Jagdish Chawla is the Founder-CEO of Design Wolf, a Fashion-tech Start-up providing consultancy to help brands, retailers, fashion entrepreneurs, couture designers and fashion houses to grow their business. He joined Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in 1981 in the Pre University Course and then pursued the 5-year Integrated Course completing M Com and went on to do his MBA in Marketing through 1988-90.
After completing his MBA, Swami advised him to work for two and a half years instead of joining his father’s business, and blessed him saying “Swami tumko apna Business aur Ghar, Bangalore mein deta hai”. Jagdish’s illustrious career began as a Sr. Management Trainee after which, he got promoted as Assistant Manager in Raymonds in Mumbai. Thereafter, he went on to serve as a senior executive in top brands within the retail and fashion sector. He has been a VP at Lifestyle International, Spencers and Reliance Retailto name a fewand was the CEO (Global Markets) at Timex & Fergasm leading the Avirate Brand globally before starting his own venture, Design Wolf.
Jagdish is an industry expert, and has over 29 years of experience in brand and product development, consumer engagement, marketing, and fashion merchandising. As a student, Jagdish was also part of the Band and used to play the clarinet, which he continues even today as a member of the alumni band Rhythmic Energy.
Challenges and lessons in leadership
Jagdish says that the lessons he learnt in Swami’s university have guided him at every stage of his career. In one of his first assignments as an Assistant Manager in Raymonds, he was tasked to oversee the establishment of a new franchise in Indore. Due to logistical reasons, the hangers on which the new garments were to be displayed arrived very close to the scheduled opening date. They were greased and had to be cleaned lest they soil the new clothes. Jagdish did not hesitate to take it upon himself to clean the hangers overnight and ensure that there were no delays to the inauguration of the store.
Later, even as the Vice President of a leading global retail chain, he never hesitated to don the staff uniform and lend the staff a hand in setting up the store even during festivities like Diwali. To Jagdish, there is no work beneath dignity and his leadership style is rooted in the principle of leading with example and living up to one’s commitments. He says that these fundamentals of leadership were ingrained into him during his stay in Prashanthi Nilayam through activities like the self-reliance duties.
Jagdish believes life is an adventure, where challenges abound, but with faith in Swami, it becomes a song. Through his different stints, Jagdish has learnt to survive through different challenges and has embraced them as opportunities to open up to new experiences in life. When he first went to Indonesia as a part of a new role, he was located in a very remote place. He recalls that the first few weeks were very challenging. Even the food that he had was just white rice and tomato soup. However, his taste for the hostel “Rasam Rice” came to his rescue. He went on to spend another 9 years in Indonesia and came out richer having learnt about a new culture and, of course, developed a fondness for a new cuisine.
In one of his roles as a global head, he had to traverse through a lot of politics within the organization. When faced with decision choices, his value system was his guide. He was not afraid to take the blame in the line of his duty and he never shied to take the right decisions and was willing to face the consequences. However, through all of it, he ensured that he conducted himself with grace, which earned him respect in the organization and built relationships that outlasted his tenure.
Learnings for life under Swami
When Jagdish was 12 years old, Swami had called his family in Mumbai for an interview in Satya Deep in Dharmakshetra. In the interview Swami told him “Come to Puttaparthi, I will do your Upanayanam”. Later during the thread ceremony in Parthi, Swami said “I will take care of you forever”. This was a turning point in his life and this promise of Swami has given him courage to take his leaps of faith into the unknown. Be it his decisions to take new assignments abroad or coming back home to India and starting a new chapter with his own venture, he believes Swami is the wind beneath his wings, always guiding him. During the upanayanam, after initiating Jagdish into the Gayatri mantra, Swami manifested a watch, placed it on his wrist, and expounded slowly, an acronym that would become one of the guiding principles of Jagdish’s life – “Watch your words, watch your actions, watch your thoughts, watch your character and watch your heart”. In fact, Jagdish and his wife Manju, named their first child, Saakshi – to witness by watching the watcher within – as a reminder.
During his days in the hostel, Jagdish imbibed another crucial principle in his life. Once while walking back to the hostel after darshan, he was pleasantly surprised as Swami’s red car pulled in front of him and Swami called him to join him in the car. Jagdish was carrying a letter expressing his desire to grant him zoo care duty. He had been unable to give the letter to Swami. The omniscient Lord took Jagdish to the campus zoo and said “Hum tumko duty deta hai”. However, later when Jagdish was in fact assigned a duty, it was to take charge of the “radio-shack” at the hostel. It was here that he practiced the discipline of punctuality, for come what may, at 5AM Jagdish would be there to start the music in the hostel. This lesson of punctuality became his second nature.
Jagdish governs his life with the principle of unity of thought, word and deed, and when he finds them not in alignment, he reminds himself of the mantra “watch your words”, “watch your Actions” which Swami had personally taught him. He believes that when one gives someone their word, they must fulfil it with their actions. These lessons learnt at the lotus feet of Swami, have been a crucial factor in his professional career and one of the main reasons for his growth and success.
A Word of Advice for the Young Alumni
According to Jagdish, students passing out from Swami’s university should take pride in what they have got from Swami and the university, for it is unique in this universe. Once they are clear, nothing can stop them. One should not resort to any comparison, but rather have faith in themselves, in Swami’s assurance that He is taking care and with that in heart, be fearless. For him, the fundamental guiding principle from Swami is the unity of thought, word and deed which one must never lose sight of.
Team Vidyullekha wishes all the very best to brother Jagdish for all his future endeavours.
