I’m Nisha Narayanan, COO and Director at Red FM and Magic FM and this is how I Lead from Within
Nisha Narayanan is one of the most eminent personalities in the space of Indian Radio. She is the COO and Director at Red FM and Magic FM, SVP with AROI (Association of Radio Operators for India), and is also a member of the core committee of the FICCI Radio Forum since 2008. Narayanan has spearheaded setting up of radio stations across various cities in the country such as Bhubaneshwar, Jabalpur, Nasik, Shillong, Varanasi, Jaipur and many others, making RED FM one of the largest and widest network of radio stations. In her two and a half decade long career in Media and Entertainment. Nisha has done a variety of roles, starting as an RJ, to studying journalism (Nisha is a Chevening scholar in Media and Broadcast), documentary film making and doing news and current affairs for television – her diverse experience has given her a well rounded view in the Media and Entertainment industry. She has won several prestigious awards – India’s Most Trusted COO 2018 by WCRC, The Most Enterprising Leader of Asia 2018 and Impact 50 Most Influential Women in India. Her strong passion combined with gentle humility shines through her words and makes the conversation both inspiring and relatable.
Breaking Out of Comfort Zones
I do only what I believe in. It is the belief and conviction that helps me step out of my comfort zone and embrace challenges. From a young age, I have liked doing things that others have not tried. I enjoy challenges and risks that are thought through. While there is a lot of analytics available, my choices are also driven by a gut feel, what comes from the heart and my passion. The faith and belief in my team also helps me make bold moves and step out of my comfort zone.
South Side story is one such example. It was my mission to make it happen. People have been consuming Bollywood music. We wanted to give them a different experience with music from the South. People did question – “Will people from Mumbai and Delhi enjoy music from the South?” We saw a need gap and we had firm belief. Never give up when you see a need gap. Put on the entrepreneurial cap, look at the business side of things, and plan things step by step. When you have a larger vision and conviction, ways, means and people align themselves to make things happen!
Integrating radio with digital is another such vision I have been nurturing. I believe in starting with a vision, and then planning step by step to scale up. When you have a step-by-step plan laid out, you can catch mistakes early. You also get a chance to select the right team members for each phase.
Navigating Work and Motherhood
I remember when my son was born and I was traveling 28 days a month, people would say, “You are not a good mother because you are traveling most of the time”. Societal pressure makes you feel guilty. There are two things about navigating work with motherhood – one you need a strong support system, and two, as women we need to remember that children grow up and they begin to lead their lives. So when you sacrifice your dreams as a woman, a few years later you end up frustrated because you feel empty, having given up everything. Every woman should pursue her dreams. Even if you cannot give your dreams a lot of time, give what you can to nurture your dreams.
What helped me create a solid support system was hiring a lot of staff at home, so that I am not putting pressure on my family. And keeping the staff happy! Of course, I had a supportive husband and he had seen his mother work too. Now that my family is used to me traveling, they are happy seeing me when I am around!
My Core Values
– Passion: to make things happen and to pursue dreams relentlessly. Focus and determination to get things done are also an inherent part of me. I do not give up!
– Ownership: owning the brand, making it profitable and successful.
– Teamwork: I believe in putting together a team of professionals who have a mind of their own and are as stubborn as me – it is a very potent combination!
Women for Women
As women we bring wonderful gifts like EQ to work. Our communication is more free flowing and therefore when we counsel teams, it leads to happier conversations and joyful teams. Women need to give more opportunities to other women. When equal opportunities are given, women show the extra zeal that helps them bring more effectiveness to work. At Red, there are women holding senior positions. I work towards bringing gender balance while keeping performance and merit in mind. In my experience, when given an opportunity, women have proved themselves time and again.
Men for Women
At Red, men have been equally supportive of giving women opportunities and supporting their journeys. My own career felt like a lonely journey as I did not see too many women around me. I often felt like a Radio Samurai, fighting for my space. That said, I did have male colleagues and mentors who believed in me. I feel we should trust the intent when men say they want to support us and make it easier for them to help us with our journeys.
Message for Aspiring Women Leaders
A lot of times, women lose out on opportunities due to lack of confidence. If you are confident of delivering – it is half the battle won. Kill self doubt and create your own space. Be confident about your potential and your skills.
My Superpower
Humility. I feel we should never let power and money get to our heads. Humility makes success worthwhile. It keeps one focused on things that actually matter in life. It is humility that keeps you in a space of constant learnings. Last but not the least, humility keeps you happy and grateful for the blessings in life.
