TFS Gulf
  • All categories
    • inPractice
    • Entrepreneur Story
    • Finance Leaders
    • Videos
TheFinanceStory
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Book 1:1 session with industry experts!
  TFS Gulf
  • All categories
    • inPractice
    • Entrepreneur Story
    • Finance Leaders
    • Videos
The finance story
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Book 1:1 session with industry experts!
The Finance Story
No Result
View All Result

Director, Country Counsel & Company Secretary of Boeing: Always spend Money to build your Character but never otherwise

Learn how a Director, Country Counsel, and Company Secretary at Boeing, India started to change when his family businesses started to flounder and the family went into deep financial problems.

Preeti Mondal by Preeti Mondal
Published date: 11th May, 2021
Last edited date: 27th June, 2023
SHARE (90)
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Personal finance is the most neglected and so The Finance Story ‘Money & Me series’ features finance professionals who share their journey with Money. This is an initiative to learn from each other.

  • Hi, I am Dr. Akhil Prasad; Director, Country Counsel, and Company Secretary at Boeing, India.
  • I grew up in Meerut (India) and by all means, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, however, everything started to change when our family businesses started to flounder and the family went into deep financial problems.
  • Here is my personal view on Money and some learnings from my experience.

What does Money mean to you?

My family at least in the last three generations I know of, have given more value to “name” than “Money”… I do the same. 

My grandfather and his brothers had a cinema business and were well-to-do. Then my grandfather and his brothers started a bank in the early 1900s. It did well but over the years went bankrupt… the question came whether we embrace bankruptcy or save the family name, and they chose the latter. We sold jewelry and a lot of property to pay off the creditors. They lived to the name of a “Patharwala” “their word is cast in stone.”

Then in the 1960s 70s and 80s, our family was the largest film distributor in India. Then businesses started to fail, the family had huge debts to pay off.

To repay the debt my father and uncle started a construction company. I was a Director in that company. As luck would have it, the construction business also failed and our debts multiplied many-fold, the Bank that financed our construction project, filed suit against us, and our ancestral house was about to be auctioned.

I lost my father around that time. All our reputation was at stake… we were verbally also labeled as “wilful defaulters” by the Bank… so again the question came should we declare bankruptcy…we didn’t instead we paid off the creditors by selling our personal property and lived to be a Patharwala.

I was just about in my twenties then but having gone through the tough situation myself, am proud that had the courage to live up to that name.

To answer your question, while Money is important in your daily life if you don’t have enough, you should not lose one’s mind to compromise on ethical behavior and fair conduct to adopt unfair means to make Money.

No matter how little money you have, always have the heart to share it with someone who needs it more than you do.

How did your upbringing shape your attitude toward Money?

My father was a medical doctor and a very pious person. He had a huge OPD of 500-600 patients a day and was devoted to his patients. His practice was a “service” without seeking Money in return. As the matter of fact, he never took any money from the family business that we had.

I remember as a child, anyone who would visit our home would always be served a meal and was provided excellent hospitality.

With limited financial means, it’s still a mystery how my parents were able to give us a very good life, education, and upbringing.

Another impactful learning was my parents always gave the same respect to everyone, irrespective of their financial status.

I still recall, I was a kid and a rickshaw-puller had an accident and my father operated on him in one of his clinics that was at home. It was late at night, and after the person was treated, my father asked him to join us for dinner. Suddenly, someone rang a bell and the local Member of Parliament stopped by to meet my father. The rickshaw puller immediately stood up and asked to take leave. My father calmed him down and then he along with the MP had dinner together with my father.

There were many such instances of my father being completely oblivious to a person’s monetary status and his ability to treat everyone equally and with the same respect.

I will never forget this and I emulate him for this. I treat everyone equally and give them the same respect, never more or less depending on their monetary or financial status.

Are you a saver or spender tell us why?

Saving or spending is often relative to the time you are in.

I was born with a silver spoon but my family fell through very hard financial problems. 

During those tough days, when meeting financial ends was difficult, learning from my parents, I always had the courage to spend on necessities – whether my children or my own education, whether for the needs of others, including our family’s orphanage and other necessities.

Of course, we were taught to be and careful not to be extravagant, which we still are but we continue to put priorities and areas we need to spend and save to secure our future.

We also ensure that we spend on others to make their lives better. However, I realize that one should secure one’s future so savings are extremely important to ensure that we try and fulfill our dreams and aspirations.

How old were you when you started properly investing/saving?

I had lots of financial obligations so I started saving at a very late age.

The first saving was when we started to “invest” in our own home, for which we had to take a mortgage. Like many people, we too minimized our expenses and paid off the mortgage before time (of course not by cutting spending on family and others’ necessities).

Now, we focus on financial instruments for our savings.

The biggest mistake you made when it came to Money?

My bigger focus has been on constant learning, so Money has not been a priority or something I have gone after, so don’t recall committing mistakes with respect thereto.

Like others, we have our share of experiences where we faced thefts or misappropriation or partners not being fair to us in family business matters.

I am not saying that I am timid about not fighting for my rights but when there has been a question of Money over relationships and good conduct, I have always preferred the latter.

At times, you feel cheated and someone may be unfair or unkind to you, they value Money over a relationship, I would rather move on and focus on progressive things that make me positive and energetic.

I believe that one should do one’s karma, with dedication, honesty, and respect for others and though the road may be long, more often than not, you will emerge successfully.

