Featured Leader, Sweta Srivastava Vikram
Posted by Megan Bergtholdt on Tue, Dec 01, 2009
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:: Current Title & Company
By passion - I am an author, writer, poet, and blogger living in New York City. In my day job - I am a marketing professional; I head the marketing department of NYSSCPA, the oldest state society of CPAs in the United States.
:: Favorite Book(s)?
There are so many books that have made an impression on me for different reasons. Overall, I am drawn to richness in language and words that serve as a conduit to cultures. Some of my favorite books are: "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez; "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini; and almost all of Pablo Neruda's poetics works.
I have read every book written by Jane Austen at least a few times. Her beautiful mind created fascinating, satirical, humorous, and realistic stories that have stood the test of time. Her work inspires and influences readers even today. She rose above the social restrictions that the society had placed on women in her times.
:: Women Leader That Inspires You?
I grew up admiring Kiran Bedi, India's first and highest ranking woman police officer. She fought against all odds, including but not limited to a patriarchal society, and earned herself a successful career. But despite her demanding job, she sustained a traditional, personal life. Bedi is not just a retired cop who has won national and international recognition; today, she is also a social activist who has made a difference to Indian lives by starting NGOs and helping the needy.
Maybe I am biased, given Michelle Obama and I share the same zodiac sign, but I am an ardent fan. I admire how real, relatable, and grounded she is. At least on the face of it, Michelle Obama's celebrity status hasn't crept into her logic, which makes her a good role model for impressionable minds.
:: Who Was Your Best Manager? Why?
My current boss, William Pape. He is a good human being before a boss.
:: Your First "Real" Job?
It was with Kelloggs in Mumbai, India. I got the job straight after my post graduate degree in Sports Nutrition. My boss and I worked on marketing campaigns where we introduced young kids in India to the notion of breakfast cereal using games, quizzes etc. My stint at the multinational firm introduced me to the tantalizing world of marketing, and I have never looked back.
:: Where Do You Do Your Best Thinking?
I always carry a journal in my bag because I am rather productive on New York City subways. The rhythmic movement of the subway car and people-watching triggers my thought process. Also, a long walk, irrespective of whether it's a beach or a city park, always acts as an enabler for my creative juices.
:: What Do You Value Most in Employees? Colleagues?
I value professionalism, honesty, reliability, communication, and education in my employees and colleagues.
:: What Would You Like to Be the World's Best At?
I aspire to be the best at whatever I do. It's definitely not easy, but I don't accept mediocrity from myself. This means I constantly push myself to achieve more. Here is one of my all time favorite quotes, by Roger Walters, that always intrigues me: "I'm in competition with myself and I'm losing."
:: What Do You Consider Your Greatest Achievement?
While I think I have miles to go before I get to a point where I can build a list and look for the 'greatest,' I have to say that 2009 has been a year with a few big ones. I got an offer, from a publishing house, for my chapbook of poetry. The book will be out in spring 2010. My pieces (poems, fiction stories, and creative nonfiction essays) were accepted in anthologies and several literary journals across the US, Canada, UK, and India. I was invited to read my work around NYC and other cities. And I finished working on my first fiction novel. I met my writing commitments while juggling a demanding full-time job and family/personal life.
:: What Is Your Personal Mission Statement?
To create social change using words.