Being 'Unstoppable': Meet Meena Chabbria who overcame odds to break the glass ceiling
In her life that has seen a fair share of ups and downs, Meena Chabbria has been guided by one factor — resilience. Something she learnt early in life and has used to tide over many obstacles. Her journey has been unstoppable, which incidentally is the name of her book that she has just released.
Her early days in a lower-middle-class household in a refugee colony in Coimbatore was all about family love and being the first child, her family provided her the best they could afford. “It was these early experiences that moulded me into the resilient and humble individual I am today, teaching me to value life’s simpler pleasures.”
She took to sports early on and admits that the playground was her classroom where she learned invaluable life lessons on teamwork, determination, and goal setting, principles that have guided her throughout my career.
Her first job was as a preschool assistant, and later she served as a caregiver for an elderly woman. An early marriage and becoming a mother before she turned 20, her marital life had its share of turbulence, first with her mother-in-law and later with her husband. “Despite these challenges, my desire to work and establish my independence remained undeterred. When my sister-in-law offered to lend a helping hand with the kids, I seized the opportunity to carve out a distinct identity for myself.”
Post her wedding, when she decided to re-join the workforce, she started as a telecaller at Shiamak. “My aptitude for effectively managing calls caught the attention of Shiamak himself, which was a tremendous boost to my confidence. Leveraging that affirmation, I steadily climbed the ranks, eventually becoming the branch manager. It was a vivid demonstration of how dedication and hard work can turn the humblest beginnings into a successful journey.”
Later in her career, she joined Inox and has been a part of the PVR family for the past 13 years. “Looking back, I feel immense pride in my professional evolution and am profoundly grateful for the opportunities and trials I have encountered. Each step of the way has offered me valuable insights about the industry, people, and most significantly, about my own capabilities.”
At the start of the pandemic, when her daughter was set to start her pilot training course in New Zealand, she faced taxing times, having had to pledge her mother’s jewels for a year. A supportive network of friends, family, and mentors helped her continue to finance her daughter’s education and undertake personal growth initiatives. “This period saw me undertake an array of transformative courses from distinguished institutions like ISB Hyderabad, IIM, UCLA, and MICA, as I strove to transition into a stronger, more capable version of myself — Meena 2.0.”
As Assistant Vice President of Alliances at PVR Cinemas, South India & Sri Lanka, her primary role is to develop and manage strategic partnerships and alliances with brands in order to enhance the overall movie-going experience and drive revenue growth. “One of my main responsibilities is to identify potential areas of collaboration with brands and create mutually beneficial partnerships. This involves understanding the brand’s objectives, target audience, and marketing strategies, and then finding ways to integrate their products or services into the cinema experience.” She is also responsible for curating movie associations with brands and securing sponsorships for PVR Cinemas. This involves selecting suitable films that align with a brand’s image and marketing goals and negotiating partnerships that provide promotional opportunities for both the brand and the movie.
She also runs a programme called ‘Unstoppable Angels’ that seeks to mentor ambitious women who are keen to succeed but may need a roadmap to navigate their journey. “By sharing my insights, personal experiences, and growth strategies that have driven significant revenue for PVR and my clients, I aim to catalyse career acceleration for these women. The goal of Unstoppable Angels is to cultivate leadership skills and empower 100,000 women to become global leaders in their respective fields.”
For someone who has balanced her personal and professional life with aplomb she says that it is crucial for women to maintain their career aspirations while managing their family responsibilities. “The aim isn’t to compromise one for the other, but to strike a harmonious balance. Even if the time spent with children may be limited, its quality is what truly matters. In this journey, I’ve refrained from allowing guilt to cloud my judgment.”
She has just released her first book, ‘Unstoppable’, the process of writing of which began during a period of intense personal strife. “I found myself grappling with feelings of despair and disconnect, struggling with suicidal thoughts and a sense of withdrawal from my loved ones. An inexplicable urge welled up within me to leave behind a legacy of resilience and integrity. I wanted to be remembered as someone who navigated through life’s adversities and remained true to herself, despite the immense challenges. This prompted me to begin writing ‘Unstoppable’, with the help of Vimal Geethanandan, who aided in shaping the narrative."
This is not just a testament to resilience, and a call to action for women to overcome their unique challenges and fulfill their potential. ‘Unstoppable’ is a guidebook for navigating adversity and finding success, even against the odds. “I believe that women globally will find resonance in my story, hopefully drawing inspiration to persevere through their own hardships and strive towards their goals, confident in the knowledge that even in the darkest tunnels, light awaits at the end,” she signs off.