In view of this, I don’t regret or believe that I have made mistakes in matters of Money, I may have compromised in certain situations related to Money but those situations, in the long run, have so far been in my favor.

As of today how do you invest/ save?

Having gone through challenging financial situations, somehow the Value of Money is something we understand very well.

I try and save a ‘significant part’ of my earnings each month so that we are able to focus on the necessities, where we need to spend in the future.

I have a friend who is my financial advisor and has made me diligent that I invest every month in the SIPs(systematic investment plan).

If you had to go back in time and plan your finances, what would you do differently?

My ambition was to own a home and have financial savings. Though I struggled to make ends meet initially, I am thankful to God that I have been able to work on my objectives.

Even if I were to go back in time, I don’t foresee how this sequence would undergo a change.

When your income increases do your expenditure increase?

There is always a tendency to be extravagant and I look out to search for things that I always thought I should acquire.

It is not wrong that one should dream to acquire material possessions but it may be disastrous that you try and acquire them even though your financial capability does not permit it.

I never look at what others have, rather I confine myself to my needs.

A very important aspect is “patience”. One should always dream about what to acquire but be patient enough to acquire when your financial capabilities permit.

Another virtue, which is closely associated with “patience” is “priority”. The priority is a necessity, for example, your kids’ education or your own or your savings, which should always precede any extravagance.

If you are able to prioritize the necessities, as above, of the remaining Money, there is no harm in satisfying the dream of acquiring something that you always longed for.

The takeaway to other professionals?

I would advise that always spend Money to build your character but never spend your character to make Money.

Always pursue excellence in whatever you do, Money will follow.

It’s not bad to go for material things, once you have taken care of the necessities and if financial capability permits.

Try and live within your means but always have the courage to provide financial help to others who need it more than you do.

Always upskill yourself and invest Money in learning. In fact, I have invested a lot of money in pursuing various certifications which opened various career opportunities for me.

Now It’s Your Turn…

What is Money for you?

 

Preeti Mondal

Preeti Mondal

Recommended for you

The U.S. has imposed massive tariff hikes on over 180 countries. Indian exports now face a new tariff rate—lower than China or Vietnam, but there is a catch. To unpack what this means for India, we sat down with Robin Banerjee, a seasoned CEO and global trade expert.
CEO

U.S. Hit The World With Big Tariffs. Modern-day Great Depression?

9th April, 2025 | 9 mins read
How CFOs can prepare for geopolitical tensions in the Middle East
Expert Opinion

Middle East crucial to the global and Indian economies?

19th October, 2024 | 6 mins read
ICAI and NFRA clash regarding the overhaul of SA 600
Expert Opinion

ICAI & NFRA clash: Overview of the latter’s plan to overhaul SA 600

16th September, 2024 | 5 mins read
Finance professionals should master coding?
Digital Transformation

Finance professionals should master coding?

30th July, 2024 | 3 mins read
How to craft your LinkedIn profile to attract foreign recruiters. Tips from Ex-KPMG who works in the UK
Career Overseas

Update your LinkedIn profile to get overseas job opportunities. Tips from Ex-KPMG Associate Director

19th September, 2023 | 4 mins read
How can Indian CA firms forge partnerships with international networks? 5 requirements laid out by CA Shailesh Haribhakti
Expert Opinion

Considering joining an International Network? CA Shailesh Haribhakti shares the benefits, costs, strategies, and process.

13th September, 2023 | 7 mins read
Next Post
my-10-year-long-journey-to-becoming-a-chartered-accountant-in-south-africa-4

My 10 Year Long Journey to Becoming a Chartered Accountant in South Africa

Start conversation Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

1:1 career advice platform

  • Manager

    Investment Banking (Front Office) at HDFC Bank.

  • Finance Director

    at Procter & Gamble (P&G)

  • Strategic Program & Ops Manager

    Risk and Internal Audit at Accenture

  • Vice President

    at Alcazar Capital

  • Manager ACR

    Accounting, Compliance and Reporting at EY

  • Senior Accountant

    at BDO Canada LLP

  • Regional Financial Coordinator and Project Manager

    at TotalEnergies

  • Accounts Manager

    at Sterling Perfumes Industries LLC (Fakhruddin Holdings)

BOOK 1:1 CALL

1:1 career advice platform

  • Manager ACR

    Accounting, Compliance and Reporting at EY

  • Senior Accountant

    at BDO Canada LLP

  • Regional Financial Coordinator and Project Manager

    at TotalEnergies

  • Accounts Manager

    at Sterling Perfumes Industries LLC (Fakhruddin Holdings)

BOOK 1:1 CALL
The Finance Story

The Finance Story empowers finance professionals—CFOs, consultants, accountants, tax experts, and bankers—to navigate critical market shifts, industry disruptions, and emerging technologies & trends.

How? We spotlight key opportunities in India and globally, equipping finance professionals with the insights and strategies to drive business growth, optimize decision-making, and position their companies at the forefront

Quick Links

  • Finance
  • Partners
  • Privacy and Policy
  • Terms of use

Follow us

  • /TheFinanceStory
  • @TheFinanceStory
  • /TheFinanceStory
  • @thefinancestory_com
  • TheFinanceStory

© 2022. The Finance Story. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TFS Gulf
  • Entrepreneur Story
  • Finance Leaders
  • Videos
  • Login
  • Sign Up

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies to personalize your experience. By continuing to visit this website you agree to our use of cookies.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
Book 1:1 call with industry expert