afaqs! Pause - Sriram Mahadevan, Managing Director, Joyville Shapoorji Housing

afaqs! Pause - Sriram Mahadevan, Managing Director, Joyville Shapoorji Housing

Sriram Mahadevan is a business leader who brings three decades of business and marketing expertise to his role as managing director of Joyville Shapoorji Housing. Here’s a little sneak peek into his work day, leadership mantra, and advice to young professionals.

The best part of my job is

I'm blessed to be in a position that lets me be among people and part of their journey towards personal and organisational goals. I find meaning and purpose in my work and challenging myself and seeing my team rise to challenges and deliver exceptional results gives me pride and keeps me motivated. The shared sense of accomplishment is invaluable.

My leadership mantra

I am a firm believer in purpose, and my leadership mantra is “Navigate with purpose and lead with passion.” My other rule is “All credit goes to the team while all debits are on my account.” 

If there is purpose and passion in each of us, we can create meaningful impact and lasting change, making each team member feel valued and integral to our success.

My career-defining moment 

Reflecting on my career, I've had many defining moments. Some lifted me, while others revealed aspects of myself that led to change. Big or small, these moments enrich our lives. Being part of startups and building businesses from scratch is highly satisfying. A key moment was transitioning from finance to a P&L role, teaching me to oversee all business aspects and take decisive actions at critical junctures.

My advice to young professionals

Always remember that if your work is not getting scrutinised, you are not doing value-adding work or not doing enough to add value. It’s a wake-up call. Stay calm and hold your feet to the fire during challenging times. Take up challenges as opportunities to learn and develop new skills and strive for excellence in everything you do.

How I recharge on weekends

I love nature, music, watching content-based OTT screenings, and adventure. I enjoy travelling, including bicycle tours when I travel abroad. I start my day with Pranayama and some cardio daily. On weekends, I prefer to jam with like-minded music lovers and, once a quarter, take part in stage shows.

A recent ad campaign I liked

I liked the Megh Santoor campaign by Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea. It's innovative, capturing India's tea culture and classical music. The synchronisation of rain with Santoor strings on a billboard to create Raag Megh Malhar is brilliant. It mesmerises and stands out as a perfect example of effective brand storytelling and customer engagement.