Determination Personified!

It is often said, “You can’t have roots and wings at the same time.” Though many may find it difficult to let go of one for the other, Thane’s Shivani Kondaskar defied all odds to fly high with her powerful wings and build a strong nest overseas.

Born and raised in a typical Marathi household, Shivani always dreamt of being independent and carving a niche for herself in this competitive world. Right from a tender age, she stood out among her peers, thanks to her academic prowess and excellence in extracurricular activities. Shivani says, “I enjoyed poetry recitation, dancing, singing, acting in skits, athletics, playing table tennis, and kho-kho, among many other things during my school days. I won many competitions in my school and outside. Seeing my growing inclination towards extracurricular, my parents shifted me from Lok Puram to Singhania school in the fifth standard. With a massive canvas to play with, there was a positive change in my personality. I got the right kind of exposure and platform. At Singhania, as part of Bharat Scouts and Guides, I was awarded the prestigious Rashtrapati and Rajya Puraskar. The organisation educates the youth to build a better world and be better citizens. As a child, my parents encouraged me to ask questions and be curious. If they couldn’t find an answer, they would introduce me to the next best person they knew who could explain. This taught me to challenge the status quo without fear during childhood.”

While Shivani was sailing smoothly in her school journey, she received a major setback in her final year. She recalls, “I lost my father – my pillar of strength when I was in the 10th standard. That came as a shock to me, my mother, and my brother. It was an unexpected event for our family. Suddenly our world turned upside down, and we were uncertain about our future for a brief period. However, my mother, who has always been rock solid, gathered us all and slowly and steadily, we began to move forward.”

The Kondaskars owned a bakery in Vartak Nagar – Yahanka, then, and Shivani took a keen interest in the business. She avers, “We owned a bakery. After school, I spent time at the shop floor and sales counter. I helped manage the accounts and also handled the customers. That experience helped me to develop an entrepreneurial mindset which ultimately helped me increase my risk appetite and push my boundaries.”

After schooling, Shivani pursued her junior college at V.G. Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce and then moved to H.R. College of Commerce and Economics for undergraduate studies. In between junior college and graduation, she got the opportunity to go to Canada for a year through Rotary International Youth Exchange Programme, courtesy of her parents, who were Rotarians. Shivani elucidates, “I think that was the best thing that happened to me. Living abroad, away from your family, for a year was a great learning experience. As a teenager, I became very confident and got exposure to incredible life experiences. I was speaking publicly every week at the Rotary meetings, schools, and old-age homes, representing India as a cultural ambassador in Canada. At the same time, I was studying and doing community work. I lived with four Canadian families, and my experiences with them are worth the weight in gold.”

Once she was back in India, Shivani joined H.R. College. During those days, it was common among students to do a part-time job along with their studies. Shivani posits, “I attended college in the morning and worked full-time in a corporate at Nariman Point after that. I always dreamt of working in one of those tall buildings that I saw passing by Marine Drive during family outings as a child. Growing up, I acquired knowledge about Ikebana – the Japanese art of flower arrangement from my mother, Manisha Kondaskar, and I am certified as a 4th Master of Ikebana. Thanks to this experience, I could teach Ikebana to many students. I was also fortunate to be invited as a judge to a few school competitions. The fact that I had learnt Japanese and lived abroad gave me an edge in getting a job with Mitsubishi Corporation. I worked there for three years. I started as an assistant to the general manager. I supported him with undertaking market research, preparing presentations, and managing the Japanese guests visiting our company. Meanwhile, I also acquainted myself with the logistics and sales side of our business. I earned a good salary in my early twenties and enjoyed my job tremendously.”

Having tasted water overseas, it was only a matter of time before Shivani would spread her wings and fly abroad. After completing her B.Com and stint with Mitsubishi, she went to the United Kingdom to pursue her Masters. She explains, “My brother was already there, so it was an obvious choice for me to select the UK for my higher studies. I completed my master’s in international business from the University of Exeter – a top 10 UK University for Business. Studying abroad can be expensive. However, the education loan and the partial scholarship I received for language excellence helped ease the financial burden.” Backed by formal education in entrepreneurship and experience from her younger days as a student, she co-founded a business, which received funding from a UK business incubator for this venture during the development phase.

After completing her studies, she worked with a branding and communications consulting company in London for one and a half years. Shivani states, “Back then, you got a two-year post-study visa in the UK, which allowed you to work there for that period. Securing a job in the UK was not easy for many of my batchmates, who had to decide to go back home. Even before graduating, I managed to get an internship offer through networking and approaching my then-employer proactively, which worked wonders. I used the two years to live and work in the UK and then had to search for a new job upon visa expiration. I decided to shift to Germany, given that it was one of the strongest economies in Europe. During that time, Germany was inviting skilled people on a highly skilled job seekers visa. The first four months were tough as I had to learn German through an intensive language course and apply for jobs simultaneously. I got many rejections, but I didn’t lose hope. It was clear in my head that I didn’t want to go back to India yet. So, I kept pushing myself hard and finally secured a job at the Linde Group headquarters in Munich. I worked at Linde for about six and a half years. I remember starting on a temporary contract, and within a few months, I was offered a permanent role. I worked in the cylinder supply chain operations and sourcing department running various projects at German sites. I left the company as an Internal Consultant to the European Leadership Team leading strategic projects on operational transformation and revenue enhancement.”

After relocating to Copenhagen to join her husband, Sudeep, Shivani started working for Orsted, a global leader in renewable energy. As a Lead commercial manager in the UK Commercial and Asset management department, she leads the Joint Venture and external stakeholder management for the world’s largest offshore wind farm – Hornsea 2. After her previous roles, she chose to venture into a new industry which leads the sustainability agenda and contributes to the bigger purpose of fighting climate change. Throughout the last decade, she found herself often the only woman sitting at the table in several meetings or even being in the minority as a young woman of colour in senior business forums. For better representation of diversity, she actively drives change through various initiatives in her company. She says of her success so far, “As rightly quoted by Sudha Murthy – Behind every successful woman, there is an understanding man. I owe a huge amount of my recent career progress to the unwavering support I have received from my husband. He has been my anchor, keeping me grounded and in good spirits when the going gets tough. The decision to move countries was tough, especially during Covid times, which brought a lot of uncertainties. I believe the right things happen to us at the right time.”

 

Comparing the work culture in India and abroad, Shivani feels, “I think we lose a lot of time during our commute in India, especially in the metro cities. Here in Europe, even if you spend much time travelling, you can comfortably work on your laptop or read a book in transit. Despite this, a big part of me still misses India and, ofcourse, home.” In her free time, she likes giving back by mentoring other women in their careers and has served on the Career Club advisory board and volunteered with the professional women of the colour network. She adds, “Dreaming big and aspiring for personal and professional development continuously without resting on our laurels was my family’s mantra. I feel it is important to ask oneself the bigger question – where do you wish to see yourself, and why do you want to be there? Then you shall find that following your heart and instincts with an element of rationality will always open up various paths for growth and success.”

For those who aspire to study or settle overseas, Shivani, with her humble experience of 12 years in Europe, advises, “Do your research on what you want very thoroughly, without really getting distracted by those who discourage you – because there always is a way and a solution to everything. Be prepared for surprises and able to adapt as required. You will experience conflicting cultures and need to find your unique identity true to your values and through experiences. Learn to be as independent and curious as possible, even before leaving home, as it will prepare you for the transition. Believe in yourself and your dreams.”