AN ACHIEVER IN THE U.S.-BY Murthy

AN ACHIEVER IN THE U.S. A few days back, Ramu (Shahabad) had forwarded a link. When I opened the link, I was reading about a young lady, who has recently been appointed as the Executive Vice President, Home Entertainment and licensing, BBC worldwide Americas. Yes, Vice presidents come and go in an organization. In an organization like BBC, whatever knowledge I possessed, prompted to me that the post of an Executive Vice President is a coveted appointment. There should have been Smiths and Nicholases, Sandras and Julies who should have adorned this position in the past. I was astonished to see the name of the young lady. It sounded Indian. More so, it sounded Tamilian. The name read SOUMYA SRIRAMAN. It was really out of the world. When I finished reading the story, I gasped for a moment. Normally, such high positions are earmarked for the Americans. This young lady has achieved something of which most people only dream. This young lady will surely be a role model for thousands of aspiring young Indians, especially, Tamilians. I spoke to Ramu to thank him for sending the link, which, I said to him, I had forwarded to my two daughters. “Is she the first Asian to this post?” I asked Ramu. “Perhaps” he replied. And then I was totally stumped by what he said. Ramu added that the young lady was Shyamala’s daughter! Shyamala is Ramu’s aunt’s daughter. She is also the eldest sister of Ramu’s wife, Seetha. She is he younger sister of Chandru who is by

now very familiar to TOSAmembers for his outstanding contributions in TDR Times. She was my classmate too. Shyamala is a life member of TOSA!! Soumya’s career graph in the U.S. is fast approaching the top of a pyramid. She had worked with the Warner Home Video and Universal Music and Video Distribution’s filmed entertainment arm, Vivendi. She rose to become the Senior Vice President of Vivendi. Before joining BBC worldwide Americas, she was the President and CEO of Palisades Tartan US and UK, which is one of the premier distributors of independent and art house cinema in the US and UK and has been on the forefront of consumer trends.  We are all very happy that a daughter of TDR old student is today finding her name etched in the Who is who list of the United States. She is making History in the U.S. This should be a story of inspiration for all TDRites. Soumya is a perfect example for the fact that hard work and good guidance from the parents can turn every dreamer an achiever. There must be a number of such brilliant achievements from the scions of TDRites. You can share these stories in TDR Times, to inspire a whole new generation. Elsewhere in TDR Times we are publishing the story of Soumya Sriraman. Murthy

http://press.bbcworldwideamericas.com/press-release.jsp?id=50094