Rise of the recessionistas
Managing the human resource is a tough task in times of job cuts and salary slashing. But women take on this challenge with aplomb. Says city-bred Seema Iyer, workforce planner at EDS HP, North and South America, "Women are more strategic than men. I've met homemakers whose husbands have lost their jobs, or are in danger of doing so. My advice to the women is: Start working now. This recession is not going away this year or even next year. Reducing expenses is, of course, something that we immediately turn to as well.

Red rising hood
This is one techie who's taken the recession in a positive light. Says Anuja Lath of RedAlkemi, "Yes, there was a slackening of business, but then it made me take a hard look at things. It was a jolt for the good!"
Advantage women
"Women handle many situations through one-on-one communication rather than dashing off stiff, impersonal emails, like some males."

IT's testing time
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Says Anupama Arya, IT professional and co-founder of Mobera Systems, "The good part is that clients, colleagues and other business stakeholders are all aware of the enormous economic challenge that we are facing globally. It is not my issue versus your issue …instead it is a collective problem. "At my company, we have used technology to bring down the cost of communication and cut down on travel. We also started dialogue with our vendors to negotiate better prices.

Ringing in restraint
Human resources is certainly one citadel that women in India Inc have stormed and this HR professional is a visible validation of this reality.
Roaming charges
Says Manisha Chopra, HR head, Bharti Airtel, Mohali, “Keeping up morale of staff in these times of meltdown becomes the biggest challenge for HR teams. Though some of the fears were unfounded, it was important to keep the employees motivated. And women being good at soft skills, they can be more sensitive to staffers in these uncertain times. — Photos Parwesh Chauhan

Calling caution

Songs of spring
The 21st annual three-day spring fest gets under way at Yavnika-5, Panchkula 
The annual spring festival is here again with all the rich colours of nature and culture. Rows and rows of vibrant blooms of marigolds, dahlias and roses and a huge entrance showered with yellow flowers greet the visitors, and add to it the loud thumping of dhols in the background. Amidst the patterns of flowerbeds were stalls, showcasing the best of natural and aesthetic senses. 
Martial art: Gatka performance at the spring fest; competition. Photos: S. Chandan 

Flowers displayed at the event

A girl makes  rangoli

A boy dressed up as Tiger for the face painting competition. Photos: S. Chandan

Music mantra
Arjun Sen, an award-winning musician, comes to city to share his knowledge
All musicians are same—Isn’t it? When the resume reads extremes and assortment of works as diverse as a band, films, documentaries and exhibition, the usual ‘genre question’ sounds awkward as does the staple ‘describe your music’. When a musician has been part of various bands, currently the HFT (Jazz Fusion) and Great Society (Blues Rock and Roll Reggae), run a studio in Delhi, been associated with award wining works, Khaamosh Paani, Shores of Silence, you let him do all the talking. Arjun Sen, in city for an interaction with Chitkara Institute students, speaks of music, music and well, music.

Women’s day out

Matka chowk
Let me be a girl
Today is the International Women’s Day - a day to mark achievements of women around the globe. The theme of this year is “Unity in preventing violence against women and girls.”   I have seen new notices sprouting up in some of the medical clinics and hospitals of our city.

Women power
We Conect! saw women entrepreneurs sharing challenges that life proposed 
Come 8th March and, as if, the media goes into a Women’s International Day celebration frenzy. The occasion remained, but the gesture changed. This Saturday, British Library-9, was the venue for the Punjab and Chandigarh Chapter of the Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), a not for profit organization’s latest initiative. WeConnect! — A TiE Women Entrepreneurs Special Interest Group. Post venue, occasion; the launch vehicle? Panel discussion. Messengers? Women entrepreneurs.

TIMEPASS
Picks & piques
Lucky Oye
After many Punjabi and Bollywood scores, Mika makes a move towards acting 
The doors of memory opened for Punjabi singer Mika, and he enjoyed the little leisure drive through it on his Hummer. College days are fun. So, was it for Mika, who had his fill of geri sheri, and mauj masti. And then moved on to chase his dream- to sing. On Monday, sitting at Hotel Mountview, he is eager for yet another blast. For old times sake. Jhankaar, Panjab University college fest sees the singer re-live the dhol dhamaka moments. — Photo by S. Chandan

Karmic Blues 
At the outset, the concept looks cool. A bunch of friends huddled inside a room, play a popular party game to reveal their innermost secrets. A wonderful premise for an in-depth case study of humans and complicated relationships they are involved in. But sadly, Karma Aur Holi, fails to do justice to its overwhelming potential.Dev (Randeep Hooda) and Meera (Sushmita Sen) are an outwardly well-heeled NRI couple, whose relationship is losing steam. While Meera has quit her plum Wall Street job to be a yoga instructor, Dev is into publishing business. 

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