President and CEO of insurance firm ING, Datuk Dr Nirmala Menon, discloses her trials and tribulations on her way up in a male-oriented industry.

When speaking to Datuk Dr Nirmala Menon, there are moments when one feels that it’s a conversation with a sage under a giant tree, or if you prefer, high up on a mountain. Life was pretty much a carefree existence for the young Nirmala. Her father’s determination to have money to educate his children is something she still holds very dear to her heart even to this day. “He would say to my siblings and me: ‘I’m working hard to give you something that no one can take away – an education,” she shares, smiling at the memory.


Nirmala says she never dreamed of becoming the CEO of a financial services company. “This job has allowed me to meet so many young people and when they tell me that I’ve made a difference in their lives, that beats any pay cheque!” Nirmala is referring to a mentoring programme at ING where young employees are helped to succeed.

STRENGTHS TO LEAN ON
It’s easy to see Nirmala’s perspective: that life is about making choices. “I believe that people have the choice to either react in a positive or negative manner – no matter what the situation is. Women are unique and have their own strengths. Don’t get caught up in stereotypes imposed on you by others. To make this personal branding of sorts work, you must show a capacity for creativity and hard work, and the ability to learn and adapt. We must never think that any task is beneath us,” she adds, emphatically.

A CHARMED LIFE
 “You know something? I find that worrying never helps. Sometimes we just need to sit back and put things into perspective and the solution will avail itself. Just do your best and you’ll see how things will always work in a way that’s best. We may not see it that way at first but time will show otherwise.”