With so many inspiring stories of female entrepreneurs contributing to the business world and society, there has been a paradigm shift in the overall mindset of the people. Women are acquiring new heights in the business world and achieving significant milestones. One such ‘Power Woman’ who carved her way out and shaped her future with endeavour named Metalogic Projects Management Services PVT. LTD. is its founder and CEO, Monica Bachchan.
She runs a market intelligence and very niche media-based company around ‘Steel & Mining’ and has achieved exclusive recognitions and rewards for successful leadership roles. She is also featured in ‘25 Iconic Businesswomen Need to Follow in 2022 in India.’
How did you come to be an entrepreneur?
Previous to this, I have worked in many start-ups and helped many organisations in their product/brand launches. I started my entrepreneurial journey after gaining a rich experience in the mining and steel industry. During recession, when the companies started losing employees, I made a decision to start Metalogic PMS with a vision to give an insight to the industry and now we have become a prominent voice for steel & mining sector. Metalogic PMS is a trusted platform of the stakeholders to voice their issues and concerns.
How is it different from other companies?
The greatest strength of Metalogic PMS is their employees and work efficiency. As a company, along with our routine work, we give lot of emphasis on employees’ learning and skills development which ultimately helps us to increase our productivity. We are 10 employees’ company and our output can be matched with an organisation having min. 50 staff. This does not mean; we do not give emphasis to work-life-balance… The secret is ‘time management’.
Throw some light on your business and its offerings.
Initially, Metalogic PMS started two services – News and B2B Networking Conferences. Now we have come up with new services like – Market Research, Consultancy, Webinars, Customer Oriented Programs and we also facilitate companies in buying and selling their products/ services.
Metalogic PMS offers an unbiased and common platform to the industry and the government to interact, discuss, raise issues and concerns by organizing business conferences.
Later we have started our own production house ‘Metalogic Studios’ where we provide services like – Video editing, corporate film making, Logo designing, Animations, Still/ motion graphics and Advertisement production for clients who want to establish a brand image.
How challenging is it for a woman to start/ or associate with any company? /Have you faced any unusual situations doing business in India as a female entrepreneur?
I would be very honest to say ‘Yes’. As a lady entrepreneur the first challenged I faced was whether to start a company or not… and after overcoming that confusion the second task is to explain to the family. You may not have all the answers of many questions but what is needed is are you bold enough to take the challenge, are you’re a risk taker and what your gut says…?
I started Metalogic PMS when my son was 3 months old, as a new mother I had a share of my challenges, guilts, embarrassments, failures but end of the day I have come out of all the situations and that was only possible because I had a support of my husband and family.
Let me finish this by saying, ‘Behind every successful man there is a woman and behind every successful woman there is an understand family handling her home and kids.’
How do you achieve work-life balance?
Our generation has everything except time which is very unfortunate. For me it is important to maintain that balance. I start my day in the morning like a regular mom to get my son ready for the school, making sures the maids are doing their task timely, worldly discussions with my husband and then the actual day starts where we are running with the clock.
Being a lady understanding the challenges what a wife or a mother go through in her personal and professional lives, at Metalogic we give work-from-home or hybrid style of working to all ladies without compromising on the task/duties and salaries as per the industry standards.
Did you have a mentor to guide you through your professional journey?
Yes, there are few selected mentors I have who are just a call away to guide me in difficult situations.
How are entrepreneurship and working women important for India?
The best thing about being a woman is we are multi tasker and we are emotionally strong. These qualities make women a better leader, although there is no comparison with the talent.
Now a days organisations do recognize women leaders, giving promotions and equal pays. But we still have a lot to be done especially there are still hesitation in hiring women coming from post maternity, giving fair wages, promotion considerations at leadership levels. If Metalogic can overcome such challenges despite of having limited employee strength, then I am sure it is possible for any organisation.
By offering flexible timing, hybrid or work-from-home options, the productivity of women increases which allows her to move above the ladder in no time while maintaining her family commitments.
The talent must not be wasted on gender grounds. We also give employment emphasis to transgender. End of the day it really doesn’t matter to me which gender is performing well, it is WORK which is being done and delivery ON-TIME is what matters the most.
Define a perfect business leader. What are the qualities you think a great leader possess?
A perfect business leader is the one the who can make more leaders.
A leader must be open to new ideas, flexible in approach and believes in team-work. Decision making in all situations and must take responsibility of decision taken, self-motivated and open to others’ opinions.
What is the road map of your organization?
The road is long and we have to continue our journey at any given situation. We are fortunate to able to touch a few milestones in just a short span of time after encountering highs and lows. Metalogic is committed to retain its customers and with them we will come out with more services and solutions which will help the industry in a big way. We still have miles to go.
A brief description of the major awards won by your company.
- 25 Iconic Business Women 2022 by The CEO Magazine,
- Women Leadership Award in the service of Secondary Steel Industry by All India Induction Furnace Association
What advice would you give to other businesswomen who want to thrive in a male-dominated industry?
Be bold in expression, keep going, keep fighting, never give up, stay confident and be kind.
Are you a decision maker & risk taker?
I have to be both – Risk to take decisions and responsible for decisions taken.
Describe the most memorable incident of your professional life.
The day Metalogic PMS was officially launched by the two union ministers in 2018, I had my parents to celebrate the evening and post pandemic in 2022 when we did our first physical conference after doing close to 50 webinars online.
One word that describe you the best…
Decision-Maker
If you had one piece of advice to rising entrepreneurs just starting out, what would it be?
Have a vision, courage and ability to move on. We all have our fears and its okay to feel scared. The moment is when you beat it and make it your strength. Channelise your energies in the right thing and who will see everything working as you want.
How would you like people to remember you and your company?
She made excellent leaders, gave direction to the sector and was an asset to the industry.
What is your favourite metaphor for describing entrepreneurship?
Think Outside the Box and Get the ball rolling
