‘Bring out your hidden dimensions'

There are several ‘new managers' like her who adroitly manage three different worlds each day — family, profession and passion — in what is perhaps the most difficult multi-tasking exercise.

But Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon has taken passion for music to another level — the second album of this IIM Ahmedabad pass out (1975), Soul Call, won a Grammy nomination in 2011, besides topping the charts.

The focus of this interaction with Tandon, also the first woman partner with McKinsey, was music's influence on her and her work-life-music balance.

The commerce graduate from Madras Christian College tells us how power cuts in what was then Madras led her to find her calling in music.

She is actively involved with the New York University and its Stern School of Business, among other things. Work goes on as usual at Tandon Capital Associates, an advisory and investment firm she founded in 1992.

The New Manager caught up with Tandon in a classroom at IIM Ahmedabad recently.

She was invited to perform at the concluding ceremony of the premier B-school's Golden Jubilee celebrations. Excerpts:

How did you evolve as a musician and singer?

Music came to me in early childhood and it's an interesting story. When power went off frequently in Chennai (in the 1960s and 70s), we started practicing singing at night. I learnt Carnatic music but broke off when I joined the current profession.

In the 1990s, I returned to music under the great master Bala Saraswati's brother Vishwa, who took me as a student. My baby used to wake up late in the morning, around 11 am.

So I struck a deal with Vishwa and used the mornings to learn music from him, before the baby woke up!

And when I attended Pandit Jasraj's concert (on Bhakti), it brought tears to my eyes.

How has music impacted your corporate career? How did you balance the two careers?

After my musical rejuvenation, I found many of my clients talked to me about spirituality, meditation and music. Although I would love to devote more time to music, I don't have the time to take up the 60 to 70 invitations I get (to perform) every year.

It is, of course, difficult to manage both. But, as my guru told me, music first comes in the form of listening, then humming in the mind, and finally leaves us through singing… I have imbibed it and am entranced deep in music all the time.

How has music helped you as a person and as a professional?

It has changed my life completely. It has unveiled new dimensions of my own self to me, and of the world, and has changed my own perception of who I am. Music has transformed my whole perspective of life itself. I am more tolerant now, understand better, and meditate.

Have you ever thought of switching over to music full-time?

I love my business, university education and the work I am doing. So, I cannot switch to music altogether. But music remains in my soul and mind, round-the-clock.

Do you encourage managers of tomorrow to have a passion beyond their profession?

I lecture students about leadership. My singular message is: spend time to bring out your own hidden dimensions and calling. On Sundays, I work with a community choir involving a hundred people. They sing Vande Mataram and other songs I teach them and compose music for. They are from all age groups (eight to 60 years). The two-hour journeys of sharing have transformed their life and mine.

Tell us something about your younger sister Indra Nooyi…

Oh, yeah! Not much, though. She has her life to live; and so do I. That's it!

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