About

Website: www.motiintl.com

The Juggling Frog in Cirque’s Jungle Fantasy sums up my life at Moti International. The pace is fast, the tempo changes quickly, our clients smile happily, and we’re quite focused – life is good because we haven’t dropped a ball!

Moti International helps US companies do business in India. The Government of India is beckoning western companies, and with a growing middle class around the size of the whole population of the US. It’s a very tempting growth market. So that’s the ladder – the snake in the game is the difference in business culture, negotiation styles and an understanding of the marketplace.

My job is to mitigate the effects of the snake for clients. Moti does this by providing a vast range of India business development services, human resource counsel, and executive coaching and training. I’ve also enjoyed being a fly on the wall in negotiations, where I observe to translate Indian negotiation tactics and decipher the unspoken language.

International business development is a little off the beaten path for an attorney who used to practice in the field of human resources. I veered a bit when the State of Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development asked for help with establishing their trade office in India. The next thing I knew I was living in Bangalore: dealing with the Reserve Bank of India, negotiating with a landlord and hiring local staff. While many business deals moved slowly, we had an occasional deal move amazingly fast – one happened virtually overnight – we brokered a relationship which resulted in a multi-million dollar, seven-year contract with the Bangalore International Airport.

The one thing that sure wasn’t slow in Bangalore was the social life. The Sunday brunches with young professionals at the Leela, Olive’s Beach, and the Park were so decadent I couldn’t attend but one a month. Rarely could I turn down invitations to attend a fusion concert or a star-studded party at the Golf Club as a guest of various local CEOs. Plus, watching World Cup games with the expatriate community added a whole new dimension to the competition. But the real highlight was the warmth in which the local community welcomed me into their homes and lives. The consideration, caring and curry was incredibly generous and genuine!

It was a whirlwind two years. The memories that come to mind this minute include: being stranded for hours on the highway half way from Bangalore to Mysore until I happened upon two farmers, a baby goat and a little boy, none of whom spoke any languages I did; attending the Republic Day Parade as a guest of the Speaker of the House; breathing in the fresh air and beauty of Kanchenjunga from a lovely tea plantation in Darjeeling; sari shopping with friends who traveled to India for the sole purpose of preparing for their wedding, and scuba diving with big turtles off the island of Bangaram, Lakshwadeep. And, there was a little romantic interest cut short because of a plane to catch. I seem to have tucked away the annoyances and frustrations, I vaguely recall there were many, perhaps they’re just fading away from my memory.

It’s nice to reflect on the time spent in India from my home in Maryland. My Grandmother, Moti, was always my safe haven – my home. When she was alive, home was more a feeling she fostered rather than a land and a house. I felt a little adrift and free to make the world my oyster after she passed away. But one night after midnight in India, it became obvious I wasn’t anywhere near “home”. It was the night I laid in bed, with my laptop propped up on the pillow beside me. I had gone to sleep watching the snow fall on the beltway through the small traffic cam window on Washingtonpost.com.

Happily, I have settled down again in Maryland and am privileged to make frequent trips to India. I’m lucky to have the best of both worlds!

Feel free to visit us at our website: www.motiintl.com.