MB#31: 𝙈𝙮 𝙎𝙤𝙣—𝘼 𝙁𝙞𝙫𝙚-𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙈𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙈𝙮 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙.

[MemoirBlogthon#31] From 1991 to 1995, I was the company secretary for a five-star hotel, The Krishna Oberoi. The most valuable perk of the job wasn't the glamour, but the day I invited my engineer father for a guided tour of the entire premises. This memoir details his meticulous inspection of the luxury amenities and staff operations and the ultimate pride when I overheard him introduce me to his friends as "My son—a five-star company secretary," proving that a parent's validation is the highest career achievement.

MB#31: Company Secretary for the company owning the Krishna Oberoi, a five-star deluxe hotel in Hyderabad.

From 1991 to 1995, when I served as the full-time company secretary for the company that owned the Krishna Oberoi, a five-star deluxe hotel in Hyderabad, I experienced a period of professional growth and development. My role was unique: dealing with high-stakes corporate legal affairs for the owning company, all while the hotel was managed by the world-renowned Oberoi group.

But the lasting legacy of that time is not just the job title; it is the day I invited my father and family for a special visit that sparked a profound idea.

The Engineer’s Guided Tour

My father, an engineer, was always curious about infrastructure and operations. I invited him not just for a sumptuous lunch but for a guided tour of the entire hotel, from the multi-cuisine kitchens to the back-of-house operations.

He arrived, and immediately, his keen eye took in everything. He admired my mandatory dress code of a suit and necktie. As we toured the facility, he questioned the accompanying staff about various aspects of their operations:

The Lobby: He was impressed by the spacious, top-class reception and the quick, professional approach of the staff dealing with international guests.

The Rooms: He inquired about the access systems, the high-quality carpet cleaning, the premium furnishings, and the high-thread-count sheets.

Maintenance: He particularly admired the impeccable maintenance of the washrooms and the value added by luxury toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers.

Technology & Staffing: He analyzed the comfort features, such as the blackout shades, and noted the high staff-to-room ratio that ensured personalized attention from butlers, doormen, and the concierge.

We finished the tour with lunch in the Executive Dining Room (EDR). The entire experience filled him with "heartfelt joy." He admired the respect I commanded from the other executives and was delighted when the pastry section manager, a close friend, gifted him a pack of assorted pastry samples.

The Lasting Legacy of Pride

My father's simple admiration and curiosity did more than just satisfy his interest—it motivated me. His idea to have a guided tour of the hotel premises sparked an idea in my mind for future mentorship. I began offering the same exclusive tour, followed by a subsidized lunch or dinner, to my professional colleagues, government officers, and friends.

The most cherished extension of this practice was offering it to my student company secretaries who volunteered for our annual general meetings. Years later, one of those former students, Mr. Vasu, now a company secretary himself, vividly recollected:

"I am from a remote town. I have never seen a five-star hotel inside. Our faculty member, Sri Suryanarayana Garu, was a company secretary for the five-star hotel. Because of him, I could take a five-star lunch... and a guided tour to see the entire hotel inside and behind the scenes, like the kitchen."

The third-party validation was clear. But the ultimate validation came from my father. One day, I overheard him proudly introducing me to his friends at an event as "My son—a five-star company secretary."

This job was not just about corporate law; it was an environment where I often saw celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar and even royalty like Princess Diana and Prince Charles in the lobby. But all that glamour paled in comparison to the pride in my father's voice.

My achievement was partly my own effort but largely shaped by his enduring belief: "No matter how you feel—get up, dress up, show up, and never give up." Reaching his expectation was the greatest professional reward.

MB#31: Quiz

MB30-Question: The highest career achievement for the author was ultimately the parent's validation, when the father introduced him using what title?

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• A. "My son—The Hotel Executive."
• B. "My son—A Five-Star Company Secretary."
• C. "My son—The Oberoi Manager."
• D. "My son—The Chartered Professional."

MB#31: Quote

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never failing, but in rising again after you fall." – Vince Lombardi