Soumya Patnaik

A 23-year-old graduate of one of Mumbai's suburban B-schools, she specializes in new store launches for Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd., the nation's largest retailer.

I have been shuttling between my home in Orissa in east India and Mumbai, where I now live with my garment-exporter uncle and his family. I was picked up by Pantaloon when I was in the second year [at B-School]. There were other retailers as well, but I had made up my mind. In the past couple of years, I had seen this company grow, and wanted to be part of it. Now I'm supervising people and using managerial skills to get things done and meet deadlines. Being the only girl on the team can be very challenging, especially when you are with workers on a construction site.

I'm still a beginner and want to learn all the aspects of retail. Ideally, I see myself moving to a new function every six months. My next destination would be buying and merchandising. Also exploring department stores and supermarkets, and fashion and food. Once done with the basics, I might settle for marketing or market research. I don't want my life to become easy, as challenges spur me. By 2010, I hope I'm at least a business manager heading a department. That would obviously mean loads of responsibility, but my experience will help me. As the organization is flexible, the environment provides you with a sense of ownership and freedom. I'm here to dream about the Indian market and its middle class. Expectations can come later. And yes, I shop largely at Pantaloon because I get a 30% discount on all purchases.