and food science and nutrition. She is a life member of Professional Housekeepers Association (PHA) and also holds the portfolio of Vice President – Learning and Development for the Karnataka Chapter of PHA since 2016. She is also a mentor of the youth chapter of PHA, i.e, PHA Yuva. She has been honoured with a plaque by Lovely Professional University at the Author’s Conclave in 2014.

IWH in conversation with Ms. Smritee Raghubalan

IWH: Tell us something about you, your growing up years, life through school, college etc.

Ms. Raghubalan: I come from an Army background, life was steeped in discipline, adventures, seeing new places and making new friends. I am the second amongst three children and got the benefit of being guided by an elder sister and being a guide to a younger brother.

I changed many schools, typical of army kids, and was consistent in academics and participative in co-curricular activities, especially being part of the music club. My alma maters are Kendriya Vidyalaya, CME, Pune and Army Public School, Dhaulakuan, New Delhi. After my father’s retirement we settled in Bangalore where my mother was teaching at Bishop Cotton Girls School. My parents ensured that I got to do my graduate and post graduate studies from best of institutions. I did my graduation in Homescience from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore and have long lasting memories of the learning environment and fun times there. I did my Masters in Homescience from SNDT Women’s University, Santacruz, Mumbai, one of best institutions for studies and research in Homescience. Life in SNDT hostel made me independent and extremely confident.

IWH: What made you select Hospitality as a career? Was it easy making that decision?

Ms. Raghubalan: A career in Hospitality was not as per choice but happened after marriage when I got an opportunity to teach Accommodation Operations in one of the Hotel Management colleges since housekeeping and interior decoration is part of studies in homescience. I used to get insights into working of the hotels with short refresher courses at various hotels.

IWH: What is your current role?

Ms. Raghubalan: Currently, I am an Associate Professor at the Department of Hospitality Management and Catering Technology at Garden City University. I am also the Assistant Registrar – Academics of Garden City University.

IWH: How has your hospitality/ professional journey been so far? Pros, cons etc?

Ms. Raghubalan: My journey in the hospitality world has been of a tremendous learning and networking. I have always taught at institutions which were still setting up systems so that I could contribute in setting up systems and laboratories. At the current institution I conduct International Conferences and get to be the convenor of innovative events. I was given a chance and then developed a passion towards conducting events as a Master of Ceremonies at my current institution since last ten years.

Writing a hospitality book on housekeeping was on my mind since I took up hospitality teaching as a profession as there was a dearth of books on housekeeping in India, especially from Indian perspective. So when Oxford University Press came looking for writers in Bangalore, I took the opportunity. I was asked to write two sample chapters of my choice which were sent for review by Oxford University Press to two hoteliers and two hospitality academicians. The chapters got excellent reviews and the journey of being an author began. Since my daughter was very young then, I used to wake up at 3 am to type the manuscript and spent time on research for the book when she was at the nursery school. I am thankful to the hotels that gave me access to be an observer and interact with housekeepers.

IWH: Who has been your mentor or a role model? In what way has that person helped you?

Ms. Raghubalan: I consider my mother as my role model as I developed a passion towards teaching seeing her involvement with students as a teacher. I have learnt that teaching should be concept based and made simple for students. Be a guide and a mentor and keep learning from students too.

IWH: What have been the high points of your career? Highlight at least 3.

Ms. Raghubalan:

1.    I have co-authored the textbook Hotel Housekeeping Operations and Management published by Oxford University Press. The first edition came out in 2007, the second in 2009 and the third in 2014. It took two years to complete the first edition and every new edition takes about 4 months of work.I am currently working on the fourth edition.

2.    I was honoured at The Author’s Conclave at Lovely Professional University in 2014.

3.    I was the NAAC Coordinator for Garden City College in the latest cycle and we achieved an A Grade in the National Assessment and Accreditation Council inspection.

4.    I accomplished National Eligibility Test (NET) for lecturership in one go in 1998. I have seen people attempting NET 6 – 7 times before they crack it.

IWH: What challenges have you faced as a woman in the industry? How did you deal with them?

Ms. Raghubalan: I have always been fortunate to work with institutions which keep women in high regard.

IWH: If there was anything that you could change about your life or career what would that be?

Ms. Raghubalan: I believe in ‘be the change you wish to see’. Life comes to you as you take it. I am extremely happy with a career in hospitality teaching as it is very gratifying to see students becoming professionals.

IWH: What do you think of IWH?

Ms. Raghubalan: It is a great platform for Women in Hospitality, a great thought to connect women in hospitality.

IWH: Your advice to the young professionals and students.

Ms. Raghubalan: Aim for the stars but remember success is sweetest when encountered on the steps of a ladder.Each designation brings its own learning and hones you to become an ideal manager. And whichever position you hold in your career, always remember that you are responsible for the development of the people you lead.

IWH: Anything else you wish to share with our readers?

Ms. Raghubalan: I would like to use the IWH platform to thank the hospitality professionals and academicians who have appreciated my book. A feedback to make the book better is will be extremely valuable.

Read full story at:http://www.theiwh.com/the-author-ms-smritee-raghubalan/

Website:http://www.theiwh.com/

Shaping Minds

WElink covers one of my counselling experiences, calling it,'Shaping minds'. Sharing the write up with you all. I am so very happy that a very inspiring story from my kitty gets featured here. Have loads of them, all coming from the gems of people I meet!.... hope you like it too!

Shaping Minds : 

There are many wonderful people around us who are contributing substantially to various causes. One such person is Laxmi Todiwan who is an Associate Professor & Head of the Department of Apeejay Institute of Hospitality. Laxmi has almost two decades of experience, is an educational counsellor who follows her passion of guiding young people in making good career choices.
But today is not about featuring her - it's about sharing an experience of her witnessing a successful journey of a passionate young boy which ignites a belief of " yes I can".

" I meet very interesting people as a part of my role as a trainer and counselor. One such meeting, lead to a great association with an individual who was extremely motivated and passionate about his life. He had dreams and made them a reality, I feel lucky to have witnessed the transformation and being a part of it.

One fine day I got a call from one of my professors saying that he was sending a boy to me and that I should counsel him. He told me that the boy comes from a humble background, had lost his father when he was young.
With this backdrop I waited for this boy to see me on the appointed day and time. He was there dot on time, He was Holsten D’Souza. We got talking, I simply loved his attitude and the sparkle in his eyes, an 18 year old self motivated person who could do wonders given the right direction and inputs. He told me that he was working part time at a famous cake shop in Mumbai, Theobroma. We exchanged a few thoughts. Counseling him was one of the best experiences that I have had, I knew fee would be a bit of a concern for him but knew that if there's a will, there's certainly a way!

He took admission at the institute (Apeejay Institute of Hospitality). He was focused, took directions from his professors and constructively worked on the feedback given by them. He was not the most brilliant student but someone who was consistent and who worked hard. His attendance, was the best in spite of the fact that he worked in the evenings and weekends. He managed to get scholarship all three years of college. In academics, in the first year he was among the top 5 students, he improved on that, was in the top 3 in the second year and in the final year he topped the college in the university examinations. He had his own benchmark that he kept improving on. He was one student that I kept a watch on, admiring his passion and the level of commitment he showcased. His batchmates loved him.There are two gold medals awarded to the graduating students at the institute. One is awarded to the academic topper and the other one is given to the student all rounder with best values and attitude. He was the academic topper but for the second medal too he was one of the top contenders. Which is a rare incident in the institute.
Today it gives me immense pleasure in writing about Holsten. He taught us to believe in self and remained focused. I share his story to many of my other students to instill faith in the old saying that " there's no shortcut to success."