In the vibrant world of women leadership in business, few names resonate as strongly as Schauna Chauhan, CEO of Parle Agro, one of India’s largest beverage companies. She has built a remarkable career path that bridges achievements, innovation, and excellence. Renowned for her innovative approach, dynamic leadership, and years of expertise, Schauna has become a globally known business leader whose impact is sought after across India and worldwide.
From leading Parle Agro to higher altitudes during times of crisis to inspiring entrepreneurs and emerging leaders, she has consistently demonstrated the rare ability to turn challenges into growth. Today, Schauna not only leads businesses through transformation but also creates a lasting impact, helping preserve leadership wisdom for generations.
Schauna’s Journey: Leading Parle Agro
As the CEO of Parle Agro Pvt Ltd., Schauna Chauhan has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth and expansion. Since taking over as CEO in 2006, Schauna Chauhan has remarkably expanded the company’s product portfolio and market presence, solidifying its position as a leading player in the industry.
As the eldest daughter of Prakash Chauhan, the founder of Parle Agro, Schauna Chauhan has always been dedicated and passionate about the business. She took charge of her father’s business at the age of 22, and has since worked tirelessly to build her father’s legacy. Along with her sister, Schauna Chauhan is actively growing the company, with a shared vision to take Parle Agro to new heights.
Schauna Chauhan’s notable leadership and guidance are evident in the company’s recent investments. At the Global Investors Summit in Bhopal, Schauna announced plans to set up a new facility in Gwalior with an investment of Rs 600 crore. This step demonstrates Parle Agro’s confidence in the Indian market and its commitment to development.
Achievements and Milestones
Parle Agro’s success journey is marked by numerous milestones, including the launch of LMN, a lemon-based drink, in 2009. This move empowers the company to take on giants like PepsiCo and ITC in the non-carbonated segment. The company also forayed into the branded snacks market. A few months later, the company forayed into the Rs 6,500-crore branded snacks.
Additionally, because of its innovative range of products and significant contributions to the market, Parle Agro has obtained multiple industry awards and recognitions over the years, and it is still poised for continued growth and success.
Balancing Work and Personal Roles
Schauna’s story is not just about achievements and impact, but also about her distinctive approach to balancing both her work and family and how she excels in both of her paths.
Schauna prioritizes discipline and time management to manage both her personal and professional roles. While prioritizing her work, she always makes sure to get time for her son. She lets her son spend a lot of his time at Schauna’s workplace, engaging in various activities.
She micro-manages her calendar to make sure things are done on time. For this, Schauna does a lot of planning in advance on how it’s going to be executed to ensure she does not lose time on any of the activities or get into a mess that she ends up spending her time fixing. Her two major focuses for balancing are PRIORITIZING AND PLANNING.
The Future: Taking the Company to New Heights
Today, Schauna continues to lead Parle Agro through her expertise, high-level mentorship, and innovative approach. Under her guidance, the company has already invested in Mandideep, near Bhopal, for the past 20-25 years, especially in dairy. Looking ahead, the company plans to expand in Gwalior in the next two to three years with an investment of Rs 600-700 crore.
Words of Wisdom
Schauna’s story is not about overnight success or one-time disruption. It’s about the continuous hard work, dedication, and innovation. She advises all the other aspiring entrepreneurs not to be afraid to assert themselves where they need to. Focus on being passionate and persistent, and let the failures teach you.
Schauna further guided entrepreneurs to focus on planning, which will make things easier. Be ready with a backup plan if the original plan does not go according to your expectations to avoid chaos. Technology can help you save time and learn new things.