Adaptability in business is not about imitation, but the power to assimilate and bring out the original. It's a lesson, which Asha Gupta, General Manager, Tupperware India learnt well during years of her diverse experience. And she successfully put it to test her learning when she made a move from FMCG marketing to direct selling. "To be honest, my first brush with direct selling was not that exciting. I wasn't really captivated by it. That was because I came from an FMCG background and was new to direct selling," she once said in an interview. However, she has managed to put things together and pushed the Tupperware brand to the forefront in Indian market.

Gupta has diverse experiences in sales and marketing with multinational companies, both in India and abroad. She started her career with Coats Viyella India (Madura Coats) and worked with the organization for three years in sales management in Mumbai. She then worked with Coca Cola in the Middle East, where she oversaw the launch of new products such as juices and energy drinks. She joined Tupperware in 1997 as part of the start-up team and headed the sales for the southern markets in India. After a successful two-year stint in the South, she was promoted to head of marketing for Tupperware in India. Gupta's acumen, hard work and understanding of Indian market have always given her an edge over others.

It was her down to earth attitude which helped her climb to the top post of managing director of eight Western European countries, including Scandinavia and Baltic nations. She has been instrumental in energising the markets with new programmes, B2B initiatives and sales development activities. She returned to India after a three-year tenure there to take up charge as the managing director in her home country. Evidently, she has added new dimension to direct selling with her enterprising ideas and skillful handling of the Indian market.

Gupta has a well thought future plans. And though Tupperware's present strategy is to market its products through parties and social gatherings, Gupta knows the advantages she can garner from the advances in technology. She has taken fresh initiatives to ensure that Tupperware's presence on Internet is felt as e-shopping catches up in India. With a visionary like Gupta at the command, you can be sure to see Tupperware stuff adorning most kitchens in India in days to come.