Roshni Nana must be the busiest person I have encountered.
On a typical day, Roshni can be seen nipping from studio to studio, always beautifully turned out and not a hair out of place despite her frantic schedule; after sharing a quick giggle with a fellow Flowstar she returns to juggling a to-do list of epic proportions, with what seems to be such ease.
I manage to nab her in the Flow kitchen and, over a strawberry yoghurt on one of her rare breaks, chat with her about her busy life as a Flowstar.
With a chuckle she takes a spoon from the drawer before perching on the bench in the kitchen nook to patiently answer my questions.
“I juggle up to a dozen clients on a normal day,” she says, straight off the bat. Suddenly, my little to-do list next on my desk seems much more manageable. Roshni for president.
So how does she begin a typical day at Flow? “Well, first I have my five-minute laugh with Richard (manager of the programming studio),” she says. “It’s compulsory.” Richard, who is making a cup of coffee nearby, agrees. “I only allow 10 minutes of laughing in the programming studio per day,” he says (I’m not entirely sure whether he’s joking). “Roshni and I use up our quota in the morning.”
“To get Richard to smile is quite a thing,” Roshni says with a wink.
Flow project manager, Roshni Nana. Image courtesy of Jay Caboz
From dealing with tenders and mountains of emails, to dashing off for meetings and keeping projects on the go, Roshni is the glue that holds together each team of Flowstars.
And boy can she cook! I’ve often caught myself enviously eyeing her lunch (a tasty curry or an exotic looking homemade salad). Is there anything Roshni can’t do?
Before working for Flow, Roshni was an office manager for an ad agency. She has now been at Flow for almost three-and-a-half years.
What does she enjoy most about her job? “I get bored easily so I enjoy the challenge of dealing with a variety of different clients and projects,” she explains. “I work on a lot of website projects so things happen faster and clients expect things to happen faster.
“I also get to work with almost everyone at Flow, on any given day, on a broad range of things.”
However, even Roshni (who I’m beginning to think might be superhuman) will admit she has rough days. “Days don’t always pan out like you plan them,” she says. “We work in a dynamic environment.
“I’m a perfectionist and a stickler for time. I stress easily so I always want to get things right and done on time.”
And what makes the perfect project manager? Roshni looks thoughtful. “Patience,” she begins. “An eye for detail, the ability to really listen to a client and work with teams – you have to be able to rely on people, and plan.”
When I ask her about unwinding and relaxing, I’m treated to yet another signature giggle (always makes me feel better – must be a project manager trick of the trade). “I don’t!” she says, laughing. “Although today,” she says with a sneaky look, “I’m actually going for a massage! You caught me on a good day.”
Before I’ve put down my pen and closed my notebook, Roshni’s back on her stylish heels and darting off to her next appointment.
That massage will be well deserved.