Mother Teresa tops Chanda Kochhar's power list

As she walks across her wood-panelled workplace with a view, she exudes a grace and quiet power that is evidenced in her soft voice, slim sari-draped frame, swift commands and minimal movements. Her morning is dotted with appointments and even though one overshoots its hour, the wait is worth it. For Chanda Kochhar, MD, ICICI Bank, is a woman whose power goes far beyond the four walls of the hushed room. No wonder then she was recently ranked 20th in Forbes’ list of ‘Most Powerful Women in the World 2009’.

“I am honoured to be on this list,” says Chanda. “I equate power with responsibility. The Forbes list is significant because it reinforces the message that a huge responsibility lies with me.” Ask her to name one woman she would place on her ‘power list’, and Chanda says unhesitatingly, “Mother Teresa tops my power list. It is impossible to measure the influence she has had not just on women, on girls but on corporations, society…the world!”

Though the head honcho of the bank is in a world that revolves around money, she feels, “True power does not come from money; it comes from responsibility. While growing up, we were left free to choose our own field of study. Hence, we became responsible, developed our own initiative and commitment.”

She admits that her tryst with finance happened mainly because of her move to Mumbai. “After I lost my father, we moved to Mumbai,” she flashbacks. “While in a smaller city one thought of things like medicine, engineering and administrative services, Mumbai, more of a commercial town, made me think of finance. I chose it and started liking it.”

Interestingly, in her growing years, she learnt a lot not just from her parents but from her paternal grandmother, who lived with them in Jodhpur. “Amma never sat around doing nothing. She used to embroider a lot and I learnt a little from her and still cherish the dupattas and kurtis she gave me. She was grounded and never lost her emotional cool.

She faced many challenges in life. She had been through the turmoil of Partition before I was born. Later, I saw her lose her son — my father — when she was alive. Yet, she retained her mental equanimity and I would like to think I have got that quality from her.”

So, is it Chanda or her husband Deepak who wields the all-powerful authority at home?

She laughs, “There is no centre of authority. Everyone is independent. We have so little time together that we spend it on the nicer things. But I am probably the disciplinarian.”