Diageo's Vikram Damodaran on sharing the spotlight with wife Vijayalakshmi Damodaran

Vikram Damodaran, Chief Innovation Officer at DIAGEO India, shared the stage with Vijayalakshmi Damodaran, Chief Operating Officer of Cognizant's Cloud & Infra Business at Storyboard18’s Share The Spotlight event in Bengaluru. Vijayalakshmi is also a social media influencer, animal rights activist, and mother.

"My role at Diageo is to reshape the future of consumption and celebration. Having women contribute to multiple facets of our business, from my Chief People Officer to my CEO and CMO, is crucial to our success. I was fortunate to be mentored by my mother, a gynecologist, who taught me the importance of prioritizing work and life. Today, 80% of the people I mentor are women, and I'm proud to chair our women's network."

When asked how his wife inspires him, Vikram said, "Vijayalakshmi inspires me greatly. She is the foundation of my life, and our two children are successful startups that she runs independently. She keeps me grounded and is a true superhero."

Reflecting on how her engineering background has shaped her leadership style, Vijayalakshmi shared, "I became an engineer because it was the lesser of three evils. I struggled in school and even failed a semester. My vice-professor taught me that it's difficult to stay consistently average. Now, I understand the importance of routine and practice."

Vijayalakshmi also shared a valuable lesson from her father, who told Vikram and Vijayalakshmi that they might find better partners but should stick with their decision and not worry about future regrets." The husband-wife agreed that it was the best decision of their lives.

"My father's advice before my wedding to stay committed to my decisions, even if they may seem wrong in the future, has been invaluable. Vikram, my husband, has been incredibly supportive. He has never criticized my choices or actions, even when I've made mistakes. This has given me the space to reflect, learn, and grow," shared Vijayalakshmi.

Read more: Share The Spotlight