LARA BALSARA
Building A Business
All she knew while she was growing up was that she did not want to be a doctor, scientist or an engineer - "I wasn't keen on a nine to five conventional desk job," says 25-year-old Lara Balsara, now business development and diversification executive at Madison (Communications and Advertising). Being 'papa's girl' did not make it easier for Sam Balsara's offspring who had to go through the grind before making the grade. "Though dad is Madison in India, my sister, Tanya and I, interacted with him mainly on Sundays when he was a normal father like all others." After a BA (economics) from St Xavier's College, Mumbai and a short stint at Madison, she headed to UK for her Masters in marketing from Bristol University. Now two years old in the organisation, Lara focuses on "the company growing and doing a lot more functions, entering new territories; a fact that is easily visible on our website. I am not a trained creative person; my job is to ensure that there are new units in Madison."
Getting used to travelling for conferences in India and abroad (she was recently at the Cannes conference and will be at the International Advertising Association Function in Dubai, this March), the youngest in the family does carry work home sometimes to discuss stuff with dad. "I will always value his inputs," she says.