Beyond Pipes & Dreams !

An avid reader, passionate writer,  homemaker, dancer, animal lover and Chairperson of the Rs. 2000 crore pharma giant USV Ltd,  Leena Gandhi Tewari, heads the company which is India’s largest player in anti-diabetic drugs .  Their products are marketed to over 75 countries and  in India they are recognized for their leadership in the Oral Anti-Diabetic market .

Tell us about your early days....

I grew up in Bandra which in the 60s and 70s was green and idyllic. My love of the jungle stems from this childhood of running barefoot and free to climb a tree or watch a lizard or a snake with fascination not fear. Later I went to Sydenham college and  Boston University.Being away from home was both exciting and difficult and it completed my transition into adulthood.

You recently launched your book " Beyond Pipes And Dreams "...What is it about?

This is a biography of my grandfather late Vithal Gandhi, who came from a very poor family in Ratnagiri.

I wrote this biography over a period of 7 years. It is backed by extensive research. He was influenced by the great leaders of our nation especially Mahatma Gandhi and Lala Lajpatrai. His own underprivileged background and his work in Mumbai slums stirred in him the desire to work in the field of medication and start a business in pharmaceuticals.

Were you inspired by him to take up business?

Everything about him inspired me. His humility and honesty on one hand and warmth and joie de vivre on the other.I had no idea about how important he was or how he played a role as an economist in framing of the policies of free India, in bringing about infrastructure such as the Vaitarna Dam or the BEST  and ST( State Transport) bus. 

As chairperson of USV  how involved are you in the day-to-day running of a huge empire? What  challenges do you face?

As the third generation in USV,  I look after our long term growth strategy and goals for the overall business and for individual units in the company--new areas to explore and what strategy we adopt. USV is known for leadership in diabetes and cardiovasculars. We also focus on gynaecology, pediatrics, nutritionals and a few other areas. We have expanded over the last 7 years into cosmoceuticals and neutraceuticals.

My challenges are of course ensuring that we are always nimble to face the rapidly changing environment….

Does the company have a research wing to improve on available drugs?

USV Limited has a very active research arm which works towards development of medications for the Indian market as well as international markets such as USA, Europe etc. In the Indian market, since we are the leading player in the anti- diabetic and cardiovascular markets, we have endeavoured to address the specific needs of patients who have to be on medication for their lifetime by bringing to them product offerings such as Glycomet SR. This is a patented sustained release form of metformin, which provides smallest pill size. For the first time  we have developed low dose pioglitazone triple drug combination.

Our research wing is also working on developing an oral form of insulin, which is the holy grail of research world-wide. This will enable patients to take insulin in an oral capsule form.

 You are a wife and mother--- how supportive is your husband?

My family is my backbone. With my husband I share a common interest in wild life.I have two children Vilas and Aneesha with whom we share active vacations which vary from a trek in Bhutan to skiing in Austria or safari in Kenya. As parents we are very proud that both our children are humble and conscious of carving out their identity from their own accomplishments.

Are you associated with any NGO?

 I have my own school called the Susheela Gandhi Center which I founded in 2005. It is named after my grandmother who was a doctor in the 1920s and a strong woman who inspired me. The girls are from underpreviliged backgrounds are taught subjects ranging from dance to computers, English, communication skills etc. In the last  7 years there is a perceptible change in their confidence, their school grades and even their behaviour at home which is more positive and respectful.

 What  advice would you give young women who want to have successful careers and a harmonious life?

I feel women are very capable of taking on many roles and making them all a success. It is a question of balance. There are times when one will choose to focus on career and then times when motherhood or something else will take the lead in terms of time (never in terms of importance). Then later career or hobby will come back to the forefront. Balancing our roles is what we must do consciously and well. We women can create our own blends in life!