Jayashree R Rao - I Have Two Daughters and I Was Determined Not Let Them Feel That I Didn’t Have Time for Them (Founder - Grampari)

For Funding, be hundred percent transparent. Use the money for what you claim

you need it for if the need changes inform the funders. Think of the organization as your own.

Tell us about your background, journey, and upbringing.

Born in Pune, Maharashtra. My father owned industry and hence had a very privileged childhood. Though born the third daughter my fathers’ love always made me feel very special and lived without any restrictions on what I could or
could not do.

Spent part of my younger days in Karnataka where my father had his factory. I
was always troubled by my privileged status (though enjoyed it) as to why others
around me suffered, by the time I was 12, I was influenced by the thoughts of my
cousins who were left-leaning. 

When I was 14, I came across a movement called Moral Re-Armament which gave me the outlet I was looking for. I could be part of changing India the simple belief was if people changed the world would change and the best place to start was with yourself. 

I applied this to my life of being honest till it hurt. After this, I spent most of my time working for this movement.

When and how did you get clarity on what you wanted to do?

It was when I was 17 and just going to join university I was convinced till then
that I wanted to become a doctor. But I had spent my holidays working at the
MRA center that was being built at Panchgani living in an international community. 

I had also traveled to the UK and understood the impact this movement had in solving difficult problems. 

When in Panchgani I had a sense from a practice that I followed of taking time each day in silence and searching for the inner promptings with a sense of what is the right thing to do, that I had a feeling that may be more important than becoming a doctor, my life would be useful if I gave up my studies and worked voluntarily without pay for this movement. 

None of the seniors encouraged me on this thought and my parents were devasted and then very angry but nothing would change my resolve. I think probably it was at this juncture that I decided to move away from the conventional route ahead of me and use my life in some way to serve the nation.

10 years after doing this I decided to get married to someone working with this
movement and we moved to Bangalore where I started a Machine tools trading
business and did a diploma in business management I had to do this as without
qualification I was not eligible to get a loan). 

I did that for 30 years and then at the age of 60 decided to give up my business and my husband I decided to move back to the center in Panchgani where I started a rural development Initiative called Grampari.

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What does your typical workday look like?

MY typical day, till Covid hit us, would start at 5.15am when I do exercises go for a 30 to 40-minute walk. Sit with a cup of tea and read something inspiring and then sit in silence and write down my thoughts. 

At 9.15 Our team of 13 that works in Grampari meet together to have a short 5-minute time of silence reflecting on themes basically to see how we keep on an ethical and spiritual life and after everyone including our cleaners would have time to share our thoughts we would plan the work for the day. 

The morning would go in doing more admin work and after lunch would follow the meeting with people who came to visit us or visit some village in the evening once or twice a week I would go after dinner to attend meetings in the villages.

Several global companies have come out and thrown their support behind not needing a formal education. What is your opinion about this?

As I had given up formal education but gained an immense amount of knowledge I don’t feel in every field of work formal education should be the only criteria for
getting the right person.

In running my business, the sensitivity and thinking from the other person's point
of view got me to implement profit sharing in my Machine tool trading business
from my peon upwards. This gave ownership of performance to everyone.

Including and asking everyone for ideas and taking them on board benefitted my
business. Understanding the personal needs of employees helped me empathies
better and actually, no one took advantage. This helped control attrition which is a
big problem with sales personnel. 

These are now taught in management books. Of course, in certain fields, formal education does give training that is very essential.

How do you handle someone who has lied on their resume?

In my younger days, I would be very angry with someone who has lied on the
resume and would outright reject that person. Even today I may not appreciate it
but may try to understand what the need was behind that lying and if the person
comes clean I would want to give it a second chance.

                        

What are some of your typical challenges and how have they evolved over time?

Getting people to be honest about their work. Being honest yourself. Being fair in
your treatment of your employees and not having favorites. Motivating and inspiring people to give their best. Appreciating people wholeheartedly. 

Not being in competition with your employees in seeking importance. Giving incentives. Letting go of control and above all else trusting people.

When I was running my business, I had two daughters and I was determined not
let them feel that I didn’t have time for them.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs looking for funding or those eyeing the top job?

For Funding, be hundred percent transparent. Use the money for what you claim
you need it for if the need changes inform the funders. Think of the organization as your own. 

Take responsibility, if you make a mistake admit it and don’t give excuses. Don’t think that you can fool your bosses. Don’t pull down your colleagues to show you are better. Be interested in the good fare of all your fellow employees.

Which is your favorite book and why?

At the moment my favorite book is Ranganathananda’s, Bhagavadwad Gita. It is a
source of inspiration for me as an individual for my work and helping me in my
difficulties with relationships.

Bio - 

Jayashree Rao, at the age of 13 was inspired by Rajmohan Gandhi’s vision of a strong clean, united India for a world without hate. On turning 18 she decided to join the voluntary full-time work for IofC (then, MRA) while Asia Plateau, the IofC center was being built. 

She started a school for the construction workers on the site. She remained full-time for ten years; traveled to a number of countries with MRA groups.
Later she started a machine tools trading business in Bangalore in 1980 which grew to be one of the top 4 Machine Tool Trading Houses in India. 

The second stint of full-time volunteering started in 2009 when she and her husband moved to Asia Plateau where she started Grampari, IofC’s Rural and Ecology Centre.

Grampari’s team of 15 have so far reached out to nearly 70 villages impacting 30,000 villagers, bringing about a deep social change inspiring development with personal change at the heart of it. 

A robust School handwashing program has impacted thousands of school children, reducing the incidence of illness. The water project has provided clean drinking water to more than 5000people. 

Villagers are made aware of and encouraged to get involved in governance and ensure that ethically oriented leaders are empowered with knowledge and motivation for effective village development.