WWW Chronicles

'Will you like to meet this employee who is planning to quit because of her baby. She has attended one of your sessions and knows a little about Lumière and the option to work from home. Shall I ask her to send her CV?' She was HR manager at a large global client.

Sure! Why not. Do ask her to call.

My schedule over the next few days was hectic. She agreed to meet up for an interview during transit and after to meetings. We spent time after at her place over lunch.

A week later she said, 'my father wants to feel reassured. He wants to meet you to know more about the work Lumière does. He is a little unsure. The man had retired and worked as consultant and was full of questions. Our meeting gave him comfort.

She visited our office that was in my home with her infant. In the classical flexiworking style, we would finish some meetings in the western suburbs and meet at her place to continue work on analysis.

Many reports were written in her bedroom-office or at her mom's place.

We worked in this way manner for 7 years across categories. She built depth and expertise in consumer behaviour over the R&D and brand related projects. Categories like talc, creams, face wash, fabric wash and cosmetics.

She held her Masters in Pharmacy, and had missed getting into medical school by a few marks. Highly responsible, dependable and very sharp analyst, her self-depracating sense of humour and ability to make new joiners comfortable while mentoring them, made her a favourite.

An old boss moved job and offered her a role. We spoke. The timing was right, and I wrote a glowing recommendation. Since the boss and I knew each other, we joked that if he gave her a hard time, she always had Lumière to go back to.

Little updates from time to time on life and work - promotions, foreign holidays, her son's progress. Birthday calls, Facebook posts...

Today's message makes me want to share that Lumiere is created for moms like her - who want to win at life and at work.

The seekers of the AND, not content with the OR. They took the fork in the road to come and work with us.

Working from home calls for focus, discipline, manage expectations with stakeholders in the family. It calls for the ability to plan, manage resources (time, energy, family and friends), communicate, prioritise and delegate.

'Good news. Deep's admission North Carolina State University. Going there on 6th August. Mech Engg. undergraduate program. He cribbed, cried, pulled his hair last two years with so many things - ISC board SAT, TOEFL, NGO stint and cricket of course.. finally got the university of choice. Couldn't have asked for more'.

In the past 20 years, Lumière kids have become Chartered Accountants, Lawyers, Engineers, Architects, Designers, Hotel Management and MBAs. We even have a PhD in Mathematics who works on Wall Street!

Our kids with health challenges went on to break limits and defy odds...

The messages started streaming from an alumnus who started an international education counselling company, Proventus. She wrote, 'Deepa it truly was a roller coaster ride for Deep and Shilpa, one of which I had the privilege to be a part of. Deep has done a commendable job juggling his studies, cricket and preparations for the entrance exams. And Shilpa has been the pillar of strength balancing work and all the nitty gritty of his applications. Here's wishing him a wonderful future at NC State!

Another message came from South Africa, where one of Lumière alumnus lives. 'Thanks for info Deepa. Took me a while to fathom the fact that Deep, whose mischief kept us entertained is ready for university now??. Congrats Shilpa - you deserve it; your sacrifices we all remember; waking up at 3am for him, fulfilling your home n Lumiere duties , and keeping that calm demeanor ; easing the stress n increasing the confidence of a newcomer. You inspire even as a marathoner- multiple hats you don yet you are so humble . Loads of love n best wishes to Deep'

Stories in our Lumière World community to create role models and women mentors who show the way to win win.

We are so proud of you and yours, Lumiere Moms...

Keep making magic!

#womenworkwellbeing