MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – SUDHA BALAJEE DTM

SIMPLICITY IS THE BEST JEWELLERY….By TM Mahima Bhat, DISTRICT 121 PR TEAM

We cannot separate our personal and professional lives. They have to be intertwined such that they complement each other and balance each other.

(Inputs from DTM Sudha Balajee and information from https://www.toastmasters.org/)

As a daughter, a wife, a mother of two, Chartered Accountant, Professor, and International Director, Region 13, Toastmasters International – Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Sudha Balajee, wears many hats, enjoys all these roles, and keeps adding many more roles. Simplicity is the best jewellery she wears. And one of the best examples and the one thing that she takes pride in is her love for saris. With a friendly smile and charismatic persona, she always makes one feel like a friend rather than a stranger. I still remember the first time I met her before I became a Toastmaster and attended a TLI as a guest. I didn’t know who she was. At the time she was District Director of District 92. When I was clueless about the venue, I saw her and asked her for directions. With a welcoming smile she readily showed me the way without making me feel I was a stranger.

DTM Sudha, a Toastmaster since 2010, has held several offices in Toastmasters as District Director, Pathways Guide, Pathways Ambassador, Program Quality Director, District Finance Manager (International and Regional level), and several other leadership positions at the Division, Area, and Club level. She is a proud member of District 121 hailing from IIMB Orators Club in Bengaluru. She has attained the Distinguished Toastmaster designation – the most coveted educational achievement in the organization. She has been awarded with several honors and recognition from Toastmasters International including Excellence in Leadership, President’s Distinguished, President’s Extension Award, and Excellence in Program Quality.

On the work front, she is a Chartered Accountant, partner and branch head for S.V Shetty and Associates, and has over 24 years of experience in the field of Accounting and Auditing for Corporate clients and Banks. She is an Advisor to Startups/Entrepreneurs in streamlining the areas of Finance, Taxation, Investment planning, Capital Structure planning and interacting with Government departments for approvals and licenses. She is also a visiting Professor for the past 12 years in Business Schools and has been also involved in determining Teaching methodology, Curriculum design and development.

She has also volunteered as a coordinator for waste management, supporting a non-governmental organization that employs underprivileged women and educates impoverished children. Along with her family, she has also actively encouraged the farmers group to move into chemical-free, natural faming, and thereby achieve self-sufficiency.

1. Women have multiple roles to perform in both personal and professional life. As a woman of your stature how do you manage to give the best of yourself to both personal and professional life?

Any person who seeks to achieve anything beyond the normal needs to have many things going for them. In my case, we are a joint family – my Father (78), Mother-in-law (78), my husband, two daughters, 2 dogs (one 9 years and the other 9 months), 2 parakeets and 8 fish! The house is busy all day long to say the least. If we have to achieve something, we need to have the support of the family. Everybody chips in their bit in running the house. Some members are more focused inwards within the 4 walls of the house, while the others are outward focused to keep things moving. We need to be effective and efficient and these are a few things that help:

• Every member’s needs are important and no issue is too small.
• Keep things simple.
• Manage time, almost all activities happen at the same time everyday 365 days a year. Our day begins very early, 4:30am.
• Prevention is better than cure, especially in health. Eat healthy and deal with small niggles immediately.
• Learn to deal with stress by believing in yourself, hope is always there as a light at the end of the tunnel.
• Do the right thing before you do things right.
• Follow your gut instinct.
• Keep trying out different alternatives to find solutions, doing the same thing again and again gives you the same result.

12 years back, a tender coconut fell from the tree on my head. I had a miraculous escape. However, my spine was damaged with a disc prolapse at the neck and always troubles me. I never gave up hope, and continuously evaluated traditional medicines like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. Today, thanks to these traditional techniques, I am able to lead an almost normal life with occasional issues.

We cannot separate our personal and professional lives. They have to be intertwined in such that they complement each other and balance each other. Toastmasters is my passion and I always find a special energy even for a 2am Board meeting!  Toastmasters has given me a new lease of life, I owe a lot to this movement.  It is my life line.

2. As an International Director what message would you like to give to the new Toastmasters who have joined the Toastmasters platform when Pathways is the new regime?

The Pathways program is an extremely important step in our Learning process. We are the only voluntary organization in the World which offers a structured way of Learning. Members should determine their growth path and choose the appropriate paths to start with. With time, everyone should try out as many Pathways tracks as possible to enhance our learning.

3. What was your experience as the Conference Chair for the very first conference of the then newly formed District 92?

As a Conference Chair, the experience was like being a CEO of an organization. I was given a lot of operational and financial freedom by the then District Governor DTM T K Ramesh. It was a 9 month preparation to get the Conference in place. More than 100 members were involved during the process. The meeting started on time and ended on time, and since this was in Mysore, this was required. My leadership journey started from this very Conference and I have very fond memories to cherish about the same.

4. In this time of pandemic, what was the major challenge that you had to tackle as an International Director?

The major challenge that I am facing is the fatigue associated with online sessions. I am also a teacher for Management schools and classes are being held online. It becomes very difficult to keep children engaged for hours together. There is a longing to begin live classes and also Toastmasters meetings.

5. I heard you are very fond of sarees, and I’ve seen most of your pictures in sarees. Any special reason for choosing sarees over other fashionable clothes?

I believe that the saree is the best dress on earth. It represents India very well in International forums and gives us a separate identity. I don’t feel comfortable copying some other country’s attire. The saree (if properly worn) gives women elegance and a special space in our community.

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