'I always turn to God'

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: Time is a precious commodity for Zubin Karkaria, chief executive officer and managing director, India & South Asia, Kuoni Travel Group. Steering the Rs-1,800-crore travel company, the largest in the country, has its own advantages. He is a sought-after travel professional. There is no doubt about that. But the biggest disadvantage is that he can barely find time for himself or his family. Karkaria, however, is not complaining. “As you grow in your professional life, you have to be prepared for it,” he says.

Peers describe him as a go-getter. “He is very alert and conscious and constantly tries to raise the bar for himself and his team,” says an industry executive. This go-getter also loves taking up challenges. At the same time, he never hesitates to turn to God when the going gets tough. “I am a Parsi priest. So I know the importance of God in my life. I turn to him all the time,” says the father of two.

This spiritual side, in fact, helps Karkaria maintain a fine balance between his family and professional roles. It is something that has held him in good stead throughout even as he embarked on a career in travel and tourism some 19 years ago. “I graduated from HR College in Mumbai and began working with a friend, who had a travel company. My love for the travel business started then.”

Karkaria put in two years at Orbit Trade Fairs and Tours moving to the outbound travel company SOTC, now called Kuoni following its acquisition by Switzerland-based Kuoni Travel Holding in 1996. He has been with Kuoni for the last 17 years and is still going strong. “The association with Kuoni has been long, but I’ve never had a dull moment,” he says. “My company understood my needs, desires and ambitions and has helped me grow along the way. Not only has this been professional growth, but also personal growth. Why should I move on then?”