Conversations with the Career Doctor featuring Gangapriya Chakraverti, Managing Director, Ford India
Few journeys redefine the rules of the game, and Gangapriya’s is one such. In this episode of Conversations with the Career Doctor, Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Founder-President, Avtar Group sits down with Gangapriya Chakraverti (who’s GP for friends), the India Site Head and Managing Director at Ford. With characteristic candor and humility, GP reflects on a remarkable career spanning psychology, industrial relations, consulting, and corporate leadership.
From Psychology to Purpose
Her step into the professional world began with a dream of becoming a doctor but when that didn’t pan out, she chose psychology. “I thought the next best thing was to become a mind doctor,” she laughs. But one remark from a college professor was deeply etched in her heart: “All that psychology does is make you a better person.”
Little did she realize, that idea of self-awareness and empathy would anchor her career. A chance encounter with a woman led her to pursue HR at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, where she gained exposure to real-world organizations through internship programs.
Early Career. Bold Choices
Soon after, a telegram from the Murugappa Group landed her in a factory role—an unusual placement for a woman at the time. “I told them I wanted to work in a factory. They didn’t bat an eyelid.” That raw exposure to people and workplace dynamics proved formative.
The Power of Reinvention
Just like most women from Indian families, GP had her share of career breaks – first for motherhood, then for health and balance. But, each return marked a reinvention: from industrial relations to high-intensity consulting at Mercer, and later, to a business services leadership role at Ford. “Sometimes not thinking too much makes it easier,” she says of the breaks. Though returning to work after a break was intimidating, it also sparked a new drive. Recalling that phase, she says, “The world had changed a lot in two and a half years but my standard rose. I had to match the bar the young people were setting.”
Motherhood, Mentorship, and Modelling Equity
One of the most powerful parts of the conversation is GP’s reflection on purpose: “If my career could open up so much for me—self-awareness, financial independence, global exposure—I believe it can do the same for many other women.” Her son, she says, has grown up with a deeper understanding of equity because his mother worked. “I wish all mothers could work and bring that kind of sensitivity into their sons and daughters,” she says.
Women in Unconventional Roles
When asked about women in the manufacturing sector, GP recalled how companies in the ‘90s were more than willing to place women in unconventional roles. Citing Ford’s efforts in hiring and training women from rural Tamil Nadu as shop floor mechanics, she believes that the difference lies in the way employers position these jobs. She says, “There was one more option available for women. And there really was no stigma.”
Becoming MD, Battling Imposter Syndrome
The transition from HR Head to MD at Ford was a challenging leap. “It wasn’t even on my radar”, she recollected. Grappling with imposter syndrome, she needed some time to find her rhythm, and that moment of embracing authenticity was her inflection point. “I realized I had to define the job my way. I had to show up as Gangapriya.”
Advice to Second-Career Women
The one thing she loved to share with women, especially from career breaks was stepping out of her comfort zone. Her mantra: “You need to give something to get something.”
Gangapriya’s story is a living example of how careers can be a canvas for growth and personal evolution, as long as you are the artist, and no amount of detours can pull you down.
What does barrier-breaking leadership sound like? Find out in this candid conversation by Gangapriya Chakraverti. Click Here
