"I want to make ordinary people do extraordinary things," says Vanita Bhandari, president of Indian Merchants Chambers- Ladies Wing and director, DBS Business Centre
"I want to make ordinary people do extraordinary things," says Vanita Bhandari, president of Indian Merchants Chambers- Ladies Wing and director, DBS Business Centre. Vanita makes an unusual corporate head. Vivacious, fashionable and witty, she believes that there's more to life than just work. She opens up to CS: 
WHO: Vanita Bhandari
WHAT: Talking about mixing business with beauty
WHERE: At her Fort office
Working for women
I headed the young entrepreneurs wing of the IMC for three years before taking on the role of president. It has been a very fulfilling job for me. It's our endeavour to address various women-related issues like education, healthcare, legal rights, lifestyle, etc. Though women in the metros enjoy equal rights, the situation is quite different in rural India. That's where we want to focus our attention.
Revelling in femininity
When people see me for the first time, they don't believe that I head an organisation. The idea of a female boss is that of a woman wearing a power suit; but I don't like to dress like a man (laughs). It's important for me to look glamourous. It shows interest and love for yourself, which is not a bad thing. But at the same time, it's important to know and understand business. Flimsiness or flippancy doesn't work nor does too much over familiarity with clients.
Dress and address
I have a fixed set of working clothes, so that I don't spend hours deciding on what to wear. Fuchsia and turquiose are my favourite colours. I always like to wear clothes that uplift my mood. Dark colours are a no-no for me. You will never find me without lipstick or nailpaint. And I am particular about shoes, as I want them to be comfortable as well as stylish. I feel it's important to dress as per the occasion, as you need to respect your host's sensibilities.u00a0
Arty to heart
I used to be a decent artist in my younger days. I sincerely feel that young Indian artists need better exposure. This is why I keep a lot of work by young artists in all my offices so that my corporate clients can view them. Over a period of time, they get attached to the artwork. Abstracts in vibrant colours are my favourites. Recently, I bought a work of Paresh Maity and one of Harshvardhan. I plan to visit Christie's on my upcoming London trip. They will be auctioning paintings from the Sousa collection. Other than art, I love jewellery. Whether they are family heirlooms or costume jewellery, I love it all.
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