How an unlikely interview sparked a profound Mentorship

I want to share the story of my most profound mentor, Mr. Vijay Jayaram, a man who in 5 short years, shaped not just my career, but also my perspective on life, leadership and mentorship itself.

?Back in 1988, when I was interviewing for placements at XLRI, a complete accident of fate led to one of the most significant relationships of my professional life. I hadn’t even planned on interviewing with BlowPlast (now VIP Bags) that day. I was in running gear, having just finished a jog at Jubilee Park, when I ended up face-to-face with Mr. Jayaram, Vice President of the Luggage Division, in a rather impromptu interview—in the backseat of a car on the way to Tata Nagar (Jamshedpur) station. He challenged me sharply, asking why he should entertain someone who bypassed the formal selection process. I admitted honestly that I hadn't initially planned to interview with his company, but after hearing glowing reviews from my batchmates, I realized my mistake. I added with good measure that my bold move to jump into his car was proof of how much I genuinely cared.

I guess he saw something in me that day, beyond the unconventional appearance. Later as I got to know him, I realized he appreciated honest, independent thinkers with a sense of gumption and confidence, and in hindsight, that interview was the start of a bond that went far beyond a humble trainee- CXO relationship.

?Joining BlowPlast , I quickly got to experience the real grind, leading a sales team in the hinterland, as a branch head.

Those early years in rural sales were not for the faint of heart. Traveling on rickety buses or back of trucks, staying in shabby lodges, fighting for every sale against formidable retailers, and dealing with fierce competitors was just part of the job. The late '80s and early '90s were tough economically and companies were fighting for survival, with retailers holding all the cards. This meant crazy targets for sales teams and very bad consequences for not meeting them - sales was like a gladiatorial contest, survival itself was the big prize.

?In this challenging environment, Mr. Jayaram was a commanding presence. He was not of big stature—about 5 feet, five—but he was larger than life in every way that mattered.

?He was a taskmaster, no doubt about it. And he probably invented BHAG targets long before the term became popular. Some quailed under his demanding nature, while others stumbled and learned to meet his expectations. He was tough, but he was also fair, and he had this uncanny ability to drive you to do things you never thought possible. He wasn’t about holding your hand or offering comforting words; instead, he’d push you—sometimes beyond what you thought were your limits. I remember once he said words to this effect, "Vijay, I want you to understand that your limits are in your mind. Go out there and prove yourself wrong. I have your back if you fail, but not if you failed to try" In that push, there was mentorship, there was growth, and there was learning.

Before BlowPlast, Mr. Jayaram was already a legend at Asian Paints. He had earned respect across the industry, and even years later, during his visit to my branch in Vijayawada, I saw the reverence people had for him—people who knew him from his days at Asian Paints, both trade and office folks, came to welcome him, much to his mock irritation. That is the kind of man he was—his reputation preceded him.

?Mr. Jayaram wasn’t just a mentor in the professional sense. He was concerned about my personal life too, supporting me during some of my darkest moments

?Why do I call Mr. Jayaram my mentor?

He wasn’t someone formally assigned to be my mentor. For god’s sake, he was actually my super-super-super boss! An awesome, magnificent figure, sitting in majestic grandeur, far far above my humble assistant manager's position. I don’t even think he knew I considered him his mentor. It just was there. I was like a lost duckling that imprints on the person it encounters, and he was the figure I chose to imprint on. He became my role model, my guide, without ever getting into it as such.

Mr. Jayaram was also my mentor because he showed me what leadership really is—how to be strong without being forceful, how to separate tactics from strategy, how to earn respect rather than demand it. He was someone whose influence lingered far beyond our direct interactions. He coached me in ways that weren’t always obvious—a nudge here, a hint, and often a thinly disguised threat too—but always effective.

I remember him briefing (spooking?) me on my biggest challenge in that phase of my career. "Vijay, I want you to break the stranglehold of this XYZ retail chain- Do what it takes but do it." , he said, in his brief assigning me with a scary task that other seniors had failed before me. And when I asked, "what if I couldn’t", he arched his eyebrows and look menacingly through the top of his horn-rimmed spectacles :) All of 23, I found confidence in myself through him; I saw the bigger picture and I broke the monopoly.

Even today after 30 years, his influence echoes in my career and in the careers of dozens of others he indirectly mentored. That’s the mark of a great mentor—someone whose lessons stay with you long after they’re gone. Mr. Jayaram sadly passed away in his early 40's of a congenital illness in 1993, but his legacy lives on in those of us who had the privilege to work under him. I owe much of what I became professionally, to those formative years, under his stern but wise mentorship.

?To all the young professionals out there: if you ever find someone whose values, strength, and approach resonate with you, latch onto that person. Learn from them, imprint on them if you must, even if you never say the word “mentor” out loud. It’s those silent bonds, those unspoken relationships, that can shape your career in ways you never imagine. You may not be comfortable, and you may even find it tough, but that’s what makes the learning intense and purposeful. Someone who keeps you in your comfort zone is not going to help you shape up to the unexpected challenges of this BANI/VUCA world.

?Mr. Jayaram was my first mentor, and his impact was immeasurable. I hope every young person can find someone like that in your career—someone who pushes you to be better, who teaches you not by words alone but by sheer presence and example. That’s real mentorship.